BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, February 11, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Members of the Team Unity administration, including Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris and Deputy Prime Minister the Honourable Shawn Richards, joined family, members of the clergy, friends and well-wishers in paying their final respects to the late Dr. Allan Isaac, founder and Apostle of the Rivers of Living Water Christian Centre.
Dr. Isaac had an illustrious 48-year preaching career, 20 of which he served as a Pastor in the Wesleyan Holiness Church up until 1991. On August 13, 1995, Reverend Isaac along with his wife Debbie, founded the Rivers of Living Water Christian Centre.
Prime Minister Harris was among those to pay tribute to the late Apostle at his homegoing service, held at the Rivers of Living Water Christian Centre earlier today (Thursday, February 11).
The prime minister joined the congregation to celebrate the life and work of the servant leader Apostle Dr. Allan Isaac, who, through his many outreach programmes, had touched the lives of many individuals across the Federation.
“As an evangelist he loved crusades. He hosted many conferences and outreach to the young people, the men, the women and the married couples with well-organized seminars and workshops. He engaged in monthly hospital and prison ministry. He tried hard to win souls to God recognizing that life without God would be empty and bitter in the end. The raison d’etre of his evangelism and Ministry was to save souls,” Prime Minister Harris said.
Dr. Harris added, “Apostle Dr. Allan Samuel Isaac has made a tremendous contribution to the advancement of the Kingdom of God and our nation. He nurtured, inspired, and empowered our people to live and reach for more in life. He taught us to reach for more in our relationship with God, in education, in our careers, and in our marriages and family relationships. ‘The number one thing is always seeing life changed; to see someone transition from the Kingdom of darkness into God’s Kingdom, that’s my greatest joy’, he would often say.”
In addition to the compliments delivered by Prime Minister Harris, many other tributes were offered for the late Apostle Dr. Allan Isaac. Tributes came from his children, the Ministry of Education, Rivers of Living Water Christian Centre, the Washington Archibald High School, as well as from a number of Apostles from other nations including Trinidad and Tobago, the United States of America and Australia.
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Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 18, 2021 (SKNIS): A grant of up to US$50,000 is available to Civil Society Organizations in St. Kitts and Nevis to implement or expand beekeeping under an Apiculture and Biodiversity project.
The funds are offered through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grant Programme (SGP) which falls under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Programme. The multi-country project aims to establish a sustainable apiculture industry in Saint Lucia and identify clear pathways to further the development of an apiculture industry in four other Caribbean countries including St. Kitts and Nevis. The other Caribbean countries are Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. Samoa, a country located in the Pacific, is also implementing the project.
In order to be a part of this project, interested organizations must be registered with a local government agency and have at least one year of experience in raising bees as well as harvesting, bottling and selling honey.
Applicants are required to submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) to the GEF SGP UNDP National Coordinator via email iliswatts@unops.org. Applications must be received on or before January 31, 2021.
The successful organization will work closely with the GEF SGP UNDP National Office to establish or expand an apiary as well as a honey processing plant. The organization members must also participate in all virtual training, prepare and submit project reports, convene local and national meetings, participate in all international meetings, and train other small apiculturists to pass on the skills and lessons learnt.
The successful candidate will also liaise with persons in the other countries who are participating in this Apiculture and Biodiversity Project.
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 09, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has reaffirmed its commitment to continuing its strong and mutual partnership that it currently shares with the Government and people of the Republic of Cuba.
This reassurance was given by Ambassador His Excellency Vance Amory, who represented St. Kitts and Nevis, on behalf of Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, at the 7th CARICOM-Cuba Summit held via videoconference on Tuesday, December 08.
Ambassador Amory noted that, “St. Kitts and Nevis recognizes the importance of this ongoing cooperation and collaboration between Cuba and our CARICOM countries generally, and also the bilateral arrangement which has been part of the Cuba-St. Kitts and Nevis arrangement over the years. St. Kitts and Nevis truly values these relationships.”
Ambassador Amory was supported in Tuesday’s meeting by His Excellency Sydney Osborne, St. Kitts and Nevis’ Ambassador to CARICOM and His Excellency Ambassador Michael Powell, Special Envoy in the Office of the Prime Minister.
His Excellency Amory used the occasion of the summit to renew St. Kitts and Nevis’ call for an end to the decades-old economic embargo placed on Cuba by the United States of America.
“We support [Cuba’s] efforts to be part of the international marketplace without the discrimination which the U.S. embargo has placed on them. St. Kitts and Nevis will always support Cuba and will always call for the removal of those unfair measures which impose pressures not on just the people of Cuba but of the region, because if one part of the region suffers then the whole region suffers,” the ambassador added.
Additionally, Ambassador Amory expressed appreciation on behalf of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis to the Government of Cuba for its continued assistance in development of the Federation, particularly in the area of health and healthcare delivery.
He noted that this assistance by the Cuban government has “enabled us to improve the provision of healthcare in St. Kitts and Nevis.”
The 7th CARICOM-Cuba Summit was held in commemoration of the 48th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the four CARICOM independent States and Cuba and the 18th anniversary of CARICOM-Cuba Day.
On December 08, 1972, Cuba established diplomatic relations with the four newly independent CARICOM Member States, namely: Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. CARICOM-Cuba Day was officially established in 2002 to celebrate the ties that continue to exist between Cuba and the Caribbean Community.
]]>Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers from Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom and KwaZulu-Natal have emphasised the importance of independent Parliaments and Legislatures and the adaptations that have been made, especially during the current COVID-19 global pandemic, during the second webinar on this topic organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The CPA webinar for Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth provided a timely and unique opportunity to examine the nature of Parliaments as independent institutions in the context of COVID-19.
The first panelist was the CPA President, Hon. Anthony Rota, MP, Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada spoke about the Canadian Parliament’s experience of virtual proceedings during the current COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of a healthy and functioning Parliament to democracy. The Parliament of Canada has implemented hybrid proceedings as a temporary measure in consultation with both Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff and required the support of the Opposition to support emergency legislation.
Hon. Bridgid Annisette-George, Speaker of the House of Representatives at the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago spoke about maintaining parliamentary procedures for all Members of the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament, which was not suspended or restricted at any time. The Parliament had implemented strict screening processes and safety measures, including the reconfiguration of the chamber. Speaker Annisette-George also spoke about the ‘people-centered’ approach to working adopted by the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago that included working from home and staggered working for Members and parliamentary staff.
Rt Hon. Dame Eleanor Laing, MP, Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, spoke about the importance that the UK Parliament had placed on maintaining parliamentary sittings during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that Parliamentarians were able to continue to scrutinize the Executive. The UK Parliament has implemented ‘socially-distanced’ proceedings and has allowed some MPs to participate via video technology.
The Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, Hon. Nontembeko ‘Ntobeko’ Boyce, MPL spoke about the experience of a provincial legislature in South Africa and the coordination with the national Government and local authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislature has continued sittings but also used IT technology and social distancing measures to ensure that safety was maintained.
Matthew Salik, Head of Parliamentary Development at the CPA Headquarters Secretariat spoke about the launch of the CPA’s Model Law for Independent Parliaments earlier this year and the CPA’s work with Commonwealth Legislatures on establishing Parliamentary Service Commissions and ensuring that Parliaments can remain robust, effective and independent institutions.
Speakers and Presiding Officers attended the CPA webinar from many Commonwealth Parliaments including Uganda, Mauritius, South Africa, Zambia, Malta, Alberta, Bermuda, Sierra Leone, Ontario, Lesotho, St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Yukon, Saint Lucia, Cayman Islands, Guyana, Malawi, Seychelles, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Falkland Islands, Jersey, Western Cape and Gauteng.
The webinar was closed by the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Stephen Twigg who spoke about how Parliaments in the long-term can establish policies, strategies and powers to give them the necessary resources to function independently and effectively. It is important that Parliaments learn from the current pandemic and implement the necessary changes that are required. As democratic institutions, Commonwealth Parliaments must ensure public confidence in their ability to manage their affairs and to conduct their essential legislative, oversight and representative functions, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The CPA Headquarters Secretariat is providing assistance to Commonwealth Parliaments through its programme of seminars and its toolkits like the Model Law for Independent Parliaments and the CPA’s Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures to provide Legislatures with a robust framework of parliamentary procedures.
A recording of the ‘CPA webinar for Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth: COVID-19 and Independent Parliaments’ will be available for the benefit of all Commonwealth Parliaments on the CPA’s YouTube channel at: www.cpahq.org/cpahq/youtube.
To download a copy of the CPA’s toolkit on Model Law for Independent Parliaments please visit www.cpahq.org/cpahq/modellaw.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 12, 2020 (SKNIS): Her Majesty’s Prison in St. Kitts & Nevis has in place strict measures and protocols to protect staff and inmates from contracting the COVID-19 virus. The measures and protocols have been in place since March 22, 2020.
Commissioner of Her Majesty’s Prison in St. Kitts & Nevis, Terrance James, during his appearance on “Working for You” on November 11, said that there are prisons in the Caribbean in countries such as Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic that have seen contamination with the COVID-19 virus within their walls.
“In terms of protocols we have the same protocols that have been implemented since March,” he said while pinpointing that the protocols for mask-wearing and sanitization of hands for staff entering the prison are in place and must be strictly adhered to.
“We also have our thermal thermometer and the officer that will check the temperature, to ensure that persons are not entering the prisons with any elevated temperatures,” he said
“We also have three cells which we call quarantine or segregated cells that when inmates come into the prison for the first time, we keep them in the area and have the prison doctor check them and then we will have them kept in that area for fourteen days as our quarantine area before they go into the general population,” said Mr. James. “This is part of our prison protocol so we can maintain our prison to be as sterile as we can for the time being.
The Commissioner also made mention that he and his staff will continue to maintain the protocols until the pandemic ceases to exist in order to keep the prison population
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 16, 2020 (SKNIS): During a Sitting of the National Assembly on October 15, Minister of International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Honourable Wendy Phipps, took the opportunity to update the public on a trade-related claim that has recently been brought by the Government of Belize against the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago regarding imports of sugar from two non-CARICOM Member States.
Minister Phipps stated that she would have been officially notified of the matter by the Solicitor General, Simone Bullen-Thompson, on October 5. She said that the Solicitor General would have submitted to her on that date the e-File, the originating application as well as the notice of service that was sent by the Deputy Registrar and Marshall of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
“I should also note that the claim had been filed at the CCJ on the 30th of September, 2020, by the State of Belize,” she said. “The intention is to commence proceedings against the two countries stated, which are St. Kitts and Nevis as well as Trinidad and Tobago pursuant to 1. Articles 2 11 Subsection 1 Part A, Article 2 13, and 2 16 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and Article 12 A and B and Article 16 of the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice and Part 10 of the Caribbean Court of Justice Originating Jurisdiction Rules 2019.”
The Minister said that Belize is essentially accusing St. Kitts and Nevis along with Trinidad and Tobago of importing sugar from Guatemala and Honduras without application of the Common External Tariff on these goods.
“In other words, the State of Belize alleges that St. Kitts and Nevis has allowed these imports from Guatemala and Honduras to occur without the necessary taxes being paid as befitting goods that are not produced in CARICOM,” she said.
The period in question is from November 2018 to June of 2020 during which time Belize has alleged that the Federation has imported some 975 metric tons of sugar imports from Guatemala and Honduras free of duty, said the minister.
“Mr. Speaker, at this point I wish to remind the general public of a few key facts which we should all bear in mind. One, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis does not import sugar into the Federation. Any importation of sugar by the Government would have been brought to an end in 2015 when the supply office was closed,” said Minister Phipps. “And the second point I wish to remind us of is that all sugar imports into our Federation would have been based on trading arrangements being entered into by the private sector specifically wholesalers and retailers and their overseas suppliers.”
The Trade Minister assured the public that on the day that the case was filed, which was brought to her attention by the Solicitor General, which is October 5th, she instructed the Director of Trade in the Ministry of International Trade, Shawn Lawrence, to immediately begin an investigation with the Customs and Excise Department in terms of gathering data on all sugar imports over the past three years.
“The Ministry is eagerly awaiting the submission of this report, which will obviously form a critical part of the defense of the case that has been brought by Belize,” she said.
The Minister also assured the public that as Minister with responsibility for International Trade she will continue to provide the people of the Federation with updates on the trade matter as it develops.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 1st, 2020 (ZIZ News):
By: Chaïra Flanders
Alex Straun of St. Kitts and Nevis is one of three entrepreneurs who emerged as winners of the inaugural OECS-Republic Bank Business Model Competition.
Although he did not win the competition, Alex Straun of Genesis Payment Solutions, St. Kitts and Nevis took home the third place prize of U.S five thousand dollars.
Jody White of Trinidad and Tobago was announced the winner of the competition and will receive the first place prize of U.S twenty thousand dollars while Trevaun Solomon of Antigua and Barbuda, took home the second place prize of U.S ten thousand dollars.
Straun’s Genesis Payment company developed the region’s first e-money solution combined with a commerce platform now known as JAD, which aims to provide an affordable way to store, transfer money and digitise business processes regardless of banking status.
In an article posted via the OECS Newsroom, it states that the OECS-Republic Bank Business Model Competition is a “strategic initiative of the OECS Sustainable Development Movement designed to strengthen entrepreneurship in the Caribbean through capacity building, access to investors and leveraging opportunities.”
The final of the Business Model Competition was a Pitch Battle with Star of ABC’s Shark Tank & CEO of the Shark Group, Daymond John, featuring the top eight (8) entrepreneurs.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 23 , 2020 (ZIZ News):
By: Chaïra Flanders
St. Kitts and Nevis is currently outperforming most member states of the Organization of American States (OAS).
This according to St. Kitts and Nevis’ Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), Ambassador His Excellency Dr. Everson Hull who was at the time sharing updates about the nation’s standing while remotely appearing on the panel of the September 22 edition of Leadership Matters.
“St. Kitts and Nevis is outperforming most of the 34 member states of the Organisation of American States (OAS). By outperforming them, I am focusing primarily on a country’s ability to provide for the welfare of its people. This is often observed by a country’s net migration rates. When a country is not doing well, the masses tend to head for the exits and move around in search of better alternative opportunities”, he said.
Ambassador Hull also revealed that a new World Bank report shows that St. Kitts and Nevis has a higher per capita income than some oil rich countries.
“There is very little out migration of the masses from St. Kitts and Nevis leaving the island to seek refuge in any other countries. With the single exception of the Bahamas and most recently Canada, St. Kitts and Nevis is now ranked 3rd in per capita income as the Prime Minister stated, among western hemispheric states. I note also that as of August 18 2020, updated data from the World Bank shows that St. Kitts and Nevis now has a higher per capita income than our oil rich friends in Trinidad and Tobago”, Dr. Hull explained.
He said it was also important to note that St. Kitts and Nevis is outperforming countries such as Argentina, Brazil and Colombia. Besides Trinidad and Tobago and within our own CARICOM region, St. Kitts-Nevis is outperforming Barbados and Jamaica.
Ambassador Hull said although St. Kitts and Nevis is a not a country with gold nor bauxite, the twin island federation has what he deems “a strong government that established and pursued a prosperity agenda that has been successful on holding the line on taxes, in fostering growth in foreign direct investment”.
He also said that our nation has “adopted a sound fiscal policy of living within our means, meeting an unconscionably high outstanding debt load or reducing that from 180% of GDP to a manageable and impressive 57%”.
St. Kitts and Nevis currently has the lowest Debt-to-GDP ratio in the OECS and was the first to outdo the Debt-to-GDP target of 60 percent by 2030 set by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB).
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 23, 2020 (SKNIS): The state of the union in St. Kitts and Nevis is good, says His Excellency Dr. Everson W. Hull, the country’s Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS).
Dr. Hull appeared on the Tuesday (September 22, 2020) edition of Leadership Matters – Virtual Forum Series and highlighted some of the key performance indicators that show impressive results for the twin-island federation when compared to the other 34 member states of the OAS.
Net migration was one such indicator outlined during his online presentation.
“When a country is not doing well the masses tend to head for the exits and move around in search of better alternative opportunities. Today, folks are seeking new opportunities in St. Kitts and Nevis. Yet, there is very little out-migration of the masses from St. Kitts and Nevis,” Dr. Hull stated.
The diplomat also pointed to per capita growth which calculates the percentage change in the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita between two consecutive years.
“With the single exceptions of the Bahamas and most recently Canada, St. Kitts and Nevis is now ranked third in per capita income … among Western Hemispheric states,” Dr. Hull said. “I note also that on August 18, 2020, updated data from the World Bank shows that St. Kitts and Nevis now has a higher per capita income than our oil-rich friends in Trinidad and Tobago. For me, this is of paramount importance. We are outperforming the giant countries of Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia and in our own CARICOM region, outperforming Barbados, Jamaica and now Trinidad and Tobago.”
The diplomat noted that while St. Kitts and Nevis has no significant natural resources such as oil, minerals or bauxite, the country was able to achieve such because of the exceptional fiscal management by the government. Over the past five years, the government attracted new foreign direct investment, did not introduce any new taxes, and paid down the national debt.
A large tax cut in the United States, as well as the removal of some government regulations, also contributed favourably to St. Kitts and Nevis’ growth as a result of increased tourist arrivals.
H.E. Hull encouraged fellow nationals not to rest on their laurels but to work to consolidate gains, particularly in this ever-increasing competitive environment.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 23 , 2020 (ZIZ News):Kittitian artist, Clydawna James, better known as Jadé says her Independence themed painting dubbed “Triumph Over Struggle” was inspired by “one of the most beautiful flags in the world”.
In a brief interview with ZIZ on Tuesday, the 22 year old former Visual Arts teacher said her painting of St. Kitts and Nevis’ national flag was just an idea that she had about one year ago.
She said the way Kittitians and Nevisians feel about their flag helped to inspire the art.
“I’ve always seen our flag to be one of the most beautiful flags in the world. I just like the red and the green, how they compliment each other, along with the stars [white stars] against the black background and the yellow stripes on either side. We as Kittitians we love our flag. Anywhere you go, we always compliment where our flag is so I decided why not bring out the meaning of the flag”, Jadè expresses.
The National Flag, designed by Edris Lewis-Viechweg shows the colour green which is a representation of fertile land, two yellow stripes which depict year round sunshine, the two white stars which represent hope and liberty, the black which represents our African Heritage and the red which represents blood-shed through colonialism.
Jadé who is also a national studying at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago, said the piece took more than a week to complete.
“All in all it took me about two weeks to finis the entire painting because I had to set it and let it dry, the go over it and stuff like that. It was a build up of different layers to finish the complete painting”, James explained.
She is currently on a TVET Scholarship pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts and has been forced to take virtual classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The young artist said that she was lost for words after realizing that her painting had gone viral on social media, gaining thousands of likes during the 37th Anniversary Independence weekend. She explained that requests to purchase the painting have since been pouring in.
“I have been getting so many requests. At first my decision was to not sell the piece. I am not selling the original piece but persons have contacted me and told me that they really would like the piece so I am currently doing a replica of the original. It will be hand panes just like the original”, she said.
Clydawna said that her goal is to have a mural of the original piece done at the RL Bradshaw International Airport and the seaport so that guests can view it upon arrival to the twin island federation.
She said that persons interested in seeing more of her paintings can view them on Instagram at _jahde.w.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 22, 2020 (SKNIS): As St. Kitts and Nevis celebrated its 37th independence anniversary, the Embassy of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago conveyed sincere congratulations to the government and people of the twin-island federation.
“The Embassy takes the opportunity to reiterate its wishes to continue to work with the Embassy of Saint Christopher and Nevis to deepen the fraternal bonds between our missions and countries,” they said.
St. Kitts and Nevis celebrated 37 years of independence on September 19, 2020. The message from the Embassy of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago was yet another congratulatory correspondence from across the globe.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 21 , 2020 (ZIZ News):A national studying at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago has used her creative talents to showcase her national pride.
Over the weekend Clydawna James, better known as Jade painted the piece Triumph Over Struggle in honour of the nation’s 37th Independence celebration.
The painting is a reinterpretation of our national flag and according to a statement it celebrates patriotism through the Arts and pays homage to the lush green landscape, our enslaved ancestors, the blood that was shed during colonialism, our year round sunshine, liberty through emancipation, and hope for the future.
Miss James is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts.
]]>BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, August 31, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, is extending best wishes to the Government and people of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, as the twin island nation celebrates its 58th anniversary of Independence today, Monday, August 31, 2020.
Trinidad and Tobago gained its independence from Great Britain on August 31, 1962.
In a penned letter to his CARICOM colleague, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. the Honourable Keith Rowley, Prime Minister Harris stated that, “Such celebrations offer us the opportunity to reflect on our roots, and the foundations on which our islands, and region were formed.”
“I trust that this milestone allows your country and your people to savour with pride the significant cultural, political and historical additions that Trinidad and Tobago has made to the richness and diversity of the Caribbean and the world,” Dr. Harris said.
The St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister added that as a people “we have many differences, but I do believe that our similarities overpower every disparity, and bind us together in strength.”
“Although this observance comes at a time when the tenacity of our countries is being tested by the ongoing pandemic, I trust now more than ever that instead of being deterred or troubled that we understand the importance of our unity and togetherness and allow this to motivate us to nourish and reinforce our bonds of regional fraternity,” Prime Minister Harris said, as he wished the continued safety and security of the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
]]>The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Aviation is pleased to announce the availability of German Scholarships for 2021, for Postgraduate Studies in the following areas:
Interested persons are asked to contact the Embassy of Germany in Trinidad and Tobago at info@ports.diplo.de
Additional information is provided at the following link: www.funding-guide.de
General information can be found in the attached flyer and an overview of all courses
offered are available on the following link: www.daad.de/international-programmes