BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Wednesday 17^th April 2024)-In anticipation of Labour Day, the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union (SKNT&LU), has launched its ‘Workers Matter First’  online campaign, aimed at amplifying the voices of workers and fostering a culture of advocacy and solidarity.

With the theme ‘Workers Matter First,’ the campaign- which kicked off on Monday 8^th April 2024- underscores the union’s unwavering commitment to prioritising the rights, welfare, and interests of workers across St. Kitts and Nevis.

SKNT&LU General Secretary Precious Mills expressed excitement about the launch of the campaign, emphasizing its significance in the lead-up to Labour Day.

“As we approach Labour Day, it is fitting that we reaffirm our dedication to putting workers at the forefront of our agenda. The ‘Workers Matter First’ campaign serves as a rallying cry for workers’ rights and highlights the importance of collective action in advancing the interests of workers,” she stated.

“Stay connected with the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union online and let your voice be heard. Workers matter first, now and always,” she urged also.

According to the Union official, another exciting near future aspect would see a platform for union membership online registration, noting that “Workers would soon be able to enjoy the convenience of being able to become registered union members and pay their dues online.”

Of note, the campaign, which spans various digital platforms via social media, specifically WhatsApp and Facebook, aims to raise awareness about key issues affecting workers, provide resources and support, and promote solidarity among workers.

The Union is of the view that by leveraging the power of digital communication, the SKNT&LU seeks to engage with a broader audience and empower workers to actively participate in union activities and advocacy efforts.

“We believe that workers’ voices must be heard, respected, and valued,” Mills remarked whilst adding “Through the ‘Workers Matter First’ campaign, we are inviting workers from all sectors to join us in advocating for their rights, advocating for better working conditions, and advocating for a fair and just society for all.”

In the spirit of Labour Day, the SKNTLU is encouraging workers to join the ‘Workers Matter First’ campaign and be part of a movement dedicated to advancing the rights and dignity of workers. By participating in the campaign, workers can contribute to building a stronger, more united workforce and advocate for positive change in their workplaces and communities.

As Labour Day approaches, the SKNTLU remains committed to its mission of promoting workers’ rights, advocating for social justice and building a better future for all workers. Join the ‘Workers Matter First’ campaign today and be part of the movement for change.

Workers can follow and interact with the campaign by adding (and sending a message to) the Union’s WhatsApp via 661-2544 and also by hitting ‘LIKE’ and ‘Follow’ via its official www.facebook.com/SKNTLU page.

Workers are also being encouraged to become unionised members by registering at the Union’s office at Masses House on Church Street ($10 registration with weekly dues at $5).

Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 18, 2024 (SKNIS): The Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) in St. Kitts is poised to step up recruitment initiatives to get more women involved in technical and vocational fields traditionally dominated by men.

The college’s newest project, which was launched on April 09, 2024, offers training to persons in solar photovoltaic and electrical vehicle maintenance and repair, and features one female and fourteen male students.

On the April 18, edition of the radio and television programme InFocus, Fitzroy Wilkin, project lead for the Caribbean Centre of Excellence in Research, Innovation, and Workforce Training project as it is officially dubbed, said he hoped to see more applications from women.

“The only disappointment … was the response from the female gender. I really expected a higher number,” Mr. Wilkin stated, noting that plans are being developed to aggressively attract more women to sign up for the second cohort of the free training.

CFBC President, Andrew Abraham, noted that the educational institution has seen some progress with female enrolment in areas such as carpentry, automotive and electrical. Additionally, CFBC is collaborating with partners to offer training for participants in Phase II of the Women Employment Entrepreneurship and Financial Inclusion Project.

“It is encouraging, and for us as it relates to the renewable energy programme, we are going to be more direct in terms of targeting women to enroll in the programme to begin the process of removing that gender bias, and so we will have more spaces available for women,” President Abraham stated, while encouraging females listening and viewing the programme to apply for technical and vocational courses.

“The [Business] Professional Women is an entity that we are going to be targeting of course,” he added. “We have one of the more active members of that body in Dr. Christine Walwyn, who we will be meeting with shortly to discuss other projects that CFBC can partner with to create additional opportunities for women.”

Mr. Abraham indicated that the non-traditional fields are welcoming to women. He cited the success of Anelda Maynard-Tate, a respected certified professional who taught electrical at CFBC for seven years as a model for women interested in the field.

Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 17, 2024 (SKNIS): The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, in partnership with the Taiwan Technical Mission, launched an innovative project aimed at promoting sustainable development and gender inclusivity. The ceremony marking the commencement of the project was held at the CUNA Conference Center on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.

Building on the successes of the 2021 Women Employment Entrepreneurship and Financial Inclusion Project, this new initiative provides vocational training in traditionally male-dominated fields, such as construction. It also broadens its scope by encouraging male participation. This holistic approach is designed to foster a more inclusive workforce in the Federation.

“We want to be inclusive in our efforts and we can’t talk about advancing women and leave the men behind. That is why we thought about this project in terms of how we could expand it to not only focus on women, but also empower men who will be interested,” explained the Honourable Isalean Phillip, Minister of Social Development and Gender Affairs. “It is also an opportunity for women to get training and skills in sectors and jobs that are traditionally male-dominated.”

In addition to gender inclusivity, the project integrates youth involvement through a collaboration with Junior Achievers, a business development programme implemented locally in high schools since 2004.

“Junior Achievers as a regional organisation also approached us to partner, and we are incorporating a junior achievers cohort segment as part of this project, where we are not only targeting women and men, but also the youth,” Minister Phillip added.

His Excellency Michael Lin, Resident Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to St. Kitts and Nevis, highlighted the broader societal impact of the project:

“We all recognise that in St. Kitts and Nevis, more than 50 percent of households are by single parents. When women are empowered, they are not only uplifting themselves, but also their families, their community and moreover the whole society,” said Ambassador Lin. “This is a reason why our two governments decided to implement this project and raise more resources… that will benefit more families in St. Kitts and Nevis. Three years later, we are witnessing the fruitful achievement of this project.”