The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela celebrated 39 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations on Monday, October 31, 2022.

The event was celebrated with the cutting of a cake to commemorate the occasion by Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Honourable Terrance Drew; Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Right Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas, as well as Marco Antonio Guzmán Adrian, Chargé d’ Affaires of the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, during a brief but significant ceremony on Monday, October 31, 2022, at the Cabinet Room at Government Headquarters.

Foreign Minister Dr. Douglas welcomed Chargé d’ Affaires Guzmán Adrian and hailed the relationship between both countries as strong and fruitful and extended cordial greetings on the occasion of the established diplomatic relations.

“Beyond the Caribbean and proximity of our countries, there are also common interests through broad perspectives and foreign policy positions. It is for this reason that we reiterate our commitment to continue creating and promoting together new stages of cooperation between our two countries,” said Minister Douglas. 

Dr. Douglas expressed the “willingness to continue strengthening bilateral relations and building the great history of fighting for dignity, peace, justice and the greatest possible social happiness for our people.” 

Prime Minister Dr. Drew expressed heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Venezuela for a “wonderful relationship that we have really enjoyed over the last 39 years. And to hear that we established [relations] since the 1800s really speaks volumes of our natural inclination towards each other and we really look forward to strengthening the bonds and relationship for the benefit of all our people,” Dr. Drew added.

Chargé d’ Affaires Guzmán Adrian said that through research, he discovered that the first Venezuelan Council to St. Kitts and Nevis was appointed on August 06, 1862.  He noted that the “bond of brotherhood has a renewed hope, and [promises] to be a very beautiful relationship for the well-being of our two people.”

Members of the Cabinet were present to celebrate the auspicious occasion.

The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela established diplomatic relations on October 31, 1983. 

The Government of St Kitts and Nevis is making a commitment to improve the land allocation process and also to expedite land allocation where possible.
 
Minister of Sustainable Development, Hon. Dr. Joyelle Clarke, says the Ministry has partnered with other relevant Ministries to complete a review of the land allocation and land revocation database so as to create a process of transparency and to broaden the approach to land assignments.
 
This comes as the Ministry has seen an increase in questions and concerns being raised by ordinary citizens about matters relating to land.
 
Hon. Dr. Clarke said that while she understands the uneasiness, however, patience must be exercised while the Ministry takes the time to analyze and restructure the programme properly, in order to eliminate the many discrepancies, the Ministry is currently facing.
 
She said, “A current major problem is land duplication, meaning, more than one person has been assigned to the same Lot. We also have many situations where lands were revoked without notification and in many of the cases persons have already paid in full for their lands.”
 
In the meantime, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Sherilita “Shez” Dore-Tyson said, far too often many applicants went months with applications not being processed for reasons not readily justifiable.
 
Dore-Tyson said the Ministry is in the process of doing due diligence and ensuring that the framework that was set up that allows for the processing of land applications and land assignments is functioning as it ought to and that no one will be unjustifiably denied.
 
She said, “I can confirm that no one will be disadvantaged in this process. However, while we acknowledge that this due diligence process has provided some delay for those waiting to complete or begin payment of land, we can ensure every citizen will maintain their right to the land assigned to them.”
 
The Ministry of Sustainable Development has used its various departments to undertake a complete review of the land allocation and revocation database.

A special awards and recognition ceremony, hosted by the St. Kitts and Nevis Cuban Alumni Association, was held on the evening of Saturday, October 29, 2022, for students of St. Kitts and Nevis who recently completed their studies and graduated from various universities in the Republic of Cuba.
 
The 17^th annual Cuban Graduation Ceremony, held at the CUNA Conference Center, recognized eighteen (18) nationals who graduated in several professional fields, namely, medicine, health technology and linguistics. This adds to the already impressive cadre of professionals educated and trained in Cuba.
 
The important ceremony was attended by Prime Minister and Minister of Health, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, the Honourable Dr. Geoffrey Hanley; Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Right Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas; Minister of Education in the Nevis Island Administration, Honourable Troy Liburd; Resident Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to St. Kitts and Nevis, His Excellency David Rivero Perez and his wife; members of the St. Kitts and Nevis Cuban Alumni Association; representatives from the St. Kitts and Nevis Cuba Friendship Association, Cubans living in St. Kitts and Nevis and past Cuban graduates.

Delivering brief remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Hanley congratulated the graduates and also extended commendations and appreciation, through Ambassador Perez, to the Government of the Republic of Cuba for its continued partnership with St. Kitts and Nevis.
 
He said, “Ambassador, we congratulate you and your country for over the years you have invested overwhelmingly in our Federation, not only in education but also in health and we do appreciate it, and I look forward to more scholarships next year so that we can send more of our people off to Cuba.”
 
Prime Minister Dr. Drew, a Cuban graduate himself, said it was with profound honour that he could congratulate another cadre of Cuban-trained professionals.
 
The Prime Minister said, “I am proud to see so many new graduates from various universities in Cuba here with their support system, families and friends, and I am sure your loved ones are also quite proud of your accomplishments, and so in a sense, I too myself salute you.”
 
However, the honourable Prime Minister told the graduates that their journey is not yet completed. He said the onus is now on them to go out, put what they have learned in Cuba into practice and make their indelible mark on the world.
 
“The past two years have exposed the limitations of this world you are set to inherit and you decide within yourselves what type of world you desire to transform it to be. You know the key matters that need addressing, and I urge you to go forward with vigor, confidence and purpose and make your mark. To succeed you must make unprecedented sacrifices. You will need to digress sometimes, recalibrate, keep up to date on the current happenings and new discovery strategies and go at it again with renewed purpose,” said Prime Minister Dr. Drew.
 
This year, the Cuban Alumni Association chose the theme “Raising the Bar through Higher Education” for its annual graduation ceremony.
 
This year’s graduates are Shevorn Henry; Yannik Henry; Rhenez Thompson; Crystal Parris; Kha-lis Farrel; Davishawn Buckshon; Allgeron Audain; Louwana Dorset; Kentisha Daley; Andrew Carlos Liburd; Joyan Wiltshire; Verdwencia Woodley; Shenelka Maynard; Bragelle Nisbett and Johnathan Carty in the field of Medicine; Carrie Bassue and Ava Spencer in Health Technology and Quan Francis in Linguistics.

The contributions of retired nurses who continue to play active roles in the effective delivery of healthcare services in St. Kitts and Nevis were highlighted and applauded by Prime Minister and Minister of Health, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew on Sunday, October 30, 2022.
 
The Prime Minister was speaking at a special service held at the Pentecostal Church of God in Basseterre in recognition of the 10^th anniversary of the Retired Energetic Nurses Touching All Lives (RENTAL) Association.

Prime Minister Dr. Drew said, “The numerous stories and experiences you have accumulated throughout your careers, the lives you have saved and the countless lives you have positively impacted through your selfless sacrifice will serve to inform and inspire.”
 
Dr. Drew added, “The reality is that being a nurse calls for tremendous sacrifice. You sacrifice time with your family and loved ones and you sacrifice your own lives. This is more evident than ever with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the commitment and sacrifice that was required to ensure the safety of our nation. Many of you went home, many of you touched lives not knowing what would happen to you or your family, but in a real way you demonstrated why nursing is a calling and not a job.”
 
The Association’s tenth anniversary is being observed under the theme, “Ten Years Together, Still Making A Difference.”
 
In reflecting on the chosen theme, Prime Minister Dr. Drew said, “This year’s theme suggests activeness. It says, yes, we have retired but we are still here making an impact, contributing to the healthcare industry and serving our fellow citizens and residents. This is indeed commendable. You didn’t just retire but you chose instead to find meaning in your retirement by forming an association where you can continue to engage and to serve.”
 
Among those present at the special service were Senior Minister the Right Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas; Senator the Honourable Isalean Phillip; members of the Retired Energetic Nurses Touching All Lives (RENTAL) Association; members of the St. Kitts Nurses Association; nursing students and other members of the medical fraternity.

The Chambers of the Attorney-General hereby summarizes the following bills passed by
the National Assembly on October 27, 2022 for the benefit of the general public.

St Kitts Investment Promotion Agency (Amendment) Act
The original Act, passed in 2007, created a statutory corporation named the St Kitts Investment Promotion Agency [“SKIPA”] led by a Board of Directors and CEO to promote and facilitate investment in St Kitts. Previously, the Minister of Finance had the power, with approval of Cabinet, to appoint and terminate the Directors and CEO; authorize financing; and make Regulations.

The Amendment has simply made the Minister responsible for Investment the Minister with those powers. The Right Honourable Dr Denzil Douglas, Minister of Economic Development and Investment, will now hold the statutory powers with respect to SKIPA.

Public Health (Amendment) Act
The original Act, passed in 1969, provides the Minister of Health with wide ranging powers to make Regulations to protect the health of the Federation’s residents. It includes powers to regulate the prevention, treatment, limitation and suppression of disease; the publication of reports, information and advice concerning public health; and the education of the public in the promotion and preservation of health. The Covid-19 (Prevention and Control) Act [“the Covid Act”] was passed in 2020 to create public health restrictions to address the recent pandemic.

The Amendment has repealed the Covid Act and given the Minister of Health the power to specifically create Regulations to manage any potential further outbreaks of Covid-19. All of the pandemic related restrictions are now removed. On being appointed, Senior officials in the Ministry of Health advised the Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, that the pandemic restrictions were no longer needed, since May 2022.

Civil Aviation (Amendment) Act
The original Act, passed in 2004, creates provisions for the regulation, operation and control of civil aviation in the Federation. In 2020, the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority “ECCAA” lost the Category 1 status accorded it by the US Federal Aviation Authority [“FAA”], as a result of its failure to make certain adjustments. Carriers from Category 1 countries are permitted to operate into the US and/or code share with US air carriers, in accordance with the US Department of Transportation authorisations. Carriers from Category 2 countries that operate into the United States and/or code share with US air carriers have such services limited to the levels that existed at the time of the assessment.

In an effort to persuade the FAA that the ECCAA Members deserve to be returned to Category 1 Status, OECS Nations have agreed to pass harmonized amendments to their Civil Aviation legislation allowing the Director General of the ECCAA to make Regulations for safety and security at our sub-regional airports and other related amendments. The Minister of Civil Aviation, Hon. Marsha Henderson, has signed the related Treaty Amendment.

Efforts to improve the availability of freshwater resources and ensure water resource efficiency in Saint Kitts and Nevis are underway thanks to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Caribbean Development Bank, FAO’s Investment Centre, the Government of Mexico and the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis. As part of the ‘Addressing the Water-Energy Nexus in Agriculture’ sub-project of the Mexico-CARICOMFAO Initiative “Cooperation for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience in the Caribbean” or Resilient Caribbean Initiative in short, FAO together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Sustainable Development have begun the process of validating 40 potential water harvesting and water intake (drainage) sites across the twin-islands. Commencing on 11 October 2022 in the area of Fahies, Saint Kitts, the assessment team including personnel from the GIS Lab of the Physical Planning Department carried out assessment procedures to determine if the pre-selected sites would be suitable for rainwater harvesting (i.e. the establishment of rainwater reservoirs) to supply water for the irrigation of crops, livestock and other activities. FAO’s Investment Centre engaged the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)/Alliance Bioversity International in developing a web-based tool to identify potential rainwater harvesting sites for irrigation purposes on several Caribbean islands including Saint Kitts and Nevis. This exercise to validate sites will strengthen the resilience of the island’s water resources. Like most Caribbean countries, Saint Kitts and Nevis has a small land mass, with limited catchment basins, creating limitations in the replenishment of freshwater resources. There is a lack of availability of surface water throughout the year with high dependence on limited amounts of groundwater, which usually requires fossil fuel energy to extract. The pressure on available natural resources is likely to increase in the near future due in large part to the intensifying impacts of climate change, which is causing a rise in sea levels, decreased freshwater quality due to intense storms and more frequent and severe droughts. To address these issues, the project further promotes technological innovations, such as solar-powered (micro) irrigation systems to improve water efficiency and management and access to clean and energy (solar and wind), to increase agricultural productivity and efficiency in water use. FAO’s National Project Coordinator, Conrad Kelly indicated, “Water shortage in St. Kitts and Nevis is a major food production constraint. Therefore, identifying and validating suitable sites for rainwater harvesting is a very important first step toward establishing storage reservoirs to supply irrigation water for farmers. Once coupled with efficient irrigation systems powered by renewable energy, the expected outcome would be increased food productivity and food diversity.” Head of the Crops Division in the Ministry of Agriculture, Ian Chapman emphasised the importance of this exercise “These water harvesting and intake sites are within the most vital areas for food production, which are of
critical importance to us as our current production system is over 80% depended on rain-fed conditions. The rainwater harvesting and water intake sources would improve the availability of food over a greater period, ensuring access to water during the drier season of production through improved storage facilities and efficient irrigation systems. Moreover, this venture will allow for more crop scheduling resulting in more market access over a longer period and ultimately improving the livelihoods of our farmers. We are most grateful to our partners FAO, the Caribbean Development Bank, the Government of Mexico and CIAT for this engagement exercise.” The validation of Potential Rainwater Harvesting Sites on St. Kitts and Nevis will continue throughout October and is expected to be completed by mid- November. Following field validation in participating countries, CIAT will finalize the development of the web-based tool and conduct training for national Ministry and other institutional staff in the use of the tool for planning of rainwater reservoirs and the eventual distribution of water to the farms.

For more information:

Firhaana Bulbulia
Communications Consultant
Project: GCP/SLC/MEX/018 CARICOM-FAO-Mexico Initiative “Cooperation for Climate Change
Adaptation and Resilience in the Caribbean”
firhaana.bulbulia@fao.org

Conrad Kelly
National Project Coordinator
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Conrad.Kelly@fao.org

 Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Dr. Joy St. John received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science (DSc) from the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill, for her work in medicine and leadership in public health.  A three-time graduate of UWI, Dr. St. John described this academic achievement as “the most special” during the graduation ceremony, which was held on Saturday 22^nd October, 2022.

Under her leadership, Dr. St. John steered CARPHA’s effective coordination of the Caribbean region’s public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  In delivering her speech at the Cave Hill graduation, Dr. St. John stated that health leaders, both the Ministers and Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) as well as Prime Ministers, executed a carefully strategised operation in fighting unseen forces.  She told graduates that other regions in the Americas and around the world were paying attention to what the Caribbean said and did in public health and in the political realm.  Dr. St. John declared, “Our tiny region earned respect for the way we fought back and tried to save lives”. 

However, Dr. St. John was quick to add, “I am not saying that everything was perfect, but in comparison to how much better resourced countries and regions responded, the Caribbean used their resources most effectively to save lives and allow the Caribbean to bounce back towards economic activity so quickly they defied all predictions”. 

Dr. St. John also applauded the “excellence of the national responses by the public health leadership, the Ministers, CMOs, public health nurses, environmental health officers and the clinical care heroes – the doctors, nurses, pharmacists and all other workers who fought hard to keep us well enough to be able to celebrate this graduation in person today”.  

In recognizing how quickly the ways in which we work, live and play can change from the mundane to the unrecognisable, Dr. St. John appealed to graduates to “focus on the value of life and protecting people instead of things”.  She emphasized the importance of innovation and encouraged graduates to “go forth and act, work, create, advocate and lead”.