St. Kitts and Nevis’ longest and most faithful diplomatic ally of nearly four decades, the Republic of China (Taiwan) celebrated its National Day otherwise known as Double Ten Day (for the tenth day of the tenth month) on October 10. It marked the 111^th year since the founding of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the 73^rd National Day since the government relocated to Taiwan in 1949, formally separating from mainland China (formally the People’s Republic of China).

The National Day was punctuated with the spectacular annual National Day Parade outside the Presidential Office in the capital city of Taipei where Her Excellency President Dr. Tsai Ing-wen addressed thousands of Taiwanese citizens.

In her address, President Tsai promised a better Taiwan for the world.

“My fellow citizens, the greatest duty for all of us living on this land is to do everything we can to give the next generation a better country, and to give the world a better Taiwan,” she said. “Greater economic growth for Taiwan means more complete and resilient global supply chains. A more secure Taiwan means a more peaceful and prosperous region and world. And a more democratic Taiwan means a stronger global alliance.”

The Taiwanese President chronicled the journey of Taiwan.

“This is the years-long road we have travelled, from a darker time to a brighter future. Though it has been a difficult road, those difficulties have shown us what it means to be Taiwanese, and have helped us see what Taiwan means to the world,” said President Tsai to loud applause from the audience.

She added: “Today’s Taiwan is democratic, free, prosperous, and culturally diverse. Not only has Taiwan become a focus of global attention, but our people have come together around a shared determination to safeguard our homeland. Today, saying ‘I am Taiwanese’ is a statement of honour and an expression of pride.”

She ended her National Day address by saying “My fellow citizens, we are all family. Let us stand on the world stage with courage, determination, and confidence. Let us make Taiwan a Taiwan of the world, and let us give the world an even better Taiwan.”

The National Day festivities came to a close in Chiayi County with a dazzling fireworks display for 45 minutes accompanied by dramatic orchestral music and some quarter-million reported attendees. The pyrotechnics show included hundreds of drones in the sky, lit up in patterns that formed various images and symbols ranging from Chinese characters to the Taiwanese flag. The show was the capstone of the nation’s “Double Ten Day.”

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, is continuing with the roll out of the Innovative Protected Cultivation Systems in the Caribbean Project in St. Kitts and Nevis with a Capacity Building and Technical Training Workshop this week from October 10-15.

The Innovative Protected Cultivation Systems in the Caribbean Project was officially launched in St. Kitts and Nevis in March 2021. The initial training was conducted in Nevis in June of this year. This week’s workshop represents the second leg of training.

The project is designed to help the Small Island Developing States (SIDS), like St. Kitts and Nevis face challenges that make them vulnerable to food insecurity by upscaling the protective structures used in cultivation for optimum crop production.

FAO International Consultant, Mr. Jervis Rowe, who is facilitating the training, stated that the Innovative Protected Cultivation Systems project forms part of the organization’s global initiative to shore up food safety and security.

“If you are aware of what is happening in other parts of the world, you should by now realize that it is not something that we really have so much of a choice in doing, it is just something that we have to do if we are going to move forward in feeding our nations and maintaining our good health and strength,” he said.

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture,  Miguel Flemming gave his full endorsement of this timely project, which he said can only help to improve upon what is already being done in the agricultural sector.

“From the ministry’s standpoint, we are going to expand in protected structures because with all the challenges that we have with climate change and feral animals, we can’t just sit back and complain that the animals are destroying all the food…so in order to combat that this is a step in the right direction,” Acting Permanent Secretary Flemming said. 

The six-day workshop is being attended by farmers and officers of the Ministries of Agriculture from both St. Kitts and Nevis.

Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis who is also the Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), has publicly thanked the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) for its continued assistance to the island.

The Premier was at the time expressing gratitude while delivering remarks at his recent monthly press conference at Pinney’s Estate.

“We engaged in some training, and that took place from September 5th to September 9th, 2022. We would like to thank PAHO for its continued participation with us and cooperation with us…

“We also want to acknowledge the in-country visit of PAHO consultant Jessica Prince, who facilitated the perinatal information system web-based version (SIP PLUS) training for doctors and nurses and the community health centres and at the hospital maternity ward.

“The SIP programme is an integral part of sustaining the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis in St. Kitts and Nevis. As you know, St. Kitts and Nevis a few years ago had the proud moment of finally being able to say that it had entirely eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis; and so this is designed to continue to monitor and enhance our abilities here,” he said.

Meantime, in a meeting with Hon. Hazel Brandy-Williams, Junior Minister of Health in the NIA, and Shelisa Martin-Clarke, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Ms. Prince commended the nurses on Nevis.

“I’ve received a lot of support from the nurses. They’re every adept already so it was just to make small adjustments, small improvements such as the COVID-19 aspect of it. Now they can put in data, information where women might have COVID-19 and follow them from admission to discharge,” she said.

Director of the St. Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards (SKNBS) and Chairman of the CARICOM Regional Organization for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) Council, Stuart LaPlace, has stated that the development of CARICOM’s Regional Quality Infrastructure has not been hampered by global challenges and that projections for its future looks promising.

Mr. LaPlace was at the time speaking at the 41^st Meeting of the Council of CROSQ in Barbados on October 10^th.

He noted that demand for quality improvement services has increased, especially in response to recent and ongoing global challenges, such as the increased demand for health-related standards and testing, measurement certainty in health and trade-related matters, accredited testing methods and results, and third-party certification services to international management system standards. These challenges have contributed significantly to the industry’s continued development.

“Continued demand is an indication that robust quality infrastructure – namely standards development, metrology, or measurement services development; accreditation, testing, inspection, and certification, as well as quality promotions – are not just important, but vital for any growing economy,” he said. “If we intend to not just survive, but to thrive during these challenging times, quality competitiveness and quality infrastructure must be central tenets.”

The director stated that the need for quality management systems is increasing, and the network of bureau has been collaborating to give information, education, and assistance in this and other areas. He added that they also cooperate with our international colleagues and the CROSQ Secretariat.

“As a network of national standards bureau within the CARICOM Region, CROSQ continues to explore ways in which we can respond collectively and assist each other, particularly during these difficult times of increased quality and price competitiveness – where quality matters even more,” said Mr. LaPlace. “In many cases, our economies are small and our internal markets finite, which is why we need the potential for expansion, which trading provides. And the only way to successfully trade in goods and services is to meet the regulatory and other requirements to enter new and existing markets. Markets that are likewise tightening their own controls. This is where a sound quality infrastructure shows its strength.”

CROSQ has survived for 20 years on the strength of its quality infrastructure, and current engagements and business sector trends point to its ongoing relevance, said Mr. LaPlace. He added that for another 20 years, it will be able to respond to requests and meet the requirements of Member States.

“Thus, because of our commitment to cultivating sturdy and responsive systems, over the past year we have embarked on a process of broadening our collective outlook, through the development of a new strategic plan for the network,” he said. “A scan of the past three years brings us the realization that times are changing, and that resilience is an aspect of national development to which quality infrastructure can and must contribute. Our new 2022 to 2025 strategic plan begins the process of looking at just how we can continue to answer the call and respond to those needs. It is one of the highlights of this, our 41^st meeting.”

 Under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, the Cabinet of Ministers met on Monday, October 10, 2022, to discuss significant matters of national interest and made several significant decisions to improve the well-being of the people.

The following are the decisions taken: 

1. The Cabinet of Ministers received a presentation from the Director of Policy Planning & Projects in the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Affairs, Ms. Azilla Clarke, on the status of the Poverty Alleviation Programme (PAP) and has approved the recommendations for the reformation and restructuring of the programme to improve its efficiency for the betterment of the people. Going forward, the PAP will be managed by the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Affairs. The Cabinet’s approved reformation of the PAP is in keeping with the pledge to improve the management of the programme to ensure that persons receive the adequate assistance they need. More information will be forthcoming in the upcoming months.

1. The Cabinet has also approved the extension of the Private Home Option of the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme to November 30^th 2023. This option allows realtors to sell private homes under the CBI.

1. Finally, the re-establishment of The Water Board has been approved by the Cabinet of Ministers. The Water Board has not been in operation for several years.

Under the Watercourses and Waterworks Act, Section 8 (1), “The Board shall control, manage, maintain, and supervise all watercourses and waterworks in the distribution area and shall provide (so far as is practicable) an adequate water supply for the consumers therein.”

The decision to reestablish The Water Board is in accordance with your Government’s strong commitment to fully address and rectify the ongoing water supply issues our citizens and residents on Saint Kitts have been facing.

Three standards, which have been adopted by the St. Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards (SKNBS), are in the process of becoming technical regulations, which means they will no longer be voluntary, but mandatory to follow.

The three standards include Specification for Packaged Water, Labelling of Prepackaged Food and Labelling of goods — General requirements.

For Specification for Packaged Water, the bureau will be regulating the safety aspects within the standard. For example, businesses would have to ensure that any water that is produced within St. Kitts and Nevis would have to meet the microbial and chemical requirements as well as the labelling requirements, specifically within the labelling regulation. This is applicable to products not only made in St. Kitts and Nevis, but all packaged water. They must conform to the very minimum requirements in St. Kitts and Nevis.

In terms of Labelling of Prepackaged Food, the bureau wants to ensure that when consumers purchase food items, they are given the right information to make informed choices. There are several requirements which need to be displayed on pre-packaged foods. These include, the name of the product, where it was produced, the net content, net volume, or net weight, contact information and ingredients among others. At the moment, nutritional labelling is not a national requirement, but it may be a requirement for export. Currently, the bureau does not have the resources to help its producers with nutritional labelling, but hopes to acquire them in the near future. 

When it comes to Labelling of goods — General requirements, this comprises everything including food items, toys and electronic items among other commodities. One of the requirements is that you must know where the product is coming from, that is, the country of origin. Also, the language on the product must be in English. It can be in another language, but English must be present. In addition, labels must not be deceptive. For example, when it comes to packaged water, a company may display “natural spring water” on its packaging when it is actually “purified water” or they may show “purified spring water” when it should be one or the other, not both.

If there is an infringement on the law or if the bureau finds you in contravention of the law, the bureau will bring your attention to it. However, if it continues, the bureau may seek legal action. The court will then charge the business or person. The bureau will also have the authority to fine persons that are not following the regulation.

While the timeline of when these standards to be enforced has not been set, it is important for the public, businesses and consumers alike, to familiarize themselves with them. They can be viewed or purchased by visiting the bureau’s office at La Guerite. 

Frances-Ann Prince of Cayon is the newest centenarian in St. Kitts and Nevis.

On Tuesday (October 11, 2022), the family and friends of Ms. Prince were joined by many well-wishers who stopped by to celebrate the milestone. Students from the Cayon Preschool lustily sang the happy birthday song for Ms. Prince. Other visitors included students from the Cayon Primary School, nurses from the Cayon Health Center, representatives from the Green Valley Committee, officials from the Department of Community Development and Social Services, and the retired Deputy Director of Community Development and Social Services Mary Ann Wigley, who presented her with a personalized card.

Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, a frequent visitor of Ms. Prince, said that he was excited to spend part of his day with the newest centenarian.

“It is a pleasure indeed for me to see her reach 100,” Prime Minister Drew stated as he commended the family and others who helped to care for Ms. Prince in her golden years. “Congratulations on your 100^th, Ms. Prince. Good to see you, and I wish you, of course, health and happiness always.”

The prime minister placed a medal commemorating the special occasion around Ms. Prince’s neck. He also presented a bouquet of flowers as well as a fruit basket on behalf of the Ministry of Social Development and Ageing et al.

Ms. Prince was showered with words of love and appreciation from her children, grandchildren and other family members and friends. The Father of the St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Cayon, thanked God for His grace and mercy towards the faithful parishioner.

Ms. Prince was born on October 11, 1922. She gave birth to 15 children, two of which were stillborn. She cared deeply for each child and made many sacrifices during her time on a gang at Hermitage Estate. Six children are alive today. Three of them were present for her birthday celebration. Ms. Prince’s favourite song is “Never Grow Old.”

There are 11 centenarians in the twin-island Federation. Seven in St. Kitts and 4 in Nevis.