St Kitts-Nevis joins the rest of the world as it celebrates World Habitat Day on October 1.

In an address to the nation, Hon Dr Joyelle Clarke, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Climate Action said globally, there has been an increase in challenges in cities and human settlements, and in particular, an increase in crises like COVID-19, climate and conflicts. As such this year’s World Habitat Day has focused on these challenges.

She stated that these crises have reversed years of progress made in the fight against poverty and the best way forward in tackling urban poverty and inequality will be placed as an urgent priority.

Dr Clarke said, “Governments play a front-line role in responding to crises and emergencies as well as planning for an inclusive, resilient, and green future. To prepare urban areas for future catastrophes, we need to start with our cities. Thus, action and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals are more important than ever.”

Dr Clarke’s address comes just as the Urban Development Unit, for which she is responsible, launched its week of activities on Sunday 2^nd October, to bring awareness to its objectives as well as to commit to ensuring that all citizens have access to equal opportunities, basic services, not subjected to discrimination as well as to fully respect the rights of migrants.

Other commitments include promoting measures that support a cleaner St. Kitts and Nevis, and strengthening the resilience in cities so as to reduce the risk and the impact of disasters.

In the address, Dr Clarke said it is also important to improve connectivity and support innovative and green initiatives all while promoting safe, accessible and green public spaces.

The UN-Habitat, a division of the United Nations, recognizes the 1^st Monday in October as World Habitat Day. This year, it is under the theme, “Mind the Gap. Leave No One and Place Behind”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is pleased to inform the general public that the Organization of American States (OAS), in collaboration with the MIU City University of Miami, is offering scholarship opportunities for 2022 in the following programmes:

Bachelor’s in business administration + Expert Certificate
Bachelor’s in computer engineering + Expert Certificate
International master’s in business administration + Expert Certificate
Master’s in educational leadership, Management and New Technologies + Expert Certificate.

Scholarships will cover 60% of study fees, the other 40% of which students will be expected to cover themselves.

Interested persons should apply to MIU via their online portal at:

https://crm.miuniversity.edu/application-%20form/?utm_source=other&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=oas_miucityuniver sity&utm_content=pdfen&utm_term=oea-web.

Persons should also note that the deadline for submission of applications is 20th November, 2022.

The Ministry of Agriculture as part of its ongoing Asset Management Programme continues to rehabilitate various properties and compounds across St. Kitts in an effort to boost productivity and create more clean green spaces. On September 29, 2022, Minister of Agriculture Samal Duggins and his team facilitated a clean-up of the compound of the George Moody Stewart School.

“As I stand here in the compound of the George Moody Stewart School, one of the assets under the management of the Ministry of Agriculture we are standing on our commitment to managing our assets well. Also, in keeping a very clean and healthy environment free of pests and free of diseases and one that our children can feel comfortable in and play whilst developing well. Today, we are cleaning the compound and surroundings of this premises, we would have been made aware that a number of insects would have found a home in the overgrowth and so today we want to remove all of that overgrowth so that we can remove the homes developed for centipedes and other pest and insects because we have young children here at the school and we do not want any injury or adverse effects to these children”, said Minister Duggins.

On September 27, 2022, also as a part of the ongoing Asset Management Programme, the Ministry of Agriculture also held a cleanup exercise in the vicinity of the Old Road Fisheries Complex in an effort to improve the sanitary conditions at the facility. Acting Manager of the Basseterre and Old Road Fisheries Complex Mr. Lorinston Jenkins spoke about the importance of the ongoing exercise.

“We are down here trying to maintain and clean up of the Old Road Fisheries Complex because this is one of the focus areas for our department right now as we work towards getting the facility back up and running at its maximum capacity. We want to make this facility more effective and useful for the fisherfolk and residents of the surrounding area. We want to get everything done in a sustainable way to the benefit of all involved. Another reason for this major cleanup exercise is that in Old Road we catch a lot of ocean pelagic species of fish so we attract a lot of customers here and for food safety purposes we need to ensure that the area is kept in great condition,” said Mr. Jenkins.

The Ministry of Agriculture intends to rehabilitate a number of its properties across the island in an effort to improve the delivery of its services to the general public. Fisherfolk across the Federation will be assisted with the various equipment and materials necessary to boost production.

Efforts to enhance senior care in St. Kitts and Nevis are being intensified by the Government as it seeks to ensure that older persons live a dignified and purpose-filled life as they age.

While giving an address to observe the International Day of Older Persons on October 01, 2022, the Honourable Isalean Phillip, Junior Minister responsible for Social Development, Aging and Disabilities et al, highlighted that the Ministry’s Senior Enrichment Programme, focuses on physical well being and healthy lifestyles; spiritual development, social and personal development; lifelong learning and skills development, and advocacy and community engagement.

“It is envisioned that these interventions would be instrumental in promoting active aging and raise awareness of the opportunities and challenges of aging persons in today’s rapidly evolving world,” Junior Minister Phillip stated.

“Furthermore, in a thrust to carve out space for the significant presence of older persons across the Federation, this administration is committed to branching out and building on the elderly care services being provided as part of community development and social services. Strategic plans for this new thrust include the establishment of an Elderly and Disability Services Unit, the drafting of legislation for the prevention of elderly abuse, reinstatement of the Golden Years Club, as well as staff training and recruitment of an additional cohort of home care officers to pilot a new elderly daycare programme in different communities,” she added.

The theme for the International Day of Older Persons is “Resilience of Older Persons in a Changing World.”

“I quite like this year’s theme because it encourages us to think about how resilient and adaptive we are as Kittitians and Nevisians,” the Junior Minister expressed. “As we commemorate this international observance for older persons, I’d like to acknowledge and appreciate the ten centenarians who are alive and well residing in our Federation today. Specifically, we have 6 in St. Kitts and 4 in Nevis. I think that having this number of centenarians among us is a testament to the strength and fortitude of our identity and heritage as Kittitians and Nevisians.”

Junior Minister Phillip said that the government values the meaningful contributions of older persons and implored the population to “cherish, involve, protect and respect all seniors.

The St. Kitts and Nevis Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew-led Government of St. Kitts and Nevis says his administration intends to take the necessary actions to create a sustainable medicinal cannabis industry.

Prime Minister Dr. Drew, speaking during an interview with SKN Newsline on Wednesday, September 28, said there is much work to do in this regard because as it stands presently, St. Kitts and Nevis is well behind when it comes to establishing a cannabis industry.

“Antigua is ahead, St. Vincent is ahead, Jamaica is ahead, and we know that people travel to these countries because they would have an industry that is well-controlled, well-monitored and so forth that allows for the use of marijuana. And so, we will be on that path, and we will see a lot of action in that area within the first year,” Dr. Drew said.  

The Prime Minister added, “We have a marijuana commission in place and that commission would start functioning in earnest to get us there. We will then move to expunge the records of those who have criminal records for possession of marijuana. We think that that should not be used as a means to limit people’s advancement in their own lives and so we will put the necessary legislation in place to get us there.”

Moreover, Prime Minister Dr. Drew made it clear that his administration will ensure that it is the citizens and residents of St. Kitts and Nevis who benefit first and foremost from the establishment of this industry.

He noted, “At this point in time, we are not looking at any outside people necessarily coming in and dominating this industry. This industry is for our people to develop. We will not make that mistake, and therefore we will, of course, meet those who are involved in this industry, and we will work out ways of how we can make sure that they are a part of the industry… I would say at this time, the goal is and what we will do is to make sure that the local growers are protected [and] our people are protected within that industry.”

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Marine Resources and Cooperatives continues to work assiduously to strengthen food security within the Federation. On September 26, 2022, Minister of Agriculture et al the Hon. Samal Duggins was present at the handing over ceremony of a Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer to the St. Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards.

“This piece of equipment will bring St. Kitts and Nevis closer to the point of being able to establish our export market where we can penetrate on a high level, even higher than we have done before. As I looked at our import bill prior to now, I must admit it was quite depressing to recognize that we spend over $130 million importing food into our Liamigua. And understand what that means, the land of fertile soil spends $138 million importing food, which represents 85 percent of what we consume. So, 85 percent or more of what we consume is imported. We must recognize now that there must be a shift, a shift in mindset, a shift in behavior and a shift in budget. We must put our people to work, not just in farming but in agro-processing and put that wonderful produce out in the world to consume,” said Minister Duggins.

The Minister of Agriculture also indicated that CARICOM leaders have made the ‘25 by 2022’ goal for regional food security a major aspect of their domestic governance agendas, with the agriculture sector geared to drive regional growth.

According to the Director of Projects at the Caribbean Development Bank, Mr. Daniel Best, the donation of the Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer was made through the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Cariforum European Union sponsored Strengthening the National Quality Infrastructure: Training and Equipment for Conformity Assessment Project.

“This new initiative is one of two projects in St. Kitts and Nevis that seeks to strengthen national quality infrastructure and trade facilitation with support from the 11^th European Development Fund Economic Partnership Agreement and CARICOM Single Market and Economy standby facility for capacity building… we are grateful for national partners, particularly the St. Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards, the Ministry of International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs for their commitment to the success of this project. I would also like to express appreciation to the European Union for its commitment to delivering impactful projects that improve the ability of CARIFORUM member states to improve the trade of their goods,” said Director Best.

The gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GC/MS) has been developed to separate and analyze mixtures with high sensitivity, and as a result, is used in a wide range of fields, such as measurement of dioxin, organic compounds in drinking water, and concentrations of drugs in blood, as well as a tool for developing new pharmaceutical products.

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Tourism Honourable Marsha Henderson is using today, World Tourism Day to reiterate that the tourism sector is vitally important to the Federation and that every effort will be placed on resuscitating the sector in a post-COVID world.

“During the past two years, we endured restrictions and lockdowns put in place by governments around the world to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus. While we endured the economic hardship of the virus, this also provided us with opportunities and a newfound appreciation for the industry,” said Minister Henderson during her World Tourism Day, September 27.

“We celebrate this day to foster awareness about tourism’s social, cultural, political and economical value and the contribution the sector could make towards the sustainable development of our society,” she said. “This year, the observance of this day is even more meaningful as we celebrate the resilience of the sector and the perseverance of you the people.”

Minister Henderson stated that “This year’s theme for World Tourism Day, ‘Rethinking Tourism’ focuses on reimagining the sector’s growth both in terms of size and relevance, emphasizing the rebound of travel across the globe after the past two and half years as well as our aggressive plans to continue driving positive impacts in the year ahead.”

She said that the Federation is in a position to rethink its tourism product and refresh and repackage the existing offerings as the country looks towards the future and its role within the world with respect to tourism.

Tourism is a major driver of economic growth as it creates jobs and opportunities with the market revenue in travel and tourism projected to reach 716 billion US dollars this year.

The importance of road safety, the implementation of proper road signage, penalties for infringing traffic laws and a new home for the Traffic Department were discussed when the Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Hon. Garth Lucien Wilkin met with the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilroy Brandy and senior Police Officers within the Traffic Department of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) on September 26, 2022.

In an effort to increase road safety, the Attorney General and the Senior Police Officers discussed and agreed that as a matter of urgency proper signage will be erected at roundabouts and traffic lights to explain to all road users (especially the thousands of tourists/visitors expected during our upcoming peak season) the lawful way to utilize those traffic features to make road use safer.

“Sleeping policemen (speed bumps) were recommended to deter speeding, a major problem in our Federation, exacerbated by the increase in motor vehicles on the road and lawlessness of some motorists,” the Attorney General said.

“We agreed that curbing societal criminality begins with deterring petty offences, like traffic infractions. The Chambers will therefore draft a new traffic ticketing law which will include demerit points, whereby a person can lose his or her driver’s licence by accumulating a certain number of demerit points. This will deter reckless driving, especially by persons who make their living driving,” he added.

“This proposed law will also seek to streamline the traffic ticket payment system by making non-payment a restriction on future vehicle and driver’s licencing, which will reduce the current backlog of traffic cases within the Magistrate’s Court system,” he said.

 “Lastly, we have agreed to advocate for the relocation of the Traffic Department to a more spacious and convenient home which can accommodate vehicle registration, licencing and insurance in one location, thereby eliminating the need for persons to travel to various offices throughout Basseterre to process vehicle sales and registration,” the Honourable Attorney General said.

Director of the Energy Unit in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Dr. Bertil Browne said the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is further extending tariffs to renewable energy equipment.

He said during an interview on September 22 at the Energy Unit on Wellington Road, Basseterre, that “We are in the process of developing a tariff for persons who have rooftop solar and wind turbines at their homes so that when they produce excess energy and it goes back into the grid, they are compensated for it.”

“We are also developing the procedures and the application process as to how you would get it done,” said Dr. Browne.

He added that “The government is trying to incentivize persons who have these installations because the government has a commitment to increase the amount of renewable energy on the grid so this would now incentivize persons to put in more renewable energy and increase our renewable energy production.”

Dr. Browne added that this incentive is not the sole encouragement the Government offers. He said, “Duties have been removed from alternative energy and renewable energy equipment that is imported, things like solar panels and other electrical components that are associated with it.”

For persons looking to invest in solar panels, Dr. Browne gave some insights on the effectiveness of a 250-watt solar panel. He said, “For the average two-bedroom home a 5-kilowatt to 10-kilowatt system should be able to meet all of their energy needs, so you are talking about 10 – 20 panels.”