BASSETERRE, St.Kitts-Nevis (Friday 10th July 2020)- With a section of the St.Kitts Marriott Resort in Frigate Bay transformed into a National Assembly setting, the opening of Parliament in St.Kitts-Nevis was held on Wednesday 8th July 2020 for the second term of the Team Unity Government, headed by Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris.

In delivering the Throne Speech Governor General Sir Tapley Seaton explained that the venue came amidst health measures concerning COVID-19.

“Our very own election campaigning, the conduct of our General Election on June 5, 2020, and the inauguration of the new Government were done under rather unusual conditions in compliance of COVID-19 rules and protocols. Today’s opening of the new Parliamentary Session demonstrates adherence to our ongoing COVID-19 protocols, given the need to observe proper social distancing – which the confines of our Parliamentary Chambers cannot accommodate. Hence, the reason we are meeting here at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort,” he said.

According to him, the approach over the next five years will not be halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In 2020, my Government is even more committed than we were in 2015 in terms of delivering on the joint vision of “Prosperity for All”, where the impact of our growth and development is positively felt by even the most vulnerable among us. Our approach over the next five years, in constructing a stronger and safer future, is therefore intended to build on the prosperity foundation that my Government would have already started to put in place. The COVID-19 pandemic will not stop the train of development, given our commitment to resilience and adaptability in weathering and adjusting to whatever the new normal state of being calls for. We recognise it would not be “business as usual”. We also recognise that this moment in time – more than ever before – is a period that calls for innovation, creativity and resilience as we set about the task of re-opening our economy and our borders in a careful and measured manner. To do otherwise would be a foolish undertaking that threatens the achievements we would have already made in the socioeconomic, cultural and political transformation of our Country.”

He added: “My Government views our people’s needs, our health and our wellness as Priority #1, and we will not compromise public health on the altar of economic expedience. Mr. Speaker: My Government intends to maintain a people-centred approach to governance. Our citizens deserve to take up space in every area of human endeavour, whether it be through education, skills development, good jobs, public service, entrepreneurship and attraction of investments to our Federation be they of local, foreign or joint venture origin.”

Sir Tapley addressed the significance of the Team Unity structure saying: “As we stand at the start of the 2nd term of the Team Unity Government, it is necessary to remind our citizens and residents of St. Kitts and Nevis of the vision, ethos and overarching aim of the Team Unity movement which was launched on September 26, 2013, following the agreement of the People’s Action Movement (PAM), The Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) and the People’s Labour Party (PLP) to set aside party politics and form a coalition.

He continued: “I would have undertaken a similar exercise in the Throne Speech I would have delivered as then Governor General’s Deputy on Thursday, May 14, 2015. Now that Team Unity has retained control of the Government following the resounding victory at the polls – with an even stronger mandate by winning nine of the 11 seats – it is imperative for all to know and to understand that the Government had not, and will not, deviate from its intended plan for national development where the gains are shared by all regardless of colour, creed, gender, ethnicity, race, political opinion or socio-economic status. By holding fast to our united mission we will truly ensure that our Federation remains a preferred jurisdiction in which to live, work, do business and engage in leisure activities. Adherence to this core mandate will also guarantee that the principles and practices of democracy and good governance remain intact and respected.”

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 3rd July 2020) – In light of coronavirus (COVID-19) safety guidelines, the new Minister of Education, Jonell Powell, has informed about plans for the phased reopening of schools including the requirement of early childhood centers to get checked for approval ahead of the new school year in September 2020.

In an address to the nation on Thursday 2nd July, he disclosed that summer break will begin after Friday 10th July followed by the new school year on Monday 7th September 2020.

“Having determined that the school year starts on 7th September 2020, the Ministry of Education will take a phased approach to the physical reopening of learning institutions. The phased approach to the return of students is necessary in order to ensure that schools can effectively implement and sustain the health, hygiene, and safety protocols and where possible establish and maintain reasonable measures for physical distance in keeping with the school context. The efforts, in this regard, are informed by the recommendations outlined in documents from UNICEF, UNESCO and CARPHA regarding the reopening of educational institutions. Additionally, the Ministry of Education continues to work closely with the National COVID-19 Task Force.”

On the topic of the early childhood centers, he had this to say: “We’re currently working together to address the needs of the early childhood sector to explore the phased opening of this very critical sector. As a nation, we’re moving towards effectively living and working with the threat of COVID-19, and as more and more of our citizens transition back to the workforce , the care and welfare of our youngest citizens will remain of utmost priority thus the Ministry of Education , through its Early Childhood Development Unit, and in conjunction with the National Task Force for COVID-19 will begin the process of a phased approach to reopening the early Childhood sector on a case by case basis.”

The Education Minister told that proprietors and supervisors of nurseries and preschools are asked to contact the Early Childhood Development Unit at 466-2810 for guidance on the application process to commence the review of your facilities in light of the COVID-19 safety requirements.

“Once the Early Childhood facility has been determined to be compliant with the new safety and health protocols of the early childhood sector, then that nursery or center would be able to secure approval for reopening.”

In regard to the end of the school year, he outlined that: “Recognising that many of our teachers and students have been engaging in online instructions since the physical closure of our schools, the Ministry of Education has taken a decision that provision of instructions will end on 10th July 2020 as was scheduled on the academic calendar. This means that there is no extension of the academic school year.”

“As such, public school students in St.Kitts and Nevis will commence their summer break after 10th July 2020. Where there are school matters to complete, teachers are required to avail themselves for the completion of all duties. Students who are scheduled to write over CSCE examinations for 13th July 2020 would be expected to report to their schools’ examination centres very early for each examination in light of new protocols for assessing examination spaces at schools, students registered for exams are encouraged to get to their schools at least one hour of every examination time.”

The Education Minister said the first school term is proposed to end on Friday 11th December 2020.

“It is the intention of the Ministry of Education for student-teacher engagement to be maximized during this period thus the processes of teaching, learning and assessment are expected to accentuate until 4th December 2020. The days of 7th to 11th December 2020 are designated for grading and record keeping. This allows teachers a period for uninterrupted marking and updating of records. Parents and guardians can therefore begin to collect reports for term one from 14th December 2020.”

According to Powell, “As we look towards the next academic year, the Ministry is staunchly committed to the course of action which will increase student contact time and minimize loss of learning.”

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 3rd July 2020)- Thirteen (13) adult male Haitians found by local authorities occupying the space of a homeowner in Keys Village, having recently entered the island illegally, are currently being monitored for coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms though first testing resulted in negative results.

Homeowner Mervin Maynard has been charged with harboring those immigrants after they were found on his premises.

Reportedly, a joint search was conducted on Maynard’s premises on Monday 22nd June by the Police and the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force.

Information coming from the Police Public Relations Department indicates that he was formally arrested and charged for the offence of Harbour Persons who Entered the Federation Illegally which is contrary to section 31 (d) (1) of the Immigration Act 2009 of the revised edition of the laws of the Federation.

Maynard was charged on Friday 26th June.

A total of thirteen (13) nationals of Haiti were on his premises; three of which fled and evaded the Police, but were later apprehended.

According to police, they arrived in Keys on Sunday 21st June by boat from the island of Dominica.

In regard to the monitoring of these immigrants, the Ministry of Health informed on Sunday 28th June that the public health team of the ministry evaluated all immigrants and that they received their first molecular COVID-19 tests.

As told: “The Ministry received the 13 laboratory results, which are all negative for coronavirus. The Government is providing accommodations for the immigrants and they are being monitored for COVID-related symptoms.”

An official from the Ministry reconfirmed that that day that it had been 70 days since the announcement of the last COVID-19 case in the Federation.

All of the Federation’s 15 confirmed cases have recovered and there are no active cases at present.

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 19th June 2020) – Citizens and residents of St.Kitts-Nevis are being urged to be mindful of COVID-19 health guidelines amidst the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season that is predicted to be above normal with at least six major storms.

The National Disaster Coordinator at the National Emergency Management Agency Abdias Samuel who is also the Chairman of the COVID-19 National Task Force, during an address to the nation expressed such sentiments in observance of the start of the hurricane season  which runs from June 1^st to November 30^th yearly.

“As we focus our attention on the preparedness measures for the hurricane season, it remains critically important that we also remember that we are still amidst the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic. Social and physical distancing, hygiene protocols and health guidelines to keep you safe from COVID-19 must be taken into consideration  and will impact your preparedness plans  including what is in your go-kits, evacuation routes, shelters and more,” he said.

According to him, theSt.Kitts Metrological Services, who is the competent weather authority located at the RLB International Airport, has indicated that we can expect an above normal 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

“The outlook predicts a sixty per cent chance of an above normal season, a 30 per cent chance of a new normal season and only a 10 per cent chance of a below normal season.”

Samuel added: “The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from the first of June to the 30th of November. According to the forecast, it is predicted that there is likely to be between 13 to 19 named storms of which six to ten could become hurricanes including three to six major hurricanes.

He said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, otherwise known as NOAA, provides these ranges with a 70 percent confidence ratio.

An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms of which six are likely to become hurricanes including three major hurricanes.

Samuel told citizens and residents that given the above normal outlook for this hurricane season, it is vital that everyone in this Federation of St.Kitts and Nevis takes the precautionary measures and become prepared.

“As we enter the hurricane season, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), continues to strengthen its public education and awareness campaigns, mitigation and preparedness measures. As we embrace the mandate of the Caribbean Disaster management Agency (CEDEMA), our parent organisation, the regional intergovernmental agency for disaster management in CARICOM which is based on Barbados, we fully embrace the principles and practices of Comprehensive Disaster Management otherwise known as CDM.”

He explained that CDM is an integrated and proactive approach to disaster management and it seeks to reduce the risk and loss associated with national and technological hazards and the effects of climate change to enhance regional sustainable development.

Additionally, the NEMA official called on everyone to reflect on three past major hurricanes- Irma, Maria and Dorian.

“Let the 2017 experience of Irma and Maria and of course 2019 Dorian, an extremely powerful category 5 hurricane which devastated countries in the Caribbean region and also impacted the United States of America … serve as a reminder of how dynamic the weather can be and predications can change, however we must be ready, and this allows us to build resilience as a people.”

“We all have a role to play in doing so, and this must be of high priority at this time. Citizens and residents, it only takes one hurricane to change lives, livelihoods and communities. According to the scientists, hurricanes are the most powerful storms with high winds and torrential rain falls that can last for several hours and up to days and have the potential to cause injury, widespread property damage and by extension, can also cause the loss of many lives,” he advised.