BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 15th May 2020)- Wearing protective face masks while in public is currently a required safety trend, globally, as one of the top measures in the fight to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) but in St.Kitts-Nevis, likewise in some other countries, the use of camouflage material by members of the general public is illegal which also applies to such masks.

Superintendent Cromwell Henry while speaking at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) COVID-19 Daily Briefing held on Tuesday 12th May 2020 pledged the police’s support to the St.Kitts-Nevis Defense Force to enforce this restriction.

Reading an announcement from the Defense Force, he said: “It has been observed that members of the general public are increasingly wearing the camouflage face mask. Members of the general public are reminded that it is an offence in law; contrary to section 215 of the St. Christopher and Nevis Defence Force Act-to be in possession or wear any item of military gears.”

Superintendent Henry continued: “As such, the St.Kitts-Nevis Defence Force advises against the wearing of these masks by members of the general public. The camouflage masks are military kits and must be treated as such. Anyone found in possession of or wearing the camouflage -or any material nearly resembling- mask, it will be confiscated and the perpetrators prosecuted.”

He then went on to add the support to the notice given indicating that the police force “will be vigilant in enforcing this particular restriction.”

“Members of the public should not be wearing any military clothing be it mask, pants, shirt, hat or any other similar gear that is worn by the military,” the senior police officer also stated.

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 15th May 2020)-A representative group of livestock and crop farmers on St.Kitts who, in a public outcry, protested outside Government Headquarters in March 2020 calling for the betterment of the agriculture sector still have more to say on the topic of the Ministry of Agriculture getting the input of farmers to move sector forward.

At a press conference held on Wednesday 13th May 2020, President of the St. Kitts Farmers’ Cooperative Solomon Morton was joined by two colleagues- Elroy Stapleton and Gareth Lewis; the three of whom were recently selected to part of a committee to deal with the issue of financial compensation regarding the loss of animals (cattle, sheep and goat) in the tick disease involving a shortage of Bayticol situation.

According to sentiments expressed by Morton, in support of his colleagues, that media event was a “non-political press conference because it’s our livelihood and it is [sector] that is going to save our nation and our generation.”

As part of the government’s COVID-19 stimulus plan, $10 million has been allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture under the banner of boosting production in the agriculture sector and ensuring greater food security for the Federation. Free Bayticol and waiver of payments for the consumption of water by farmers for six months (April to September 2020) is included also.

When asked by the media house about what response they expect from those in authority, Solomon commented: “One of the things we expect is that they would honour what was said by the Minister that farmers should be included to see how the money is spent. In that way, there would be traceability and accountability and except that happens it means we are wasting time.”

He told that a proposal he has shared with officials is that: “Out of that $10 million, some money needs to be set aside in a foundation so that farmers can go and borrow that money at a cheaper interest rate and not be depending on the government for handouts and that is key if we’re gonna move the agriculture sector forward.”

Morton replied further saying: “We are hoping that going forward whoever or whatever, you have to come to the farmers, get our input to move the agriculture sector forward. You don’t stay in an office and dictate because we’re not slave and drop outs. We are intelligent people just like they are and all that we are saying is give us the respect and listen to our cry. Let us make our input and together we can move it forward.”

As understood, in April 2019, a meeting was held in St. Peter’s Community Centre in which livestock farmers held an audience with Agriculture Minister Eugene Hamilton to address issues which saw a follow-up meeting in August that year on some promises made.

“That meeting, they gave the farmers who were present a few days to sign up to say what animal they have lost and the amount. Not all farmers were privy to that meeting so not all farmers attended. We waited and then after a while nothing was happening. Just over a month ago when we couldn’t take it anymore as our animals continued to die, the livestock farmers decided that we have to do something about it and so we took the time to demonstrate and went down to Church Street…Upon doing so they then spoke to then acting Permanent Secretary who took some time out to engage us and show that she is willing to listen to our plight and we should come and talk with her.”

As explained following such, the Minister of Agriculture called two meetings-one to deal with livestock and another to deal with crops.

From the Church Street demonstration and also followed by a livestock meeting at the Department of Agriculture in La Guerite, Morton shared that he made it clear to the audience and the Minister who were present “that one of the way going forward is that whatever funds are going to be distributed, the farmers should have a say in dealing with this.”

Solomon informed that at the meeting at LaGuerite, the three of them were appointed to be part of the committee to “deal with the whole idea of compensation”

To date the representative farmers are awaiting a copy of list of farmers affected in order to vet it.

“We were told that it’s not complete and so we can’t get it. Up until this moment, we have not received that list. You might say well that’s no big issue but if we’re going to be charged with the responsibility of making sure that the money that was given by Cabinet which is equivalent to half a million $EC to be used as compensation then we must be in a position to verify the amount that each farmer would be getting and at the same time to make sure that that money is spent where it is supposed to be spent or go where it is supposed to go.”

20 April 2020 (Port of Spain) – A webinar hosted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) Caribbean Office gave senior officials from governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations a platform to discuss how COVID-19 is affecting Caribbean labour markets and possible solutions for the region.

Under the title, “The world of work in a time of COVID-19”, the high-level tripartite dialogue drew over 300 participants from governments, employers’ organizations, workers’ organizations, UN agencies, the media, academia and the general public.

It was framed within the umbrella of International Labour Standards, an essential reference in recovery processes and strategies. During the debate, panellists shared information on adopted policy measures and their effectiveness in mitigating the impact of the crisis on companies, production, and as well as the goal of protecting workers and jobs and preserving income and livelihoods.

The Honourable Vance Amory, Minister of Nevis Affairs, Labour, Social Security and Ecclesiastical Affairs for Saint Kitts and Nevis, began the discussion with an overview of social protection measures that were developed in consultation with tripartite partners and implemented by his government to deal with the unprecedented crisis.

During the session, Senator the Honourable Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, Minister of Labour and Small Enterprise Development for Trinidad and Tobago, highlighted the collaborative approach by government, business and labour to implement health and safety protocols and best practices to safeguard the health of the labour force.

Other featured speakers included regional representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations who shared their perspectives on how Caribbean countries can effectively cope with the crisis.

Mr Wayne Chen, President of the Caribbean Employers’ Confederation (CEC), advised that the pandemic presents an opportunity to leverage technology to continue to deliver education, and that the situation is also a time for workforces to upskill and grasp opportunities created by the crisis. “This is an opportunity for all of us to reset our economies and societies,” he said.

Mr Andre Lewis, President of the Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL), stated while the COVID-19 pandemic presents challenges, it is a chance to remodel economies across the region. “The way forward puts people before profit, puts health before wealth, an economic model that is community-based driven in a society that has a basic income guarantee for all. In other words there must be social protection for our societies,” he explained.

Members of the ILO’s senior management team for Latin America and the Caribbean also participated in the discussion by drawing on the ILO’s COVID-19 policy response framework for economic and social recovery in the immediate, medium and long term.

“A healthy worker is the most important thing for the post COVID-19 world,” said Mr Vinícius Carvalho Pinheiro, Director of the ILO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, who emphasized the importance of investing in workers’ health and safety during and after the pandemic.

“This is a time where more than ever before we need to come together to craft solutions that work. Workers, employers and governments together can make sure we not only address the immediate impact but find opportunity to build a better future of work,” explained Ms Claudia Coenjaerts, Director of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean.

The session was part of an ILO Caribbean “Resilient with Decent Work” Webinar Series for representatives from governments, employers’ organizations, workers’ organizations and other stakeholders to discuss the economic and social impacts of COVID-19, as well as effective policy responses.

The next ILO Caribbean webinar will take place on 28 April 2020 (World Day for Safety and Health at Work) and will focus on Safety and Health at Work in the Face of the COVID-19 pandemic.