The GOSKN is seeking to contract a Project Coordinator to work with ELEVATE trainees for the effective delivery of an existing entrepreneurship curriculum. The Project Coordinator will be responsible for the management and implementation of the ELEVATE project and will report directly to the Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Plan and manage ELEVATE operations and develop strategic plans for project implementation.
• Organize and manage ELEVATE office operations, staff efforts and workload allocation.
• Advise and regularly report to the Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office on ELEVATE project implementation activities, programme plans and recommend project implementation strategies.
• Supervise and manage activities with the ELEVATE project team in coordination with implementing agencies and ensure timely reporting and preparation of project documentation as needed.
• Lead and where they exist direct ELEVATE project team efforts with respect to procurement, execution, and supervision of all project activities.
• Engage and coordinate appropriate line ministry and stakeholder support as needed to advance project objectives.
• Lead in identification of internship opportunities for trainees.
• Submit monthly reports on all elements of ELEVATE indicating project risks and steps to mitigate risk.
• Attend and submit a dashboard report on project indicators which would include tracking participants in all areas of ELEVATE. This would include training activities and business formation.
• Conduct semi-annual tracer studies to be in a position to indicate the impact of ELEVATE on participants.
• Prepare monitoring reports including quarterly monitoring reports for submission to the Prime Minister’s Office.
• Prepare semi-annual implementation plans.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Director of Economic Planning.

Minimum Qualification and Experience:

• A master’s degree in economics, Development Studies, Project Management, Social Policy, or a related discipline.
• At least eight (8) years of relevant professional experience, of which at least three (3) years must be working closely at the national level overseeing or managing projects.
• Demonstrated cross-sectoral capabilities and in particular sound knowledge of the social protection and education sectors.
• Strong leadership and convening powers, with excellent planning, communication, interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain strong, collaborative working relationships with multiple agencies.
• Demonstrated working experience with the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis especially good knowledge of the country’s public sector.
• Relevant working experience with the OECS
• A good understanding of socio-economic data processes and analysis would be an asset.

Contract Duration:

This contract will be for two (2) years in the first instance, renewable annually, subject to satisfactory performance.

Remuneration:

Remuneration will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

 Applications must be accompanied by:
·         Letter of Application
·         Curriculum Vitae
·         Police Record
·         Official academic certificates, transcripts, and other relevant documents (certified copies)
·         Two (2) references with telephone and e-mail addresses
·         Deadline is Tuesday 25 July 2023

and should be addressed to Director, ELEVATE

E-mail: elevate@gov.kn

 Since the restructured Poverty Alleviation Programme (PAP) was rolled out six months ago (January to June 2023), administrators have received greater appreciation of the dynamics that each beneficiary household faces which has resulted in improved services for those in need of assistance.

Households earning less than $3,000 per month are the primary eligibility factor that qualifies households to benefit. After the re-registration process was completed, priority was given to assisting households headed by seniors, persons with a disability, and persons with children in the first instance.

Azilla Clarke, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development, said that the restructuring process gave a clear definition of a household, which reduced inconsistencies that previously existed.

“The previous PAP application did not ask for you to list the members in your household. It just asked for a number, so that way we had a lot of duplicate households, in that more persons in the household were receiving the benefit when it is a household benefit. So now we are able to validate that at every step,” PS Clarke stated.

The addition of case management, where a social worker regularly engages members of the household, also has proven valuable.

“Having a person actually check in with the individual to understand their situation and therefore connect them with additional services and opportunities available through the state system, private sector as well as civil society” is important, said the permanent secretary.

Greater insight collected from the households is also being used to help policymakers understand how society’s less vulnerable are living in a post-COVID environment. This information lends to the creation of new benefits, services, and programmes to assist those in need.

Fulfilling a commitment he made to St. Kitts and Nevis’ High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, H.E. Dr. Kevin Isaac, on the eve of the April Diplomatic Week of activities, Mr. Uday Nayak, founder of KayanJet and Special Envoy for Economic Development, made a donation of laptop computers through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


Foreign Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas presents computer to the President of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) Andrew Abraham 

Ahead of the event and at the request of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kaye Bass, High Commissioner Isaac undertook to secure computers, six of which were donated in May from another source. Mr. Nayak responded by donating fifteen laptops. Eight of the computers are being donated to the CFBC; three to the National Sports Council; and two will be presented to the Office of the Special Olympics.

  
Mr. Ivor Blake (National Director) accepts on behalf of the St. Kitts and Nevis Special Olympics Committee

Foreign Minister, the Right Honourable Dr Denzil Douglas conveyed his thanks to the High Commissioner and Mr. Nayak. He stressed that “such a practical and useful donation by Mr. Nayak speaks not only to his generosity of spirit, but to his commitment to helping the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its efforts to advance the Federation’s sustainable development agenda.” He continued that “computers are no longer luxuries, but essential tools that can significantly assist our young people to develop their capacity and prepare them to better compete in a modern world.”

 Mr. Glen Quinland (Chairman of the National Sports Council) accepted on behalf of the National Sports Council 

Permanent Secretary Bass, who, on behalf of the Foreign Minister, challenged Ambassadors and High Commissioners ahead of Diplomatic Week to try and meet some of the needs of several local academic institutions, expressed her gratitude to High Commissioner Isaac and Mr. Nayak.

 Officials from the Department of Constituency Empowerment are out and about gathering information on the type of services available in various communities, how effective the services are and what gaps need to be filled.

The mandate of the Department of Constituency Empowerment is to be an intermediary body between the government and the various entities that serve the public. It also helps to build capacity at the constituency level to help individuals access relevant services while communicating the needs of residents back to the relevant authorities.

On the July 07 edition of the radio and television programme InFocus, Derek Fyfield, Constituency Empowerment Support Officer, said getting information is a challenging task at times, as some persons do not cooperate during surveys and other engagements.

Derek Fyfield

“Persons who support different parties than the government are staying back and saying it is not for them because it is for the government supporters,” he stated. “That is not so. This department is for everybody. … We don’t see colour; we don’t see party. We see individuals and every individual has needs, and we are here to meet that need to enhance their lives.”

Colincia Levine, Director of Constituency Empowerment, said that the legacy and reputation of the department led many to question the operations of the department. However, the new staff is currently working to forge a new identity.

Colincia Levine

“We do understand that in every revitalization there will be push back and so we are here to encourage the country to give us a chance, give us a try, dialogue and let us know,” said Ms. Levine, noting that a number of public activities and a media tour are an essential part of spreading the word about the department. “We are undertaking these activities to spread awareness and to help in the rebranding of the department so that all citizens need not worry about political bias. We are here to serve all.”

InFocus airs live on ZIZ Radio and Television every Wednesday at 1 p.m. It is also streamed live on ZIZ’s and SKNIS’ YouTube Channels and Facebook Pages. The show is rebroadcast on various local and regional stations and outlets at different times and days.

 The St. Kitts and Nevis Immigration Department hosted a banquet and awards ceremony for its officers on Thursday (July 6) evening in celebration of its 5^th anniversary as an independent department.

Officers of the St. Kitts and Nevis Immigration Department attend banquet

On July 1, 2018, the St. Kitts and Nevis Immigration Department was given full autonomy when it was officially separated from the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force.

Chief Immigration Officer, Mr. Sheldon Jeffers, while delivering remarks to mark the occasion, stated that the department has performed exceptionally well as an independent department in helping to safeguard the nation’s borders, both at the air and seaports.

“As law enforcement officers, we are the gatekeepers of the Federation. We are responsible for the control of entry into, transit through and the departure of persons traveling by air or sea. We are the added arm of law enforcement, and that includes the Police, the Defence Force, Customs etcetera and so…we play a critical role in the whole national security construct,” Chief Immigration Officer Jeffers said.

He added, “We have a civic responsibility not only to welcome and facilitate entry into the Federation by those who are beneficial to the country either as tourists, work permit holders, students or those seeking investment opportunities but also to detect, to prevent and to protect the nation against environmental threats like COVID, human trafficking, smuggling and other transnational crimes which do require a great deal of balancing.”

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Ms. Cecile Hull brought special greetings to the immigration officers on behalf of Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Cecile Hull

In her brief remarks, Permanent Secretary Hull described the Immigration Department as one of the most important arms of the nation’s border protection teams.

Ms. Hull noted, “The work done by you and your department should never be taken lightly nor should we regard it in such a manner. Our nation depends heavily on your vigilance, precision and diligence to maintain a high level of security at and within our border. Our tourism industry and our livelihoods it sustains lean heavily on our ability to repeatedly and consistently present the very best to the visiting world.”

“At this juncture, the Immigration Department is on the cusp of enhancing its delivery of services to our citizens, residents and visitors of St. Kitts and Nevis,” the permanent secretary said.

PS Hull also used the occasion to commend the first Chief Immigration Officer since civilianizing the department, Ms. Merclyn Hughes “for her steady leadership of the department over the years, as the first holder of the office and as the first woman Chief.”

The St. Kitts and Nevis Immigration Department currently consists of fifty-six (56) immigration officers; 42 on St. Kitts and 14 on Nevis.

The 5^th anniversary banquet was held at the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions (CUNA) Conference Room.

Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, paid tribute to the recipients on the New Year Honours List for 2022 and 2023, otherwise known as the Palace Awards, at an Investiture Ceremony held at Government House on Wednesday, July 05, 2023

The awardees were Larkland M. Richards, along with Peter Coury – Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE); and Marjorie Morton, Eric H. Maynard and Vida H. Williams, who all received the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire Award (MBE). The medals were distributed by Governor-General Her Excellency Dame Marcella Liburd GCMG, JP.

Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Hanley acknowledged Larkland M. Richards for his outstanding contributions to the tourism sector. 

Mr. Larkland M. Richards receives his award from Her Excellency the Governor- General

“Through his vision, leadership and unwavering dedication, Mr. Richards has played a pivotal role in stabilizing St. Kitts and Nevis as a world-class tourist destination,” said Dr. Hanley. “His tireless efforts in promoting the country’s natural beauty, culture, heritage and hospitality have attracted visitors from around the globe, boosting the local economy and creating countless employment opportunities for our people.”

Peter Coury was applauded for his sterling contribution to business enterprise.

Mr. Peter Coury receives his award from Her Excellency the Governor-General

“Mr. Coury’s entrepreneurial spirit, innovative thinking and commitment to excellence have propelled numerous successful ventures, driving economic growth and inspiring future generations of business leaders,” said Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Hanley. “His foresight, determination and belief in the potential of the Federation as a thriving business hub have contributed to the overall prosperity of the nation.”

Dr. Hanley thanked Eric H. Maynard for his “remarkable dedication to social outreach and evangelism.”

Mr. Eric H. Maynard receives his award from Her Excellency the Governor-General

“You have positively impacted the lives of countless individuals. Mr. Maynard’s tireless efforts to uplift the less fortunate, offer support to the marginalized communities and spread a message of hope and compassion, have made a profound difference,” he said. “Through this selfless commitment to serving others, Mr. Maynard has embodied the true spirit of community and inspired us all to strive for a more inclusive, compassionate society.”

Marjorie Morton was recognized for her invaluable contribution to governance and public service. Her daughter Paula Morton accepted the award on her behalf.

Paula Morton, daughter of Marjorie Morton CSM, received the award on her behalf

“Your distinguished career and commitment to upholding the highest standards of leadership and public service have earned you the respect and admiration of your peers and the entire nation,” said Dr. Hanley. “Mrs. Morton’s tireless efforts to promote good governance, transparency and accountability have played a crucial role in shaping the foundation of a strong and vibrant democracy.”

Equally important, Vida H. Williams was saluted for her sterling contribution to public service.

Vida H. Williams receives her award from Her Excellency the Governor-General

“We celebrate the accomplishments of Mrs. Vida Williams for her exceptional contribution to public service. Throughout her career, Ms. Williams displayed a deep commitment to the welfare of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis,” said the Deputy Prime Minister. “Your selfless dedication to public service particularly in the areas of education, health care and community development has touched the lives of countless individuals and brought about positive change in our society.

Vida Williams

The OBE is bestowed upon an individual for playing a major role in any worthy activity, while the MBE is bestowed upon an individual for hands-on service that has yielded significant community impact.

The Human Resource Management Department wishes to inform the public about the offerings of scholarships by the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in St. Kitts and Nevis to study in Cuba in various fields.
Twenty (20) scholarships have been allocated for the 2024 academic year. The aforementioned scholarships are as follows:

• Seven (7) scholarships for the career in Medicine
• Seven (7) scholarships for Bachelor of Nursing
• Four (4) scholarships for Postgraduate Medicine (only for graduates in Cuba)
• One (1) scholarship for Health Technology (short cycle higher education programme)
• One (1) scholarship for non-medical careers

The school year is scheduled to start in February 2024. The arrival in Cuba of the students will be ten (10) days before the date established for the beginning of the school year. To qualify for medical specialties, the candidate must have graduated in Cuba with a medical degree.
The deadline for submission of required documentation to our Embassy is 25^th October, 2023.

Please click on the pdf links below to access more information about qualifying requirements, as well as other important information.

https://mcusercontent.com/f9c18edcb5e81ee00df9977e6/files/78517e46-d877-a100-b57c-570229edbc20/Scholarship_Requirements_2024_School_Year.pdf

https://mcusercontent.com/f9c18edcb5e81ee00df9977e6/files/1f811282-da0a-aa50-1df1-a036fe427a8f/Medical_specialties_to_be_offered_in_the_Scholarship_for_the_year_2024.01.pdf

https://mcusercontent.com/f9c18edcb5e81ee00df9977e6/files/b169dda4-6ae6-389e-484e-55f6dd2ed0f6/Careers_for_non_medical_studies.01.pdf

On Saturday, July 01, 2023, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis officially launched its ELEVATE Programme at the NEMA Conference Room. The revised programme has a fundamental focus on human development. ELEVATE effectively revamps the Alternative Lifestyle Pathways Programme (ALPP), commonly referred to as the “Peace Programme”.

The modifications to the programme became necessary as an evaluation of the programme revealed shortcomings including mismanagement in general comprising a lack of transparency and accountability under the former Dr. Timothy Harris-led administration.

The reformed programme features three ‘ELEVATE’ options, namely, elevation through training and certification, elevation through capacity building and elevation through entrepreneurship.

With respect to the training and certification aspect of the programme, Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, Ms. Naeemah Hazelle said, “It will look at training certification programmes [and] internships. We have local businesses who have offered to do training for our ALPP participants. Currently, the ALPP participants have been separated by zones; we’ve got zone one, zone two and zone three. In future, our participants will actually be defined by training categories or these programme option categories. From our registration, we determined that we had a lot of interest in certain areas like plumbing, construction etc., so you would then be now re-registered into the groups that are related to your skill sets.”

Elevation through capacity-building will see the participants exposed to opportunities for skills training and opportunities for learning how to enter a formal procurement process.

“It is our interest to help our clients to bid for projects and to allow them to bid within the ALPP programme. The participants would be permitted to bid for the opportunities in terms of trucking, for [disposing] of garbage, [and] if we are having workshops and we need food preparation they would be allowed to bid for those as well and that’s an opportunity for them to practice the process of bidding and proposal writing, and then of course looking at some of the contracts that we can offer through the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis,” PS Hazelle explained. 

The third ‘ELEVATE’ option, elevation through entrepreneurship, speaks to improving existing businesses, enterprise start-ups and the soon-to-be-introduced ‘ELEVATE Shark Tank’.

Importantly also, Permanent Secretary Hazelle said the participants of the programme will be registered with the Social Security Board so that they too can reap the benefits of the scheme.

She added, “For those who are not aware, the members of ALPP are not registered with Social Security. During our consultations, this was a matter of concern for our participants as it was as if they had no work record at all. So, it’s very important for us as we reintegrate them into the societal system that they would also be registered as working persons and receive the benefits of Social Security.”

The ELEVATE programme will run for a period of two years.