New equipment related to ophthalmology, dialysis treatment, mammograms, and ultrasound are now online or are expected to come online in the coming weeks as the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis undertakes significant upgrades to significantly improve healthcare.

The most recently procured equipment is a state-of-the-art microscope for the Ophthalmic Unit at the Joseph N. France General Hospital. It was acquired at a cost exceeding US$700,000. Director of Health Institutions, Dr. Jenson Morton, said that the microscope was essential in conducting eye surgeries that ceased in July 2022.

“Upon investigation, we were able to see that the machinery was pretty old. It was in dire need of replacement and was at a point in which, even if you repaired it, it was going to be an expensive repair, and it is probable that some other component of it falls apart in a couple of days to weeks again. So, the prime minister made the decision to make the purchase of new equipment for eye surgery,” Dr. Morton stated on the radio and television programme InFocus.

The purchase also included machines to conduct ophthalmic ultrasounds, surgical equipment and anaesthetic equipment for eye surgeries, computer systems and software. All of the equipment and software are already at the J.N.F. General Hospital and are being configured. Dr. Morton said that the service will be fully available shortly.

The Director of Health Institutions added that the Ministry of Health was also able to source new dialysis machines. Staff were trained on how to use the new equipment, which has since been operationalized.

Additionally, Dr. Morton added that an existing machine was also configured to reintroduce mammography services at the hospital. A mammogram is an X-ray scan of the breast and is extremely useful in detecting breast cancer. This service will come online shortly. Further, new ultrasound machines were also donated to the ministry from a collaboration between the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Swiss Embassy. They will be operationalized in short order.

Dr. Morton said that the above-mentioned equipment is part of the government’s efforts to positively enhance healthcare. Training initiatives are also taking place in areas such as customer service, leadership, and more to strengthen human resources.

InFocus airs live every Wednesday on ZIZ Radio and Television at 1 p.m. The programme is rebroadcast on several radio stations throughout the week.

In further demonstration of St. Kitts and Nevis’ commitment to the people of Haiti during this period of crisis, the government of St. Kitts and Nevis, through its Permanent Representative to the United Nations, H.E. Nerys Dockery, has joined the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti, a group charged with following closely and providing advice on the long-term development strategy of Haiti to promote socioeconomic recovery, reconstruction and stability, with particular attention to the need to ensure coherence and sustainability in international support for the country.

The government’s request for membership was endorsed by the Permanent Representative of Haiti and supported by the Permanent Representative of Canada, Chair of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group, who raised it during the plenary session of the United Nation’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) held Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

The Ad Hoc Advisory Group is composed of the Permanent Representatives of Argentina, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, France, Haiti, Kenya, Mexico, Peru, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States of America and Uruguay to the United Nations.

“St. Kitts and Nevis being represented on this Advisory Group, which is the main committee mobilizing international action on the Haiti crisis, provides an opportunity to be in the room where critical decisions are being taken and to strengthen the Group’s efforts to address the humanitarian needs of the population, restore security and political stability and devise a people-centered development pathway to reconstruction and good governance,” said Ambassador Dockery.

“St. Kitts and Nevis will work assiduously to help shape the parameters of international support in ways that put the interest of the people of Haiti first,” she concluded.

Students in St. Kitts and Nevis received some good news today (April 06), as Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew officially launched the Government’s Graduate Finance Project that will see the interest rate on student loans accessed through the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis (DBSKN) reduced to five (5) percent per annum.

Prime Minister Dr. Drew made the announcement during a brief televised address to the nation.

“As of today, Thursday, 6^th April, 2023, the interest rate on student loans accessed through the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis for new students has been reduced to five (5) percent per annum. The intention is to ensure that graduates can live and plan for better lives,” said Prime Minister Dr. Drew.

Dr. Drew added that “The Graduate Finance Project offers five percent interest on a maximum of EC$100,000 for a grace period of four and a quarter years with a 15-year repayment term. It also includes EC$15,000 credit to service the student loan during that period, which eliminates the payment of interest for four years, three months.”

The Finance Minister said through this initiative, St. Kitts and Nevis students stand to save thousands of dollars upon their return from universities.

“A lower interest rate reduces the lifetime cost of college. Under this new policy, students will now save up to EC$50,000 or more. Typically, students return from their studies to high-interest rates and terms that delay important life events such as building their own homes or purchasing a vehicle, and so choose to remain at home with their parents to help ease the financial strain they have acquired,” Prime Minister Dr. Drew said.

The Prime Minister said this policy comes as his administration understands and appreciates that the education of the nation’s youth is of critical importance if St. Kitts and Nevis is to remain competitive.

“We understand the financial strain that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic and therefore, it is our aim to ensure that students who desire to pursue higher education receive the necessary financial support they require. Education is the key to a progressive and successful nation. It is indeed a new day and a better way for students with this new Graduate Finance Project,” said Prime Minister Dr. Drew.

Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew hand signed “good morning” to four special guests who sat in the gallery of the National Assembly for the first time when parliament convened on Tuesday, April 04.

The four persons are members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community who came to celebrate the introduction of sign language, which will now be a regular feature of the sitting and broadcast of the House. Speaker of the National Assembly, the Honourable Lanein Blanchette, welcomed the special guests expressing hope that the “efforts of inclusion” are welcomed.

Belisha Clarke signed her excitement about being at today’s session.

“We felt really appreciative with the deaf people being welcomed in Parliament,” she said. “The Prime Minister came to meet us. He signed good morning, and it made me truly happy to see the Prime Minister, and I hope that the ministry can teach other people sign language also.”

Ms. Clarke was supported by Itesha Nicholls. Both said that they were “truly happy” with today’s proceedings and expressed their desire to communicate more with the Prime Minister via hand signing.

Senator, the Honourable Isalean Phillip, indicated that the government will continue to take action to promote and protect the rights of the differently-abled and encouraged society to join in this effort.

Ms. Clarke shared several priorities that affect the deaf and hard-of-hearing community that society should move to address.

“Deaf people truly need homes and [help] searching for work, and they are having difficulties with their driving license,” she stated, through a sign language interpreter, adding that communicating with doctors, at the hospital, and even at police stations is a challenge.

The pair said that they, and other persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, will continue to follow parliamentary sittings in the future by attending or watching the broadcast on television.

The introduction of sign language follows on the heels of its inclusion at the Prime Minister’s Press Conference with Cabinet Ministers held on March 30, 2023.

Safety and security lie at the heart of the prosperity of any nation. As such, the High Command of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) and the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF) are collaborating to ensure that citizens feel safe and secure.

This was according to the Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, as he used the occasion at the April 04 Sitting of Parliament to update the general public on matters arising out of a meeting held today with Members of the High Command.

“Together, they are collaborating even closer to make more resources available in terms of manpower and national security.  Our ministry will not allow any resource to be withheld that is necessary to deal with the situation at hand,” said Prime Minister Dr. Drew. “This government has not shied away from anything… and this government will not shy away from the issues of national security.”

Prime Minister Dr. Drew appealed to the general public to work closely with the security forces.

“I want to ask the public and all of our citizens to support the security forces – the Police and the Defence Force – as they implement their plan to deal with the issues of national security. I ask our people for calm,” said the National Security Minister. “I also want to say to those who are involved in criminal activities that crime doesn’t pay in the long run. There are opportunities that we want our young men to take advantage of.”

Dr. Drew noted that the government continues to promote gender equity and diversity.

“We are bringing on a consultant in our government to look specifically at men and boys—the specific issues to study and understand, more so, as to implement sustainable long-term programmes to ensure that we keep our men and boys on the right track,” said the Prime Minister. “This is a serious approach that we are going to take. We have communicated with regional partners to make sure that we leave no stone unturned in dealing with this.”

 
The Banking (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was moved through its readings in the National Assembly by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew. It is one of several pieces of legislation brought to the attention of the Federal Cabinet by officials from the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), led by Governor Dr. Timothy Antoine, during a meeting held in February of this year. The legislation is deemed critical for a resilient and robust financial sector.
 
“Madame Speaker, what we really want to do is to strengthen the Banking Act, give it the flexibility that is deserves, allow it to transform and allow the ECCB that space that it requires to continue to be a leading financial institution—an institution that has proven itself and an institution that has kept our currency safe and protected,” Dr. Drew said.
 
Prime Minister Dr. Drew highlighted some of the amendments made to the legislation.
 
He said, “The amendment would allow licensed financial institutions to disclose confidential information where necessary in the conduct of due diligence in relation to a potential transaction. This amendment will be particularly helpful to the Eastern Caribbean Asset Management Corporation. The proposed amendment would be the legal authority for a licensed financial institution to disclose confidential information to the ECAMC. The spirit is not to disclose anybody’s information to whoever wants that information but that the relevant persons can ask for the information so that the banks can do the checks and make sure that the banks are not exposed, or any financial institution is not so unduly exposed.”
 
“Section 186 of the Banking Act is being amended to provide for one, the establishment of a bridge bank for an initial period of twelve months with the possibility of extension by the ECCB for up to four years. Two, specific circumstances under which bridge banks status may be automatically terminated, that is by a fluxion of time, sale to or amalgamation with another institution or satisfaction of the capital requirements. Madame Speaker, this type of transformation we are talking about with the bridge bank is where the ECCB wants to go and we in St. Kitts and Nevis cannot be holding back this very prestigious institution,” Dr. Drew continued.
 
Critically important also is that the Banking (Amendment) Bill, 2023 will ensure that people who serve on Boards of financial institutions are people of integrity so that they do not pose a risk to the financial system.
 
Prime Minister Dr. Drew explained that “The Bill clarifies the fit and proper criteria for members who sit on Boards Madame Speaker. This is not about some abstract matter. The caliber of persons being appointed within Boards touches and concerns real people. This is why we have supported the election of professional people to the Board of the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank. Even before this Bill was passed, I asked that ECCB look at who we were appointing to the Board and those who were not in the proper order they had an opportunity to present and say why and then they had an opportunity to correct it before they would have been appointed to the Board. So, we have practiced it.”
 
The Prime Minister ended by reiterating that the Banking (Amendment) Bill, 2023 is of utmost importance to St. Kitts and Nevis, which has the fourth largest economy in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU).

 Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew moved the second reading of the Caribbean Community and Africa Export-Import Bank (Agreement for the Establishment of a Partnership) Bill, 2023 in the National Assembly on Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

The Bill seeks to give full effect to the agreement for the establishment of a partnership between CARICOM Member States and Afreximbank. The Afreximbank Partnership Agreement was first introduced in September of 2022 during the inaugural Africa-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) held in Bridgetown, Barbados.

In December 2022, the Board of Directors of Afreximbank approved US$1.5 billion in funding to enable CARICOM Member States that have ratified the Partnership Agreement to tap into the Bank’s various financial opportunities.

“The US$1.5 billion financing approved by the Board of Directors of the Afreximbank enables CARICOM countries to access the bank’s financing instruments, through financing facilities, that support various identified economic sectors including tourism, healthcare, renewable energy, shipping, mining, agriculture, agri-business, air links and aquaculture. The Afreximbank will also work to support local financial institutions to source finances for SMEs [small and medium enterprises],” said Prime Minister Dr. Drew.

The Honourable Prime Minister revealed that discussions were already had and are at advanced stages with officials from Afreximbank regarding several projects for St. Kitts and Nevis. On February 17, Prime Minister Drew signed a memorandum of understanding with Afreximbank.

“There’s no CARICOM Member State more advanced in negotiations for tapping into the US$1.5 billion funding than St. Kitts and Nevis. Talks are advanced Madame Speaker; MOUs are signed; the technical teams are discussing, the President visited; a technical team will visit in short order, particularly to look at solar energy and the Blue Economy development, and so we are moving steadily along Madame Speaker,” the Prime Minister added. 

Barbados and Saint Lucia have already passed similar legislation to ratify the Afreximbank Partnership Agreement in their respective territories.

A two-week series of consultations, aimed at professionalising the teaching force in St. Kitts and Nevis, began on Monday 20th March, 2023.

The St. Kitts and Nevis National Commission for UNESCO and Ministry of Education officials welcomed Dr. Steve Nwokeocha, Executive Director of The Africa Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities to the federation to facilitate the series of consultations. The project was launched with a courtesy call on Minister of Education, the Hon. Dr. Geoffrey Hanley. Also present were Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Lisa Pistana; Senior Assistant Secretary, Dr. Tricia Esdaille; Focal Point, Mrs. Carla Mills Diamond and Secretary General to the St. Kitts and Nevis National Commission for UNESCO, Ms. Dorothy Warner.

According to Mrs. Diamond, chairperson of the core and steering committees, “The whole idea of the project is to transition from an in-service model of teacher education to a pre-service model of teacher education.” Mrs. Diamond continued by saying, “There must be a common standard of what it means to be a teacher. In order to ensure that the process is culturally relevant and that the outcomes reflect our national realities, consultations are necessary.”

During the course of the first week, Dr. Nwokeocha met several stakeholders including senior officials in the Ministry of Education, members of the steering committee for SKN Teachers’ Unions, and teachers of both primary and secondary schools, as well as staff from Early Childhood Development Units to facilitate these consultations.

In week two, the consultant undertook a series of Capacity Building Workshops to train persons to operate the National Teaching Council (NTC). Mrs. Carla Mills Diamond explained that these workshops aim to cover the NTC’s Implementation Frameworks for Licensing and Registration, National Teaching Standards, Supervision and Support, and Performance Assessment and Evaluation.

The consultant, Dr. Steve Nwokeocha, explained, “Once the pre-service model of teacher education takes effect, teachers will be qualified before they are admitted into the profession.” He further stated, “The teacher status is expected to increase and the quality of teaching and learning will improve. Teachers from the federation will be internationally recognized as they will be qualified and licensed to teach in other parts of the world.”

Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, Hon. Minister of Education, welcomed Dr. Steve Nwokeocha, and stated that he is “Pleased that the MOE is implementing this project to enhance the teaching profession.” This, he describes as “a turning point in education and a positive step towards upgrading the profession to where it will be deserving of the label, ‘the noblest of professions’.”

Secretary General, Warner, said, “The National Commission is honoured to represent UNESCO as it provides technical and financial support to the Ministry of Education to professionalise teaching and raise the standards of education in St. Kitts and Nevis.

Ambassador David Doyle, who continues to lobby in support of SKN projects at UNESCO Headquarters, stated: “The arrival of Dr. Steve in St. Kitts and Nevis marks the continuity of one of our flagship projects in cooperation with UNESCO to the professionalization of the teaching force and strengthen the entire education system across the Federation. UNESCO’s unique expertise in education policy development brings leading-edge guidance to St. Kitts and Nevis, whether it be a national teacher qualification framework or developing a continuous professional development programme. The relationship built over the past five years between the St. Kitts and Nevis National Commission, Ministry of Education, the UNESCO Teacher Task Force Secretariat in Paris and the Permanent Delegation to UNESCO has proven a versatile arrangement in transforming the St. Kitts and Nevis’ education strategy alignment with best professional teaching practices.”

The Ministry of Education and the National Commission for UNESCO are grateful that this project is on its way to being successfully implemented. Thanks to the consultant, steering committee and all stakeholders for their participation in transitioning the teaching force in St. Kitts and Nevis to a higher level of professionalism.

Persons applying for the government’s social programmes are strongly encouraged to be diligent when filling out the relevant application forms, as missing information creates delays in processing benefits.

Incomplete applications have been a major factor in processing applications for the Poverty Alleviation Programme (PAP) and similar programmes. At the Prime Minister’s Press Conference with Cabinet Ministers on Thursday (March 30), Deputy Prime Minister the Honourable Dr. Geoffrey Hanley indicated that on several occasions, persons have approached him with enquiries about the status of their applications.

“And when I check the system, sometimes in their presence, up to their very bank account that we are requesting they have not provided. Their I.D. (identification) [is missing], and some have not signed the application [forms],” Dr. Hanley stated, noting that funds cannot be transferred as a result. “We continue to bring about change in the programme, and we are not going to deprive anyone who is duly deserving of benefiting from any social programmes that our government is offering.”

Minister of State responsible for Social Development, the Honourable Isalean Phillip, said that after the re-registration and restructuring of the PAP, initial payments of $500 per month resumed in February 2023. The assistance payments were prioritized for qualifying persons who are elderly, differently-abled, unemployed persons with children, and employed persons with children.

“We are at this time trying to facilitate and look into those who would have perhaps submitted an application that was incomplete because from the initial round of considerations, we prioritized those who submitted a complete application so that they can be considered,” Minister of State Phillip stated.

Honourable Phillip added that the upgrade of the PAP will continue. She thanked the public for their patience and advised people to reach out to the Ministry of Social Development on Victoria Road for further information.