The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has followed through on its commitment to table legislations in the National Assembly to address a number of inconsistencies and to permit the Court to expunge the criminal records of persons convicted in the past of minor cannabis-related offences.

This was done through the passage of the Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) (Amendment) Bill, 2023, in the National Assembly on February 08, 2023.

The purpose of the Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) (Amendment) Bill, 2023, was to amend the Criminal Records(Rehabilitation of Offenders) Act to expand the offences by which convicted persons’ criminal records can be expunged to include cultivation of five (5) or less cannabis plants or cultivation such that the convicted person was fined or sentenced for imprisonment for less than three years.

Mover of this important piece of legislation, Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, said that many young persons here in St. Kitts and Nevis have had their lives and future aspirations derailed after being convicted of minor cannabis-related offences.

“This affects young people aspiring to careers in medicine, as well as many others who are denied housing, education, loans and job opportunities. This is what is happening. A lot of [young people] can’t aspire anymore because they were caught with a small amount of cannabis some years ago,” the prime minister stressed.

Dr. Drew indicated that with the Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the government is now respecting the constitutional rights declared in the May 2019 landmark decision of the High Court in Ras Sankofa Maccabee v the Commissioner of Police and the Attorney-General.

“Prior to the decision by the High Court in the Ras Sankofa Maccabee case in May 2019, the possession and cultivation of cannabis was illegal and punishable by fines or imprisonment. The High Court in the Ras Sankofa Maccabee decision adjudged that (a) section 6.2 of the Drugs Act is inconsistent with and, therefore, infringes the Constitutional rights to privacy, freedom of conscience and religion to the extent to which it makes no exception for possession by an adult in a private place of any amount of cannabis for his or her personal use in private and for religious use by adults in the Rastafari religion,” Prime Minister Dr. Drew stated. 

“Section 7.1 of the Drugs Act is inconsistent with and therefore infringes the Constitutional rights to privacy, freedom of conscience and religion to the extent to which it makes no exception for the cultivation by an adult in a private place of any amount of cannabis for his or her personal use in private and by an adult member of the Rastafari religion for religious use by adults in the Rastafari religion,” the prime minister added. .

The prime minister further noted that amendments to the Criminal Records Act in February of 2020, by the former administration fell considerably short in addressing some of the concerns outlined in the decision of the Ras Sankofa Maccabee case.

He said, “In February 2020, the Criminal Records Act was amended to provide that all persons convicted of an offence or offences involving 56 grams of cannabis or 15 grams of cannabis resin or less shall be deemed spent and their criminal records expunged. However, under the last administration, the amendment didn’t address cannabis cultivation convictions—we do not agree with that position. Therefore, the plan of this Government – the people’s Government – is to firmly support the flourishing of a new medical cannabis industry where farmers can be licensed to cultivate cannabis and sell that cannabis for medical uses.”

The Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew-led administration has since appointed Dr. Garfield Alexander as the Chief Executive Officer of the Medicinal Cannabis Authority.

The Ministry of Health in St. Kitts is taking concrete steps to further address the rising incidences of NCDs in the Federation with the staging of the first ever National Non-Communicable Diseases Conference taking place at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort from today, February 7-9, 2023.
 
During this important event, participants will seek to review and discuss the status of the NCD situation in St. Kitts and Nevis and solicit commitments from the various stakeholders to reduce the impact of NCDs in the Federation.
 
Prime Minister and Minister of Health, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, delivered the featured remarks at the opening session of the conference. There, the prime minister described NCDs as the greatest health challenge in St. Kitts and Nevis as they contribute to over 80 percent of all illnesses and deaths in the Federation.
 
“Non-Communicable Diseases, in particular diabetes and hypertension, are the leading cause of morbidity in the Federation. The NCDs are our biggest health challenge and, therefore, we have decided to commence this calendar year by hosting this Non-Communicable Diseases Conference. The purpose of this conference is to bring all stakeholders to the table and use a microscope to assess the current NCD situation in the Federation. We intend to review the Non-Communicable Diseases Surveillance System, NCD policy and legislative initiatives, the NCD interventions along with their successes, challenges and gaps. This conference, therefore, will provide the ideal forum for meaningful dialogue and participation,” said Prime Minister Drew.
 
The honourable prime minister lauded the Ministry of Health for taking such a comprehensive and collaborative approach to addressing the problem of NCDs in the country.
 
“What I see represented here today is exactly what should be the scenario of representation in that this cannot be a Ministry of Health alone or a government alone type of approach. This has to be a whole country’s approach. Your presence here today represents that. Non-Communicable Diseases, also known as chronic diseases, are major health challenges globally, regionally and locally. The government, private sector, civil society, regional and international partners must collaborate and adopt an integral approach in response to the major Non-Communicable Diseases including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, mental and substance abuse disorders,” said Prime Minister Drew.
 
The first National Non-Communicable Diseases Conference is being held under the theme, “Reviewing the Progress on the Prevention, Control and Management of Non-Communicable Diseases in St. Kitts and Nevis.”

Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew has welcomed the commencement of a training programme for junior officers of the St. Kitts and Nevis Customs and Excise Department.

The honourable prime minister was at the time addressing the opening ceremony for the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC) Junior Officers Basic Training Course on Monday, February 06, 2023 at the Customs Conference Room.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Dr. Drew impressed upon the junior officers the significance of the Customs and Excise department to the overall safety and security of the Federation.

“This department is extremely important and, therefore, it is important that training be a fundamental part of this department,” Dr. Drew said. “I expect all of you to make the most of what you learn here this week [and] to put what you learn into practice to achieve the best results possible. I trust that this will result in significant and qualitative changes in this department.”

Prime Minister Drew stated that exercises like the CCLEC Junior Officers Basic Training Course is in line with the mandate of his administration to strengthen the nation’s border security which will help to create a Sustainable Island State.

“The island state agenda is critically important, but what is most important is that it must be done in a sustainable way. Therefore, to do so, we aspire to continue building our human and physical capital through strategic planning and continuous training, to apply new ICT solutions to expand border security activities, and to promote justice and transparency through systematic and standardized procedures,” the prime minister said.

Prime Minister Drew added, “This training certification will allow for significant, holistic improvement in our law enforcement system. This can only be achieved if you choose to apply yourselves and present the best that you have to offer our nation. Therefore, I implore you to continue to work hard to strengthen and improve and ready yourselves to tackle any current or new demands.”

The month-long capacity building exercise will expose untrained officers to the necessary skills needed to increase their effectiveness in protecting the nation’s borders from the illicit movement of goods and people.

 
The St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Administration demonstrated its commitment to older citizens and residents with the establishment of the new ministry, Youth Empowerment, Ageing and Disabilities. With a mandate to ensure the inclusion of older persons in all aspects of our community and to safeguard their dignity and encourage active ageing, the Cabinet approved the establishment of a Seniors Day Care Programme.
 
Seniors in the programme will have the opportunity to participate in several activities that will focus on their physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being including painting, pottery and arts and crafts. The Seniors Day Care Programme will be piloted in the East Basseterre, St. Peter’s, and St. Paul’s communities, with the goal of expansion across additional communities throughout St. Kitts.
 
The Cabinet endorsed the Ministry of Sustainable Development’s National Land Management Strategic Approach. The Ministry will conduct a series of communication and public engagement sessions to sensitize the public about their plans for addressing major land allocation challenges. Issues to address include, but are not limited to:
 

• Double and triple booking of lots
• Resumption of payments for land
• Considerations for prioritized allocation to various demographics
• Identification of land for the National Housing Corporation-led 2^nd Housing Revolution and
• The policy on land for commercial development

Activities will include radio interviews, town halls and a “Land Matters Fair” which will be held on February 09 and 10 at the Ministry’s compound at Bladen Commercial Development, Basseterre.
 
The Cabinet approved the following pieces of legislation, namely: The Integrity in Public Life (Amendment) Bill, the Anti-Corruption Bill, the Official Gazette Bill, and the Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) (Amendment) Bill. These Bills will be tabled and debated during the upcoming National Assembly Sitting on February 08, 2023.

Her Excellency Dame Marcella Liburd GCMG, JP issued a call to nation-building to all citizens and residents of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.

Speaking at her installation ceremony as the fifth Governor-General of the Federation at Government House on Saturday, February 4, 2023, Dame Liburd said one doesn’t have to have any great qualifications or achievements to serve.

“Everybody can be great because anybody can serve,” she quoted Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr as saying to his congregation in Atlanta, Georgia on February 4, 1968.

“You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart of grace and a soul generated by love,” Dame Liburd said.

“As I reflect on the call to service, I invite all our citizens and residents to come and do the hard work of heart and soul as defined by Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. if we are to build our country on greatness,” she said.

The newly installed Governor-General said that she knows what it is to serve and that she understands that her new position is a call to service to the nation with distinction and integrity.

“I am fully cognizant of my role as Governor-General and in the spirit of my Oaths, I affirm my commitment to serve all of my countrymen and women and my beloved country with humility, selflessness, excellence and integrity,” Her Excellency Dame Liburd said.

“This land is ours. I, therefore, call on us all as patriots and responsible citizens and residents to work together, Kittitians and Nevisians, to build together and to pray together. You, our citizens and residents, have a major role to play, also have a major role to play as builders of our country, for it is the faith and determination of our people on which our country depends…let us bury old hatreds and look to new hope as we come together, Kittitians and Nevisians alike, to make our vision and the transformation of our nation a reality,” she added.

Her Excellency called on all citizens and residents to espouse the values of honesty, hard work, tolerance, fair play, loyalty, and patriotism, which she said “have defined our progress and our character throughout our history.”

Her Excellency Dame Marcella Liburd GCMG, JP, Governor-General of St. Christopher and Nevis saluted the sterling service of the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF) and pledged to work closely with them and other security forces to enhance safety and security in the Federation.

“To the Colonel, officers, rank and file of the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force, as your Commander in Chief, I wish to register my appreciation for your loyalty, professionalism and hard work. It is an honour to see you here on parade,” said Her Excellency Dame Liburd during her Installation Ceremony at Government House on February 04, 2023.

Dame Liburd fully embraced her responsibilities as the Head of State and committed to supporting the Defence Force.

“I can assure you that your commitment to service and to safety and security of our Federation, working collaboratively with the law enforcement agencies, will not be taken lightly or for granted. During my tenure, I will engage and interact with you and see to your best interests,” said Governor General Liburd.

As part of the Installation Ceremony, Dame Liburd witnessed the First Guard of Honour – which comprised the Alpha Company and the Coast Guard Unit of the SKNDF – since being sworn in as Governor-General.  The Governor-General took the royal salute and inspected the Guard of Honour.

Her Excellency Dame Liburd recorded “profound appreciation” to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis led by Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew for “endorsing her nomination and appointment to serve as Governor-General” making her King Charles III “representative in the Federation and the Commander in Chief of the Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis.”

The Poverty Alleviation Programme (PAP) is undergoing key reforms that will strengthen the effectiveness of the social assistance programme as part of the government’s strategy to build a robust social protection system.

In a national address on Sunday (February 05, 2023), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Social Development, the Honourable Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, said that the programme will be re-branded in the coming months as a temporary cash-transfer income supplement programme. It will have a new name and clearly defined objectives, conditions, and operational plans.

Case management will be introduced to the PAP whereby officials from the Department of Social Services will assist beneficiaries to resolve challenges to meet their needs by identifying opportunities and available services to improve their situation and reduce reliance on state welfare.

“To ensure that the resources allocated for PAP are distributed across a wide spread of society, each successful applicant will be allowed to spend six months or a maximum of one year on the programme, based on needs,” Dr. Hanley stated, noting that the government recognizes the need to maintain assistance to seniors and persons with disabilities.

Additionally, the eligibility criteria have been refined to ensure that the most vulnerable in society can benefit. As such, PAP is now targeted to support “households earning less than $3,000 and unable to meet their basic needs. An evaluation of poverty rates and standard of living in St. Kitts and Nevis indicates that an individual who simply earns less than $3,000 does not equate to vulnerability or an inability to live comfortably. Vulnerability exists when a household is earning less than $3000 and is still not able to meet the basic needs for survival for every person in that household,” the Deputy Prime Minister expressed.

He said that the government also recognizes the need to “innovate and create initiatives that help to reduce poverty in more sustainable ways with considerations to increase minimum wage, review and increase social security benefits to pensioners and the disabled, create more jobs and opportunities for entrepreneurship, and diversify the economy to increase employment, productivity and financial independence.”

Honourable Hanley reaffirmed the commitment of the administration “to upkeep our responsibility to provide social protection to the most vulnerable in our population while being fiscally prudent and responsible. We seek the public’s understanding, patience and cooperation as we streamline and re-vamp this social assistance programme to cater to those who need it most,” he added.

Eleven thousand applications for PAP were submitted through the online portal. Of the total applications received from across St. Kitts and Nevis, 9,094 applications were fully completed and accepted for further review, verification, and processing. A further review of the completed applications revealed that 8,985 applicants were eligible based on self-reported earnings.

Cash transfers under the Poverty Alleviation Programme (PAP) resumed on Friday, February 03, 2023. The payments to some 2,300 households are being made in two categories in the first instance. Recipients of the first payment are households headed by seniors, that is, persons 60 years and older, who identified as the main applicants during the registration period. The second is households headed by persons with disabilities.

Future payments to additional categories of beneficiaries will be made later this month. Priority will be given to households with minor children.

The Order Paper has been issued for a sitting of the National Assembly to be held at the National Assembly Chambers, Government Headquarters, Basseterre, on Wednesday 8^th February, 2023, at 10:00 am. Notice has been given.
 
Six Bill will receive their first reading and two will receive their second reading. The Government’s good governance legislative agenda will take flight at Wednesday’s sitting as the Government continues to commit itself to transparency, accountability and zero tolerance for corruption in public office.
 
The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister responsible for Finance, National Security, Citizenship and Immigration, Health and Social Security, Dr. Terrance Drew, will seek leave to introduce and have read for a first time the Bills entitled Caribbean Community and Africa Export-Import Bank (Agreement for the Establishment of a Partnership) Bill, 2023; Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
 
Additionally, the Honourable Prime Minister will move the second reading of Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
 
Also, The Honourable Attorney General and Minister responsible for Justice and Legal Affairs, Garth Wilkin will seek leave to introduce and have read a first time the Bills entitled Integrity in Public Life (Amendment) Bill, 2023; Anti-Corruption Bill, 2023; Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and Official Gazette Bill, 2023.
 
The Honourable Attorney General and Minister responsible for Justice and Legal Affairs will also move the second reading of Official Gazette Bill, 2023.
 
The National Assembly will be carried live on ZIZ Radio (96 FM) and participating radio stations. It can also be viewed live on TV Channel 5 in St. Kitts and Channel 98 in Nevis. It will also be streamed live at www.zizonline.com
 
Copies of Bills, as soon as they are made available, can be found on the website (sknis.kn) of the St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service under the section titled Bills.     

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