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PARAMARIBO — Een vrouw die geruime tijd doelloos rondliep in de omgeving van Leidingen is uit veiligheidsoverwegingen overgebracht naar het
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Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 26, 2022 (SKNIS): The Cabinet Ministers met under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, on Monday 24th October 2022 and made several significant decisions to improve the well-being of our people.
In its ongoing thrust to ensure reliable and sustainable energy supplies the nation, the Cabinet of Ministers held discussions with representatives of the Nevis Electricity Company (NEVLEC) and the St. Kitts Electricity Company (SKELEC) regarding the geothermal project on Nevis. Priority will be placed on interconnection of the St. Kitts and Nevis power grids which will allow for greater flexibility as the demand profile changes and generation capacity expands. The joint grouping hopes to secure a drilling contractor by the end of the year with the hopes of commencing drilling in the first half of 2023. Members of the Caribbean Development Bank and the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency were also in attendance.
The Cabinet was presented with the first drafts of the Integrity in Public Life (Amendment) Bill and new Anti-Corruption Bill by the Honourable Attorney-General Garth Wilkin. The Bills were approved for circulation to civil society organizations for their input before being returned to Cabinet for final approval. The Bills represent the first phase of swift operationalization of the Government’s anti-corruption/good governance structures, by giving the Integrity Commission the necessary legislative support and creating the Office of the Special Prosecutor to receive complaints, investigate, and prosecute acts of corruption throughout the Public Service and within Statutory Corporations. The Anti-Corruption Bill specifically creates criminal offences of corruption, seeks to protect whistle-blowers, and gives the Special Prosecutor powers to not only prosecute offenders (subject to the Director of Public Prosecution’s constitutional powers) but to seek recovery of proceeds of corrupt activities.
The Cabinet approved the amended Architects Registration (Amendment) Bill which was crafted after consultation with the St Kitts-Nevis Institute of Architects. The Bill seeks to finally operationalize the legislation, initially passed in 2010, to regulate the practice of architecture. The approved Bill also provides a pathway for persons practicing as architects for many years, without formal certificates, to qualify for registration as Architects.
The Cabinet of Ministers continues discussions on the National Health Insurance preliminary report with the aim of making it a reality for the Citizens of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. A comprehensive document was presented by the Minister responsible, The Honourable Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, outlining the work done and action plan to date.
This signals the government’s intention to fulfill its pledge to provide affordable health insurance and high-level healthcare services to the Federation. Further updates will be provided to the public as the process continues.
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Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 26, 2022 (SKNIS): During the October 25, 2022 opening of the New Session of Parliament at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort Royal Ballroom in Frigate Bay, the Governor General’s Deputy Her Excellency Ms. Marcella Liburd addressed a number of initiatives that the Government has planned to improve the access and delivery of education across the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, including the building of a brand new Basseterre High School and tuition-free tertiary education at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC). She said that the education of the Nation’s youth is key to building human capital and making St. Kitts and Nevis a sustainable island state.
“Our Government constantly hears the cries of the young men and women who take the bold steps to embark on tertiary level education to better themselves and to make their contribution to the building of their Nation, but who are often stuck with burdensome student loans. There is a better way to assist our young people to pursue higher education. Our Government has already moved forward to provide free tuition for all students attending CFBC. This new policy offers great financial relief to many families throughout the Federation and enables our students to concentrate on their studies rather than worrying about the ability of their families to pay the required tuition fees. We will also be exploring the possibilities of the CFBC becoming a full University. In that way, more of our citizens and residents can obtain first degrees right here in our Federation without the huge costs involved,” said the Governor General’s Deputy.
The CFBC is mandated to consolidate and augment the opportunities for tertiary-level education in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. With tuition now being free, persons at the institution can now have access to a wide range of courses to improve their professional development.
The construction of the new Basseterre High School has been a topic of importance for some time now, and plans are already in motion to begin construction work on the existing premises shortly.
“Our Government understands that education is a prerequisite for building our human capital and by extension a sustainable island state. What we do not understand is the travesty that occurred with respect to Basseterre High School at the expense of thousands of our young people who have been deprived of a wholesome school environment over the last seven (7) years. Our Labour Government will not play games with the future of our children. In short order, we will start to build a brand-new Basseterre High School on its original historical site. We will also embark on a comprehensive plan for the upgrade of the physical infrastructure of all public schools and introduce proper plans for the maintenance of schools across the Federation,” said Her Excellency Liburd.
The Governor General’s Deputy also stated that the development of young people is critical to nation-building, ensuring the prosperity of the Federation and fostering the conditions that will allow the nation to achieve its goal of becoming a model sustainable island state.
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Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 26, 2022 (SKNIS): Strengthening St. Kitts and Nevis’ policy framework on climate change is a key priority that the Government is moving ahead with.
The Governor General’s Deputy, Her Excellency Marcella Liburd JP, while delivering the Throne Speech at the Opening of the new Session of Parliament on October 25, said that the Government is “determined to demonstrate strong leadership” in tackling climate change.
“We commit to enhancing the policy framework for our country’s adaptation to climate change. We will work with our people, other small island states in the region and beyond, and bilateral, regional and international partners to strengthen our resilience to environmental and climate change by tailoring more robust risk-mitigating responses and improving access to climate financing,” said Her Excellency Liburd. “We now have a better institutional arrangement for advancing our climate change agenda with the establishment of a new portfolio for Environment and Climate Action. We will ensure that environmental and climate change considerations are mainstreamed in development planning.”
Her Excellency Liburd stated that everyone must work together to protect St. Kitts and Nevis as it is important for our “sustenance today and for future generations of Kittitians and Nevisians.”
“Beyond what has already been established, our Labour Government will focus on preserving our environment because it is central to our objective of creating a sustainable island state. Success on this front means that we will also find success in building a green economy with new green jobs, better access to clean potable water, clean and renewable energy, and a better standard of living for all of our people,” said the Governor’s-General Deputy. “We invite the Private Sector to partner with the Government to move forward with our vision for the development of a green economy. There are opportunities for the development of recycling plants, the manufacturing of solar panels, investment in alternative energy sources and arresting the growing problem of water shortages. Our Government is committed to fixing the water problems with the expansion of water wells through a dedicated drilling programme.” she added.
She added that the government will continue to partner with relevant stakeholders to decrease the Federation’s dependence on carbon fuels and reduce hazardous pollution.
“To reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, we will work with the Nevis Island Administration in collaboration with the Caribbean Development Bank and other partners to capitalize on the opportunity to develop geothermal energy for the benefit of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Her Excellency Liburd. “This is an important project which can be a catalyst in our endeavour to create a sustainable, reliable energy sector bringing us closer to being a net-zero emission country. Further, we will introduce policies to further incentivize the use of alternative energy including the installation of solar panels in homes and businesses, and pave the way for the introduction of electronic vehicles as a viable means of transport within the Federation.”
St. Kitts and Nevis’ thrust to tackle climate change falls in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 13 which speaks to taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
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Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 26, 2022 (SKNIS): Speaker of the National Assembly, the Honourable Lanien Blanchette, will preside over her first official sitting of parliament on Thursday, October 27, 2022, when MPs convene to debate three Bills.
Honourable Blanchette was sworn in as Speaker during the Ceremonial Opening of the New Parliament Session one day ago (October 25, 2022). She reflected on the milestone achievement during an interview after the ceremonial sitting
“It is an honour to be elected to the position of Speaker of this Honourable House,” she said, expressing hopes that her appointment will serve as motivation to younger females. “I have always been an advocate for the young professional, in particular the young professional woman, and to be given this opportunity to serve at such a high level is in my opinion an inspiration for other young women who are thinking they may not be able to reach such heights.”
The Honourable Speaker added, “I intend to inspire, and I intend to do my best in this role so that other young professional women may have an opportunity after me to occupy such a place.”
Clerk of the National Assembly Trevlyn Stapleton and former Speaker Curtis Martin received high praise from the Honourable Blanchette for assisting her preparation for this enormous responsibility. There was a lot of reading and many conversations relating to the rules of the House, standing orders, protocols and procedures that had to be learnt.
Speaker Blanchette said that she is ready for the job and will function in keeping with the rules of the Federal Parliament.
“I intend to be firm. I intend to be fair. I intend to be impartial, honest and respectful at all times and to everyone,” the Speaker expressed.
The parliament comprises nine (9) MPs sitting on the Government side and six MPs on the Opposition benches. The Leader of Government Business is the Honourable Konris Maynard. The Honourable Mark Brantley will serve as the Leader of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, and the Honourable Senator Latoya Jones as Deputy Speaker.
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The US economy grew at a 2.6 per cent annual rate from July through September, snapping two straight quarters of contraction and overcoming high inflation and interest rates just as voting begins in midterm elections in which the economy’s health has emerged as a paramount issue.
Thursday’s better-than-expected estimate from the Commerce Department showed that the nation’s gross domestic product — the broadest gauge of economic output — grew in the third quarter after having shrunk in the first half of 2022. Stronger exports and consumer spending, backed by a healthy job market, helped restore growth to the world’s biggest economy at a time when worries about a possible recession are rising.
Consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 per cent of US economic activity, expanded at a 1.4 per cent annual pace in the July-September quarter, down from a two per cent rate from April through June. Last quarter’s growth got a major boost from exports, which shot up at an annual pace of 14.4 per cent. Government spending also helped: It rose at a 2.4 per cent annual pace, the first such increase since early last year, with sharply higher defense spending leading the way.
Housing investment, though, plunged at a 26 per cent annual pace, hammered by surging mortgage rates as the Federal Reserve aggressively raises borrowing costs to combat chronic inflation. It was the sixth straight quarterly drop in residential investment.
Overall, the outlook for the overall economy has darkened. The Fed has raised interest rates five times this year and is set to do so again next week and in December. Chair Jerome Powell has warned that the Fed’s hikes will bring “pain” in the form of higher unemployment and possibly a recession.
“Looking ahead, risks are to the downside, to consumption in particular, as households continue to face challenges from high prices and likely slower job growth going forward,” Rubeela Farooqi, chief US economist at High Frequency Economics, wrote in a research note.
With inflation still near a 40-year high, steady price spikes have been pressuring households across the country. At the same time, rising loan rates have derailed the housing market and are likely to inflict broader damage over time. The outlook for the world economy, too, grows bleaker the longer that Russia’s war against Ukraine drags on.
The latest GDP report comes as Americans, worried about inflation and the risk of a recession, have begun to vote in elections that will determine whether President Joe Biden’s Democratic Party retains control of Congress. Inflation has become a signature issue for Republican attacks on the Democrats’ stewardship of the economy.
Economists noted that the third-quarter gain in GDP can be traced entirely to the surge in exports, which added 2.7 percentage points to the economy’s expansion. Export growth will be difficult to sustain as the global economy weakens and a strong U.S. dollar makes American products pricier in foreign markets.
Thursday’s report offered some encouraging news on inflation. A price index in the GDP data rose at a 4.1 per cent annual rate from July through September, down from 9% in the April-June period — less than economists had expected and the smallest increase since the final three months of 2020. That figure could raise hopes that the Fed might decide it can soon slow its rate hikes.
Last quarter’s U.S. economic growth reversed annual declines of 1.6 per cent from January through March and 0.6 per cent from April through June. Consecutive quarters of declining economic output are one informal definition of a recession. But most economists have said they believe the economy skirted a recession, noting the still-resilient job market and steady spending by consumers. Most of them have expressed concern, though, that a recession is likely next year as the Fed steadily tightens credit.
Preston Caldwell, head of US economics for the financial services firm Morningstar, noted that the economy’s contraction in the first half of the year was caused largely by factors that don’t reflect its underlying health and so “very likely did not constitute a genuine economic slowdown.” He pointed, for example, to a drop in business inventories, a cyclical event that tends to reverse itself over time.
Higher borrowing costs have weakened the home market, in particular. The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, just 3.14 per cent a year ago, topped seven per cent this week for the first time since 2002, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday. Sales of existing homes have fallen for eight straight months. Construction of new homes is down nearly eight per cent from a year ago.
Still, the economy retains pockets of strength. One is the vitally important job market. Employers have added an average of 420,000 jobs a month this year, putting 2022 on track to be the second-best year for job creation (behind 2021) in Labor Department records going back to 1940. The unemployment rate was 3.5 per cent last month, matching a half-century low.
Hiring has been decelerating, though. In September, the economy added 263,000 jobs — solid but the lowest total since April 2021.
International events are causing further concerns. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has disrupted trade and raised prices of energy and food, creating a crisis for poor countries. The International Monetary Fund, citing the war, this month downgraded its outlook for the world economy in 2023.
While the US economy expanded, the European Central Bank predicted weakening growth in the 19 countries that use the euro currency for the rest of this year and next, pointing to the uncertainty of Russia’s war in Ukraine that could keep food and energy prices high. While ECB President Christine Lagarde said the likelihood of recession had increased, the central bank on Thursday still announced its second big interest rate hike in a row to target inflation running at 9.9 per cent.
By Paul Wiseman
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While the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security is amending the Domestic Violence Act of 1966 to impose stringent measures to curb gender-based violence, initiatives such as rehabilitation services for perpetrators of abuse will be rolled out in 2023.
Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud said the Ministry is considering renaming the Act to the ‘Family Violence Act’ which will go together with other pieces of legislation.
“This is not a piece of legislation that will stand on its own. It will be by other legislations like the Bail Act and so that we can have the punitive measures and a big component of this is rehab of the perpetrators” Minister Persaud stated on Wednesday.
She continued, “That is something that will come on stream next year, because I have always believed that sometimes people become violent because that’s what they’re exposed to as young people […] there is so much acceptance of it, so we will have to have these programmes.”
The new law will be crafted to include best practices from around the world.
“We’re also looking at the impact those pieces of legislation had in these parts of the world; we’re looking at our domestic situation. We have merged all of this and we’re looking at how we can be very progressive, very modern but also very protective.”
Minister Persaud said police officers will be mandated to pursue cases of domestic abuse even if the victim refuses to, once there are visible physical marks on the victim’s body.
“We know there’s an age-old problem where people might report domestic violence and when police go, it depends on if the persons say they want to pursue or depends on what the police will do at the time. Once they see evidence of serious bodily harm, you have to.”
The minister believes that all the other measures being put into the new legislation will address the major gaps that currently exist in the gender-based violence situation in Guyana.
In September, Minister Persaud revealed that there are 40 proposed amendments to the archaic law. Amendments will see the insertion of other forms of abuse including economic, emotional, and psychological violence, and the updating of penalties for breach of protection orders.
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The United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee holds a special meeting in Mumbai and New Delhi beginning on Friday, focused on the growing threat posed by new and emerging technologies.
The two-day meeting in India marks the first time since 2015, that the Committee has convened outside UN Headquarters in New York.
The discussion will focus on three areas: Internet and social media; financing for global terror networks; and the proliferation of unmanned aerial systems, such as drones.These emerging technologies are fast-developing and being used more and more regularly by countries across the world, including for domestic security and counter-terrorism purposes.
But high-tech software and hardware is also being increasingly misused by terrorist groups for their own illegal ends.
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Terrorists hijacking tech
India is leading the Counter-Terrorism Committee until the end of this year. Briefing journalists in New York, Committee Chair, Indian Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, said the high stakes meeting would reflect on recent developments and the latest evidence-based research on terrorism and technology use.
She said it would bring together “a wealth of knowledge and real-world expertise on the subject matter, with the participation of Member States, relevant operational partners and key stakeholders.”
The meeting will provide a platform to exchange ideas on how the tech sector can help address the spread of terrorist content online and effectively counter terrorist narratives.
Moreover, they are expected to discuss how tech-savvy terrorists are using technological innovations to move money around, via crowdfunding, merchandise sales, appeals for donations through social media platforms, and other methods.
Drones and AI
Another concern that will be explored is the potential use of 3-D printing, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, unmanned aerial systems, and synthetic biotech, for illegal ends.
On the increasing use of drones, the Committee’s Coordinator for Information Technologies, Jennifer Bramlette, said that Member States have already taken some steps to address it.
“Of course, there are no-fly zones around airports and critical infrastructures. Of course, companies themselves have taken steps to build in mechanisms for geo-locking so that if drones are found flying in certain places, they can be deactivated automatically”, she added.
She said there are also “a number of discussions” going on, over how drones are sold, “and who can buy them.”
SOURCE: UN News/SLT
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Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 26, 2022 (SKNIS): Tourism is considered one of the fastest-growing economic sectors regionally and globally. As such, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has committed to building a more vibrant and resilient tourism industry as it is a critical pathway for the Federation to build better going forward and to recover faster from the COVID-19 Pandemic.
This was according to the Governor-General’s Deputy Her Excellency Marcella A. Liburd, JP during her Throne Speech at the Opening of the New Session of the National Assembly of St. Kitts and Nevis since the August 5th General Elections. The parliamentary sitting was held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort Royal Ballroom on Tuesday, October 25, 2022.
“Our new Labour Government is proposing a better way for the expansion of our tourism sector which continues to be one of the critical pillars of development here in the Federation,” said Her Excellency Liburd. “Over the recent past, our tourism industry has shown a lacklustre performance with no major gains in brand recognition or development of the tourism product. At this time, we want to reassure our citizens that our Government is working assiduously to turn things around. We are determined to put our tourism sector back on track to contribute more to our national development…
Over the next five years, we will attract at least two new five-star hotels building on the foundation that has already been established with the Four Seasons Resort in Nevis and the Park Hyatt Resort in St. Kitts. Our Government has put in place a team that will work hard to ensure that an increasing number of visitors will choose St. Kitts and Nevis as a preferred destination. Our Government, therefore, intends to work with the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) to improve the marketing of our twin island Federation as the premier destination in the Caribbean,” Her Excellency Liburd added.
Her Excellency Liburd said that the government’s “proposal for the expansion of the tourism plant holds great potential to assist in multiple ways to diversify the economy and achieve its development objectives.”
“The addition of Medical Tourism, Sport Tourism, and entertainment related Tourism will flow from robust and ongoing efforts to establish the Federation as a global center for movie and music production and the creative arts in general. The construction of new hotels and other tourism-related infrastructure will provide employment opportunities and facilitate skills transfer in new construction techniques to our local tradesmen and tradeswomen,” said Her Excellency Liburd.
She noted that during the rebuilding phase numerous permanent jobs will be created.
“As we saw in the past, with the build-out of the Four Seasons Resort in Nevis and the Marriott and Park Hyatt Resort in St. Kitts, some of our citizens have been given opportunities to master their craft internationally. We will therefore pursue policies that encourage the promotion of our people working in the tourism industry,” said the Governor-General’s Deputy. “We want to see many more of our citizens being offered the opportunity to work regionally and internationally as top executives in their field of choice. Emphasis will also be placed on training our people to take up the opportunities for work in the industry as employees of the new enterprises that would come on stream or as entrepreneurs managing and growing their own businesses.”
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Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 26, 2022 (SKNIS): Athletes from St. Kitts and Nevis stand to gain from the Government’s thrust to develop policies and programmes that will help to open lanes of success on the local, regional and international stage. The plan calls for establishing a sports academy and partnerships with overseas colleges and universities.
The Governor General’s Deputy, Her Excellency Marcella A. Liburd, noted the importance of sports and sports development in encouraging a healthier population and increasing global attention for the twin-island Federation during the delivery of the Throne Speech at the Ceremonial Opening of the Federal Parliament on Tuesday (October 25, 2022).
“In this regard, we will create a sports academy with an elite athletic training programme which will recruit, develop and train the top athletes in the Federation to perform at a high standard to be able to participate in professional sports at an international level,” Her Excellency Liburd stated.
In addition, the Governor General’s Deputy said “Our Government will develop partnerships with recruiters from top sports universities and scouting programmes to bolster our position in the sports world. There are great opportunities to create lucrative careers for exceptional athletes across the various sporting disciplines, including tennis, netball, volleyball, football, basketball, cricket and athletics.”
Many sporting careers have been derailed by injury or illness. The Government has considered provisions for such in its sports policy agenda.
“Our Government understands the dire need for the sportsmen and women who represent St. Kitts and Nevis at a national level to be provided with adequate health insurance coverage,” Her Excellency Liburd added. “In our pursuit of a better way, we commit to exploring possible insurance options to facilitate the provision of adequate medical insurance packages for national sports representatives. This will help to ensure that they have adequate healthcare in the event of unpredictable illness or injury that may befall them as a direct result of playing sports.
Sports is a key component of the build-out of the orange economy in St. Kitts and Nevis.
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