Published 14 October 2025
Buckie Got It
St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
POST CABINET BRIEFING FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2025
Basseterre, Saint Kitts, October 14, 2025 (SKNIS): Under the leadership of the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the Cabinet met on Monday October 13, 2025, to deliberate on key policies and programmes aimed at advancing the well-being of every citizen and resident.
At this week’s meeting, the Cabinet approved the Federation’s National Report for the Fourth Cycle of the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The UPR is a unique global mechanism through which all United Nations Member States have their human rights records reviewed. It offers Saint Kitts and Nevis the opportunity to outline the steps taken to strengthen human rights protections and to reaffirm its commitment to international human rights obligations.
The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis is pleased to report that significant progress has been achieved since the last review. These advancements include the strengthening of social protection systems, greater promotion of gender equality, expanded access to education and healthcare, the modernization of justice administration and the integration of human rights principles across national legislation and public policy.
The Government also acknowledges that important challenges remain. The Saint Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Administration remains dedicated to deepening reform and building on the gains achieved. Ongoing efforts include expanding restorative justice and diversion pathways, digitizing court and justice processes to improve efficiency and reduce backlogs and embedding resilience in national policies through climate action and inclusive development strategies.
The Cabinet also approved the hosting of the Annual Review Meeting of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme (SAWP) in Saint Kitts and Nevis from November 10th to 14th, 2025. This meeting brings together officials from Canada and participating Caribbean nations to assess the programme’s performance, improve worker conditions and refine operational procedures. The upcoming review will focus on evaluating the programme’s effectiveness over the past year, enhancing the health, safety, and living conditions of participating workers, and shaping fair and balanced contracts for the upcoming season. It also serves as a vital forum to strengthen policies that ensure decent work, protect labour rights and sustain the mutual benefits of the programme for both workers and employers.
Finally, the Cabinet of Ministers is pleased to announce the period of Christmas Concessions for 2025. Effective December 1st, 2025, non-commercial importers and travellers will enjoy the following allowances: Gift packages containing food items will be exempt from duties and taxes on the first 400 pounds. Non-commercial imports will benefit from a duty-free allowance of EC$675, equivalent to US$250, off the CIF value. These concessions will apply to goods landed in the Federation between December 1st, 2025 and January 31st, 2026. These measures are designed to bring added relief to families and individuals during the festive season, supporting a more affordable and enjoyable Christmas for all.
