Local news, Politics

From the Supervisor of Elections

 

March 24, 2017

Voting by persons who reside overseas is not unique to St Kitts-Nevis. An internet search shows that it happens in at least 14 countries.In some, the ballot is obtained before polling day while in others it is not. Here, no ballots are obtained before-hand.

When the Electoral Reform Consultative Committee canvassed public opinion in 2006, the views of the public ranged from leaving it alone, nothing is wrong with it to applying conditions such as a residency requirement of 3 – 6 months, evidence of a visit to the federation at least once during the past 5 years, to demanding evidence of ties to the federation such as property ownership, investments, bank accounts or remittances, a demonstration of ‘intent to return’ and evidence of self-payment of their passage home. Some respondents suggested a removal or suspension of voting rights to citizens who have migrated, while yet others asked for the introduction of absentee voting in the adopted country of residence, with the embassies or consuls as the focal point for collection of these ballots. Yet others called for the creation of a diaspora constituency.

Interestingly, in 2006, of those persons who commented on the overseas citizen vote, 86% re-affirmed the rights of these overseas citizens to retain their voting rights.  Of that 86%, more than half (55%) were in favour of simply leaving it alone.

The ERCC report further stated:The difficulty arises when an individual who resides overseas and claims qualification based on domicile is allowed the option of choosing which qualifying address he/she wants. …a citizen whose ordinary residential address is in New York can chose to register in his/her nascent domicile, ie. where he/she was born, the ancestral home, or where the parent(s) have property.  That person can be guided to register in a constituency whether or not he/she has any ties to that community or even lives there. Hence voters who live overseas are not required to meet the strict residency qualification that locals are subject to.

…Political parties have become involved in arranging the transportation of voters from abroad for elections, If this is done in large enough numbers,[it] can cause undue influence on the outcome of an election.

…overseas voters return to cast their ballot on election day. …they come they vote they depart with apparent disregard to local concerns. This gives rise to the feelings of resentment by many local voters.  Furthermore, the way that they are courted by political parties gives rise to the notion that locally based votes are of lesser value when compared to the local vote.

This concept of diminished value of a local vote versus an overseas vote is explored in depth by professor of political science at Florida A & M University, Kittitian Dr Keith Simmonds, in his book entitled Electoral Reform in the English Speaking Caribbean: Blueprint for the 21stCentury.

This is yet another twist to be sorted out as we strive to ensure one man, one vote in the right place, and fairness for all.

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Local news, News

Sir Probyn Inniss State Funeral Parade

Sir Probyn Inniss State Funeral Parade

State Funeral Held For Late Governor, Sir Probyn Inniss

(ZIZ News) — The atmosphere was filled with love, camaraderie and patriotism as hundreds gathered to pay their respects at the State Funeral service of the late Sir Sir Probyn Inniss on Thursday at the Wesley Methodist Church.

Tributes in the form of song and poetry were presented by friends and members of the Innis family.

Prime Minister of St. Kitts Nevis, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris led the scripture reading while Probyn Innis Jr. read the eulogy in respect to his late father.

Among those attending the ceremony were His Excellency The Governor General Sir S.W Tapley Seaton, Members of The Federal Cabinet, Former Governor General Sir Edmund Lawrence and Lady Lawrence, Members of The St. Kitts Nevis Defence Force and other Security Forces, The Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas and other Members of The Opposition, Members of the Nevis Island Assembly, Former Government Ministers, family members, friends, students and members of the general public.

The State Funeral service of the late Sir Probyn Innis was followed by a procession to the Springfield cemetery.

Sir Probyn Innis MBE, was a former Governor who served as the Governor of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla from 1975 to 1980 and was knighted by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth in 1976.

Following the separation of Anguilla, Sir Inniss served as the Governor of Saint Christopher and Nevis from 1980 to 1981.

Sir Probyn leaves his wife Lady Rosamund Innis and his three children.

Sir Probyn Ellsworth Inniss MBE was born on November 18 1936.

He died on Sunday March 12. He was 80.

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Local news, News

SKELEC.

Our Supervisory Staff at the recently concluded Psychology in the Workplace.
The training was held over a two day period (March 21 & 22) and facilitated by Mrs. Michelle Blake in coordination with the University of The West indies. Topics covered, included workplace related stressors, conflict resolution and demand control model among others.

The participants represented several departments (customer service, maintenance, operations, billing, metering, meter readers and accounts) across the three divisions of SKELEC.

This is the second edition of this training, as the first was held in 2015. We at SKELEC continue to work at engaging our staff in training to better improve all facets of the service we offer our customers.

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International news, News, Sports

Aird goal helps Canada draw at Scotlan

Thursday Mar 23, 2017

Aird goal helps Canada draw at Scotland

 

Canada’s Fraser Aird (#12) watches his shot head towards goal in an international friendly against host Scotland on March 22, 2017, in Edinburgh. (Photo courtesy of Canada Soccer)

EDINBURGH, Scotland – Canada played host Scotland to a 1-1 draw in an international friendly on Wednesday, before 9,158 fans at Easter Road.

With the result, the Canadians remained unbeaten in 2017, also posting a 4-2 win at Bermuda on January 22.

Midfielder Fraser Aird, who is based in Scotland with Falkirk, gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute.  After Maxim Tissot’s left-sided cross was misplayed by Scotland defenders Lee Wallace and Charlie Mulgrew in the box, Aird, 22, was there to fire in with his right foot from 13-yards out for his first international goal.

Robert Snodgrass nearly equalized minutes later, when his left-footed cross from 38 yards skipped through the box, only to rebound off the left post.

In the 35th minute, Scotland leveled in pinball fashion.  The Canadians couldn’t clear the ball after goalkeeper Simon Thomas made an initial save.  Tom Cairney drove an effort towards goal that teammate Steven Naismith redirected into the right side of the net.

Canada’s best chance to regain the lead came in the 78th minute, but goalkeeper Allan McGregor did well to thwart Aird’s bid for a brace in his fifth international appearance.

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International news, News, Sports

Cameron looking to boost USA’s WCQ campaign

Cameron looking to boost USA’s WCQ campaign

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Thursday Mar 23, 2017

Geoff Cameron (pictured) has played in six games and scored two goals during the USA’s qualifying campaign for Russia 2018. (Photo: Victor Straffon/Straffon Images)

SAN JOSE, California — After being out of action four months for club and country, United States standout Geoff Cameron is eager for a return to the international stage.

 

Forced to miss the first two games of the CONCACAF Hexagonal last November with a knee injury, the Stoke City defender admitted he felt powerless watching his teammates during a 4-0 loss at Costa Rica.

Cameron is ready to get the last-place U.S. (0W-0D-2L, 0 points) back on track in FIFA World Cup qualifying, hosting fourth-place Honduras (1-0-1, 3) at Avaya Stadium on Friday night.

“It was difficult,” said the 31-year-old.  “I was going through an injury back in England and things weren’t getting better, watching the game being helpless, knowing I could have been a player who affect the game.  We lacked the energy, we lacked the aggressiveness that I bring and the quality that I can provide.”

A center back, Cameron arguably is the most consistent U.S. defender.  The Americans are searching for backline stability after conceding six goals in the opening two matches.

“We dug ourselves a little bit of a hole, but we should be fine,” he commented.  “If we can perform very well Friday night and show that we can play with our confidence, and play our game plan, we should be OK.”

Honduras, one of three teams to beat the U.S. at home in qualifiers the past 30 years, has always been a thorn in the Americans’ sides.

“They’re a tough team,” stated Cameron.  “They’re a resilient team.  They have a good block on defense and have a couple of guys up top with some speed and some skill.  We just got to make sure we control the game and dictate the pace of the game.”

Cameron felt that Bruce Arena, who replaced Jurgen Klinsmann as head coach, has given the team a breath of fresh air.

“It’s a different system, a different energy, a different feeling,” he finished.  “The players haven’t changed much.  You see some coaches come in and change the whole feeling of the team.  Maybe that’s what we needed.

 

“This is a big game and we have to take care of business.”

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