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OECS officials convene to discuss freedom of movement regime

CASTRIES, St Lucia — Regional integration stakeholders convened on March 16 to discuss the current implementation status of the indefinite stay regime and the rights contingent to the free movement of people regime; two critical accomplishments of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) towards the full implementation of the Revised Treaty of Basseterre and the establishment of the OECS Economic Union.

In attendance at the 18th meeting of the free movement of people working group were senior officials from the immigration departments of OECS member states, representatives from the OECS Commission and four OECS Commissioners.

The Commission provided an update on progress towards the implementation of the free movement of people regime and member states were given the opportunity to directly address matters relevant to these discussions.

The meeting also received an update on the OECS Commission’s participation at the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) regional seminar and workshop, which took place between January 31 and February 3, 2017, in St John’s, Antigua.

The working group addressed two major topics discussed at the ICAO regional meetings: the need for the harmonisation of border management systems; and the need to enhance the security of national identification cards. OECS member states took this opportunity to provide an update on ongoing national efforts toward the harmonisation of border security systems and recommendations for advancing this matter were considered by the group.

The OECS was represented at ICAO meetings by senior border control managers, including chief immigration officers from Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines. The Commission was represented by tourism specialist Dr Lorraine Nicholas and regional integration specialist Clarence Henry.

Local news, News, Regional News

Commentary: Putting the right pieces of the puzzle together in St Kitts-Nevis

By Dr Neals J. Chitan

Published on March 29, 2017

As a young boy growing up in Grenada, one of my favorite things to do was putting jigsaw puzzles together. However, the most frustrating thing for me was trying to fit 500 pieces together without the picture on the box. Without knowing what picture should emerge the task is longer, harder and most tedious.

Dr Neals J. Chitan holds a doctorate in Social and Behavioral Sciences and is the Grenadian-born president of Motiv-8 For Change International — a Toronto based High Impact Social Skill Agency that is specially dedicated to the social empowerment of individuals, families and communities

Without a clear picture of what it should finally look like, I have tried to fit pieces in areas where they did not belong, even squeezing them into places where they weren’t cut to fit, only to end up with a distorted picture.

Similarly, when it comes to solving the debilitating social disease of homicides, governments must have a clear picture of the results they hope to achieve, thus teaming up the right pieces to get the desired results.

Here is where I must congratulate the vision and efforts of the government of St Kitts and Nevis to piece together a method for sustainable crime reduction, in an effort to combat the rising tide of murder that plagued the Federation in recent years.

According to statements released by Prime Minister Timothy Harris in his cabinet press conference and verified by Police Commissioner Ian Queeley in his press conference, for the first quarter of 2017, the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis has seen a significant reduction in homicides as compared to the recent previous years.

And so, the question comes to mind, “What right pieces have the prime minister and his ministry of national security put together to achieve this result in the first quarter of 2017?”

As an international social skill consultant and crime reduction specialist, I sat in the prime minister’s February cabinet press conference, with ears perked to hear his announcements and plans for the reduction of crime, with emphasis on murder, and I left satisfied that the right pieces were fitted together.

In his presentation, Prime Minister Harris who is also minister of national security, outlined a plan that included:

• Better border surveillance

• Enhanced police training and presence, including the RSS

• Community digital monitoring and lighting

• Enhance forensic training with the contracting of forensic specialist Narace Ramnarine

• Finally, the three months contracting of Dr Neals Chitan, an international social skill consultant and crime reduction specialist.

As I looked on as the plan unfolded, I saw how it fits perfectly into the St Christopher and Nevis Police six point plan and realized that these pieces fitted together and executed well can bring the social change the government is seeking and the people of the Federation deserves.

Although by then, in February, I was already delivering our powerful high impact crime reduction “Project STOP ‘n’ THINK” concepts and sessions in all eight high schools in the Federation, primary schools, prisons, parent associations, communities, churches and sport clubs, I left the prime minister’s presentation even more convinced that, working together, the reduced murder rate we have seen in the first quarter of 2017 was inevitable.

In 2016, as I sat at my desk in Toronto and saw the murder rate in St Kitts and Nevis on the incline to surpass that of 2015, I sent a proposal to Permanent Secretary Osmond Petty advising him of the crucial need to get to the heart of at-risk youth and young adults. I further suggested the need for concepts and strategies that will socially message, inspire and challenge them towards success in their personal lives, while helping them to consider the consequence of their impulsive and emotional decisions that can deliver bitter lifelong regrets.

There is no doubt that the last ten weeks of mixing, mingling and inspiring the masses in St Kitts and Nevis were extremely busy and hectic for me, sometimes doing up to six full length sessions a day, plus meeting with parents seeking help with their rebellious children at nights. However, I must say that we have sown seeds of; respect, good decisions, impulse control and personal success that must be watered and nurtured if we hope to continue that decline in murder and other crimes for the rest of 2017, and I am totally committed to making sure that these seed grow and bear fruits.

The unforgettable friendships, acceptance and trust I have experienced in St Kitts and Nevis range from primary school children to professionals and it is so evident as my wife Patsy and I drive the miles of roadway across the Federation and hear little children, youth and adults shouting us out as we pass, sometimes shouting “STOP and THINK”.

This three-month ‘Project STOP ‘n’ THINK” contract culminates in two spectacular national graduations and rallies in both St Kitts and Nevis. Over 3,000 students and community youth wearing our “Always STOP and THINK before you PROCEED” tee-shirts will parade through the streets of Basseterre and Charlestown on April 4 and 6, as they affirm their decisions to STOP and THINK and reduce crime in St Kitts and Nevis.

It was most definitely my pleasure to be an integral part of this history-making process and I look forward to discussing and negotiating with the ministry of national security as to how to continue and sustain this incredible impact.

Truly, we have gotten to the hearts of the nation’s youth and again, I must proclaim that the government has put the right pieces of the puzzle together.

Business, Local news, Regional News

Feasibility study confirms geothermal potential of St Kitts

Published on March 29, 2017

At the meeting, from left Joseph Williams; Dr Devon Gardner; Dr Vince Henderson; Ian ‘Patches’ Liburd; Jacques Chouraki

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (SKNIS) — A feasibility study done by Teranov, a French engineering and services company for new and renewable energy based in Guadeloupe, has confirmed that there is potential in St Kitts to develop at least 18 to 36 megawatts of geothermal power.

Speaking at the conclusion of a two-day meeting of geothermal stakeholders in St Kitts from March 21- 22, minister of public infrastructure, Ian ‘Patches’ Liburd, hailed the findings as “heartening” but that the government has to consider the way forward.

Liburd said that the meeting was convened with other stakeholder representatives including Dr Vince Henderson, ambassador of Dominica to the United States; Jacques Chouraki, president of Teranov; Dr Devon Gardner, programme manager for energy at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat; Joseph Williams, sustainable energy advisor at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB); representatives from the St Kitts Electricity Company Ltd (SKELEC), ministry of finance, Office of the Attorney General, and private sector “as it relates to solidifying our roadmap in respect of our geothermal development here on St Kitts and in Nevis with particular focus on the development on St Kitts.”

“We have so far done the 3G studies — the geological, geophysical and geochemical studies or the surface studies… there is potential on St Kitts to develop at least 18 to 36 megawatts of geothermal power and that’s heartening for us here in St Kitts and Nevis,” said Liburd, while indicating that the next step is to consider the way forward for slim-hole and exploration drilling.

Liburd said that the government received a draft geothermal agreement from its partners for which Cabinet decided that there should be an independent review. According to the minister, the government consulted with the CARICOM and the CDB.

“Where we are right now in terms of the next steps, next set of actions and timelines, we have agreed today that we would restructure the geothermal agreement and we have put a timeline on that to be completed by the end of June this year. We also have agreement in terms of the provision of a business plan and financial model from Teranov. We would in terms of the joint venture company arrangements consider the shareholder agreement issues that deal with decision-making; and the commercial issues are key business points in some reform and indeed we did agree on the way forward as it relates to… development of this resource on St Kitts,” Liburd said.

He said it was necessary to have further discussions because any agreement signed off on has to bear in mind that government owns the land, the utility called SKELEC and the government will own the resource.

Liburd said that whatever comes out of the agreement has to “ensure we protect the best public interest” and “there must be real benefit for the end consumer.

In November 2015, Teranov began geothermal exploration exercises in the Sandy Point area around Brimstone Hill, going to the top of Mount Liamigua. Five geo-scientists were in St Kitts conducting feasibility studies in geophysics, geology and geochemistry.

President of Teranov, Jacques Chouraki, said then that the prospects for geothermal energy on St Kitts were promising.

In September 2015, Liburd signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Teranov, which includes a road map that can possibly see the production of geothermal energy in 2020.

Liburd has underscored the point that fossil fuel costs are very exorbitant and that “if we are going to continue our development and if we are going to ensure economic growth” that the government must adopt a policy of renewable energy because “we are blessed with sunshine, we are blessed with wind and in the federation of two islands we have two volcanoes.”

Business, Crime/Justice, International news, Local news

US slams St Kitts-Nevis in money laundering and financial crimes report

Published on March 29, 2017

By LK Hewlett

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (WINN) — A US State Department report claims that St Kitts and Nevis “remains susceptible to corruption and money laundering and its deficient vetting of citizenship by investment candidates is also problematic”.

The scathing report, released in March, attributes the country’s susceptibility to corruption and money laundering to “the high volume of narcotics trafficking around the islands”.

On the matter of alleged weaknesses with the St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment (CBI) program, the State Department said, “St Kitts and Nevis derives a significant portion of its revenue from its program offering citizenship through investment; however, this program’s prior lax vetting created anti money laundering and security vulnerabilities domestically and internationally. Despite recent efforts to improve the application process and vetting procedures, the CIP continues to be afflicted by significant deficiencies in vetting candidates and conducting due diligence on passport and citizenship recipients after they receive citizenship.”

The report went on to charge that St Kitts and Nevis did not report passage of new enforcement legislation or prosecutions in 2016, and there have been no money laundering prosecutions or convictions since 2013.

The US government did acknowledge the fact that its Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is engaging St Kitts and Nevis to evaluate if recent CBI improvements sustainably address US anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism concerns.

The report was also critical of the offshore sector in Nevis, saying financial oversight in Nevis remains problematic due to the federation allowing the creation of anonymous accounts, strong bank secrecy laws, and overall lack of transparency of beneficial ownership of legal entities.

It read, “The ambiguous regulatory framework regarding customer due diligence makes Nevis a desirable location for criminals to conceal proceeds.”

The US government advised that the government of St Kitts and Nevis should work toward transparency and accountability in financial regulation; and promote close supervision of the CBI program and be transparent in reporting monitoring results.

Republished with permission of West Indies News Network

News, Regional News

Caribbean Fisheries Forum meets in Jamaica this week

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CRFM) — Heads of national fisheries authorities from 17 member states of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) will be meeting with observers and partner agencies in Jamaica near the end of this week, for the 15th meeting of the Caribbean Fisheries Forum, the primary technical deliberative body of the CRFM, for talks on the status of and recent trends in the fisheries and aquaculture in the region and plans for the future to strengthen the sector.

Ahead of the opening the hurricane season in June, the forum meeting — slated for Thursday, 30 March, and Friday, 31 March, in Kingston — will also address measures for adaptation to climate change and disaster risk management in fisheries.

CRFM executive director, Milton Haughton, said: “Climate change, sea level rise, ocean acidification and disaster risk management are major challenges facing the fisheries sector and the wider economies of our countries. These issues continue to be high priorities for policy-makers and stakeholders because we need to improve capacity, information base and policy, and institutional arrangements to respond to these threats and protect our future. At this meeting, we will be discussing the USA sponsored initiative to provide risk insurance for fishers, among other initiatives to improve and protect the fisheries sector and ensure food security.”

The forum will also discuss steps to strengthen cooperation and coordination between fisheries and environment departments, as well as partner organizations, in order to strengthen the conservation of marine species and critical habitats to achieve international biodiversity targets.

Haughton noted, “Working together to improve the health of the marine environment and protection of vulnerable marine species while improving sanitary and phyto-sanitary systems and quality of fish and seafood, will produce tangible social and economic benefits for fishers and fishing communities. It is time for stakeholders in the fisheries and environment sectors to start working in a more cooperative and constructive manner to address common challenges.”

The forum will be updated on the progress of technical activities being undertaken by the CRFM, its Secretariat, member states and network partners, after which it will prepare recommendations on the way forward to be tabled when ministers responsible for fisheries meet on 19 May in Guyana.

Outgoing chairman, Denzil Roberts, chief fisheries officer of Guyana, will demit office after his 12-month tenure. Participants in the upcoming Fisheries Forum will elect a new chair, vice-chair and executive committee members, who will serve for the programme year, 2017-2018.