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IMMIGRATION ACT AMENDED TO GIVE WAY TO THE ADVANCE PASSENGER INFORMATION BILL

Published 28 May 2017

IMMIGRATION ACT AMENDED TO GIVE WAY TO THE ADVANCE PASSENGER INFORMATION BILL

Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 24, 2017 (SKNIS): The Immigration Amendment Bill 2017 was read a third time and passed into law on Tuesday, May 23, during the Sitting of Parliament, with the object to amend the Immigration Act Chapter 6.02 and for matters connected therewith.

“It is a matter of replacing the provisions which hitherto relate to Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) and to give notice to the fact that we have just brought an Act which stands on its own in relation to the administration of APIS requirements,” said Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris.

Deputy Premier of Nevis and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Aviation in the Federal Government, the Honourable Mark Brantley, said that the amendment to the Immigration Act was to “tidy up the legislative framework” and to be granted permission “to bring into force and to have and give efficacy to the APIS legislation.”

Local news, News

CFBC TEAM WORKING TO EXPAND SCOPE OF AGRICULTURE PROGRAMME

Published 28 May 2017

CFBC TEAM WORKING TO EXPAND SCOPE OF AGRICULTURE PROGRAMME

Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 24, 2017 (SKNIS): The agriculture programme at the Technical and Vocational Division of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) is approximately three years old and the organizers are strengthening systems to enhance its scope.

The institution’s Director of Employee and Programme Development, Dr. Leighton Naraine, and Science Lecturer, Stuart Laplace, shared about the agriculture programme on Wednesday’s (May 24) edition of the government radio and television programme “Working for You.”

Mr. LaPlace stated that a lot of effort was made to dispel the stigmas associated with the field of agriculture such as the commonly heard: it is not for persons who are academically inclined. Once this was understood and appealing features such as hydroponic systems were introduced, it became easier to attract students.

“We started off with a high level of interest in terms of enrollments and then that increased very rapidly,” said Dr. Naraine. However, the numbers have shown some decline in recent times, which has troubled the educators

Education, Local news, News

TECOYA WARNER EMERGES AS JUNIOR TOURISM MINISTER

Published 28 May 2017

Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 25, 2017 (SKNIS): Tecoya Warner of the Charles E. Mills Secondary School emerged victorious at this year’s Local Tourism Youth Congress, which was aimed at creating greater awareness among youth about the island’s tourism product, while presenting solutions about how it can be improved.

The now 2017 Junior Tourism Minister, who will go on to represent St. Kitts at the Regional Tourism Youth Congress in October, 2017, in Grenada, was passionate about her topic, gave sound points and captured attention, just to name a few, according to the judges.

In second place was Treasure Cannonier of the Cayon High School and in third, Sheski Christian of Saddlers Secondary.

Having young persons put forth their views on tourism topics and express themselves convincingly on matters of concerns to the country as a tourism destination is vital to the future development of tourism, says Minister of Tourism, Honourable Lindsay Grant.

Local news, News

APIS BILL ENHANCES ST. KITTS AND NEVIS’ REPUTATION, WHICH HAS SEEN A MARKED INCREASE UNDER HARRIS-LED ADMINISTRATION

Published 28 May 2017

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MAY 26^TH, 2017 (PRESS SEC) – Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris said on Tuesday that the safe passage of the Advance Passenger Information Bill “helps St. Kitts and Nevis’ reputation as a responsible member of the international community.”

The Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis stated that the safe passage in the Parliament furthered the progress, which the Government of National Unity is making at a steady clip in offsetting the reputational damage to the country suffered under the previous Denzil Douglas-led administration.

Progress on that front has seen reforms to the country’s AML/CFT [anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism] regime, as well as a robust overhaul and rebranding of its Citizenship by Investment Program to include a strengthened due diligence process that is now the platinum standard. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) commended these improvements during the recently held Article (IV) Consultation in St. Kitts and Nevis.

This progress has also seen a reputational rebound for St. Kitts and Nevis’ passport, which is ranked number one in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), number two in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) behind The Bahamas, and number 50 in the world out of 199 countries and territories, according to the Nomad Passport Index 2017.

News

PLANS UNDERWAY TO HOST 42nd REGIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE CARIBBEAN, THE AMERICAS AND THE ATLANTIC REGION OF THE CPA

Published 28 May 2017

Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 25, 2017 (SKNIS): Plans are in train to host the 42^nd Regional Conference of the Caribbean, the Americas and the Atlantic Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), which will be held in St. Kitts at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort during the period June 16-24, 2017, under the theme “Enhancing Democracy through the Use of the Parliamentary System and the Media”.

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Secretary General, Mr. Akbar Khan, is scheduled to attend, along with 12 speakers of parliaments to date and 75 delegates, who have already confirmed their attendance, representing 14 parliamentary branches including Antigua and Barbuda, Bermuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Nevis Island, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos Islands. There are 19 parliamentary branches in the region.