Published 28 May 2017

DEPUTY SPEAKER, SENATOR AKILAH BYRON-NISBETT, IN CAYMAN ISLANDS AS PART OF ELECTION OBSERVER MISSION TEAM

Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 24, 2017 (SKNIS): Deputy Speaker of the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly, Senator Akilah Byron-Nisbett, is in the Cayman Islands as part of an Election Observer Mission Team to oversee the country’s Polling Day, which is today, May 24, 2017.

Mrs. Byron-Nisbett is part of a delegation of international officials from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), who is in the British Overseas Territory to observe its first election in more than 50 years under the one man, one vote system. In the country’s earlier multimember voting system, a registered voter could vote for between one and six candidates depending on the district where he or she lived.

The observers arrived on island prior to Polling Day to observe political campaigning, voter registration and accessibility and electoral administration, while on Polling Day  they are required to examine the voting process, the counting and tabulation of votes and any post-election complaints.

According to Elections Supervisor, Wesley Howell, 21,212 people are eligible to vote in 19 constituencies. Because of the changes to the Cayman’s electoral system in more than 50 years, independent scrutiny of the process is extremely important.

Read More...

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

Read More...

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.

Read More...