Author: SKNISEditor

The holiday season is upon us, amidst what has been the most deadly pandemic in a century. Our Caribbean Community (CARICOM), like the rest of the world, has been battered and bruised by the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. However, once again in the face of adversity, the strength of our unity shone forth. As we relax and reflect during this festive time, we must be thankful that we have been relatively successful in managing the health aspects of the pandemic with 1300 deaths across our Community, a comparatively low figure in the global context. I extend my…

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 18, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – The people-centered Team Unity Government of St. Kitts and Nevis this week continued what has become a longstanding tradition when Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris presented his administration’s sixth consecutive tax-free budget. TheTeam Unity Government was able to accomplish this feat, even during a time when all the world’s economy has been crippled by the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, thanks to the strong fiscal measures adopted over the last five years. Inpresenting his sixth tax-free Budget on Tuesday, December 15, Prime Minister Harris…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 18, 2020 (SKNIS): The government is considering draft legislation from the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board that proposes the establishment of an Unemployment Insurance Fund. Minister of Labour, the Honourable Wendy Phipps, commended the Board for its efforts in this regard particularly during this time when the employment status of many persons are impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic.“Had we had that before COVID it might have eased our burden quite a bit,” Minister Phipps stated, on Thursday (December 17) during the Budget Debate. She noted that the government spent $120 million in stimulus support to…

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 18, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Minister of Labour, Senator the Honourable Wendy Phipps, revealed in the National Assembly on Thursday, December 17 that to date, the Department of Labour has paid out close to $10 million dollars in severance payments to more than 900 claimants. MinisterPhipps made the revelation while lending her support to The Appropriation (2021) Bill, 2020. Ina detailed account of the work of the Department of Labour, the honourable minister stated that at the end of day on Monday, December 14, the department had received a total…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 18, 2020 (SKNIS): The McKnight Community and other persons attending events at the Garden’s Sporting Complex will soon have an improved experience when renovation work on the facility is completed. Minister of Sports, the Honourable Jonel Powell, noted that work on the complex began this week and will include replacement of the roof, installation of new outdoor sports lights, and a complete paint job.Outdoor sporting facilities around the island will also be upgraded.During the Budget Debate, Minister Powell told the parliament on Friday (December 18, 2020) that more than $71,000 has been spent to date to upgrade the…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 18, 2020 (SKNIS): Minister of Environment and Cooperatives, the Honourable Eric Evelyn, during his maiden Budget Presentation in the Federal Parliament on December 18, 2020, said that all government primary schools in St. Kitts and Nevis now have Junior Savings Cooperatives.A Junior Savings Cooperatives is a saving programme where children can bank monies. Minister Evelyn said that young people are the future and it’s important to teach them about saving and how to grow their money.“We want to encourage thrift, savings and trust and community among the young people and that is why we want to start…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 18, 2020 (SKNIS): Nationals in St. Kitts and Nevis are strongly encouraged to grab scholarship opportunities when they become available as they are free and help students to enter into higher education institutions or training facilities without having to depend on student loans.“I continue to encourage, and I am so proud that our people are starting. There is a trickle and I want the trickle to become a flood… [We encourage] our people to get the education, to get the language, get immersed in the culture,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs and Civil Aviation, the Honourable Mark…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 18, 2020 (SKNIS): Plans for the construction of the new state-of-the-art Basseterre High School (BHS) at Pond’s Extension in East Basseterre will begin in early 2021, says Minister of Education, the Honourable Jonel Powell, during the continuation of the Budget Debate on December 18. Minister Powell noted that the construction has taken longer than anticipated. However, he is satisfied that the delays were for a good reason.“We must ensure that in building an institution of this magnitude that it is done properly, that all the I’s are dotted all the T’s are crossed and at the end…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 18, 2020 (SKNIS): A Reading Intervention Programme is being implemented in schools across the Federation, says Minister of Education, the Honourable Jonel Powell, during his contribution to the Budget Debate on December 18. The programme is designed to boost the development of reading and literacy skills in low achieving students for whom regular classroom instruction is insufficient so that their level of progress and achievement improves thus increasing their ability to access the curriculum and work independently, he said.  The Reading Intervention Programme is being implemented in a total of 18 schools, that is, 17 public primary schools, as…

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 18, 2020 (SKNIS): Through a collaborative effort between the Ministries of Education and Health, 2021 will see the construction of a brand new building in Fortlands to house the St. Kitts Spectrum Services Centre. Minister of Education, the Honourable Jonel Powell, announced this during a Sitting of Parliament to debate The Appropriation Bill (2021), 2020, on December 18.The centre, which is currently housed at the Industrial Site Preschool, has been doing tremendous work in St. Kitts and Nevis and has not attracted sufficient recognition as it provides resources and instruction for students who are part of the…