BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — His Excellency the Governor-General Sir S. W. Tapley Seaton GCMG, CVO, QC, JP, LL.D. was administered with his first dose of the Oxford Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Sir Tapley said he is grateful that he has had no after-effects from the vaccine.

Also receiving their vaccination at the same time were the sister of the Governor-General. Mrs. Marquerite Foreman JP, Inspector Alphonso Hendrickson, and Major Lynn Wilkin.

Sir Tapley commended the professionalism of Nurse Rhonda Lowry-Robinson, Deputy Coordinator of Community Health Services and Ms. Teshelle Bridgewater, Enrolled Nursing Assistant who administered the vaccine.

Sir Tapley encouraged all of his fellow citizens to get vaccinated at the earliest opportunity.

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — Three Bills, aimed at strengthening the judicial process in St. Kitts and Nevis, were approved by the Federal Parliament and successfully passed on Thursday, March 4, 2021.

These include the Magistrates Code of Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which is a Bill to amend the Magistrate’s Code of Procedures Act, Cap 3.17; the Criminal Procedures (Amendment) Bill, 2021, a Bill to amend the Criminal Procedure Act, Cap 4.06, and the Jury (Amendment) Bill, 2021, a Bill to amend the Jury Act, Cap 3.15.

“They are all meant to lay the framework for the introduction of criminal procedure rules into St. Kitts and Nevis jurisdiction of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. They are very important relatively, similarly simple, but they are important,” said Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, the Honourable Vincent Byron Jr., who was also the Mover of the Bills.

According to Attorney-General Byron, the Magistrates Code of Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2021 “seeks to confer jurisdiction on the Chief Justice to make criminal procedure rules for the Magistrate’s Court”; the Criminal Procedures (Amendment) Bill, 2021, “seeks to confer jurisdiction on the Chief Justice to make procedural rules under the Criminal Procedure Act, Cap 4.06”; and the Jury (Amendment) Bill, 2021, “seeks to provide for alternate jurors.

Important to note, Attorney-General Byron spoke to the establishment of the Criminal Division in the Federation, a proposal made by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

“This Criminal Division is intended to provide for the streamlining of procedures within the criminal jurisdictions of the Magistrates and High Courts to facilitate greater efficiency in the Criminal Justice System,” said the Attorney-General. “The introduction of the Criminal Division is intended to reduce backlogs within the Criminal Justice System and reduce the time persons may have to wait to get a trial. Central to the proper establishment of the Criminal Division, Mr. Speaker, is the implementation of certain Criminal Procedure Rules.”

He added that St. Kitts and Nevis is at the stage to move forward with the introduction of the Division and in that vein a committee was established “to review proposed Criminal Procedure Rules.

“The Committee,” he said, “is led by His Lordship Justice Trevor Ward QC. Other members include His Worship Reynold Benjamin; Dr. Henry Browne QC; Simone Bullen-Thompson, Solicitor-General from the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs; Francis Letang, Deputy Court Administrator from the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court; Jason Hamilton, Attorney at Law, and Crown Counsel in the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Vaughn Woodley.”

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CHARLESTOWN, Nevis — The Nevis Island Administration (NIA) has emerged victorious from a court battle to secure the certificate of title for the historic Bath Hotel and Bath Stream, putting ownership officially in the hands of the government and people of Nevis.

Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis, describes the acquisition of the title for the iconic property as a significant win for the people of Nevis.

“Thanks to our Legal Advisor, Mrs. Helene Lewis, and her dedicated team of lawyers,

the judge ruled that a title should be issued to the Government for the Bath Hotel and Bath Stream,” said Hon. Brantley.

“This regularizes the position. I am grateful that my Government has been able to secure and put beyond doubt that the historic Bath Hotel and Bath Stream belong to the Government and people of Nevis.
Continue reading NIA wins legal battle; historic Bath Hotel, Bath Stream belong to the Government →

CHARLESTOWN, Nevis — The following is an address by Hon. Hazel Brandy-Williams, Junior Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) on the occasion of World Obesity Day 2021.

“World Obesity Day is celebrated on March 4 annually to create awareness about obesity and its harm to your overall health and body organs,” said Hon. Brandy-Williams. “This day also seeks to educate the public of various recommended actions that should be taken to combat obesity.

“Additionally, World Obesity Day encourages advocacy to change the way the disease is dealt with across our communities,” she said. “It calls for improvement of policies to ensure supportive environments, and promotes the sharing of experiences through various platforms to create a global community. This work is geared towards the goal of reducing overweight and obesity.

“Factors such as individual biology or genetic risk, access to care, access to ultra-processed foods, stressful life changing events among others, make managing obesity a challenge. Obesity is a major risk factor for chronic conditions like type-2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and certain cancers.

“World Obesity Day 2021 focuses on the global campaign ‘Every Body Needs Everybody.’ This campaign invites people around the world to collectively address this global crisis.

“We at the Ministry of Health and Gender Affairs will continue to work through the Health Promotion Unit and other community-based health services to raise awareness and to address the multiple aspects of obesity.

“In observance of World Obesity Day, our nurses and health educators participated in a capacity building consultation with their counterparts in St. Kitts. Another activity planned by the Ministry of Health and Gender Affairs is the ‘Fun Run in the Sun!’ This is a road relay and will be held on March 4. This is to encourage physical activity among all.

“In conclusion, we encourage communities and environments to be supportive, and to help others to make choices that will have long term benefits to our well-being,” concluded the minister. “Let us encourage and support each other in making healthy choices in food and physical activity. Our collective efforts will help to reverse the increasing trend of overweight and obesity and will lead to a healthier Nevisian community.”

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — Police Officers are better informed about the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine now that The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) has completed sensitisation sessions in all three districts.

The RSCNPF collaborated with the Ministry of Health for the activities, which took place this week. The session for District “A” was held at the National Emergency Management Agency Headquarters. Dr. Cuthbert Sebastian and Dr. Mathias Ofre were the presenters at that event. Dr. Sebastian was also a presenter at the session held at the Dieppe Bay Police Station for District “B,” along with Dr. Dwayne Archibald.

In Nevis, the session was facilitated by Chair of the Nevis COVID-19 Task Force and Medical Officer of Health on the island, Dr. Judy Nisbett. It took place at the Nevis Performing Arts Centre as the participants were drawn from not only the Police Force, but also the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force, the Immigration Department and the St. Kitts and Nevis Fire and Rescue Services.

Dr. Sebastian said he was pleased with the activity and the level of questions asked by the Officers.

“It was really interactive,” explained Dr. Sebastian. “People were asking questions. They were engaged. They were passionate, honestly, I believe that is how you have a really open and honest discussion, and then, that is how you really learn, when you have an active discussion. Not just I giving out information, but you asking questions, and I am answering you, they asked me tough questions and I really enjoyed that.”

The presentations covered several topics including the difference between ‘efficacy’ and ‘effectiveness,’ how vaccines work, and the various COVID-19 vaccines currently on the market, with a special focus on the AstraZeneca Vaccine being administered in the Federation.

“I think we tackled most of the concerns and the fears about this vaccine, including the long-term complications; will this vaccine last? Will we have to take another vaccine? We tackled that…a lot of people came up to me afterwards and they said they were more enthusiastic because they learned a lot of things that they never knew before and they’re much more inclined to take the vaccine.”

Most importantly, Dr. Sebastian made a strong case as to why Police Officers, as frontline workers should be vaccinated.

“Well the reason why Police Officers should get the vaccine is because they interact with people daily…close and personal. It is honestly hard to social distance when you are a police officer. It is practically impossible. So they’re definitely one of the frontline members of society when it comes to dealing with this COVID-19 pandemic, and that’s why I recommend that they get the vaccine, because they will be one of the high-risk groups involved,” he urged.

Several Officers have already received the COVID-19 vaccine, including members of the High Command, and many others are scheduled to be vaccinated during the coming days.

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CHARLESTOWN, Nevis — As of March 3, 425 people on Nevis had received their first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis and Senior Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) said he is heartened by the number of people who made the decision to be vaccinated against the virus within the first week of the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccination programme on the island.

“The early numbers are encouraging as we roll out our vaccination programme in Nevis,” said Hon. Brantley. “We urge our citizens and residents to go to their closest health centre and get vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Vaccination is the only proven way to return our island to some sense of normalcy,” he said.

Hon. Hazel Brandy Williams, Junior Minister of Health in the NIA announced that as of March 01, all six health centres on Nevis had been allocated the COVID-19 vaccines.

“I am happy to report that we have now rolled out the vaccination process in all six health centres on Nevis,” said Hon. Williams. “As we roll out the vaccination process I say to each and every one that you can go to your health centre in your particular community, get registered and get ready to be vaccinated.”

She also encouraged the younger members of the population to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

“I am making an appeal to our young people, age 18 and older, that it is very important that you get vaccinated. When you do so, you protect yourselves, your family, your community, and Nevis as a whole,” she said.

Dr. Judy Nisbett, Medical Officer of Health and Chair of the Nevis COVID-19 Task Force said nurses at the health centres are coping well with the number of persons coming in to be vaccinated.

“We have had a good uptake thus far since we started on February 25,” said Dr. Nisbett. “On March 3 alone, 211 persons were vaccinated; 74 of those were done at one health centre.

“At one health centre a one nurse vaccinated 59 persons in one day,” said Dr. Nisbett. “Most health centres have just one nurse, so while it is no longer necessary for individuals to call 311 to make an appointment, we are encouraging people to call ahead at their nearest health centre so they can determine an ideal time for you to come in.

“Some health centres are vaccinating in the mornings, some in the afternoons, and some are able to vaccinate throughout the day,” she said.

Dr. Nisbett noted that persons can call 311 to book a time slot to take the vaccines as a group, including businesses, churches and organisations.

She encouraged them to call 311 to book educational sessions for groups so members can have accurate information about the vaccination process ahead of taking their first dose.

“Community Nursing Services has expressed its willingness to have nurses visit businesses with larger staffs to vaccinate employees,” said Dr. Nisbett. “They will be starting with the staff at the Nevis Electricity Company on March 8.

Hon. Hazel Brandy Williams, Junior Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration is seen after taking her first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on February 25 at the Charlestown Health Centre in Nevis.

Dr. Judy Nisbett, Medical Officer of Health and Chair of the Nevis COVID-19 Task Force takes her first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on February 25. at the Charlestown Health Centre in Nevis.

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