BASSWTERRE, St. Kitts — Improving regional air and maritime transportation is crucial to advancing regional integration if the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) is to operate optimally, said officials working in St. Kitts and Nevis’ Regional Integration and Diaspora Unit (RIDU).

“We can’t get the CSME operational to the optimal point without dealing with transportation,” said Samuel Berridge, Assistant Secretary in the RIDU in the Office of the Prime Minister.

Berridge said the issue of transportation has to be dealt with in earnest, however, there is a price tag attached.

“It is a cost, and somebody will have to bite the bullet – either the public or private sector,” said Berridge. “We would need a public-private partnership but then the public should not bear all the cost,” said Mr. Berridge.

His Excellency Lionel Sydney Osborne, Head of the RIDU head and Ambassador to the Caribbean Community and OECS Commissioner shared similar sentiments and raised a very important point concerning air transportation.

“Is it a public good, or is it a profit-making exercise?” asked Ambassador Osborne. “If it really is a public good then one has to understand subsidies that are going to be required if we really want to move persons effectively, quickly… from one point to another. I think it is something which will have to be discussed.”

In terms of rapid ferries, Ambassador Osborne, and Assistant Secretary Berridge shared similar sentiments noting that while some countries report success stories with sea transportation it has proven to be very difficult for others.

“The issue is public-private partnerships. The private sector wants to gain the profits, but they want to spread the cost,” said Berridge. “The same discussions which we have with LIAT in terms of spreading the cost now, Chapter six of the Revised Treaty of [Chaguaramas] speaks about transportation policy. You need to make it more effective, and then there are some less economic points.”

RIDU officials reiterated the importance of improving regional transportation and noted that it will require multi-sectoral support.

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — His Excellency The Governor-General Sir S. W. Tapley Seaton, GCMG, CVO, QC, JP, LL.D has dispatched the following message to Her Excellency Dame Cecile La Grenade, GCMG, OBE, Ph.D, D.Sc, Governor-General of Grenada.

“As Grenada celebrates the 47th Anniversary of its Independence, on behalf of the Government and People of Saint Kitts and Nevis and on my own behalf, I am pleased to extend to you and the Government and People of Grenada greetings and congratulations.

Please accept, Your Excellency, every good wish for your personal well-being and for the continued progress and prosperity of the People of Grenada.

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PARIS — The Federation’s permanent delegate to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Ambassador H.E. David Doyle, conferred this week with his counterpart, H.E. Ambassador Vishal V. Sharma, representing the Republic of India, in an exchange of views on UNESCO activities of mutual interest.

Discussions focused on India’s quest to secure a seat on the influential UNESCO World Heritage Committee, a body on which St. Kitts and Nevis sat for the past four years, and now enjoys the privilege of being the only Small Island Developing States (SIDS) member.

Both envoys agreed that India’s accession to this committee would strengthen the Commonwealth presence on the committee, currently comprising Uganda, Australia, South Africa, and the Federation.

India, a member of UNESCO since 1946, “has much to offer the UNESCO heritage community,” noted Ambassador Doyle, with such world-renowned sites as the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Jantar Mantar (Jaipur), making up its 28 world heritage monuments and sites.

The envoys discussed the latest information technology (IT) techniques pioneered by India in creating virtual museums tracing important historical events in the country’s past. Given St. Kitts and Nevis’ work in reconstructing its own historical legacy, and updating its federal world heritage tentative list, it was felt that certain best practices employed in India could be meaningfully used in the Federation.

Ambassador Sharma, who was accredited as India’s permanent delegate to UNESCO in October 2020, had previously worked as part of the Project Team implementing the Museum on Prime Ministers at Teen Murti Bhawan, New Delhi, under the Ministry of Culture.

Underlining the importance of both countries being a member of the Commonwealth, Ambassador Doyle noted “the renewed interest with India’s presence at UNESCO to strengthen the Commonwealth Group to UNESCO”, a dedicated UNESCO committee comprising permanent delegates of the 54 UNESCO member states making up the Commonwealth. A large proportion of this Group is small island developing states seeking to have their voice heard at UNESCO, and at other important international organizations, and representing 20 percent of the UN membership.

The envoys agreed to work together in re-energizing the Commonwealth Group to UNESCO.

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CHARLESTOWN, Nevis — The St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board is celebrating its 43rd anniversary as one of the strongest organisations that has united the people of the two islands, but with time is facing challenges which call for a new vision.

Hon Eugene Hamilton, Federal Minister with responsibility for Social Security, said the institution has helped provide incomes for retired persons over the age of 62 and without income is paying out more than it is receiving in collections. To remedy the situation the minister has strengthened the institution’s board by appointing persons with strong financial skills who will ensure that its income is greater than its expenditure.

“Social Security has its challenges, and it calls for a new vision,” said Hon. Hamilton on February 7. “When this institution started in 1978, the first year it operated, there were $3.3 million dollars in collections. Only $174,000 was paid in benefits.”

In contrast, the Social Security Board received $99.6 million as collections in 2019, but the benefits paid were $101.4 million.

“What does that say to us?” said Hamilton. “That says to us that we have to take a closer look at the way the institution is heading and cut a path that brings this institution to the point where income is greater than expenditure. That basically is what it calls for us to do if we are to ensure that some of you young ones who are paying social security now get a benefit when you get to age 62.”

The Hon. Hamilton, who is also the Federal Minister of Human Settlement, National Health Insurance, Ecclesiastical Affairs, Social Development and Gender Affairs, made the remarks at a thanksgiving service held at the Shiloh Baptist Church in Charlestown, Nevis, in celebration of Social Security’s 43rd anniversary.

The service was also attended by Prime Minister Dr. the Hon Timothy Harris, who is also the Federal Minister of Finance.

“It is why I have strengthened the organization’s board with people with important financial skills to help us to get on that road, so that again, we can see the organisation lengthening its life,” explained Hamilton. “That is the mission.”

The Social Security Board was represented at the service by Chairman Ernest Pistana, with members, Frank Farrell, Faron Lawrence, Dorita Rowland, Jennifer Williams, Candice Dickenson-Caines, and Mr Carl Claxton.

Management and staff were represented by Director of Social Security, Antonio Maynard, and Deputy Director of Social Security Nevis Branch Vernel Powell, and Management and Staff in the Nevis branch office. The sermon was delivered by Pastor Wayne Maynard who dwelt on the building of a secure future based on teaching from Psalm 78. Deputy Director Powell presented a monetary donation, on behalf of the Social Security Board, to Pastor Maynard.

“This is a period when we have to pay attention to what COVID has done to us,” advised Hamilton. “In January, 2020 total wages in the Federation were about $85.7 million, by October when it went down to $58.1 million.

“One shock from COVID reduced the revenue base in the entire country from $85 million to $58 million, so we have to be thrifty in our approach,” he said. “This is why I have charged the board with the responsibility to pay attention, and to make sure that this institution remains as strong as we go through the 2020s, providing benefits to those who need benefits.”

In spite of the challenges, Hamilton assured that the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board remained the most prolific contributor during the period of COVID, as it paid out over $8,500 to people from a stimulus package during that period. It paid $22,739,441.94 in stimulus packages in April, May, June, and September.

“Today as we celebrate 43 years, we celebrate an institution that despite all of the challenges is the strongest in the region, $1.6 billion in assets,” said Hamilton. “There is no other Social Security institution in the region that can compare with the one that we have in St. Kitts and Nevis. I applaud all those, over the many years from the first board to today that have contributed to the strength and to the development of Social Security.”

He also thanked members of the staff who have worked hard to put the Social Security Board in a position in which it is stronger than the rest in the region.

“We are not taking it lightly because my first principle is thrift, even when the going is good, because there are some days when it is going to get bad,” concluded Hamilton. “So I am asking, those who administer Social Security to recognise that and exercise thrift. I am asking you in your homes to also exercise thrift.”

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Rescuers in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand are racing to find more than 100 people missing after a glacier collapsed on Sunday, and sent a wall of water and debris rushing down the mountain.

More than a dozen people lost their lives in the disaster when a portion of the Nanda Devi glacier calved off, sending water smashing through a dam, then surging downstream, damaging another dam project and taking out buildings and trees.

Most of the missing are workers on the two dam projects. Rescuers said they were focusing on saving more than 30 workers stuck inside a tunnel at one of the affected hydropower plants who had been out of contact since the flooding.

Scientists raised concerns that the glacier collapse in the middle of winter could be linked to climate change and a team of experts were expected at the site on Monday to investigate.

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CHARLESTOWN, Nevis — The public has been advised by the Nevis Disaster Management Department that it will changes its operating hours and delivery services to the quarantine facilities at Oualie Beach Hotel and Potworks.

Effective Monday, February 15, the following hours apply:

Monday to Friday, Operating hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Departure time, 12 noon and 4 p.m.

Saturday and Sundays: Operating hours, 10 a.m. to 12 noon; Departure time, 12 noon.

Public Holidays: Operating hours, 10 a.m. to 12 noon; Departure time, 12 noon.

Everyone is encouraged to adhere to these changes as Disaster Management continues to provide these essential services.

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CHARLESTOWN, Nevis — The Nevis Water Department (NWD) will undergo changes in its operations throughout 2021, in an effort to improve on deficient areas which were brought to the fore by the COVID-19 pandemic.

NWD Manager, Ms. Tonya Bartlette, made the disclosure while delivering remarks at a retreat for staff recently, at the Nevis Performing Arts Centre.

“In 2021, there will be a few rollouts, the launching our E-payment portal where customers can pay bills online and a NWD website,” said Ms. Bartlette. “These initiatives are long overdue, we are almost there.

“We will also launch updated e-billing software in an effort to conserve paper,” she said. “This will save paper, reduce costs and decrease our carbon footprint.

“We will also make structural changes to the reporting lines,” said Ms. Bartlette. “The Nevis Water Department is a small business. It should have an organizational structure that reflects better serving internal and external customers.”

NWD will also focus on documenting its Standard Operating Procedures in the entire department. Ms. Bartlette said work to improve operations is ongoing with minor adjustments made to ensure efficiency.

She said date collection will come under sharp focus, since the world is now data-driven.

“This is the direction NWD is heading,” said Ms. Bartlette. “Decisions must be made based on data as this will avoid making blind or uninformed decisions.

“Information collected will drive us to make decisions, not because we want to do something, but because we should take steps to enhance our product,” she said. “Data will serve as a means for future generations to continue to build the Nevis we love on the solid foundation that we have laid.”

Ms. Bartlette said NWD will also continue to collaborate with other departments and organisations.

“At present, we are collaborating with the Nevis Fire Department in mapping out island-wide fire hydrant locations to improve our fire-hydrant network.

“We are collaborating with the Geographical Information Unit, Public Works Department, and the Information Technology Department with other mapping projects. This will enable us to produce maps of our system to enhance our planning capabilities,” she said.

Ms. Bartlette underscored the need for staff training. She explained NWD is making provisions to provide online staff training.

“The Caribbean Water and Sewage Association, is hosting a full year of training sessions, which cover the entire department,” said Ms. Bartlette. “These will be delivered virtually as COVUD-19 has restricted travel and interactive face-to-face learning.

“With this in mind and in an effort to have this knowledge-sharing experience, a conference/training room will be established to accommodate all NWD staff,” concluded Ms. Bartlette. “Team members will be notified of the designated dates and times for this training.”

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NEW YORK, New York — On February 3, Ambassador/Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary H.E. Ian Liburd, Permanent Representative of St. Kitts-Nevis to the United Nations, presented his credentials to the United Nations Secretary General H.E. Antonio Guterres in a formal ceremony at the United Nations Headquarters.

Ambassador Liburd brought greetings from the Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon Timothy Sylvester Harris. The ambassador reassured the Secretary General of St. Kitts-Nevis’ full support for his strong leadership in these unprecedented times.

Secretary General H.E. Guterres spoke of his personal commitment to St. Kitts-Nevis, the Caribbean and Small Island Developing States. Throughout the ceremony, Ambassador Liburd discussed a number of matters of great importance to St. Kitts and Nevis with H.E. Guterres and presented the foreign policy objectives of the Federation.

H.E. Guterres and H.E. Liburd discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of Climate Change on the Federation, rebuilding the economy and building resilience in tourism, health, education and infrastructure.

H.E. Guterres said that St. Kitts-Nevis can count on his solidarity to defend the interests of St. Kitts and Nevis, and to make its voice heard in the international arena. They also discussed the efforts St. Kitts-Nevis and the United Nations have been doing to advance access to the COVID-19 vaccine as a global public good.

In addition to Ambassador Liburd, five other ambassadors also presented credentials in formal ceremonies. These included; Bolivia, Benin, Sri Lanka, Guinea and South Africa. The ceremony concluded with a photo opportunity.

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