Nevis, West Indies. ?A Non-Tourist-Trap? Blog About Nevis.

Nevis’ Chief Labour Officer – Gary Liburd

Charlestown, Nevis
May 04, 2011

The implementation of Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems [OSHMS] was the focus for the Apr. 28 observance of World Day for Safety and Health at Work.

The day, according to a statement issued by the Department of Labour on St. Kitts, sought to “stress safety, the prevention of illness and accidents at work in addition to capitalising on its traditional strengths of tripartism and social dialogue.”

The statement further underpinned the significance of OSHMS, stating that they would be used “as a tool for continual improvement in the prevention of workplace incidents and accidents.”

In an interview with Chief Labour Officer for Nevis, Mr. Gary Liburd, it was revealed that his department had increased its work safety awareness efforts.

“Over the years, we have seen a rise in occupational accidents in St. Kitts-Nevis and what we are trying to do is encourage the parties involved: employers, employees to put the appropriate managerial practices in place to prevent occupational accidents and diseases,” he said.

World Day for Safety and Health at Work was established in 2003 by the International Labour Organisation [ILO] and its member states. Since then, the organisation “has reported that work related deaths and injuries had taken a heavy toll on developing nations where large numbers of people are engaged in hazardous activities.”

The ILO notes that although small developing states like St. Kitts – Nevis do not normally report large numbers of job relates injuries, it [ILO] “had begun to see a rise in the number of occupational illnesses and deaths in areas such as construction, road building and dock work.”

Labour officials throughout the twin-island federation, in observance of World Day for Safety and Health at Work, called on residents to “mobilize nationally and move towards a secure, safe and healthy working environment for all.”

Related posts:

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2. OccuNomix Donates Safety Equipment To Nevis
3. Nevis Premier Speaks Out On Road Safety
4. St. Kitts – Nevis Health Officials Address H1N1 Virus
5. St. Kitts – Nevis Labour Day Parade 2011 Is A Success

The St. Kitts – Nevis Flag

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
April 19, 2010 (CUOPM)

The role of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in assisting Member States in establishing and improving the sources of information in order to develop and enhance the Labour Market Information Systems has been acknowledged by the Caribbean Community Council for Human and Social Development (COSHOD).

During COHSHOD’s 19th meeting in conjunction with the ILO Seventh Meeting of Caribbean Labour Ministers in Guyana, Ministers, their representatives and senior Labour officials noted the importance of annual labour force surveys. St. Kitts and Nevis was represented by Head of Delegation, Ms. Eudora Nisbett.

The Meeting agreed that there was a need to enhance the quality of labour force surveys as distinct from the national accounts and censuses done by statistical institutes. The Meeting pointed to the likely benefits from computerising departments of labour and standardising relevant administrative records.

As a long term measure, the COHSOD recognised the need to prioritise the development and sustainability of credible data sources and to build capacity for labour market trend analyses, and in this regard encouraged Ministries of Labour to integrate information on labour market trends in key policy documents such as budget debates and annual reports of trade unions and employers’ organisations.

The Meeting further underscored the need to develop inter-agency collaboration including technical assistance, as well as financial and political support.

It was emphasised that in the context of regional integration, it was important that there was coherence among the legislation of countries in the region particularly as it related to the social floor of rights to enable the Single Market and Economy to function effectively and to deepen the regional integration process.

Taking into account the existence of Model laws in the areas of freedom of association and collective bargaining, non-discrimination, termination of employment and occupational safety and health, COSHOD agreed that it would be useful to pursue harmonization of legislation in the areas of labour migration and social security.

It was also agreed that countries which had not yet ratified all of the eight ILO fundamental Conventions should do so. The COHSOD agreed that those Conventions were important aspects of trade and investment policies as was indicative in the recently signed Economic Partnership Agreement between CARIFORUM and the European Union.

In this context therefore the COHSOD urged Member States of CARICOM to make every effort to fulfill their reporting obligations in respect of ILO ratified Conventions and to implement the comments of the ILO supervisory bodies. The latter could contribute to reduce the need for additional harmonization of legislation. Attention was also drawn to the importance of ensuring the full participation of the national social partners as this would strengthen the implementation of regional integration.

Related posts:

1. St. Kitts – Nevis Represented at COTED Meeting in Guyana
2. St. Kitts – Nevis To Host RSS Council Of Ministers Meeting
3. Regional Security Council Of Ministers’ Meeting
4. National Security Ministers Briefed On Regional Issues
5. Prime Ministers Manning & Thomas To Visit St. Kitts

CARICOM Officials - Bowen and Raggie (r)
Charlestown, Nevis
January 25, 2010

Project Officer in the Guyana based CARICOM Secretariat Ms. Mignon Bowen said the Secretariat had received a lot of exposure from the many observer missions it has mounted, with regard to the management and observation of the electoral process in member states.

She made the observation on Friday during a visit to Nevis to meet with Premier of Nevis Hon. Joseph Parry and other stakeholders, ahead of Monday’s General Elections.

“One of the things about doing these observer missions …is it actually builds capacity annd so where we have strength in one system and a weakness in one, we are monitoring [and] we try, in terms of our recommendations, to see how best the strengths in that system could be applicable to this one.

“That is why we have persons like Mr. Raggie who is the Supervisor of Elections in St. Lucia and we also have the Deputy Chief Supervisor of Elections from Trinidad Ms. Charles Wright.  So those persons would use their knowledge to strengthen another member state’s system if there needs be,” she said.

Ms. Bowen said the observer team was pleased to be in the Federation and she was pleased to be a part of the observer mission.

“It is very honourable for you to be part of an Electoral Observer Mission and we are pleased to be of service to the people of the region and especially the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.

Meantime, Mr. Carson Raggie who accompanied Ms. Bowen on the Nevis visit said he was hopeful any recommendations that were submitted, would be taken into consideration.

He also registered his satisfaction with the introduction of the Voters ID card which he said was one recommendation made by the CARICOM Observer Mission after the last general election five years ago.

Related posts:

1. Nevis Premier Welcomes Caricom Electoral Observer Team
2. Heads of CARICOM and OAS Observer Missions To Call on PM Douglas
3. OAS To Observe St. Kitts – Nevis Elections
4. Ballot Confidentiality A Priority For Elections Officials
5. St. Kitts – Nevis Elections Set For January 25