Nevis News Archives - Page 1236 of 1451 - Nevis Island News and Notes

PM Douglas Calls For FAO Agricultural Assistance

Food and Agriculture Organization Logo

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
June 03, 2008 (CUOPM)

St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has called for the suspension of the protocol with the World Trade Organization (WTO) to allow Member Countries to produce more local agricultural products.

Addressing the United Nations Food and Agriculture Summit on World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy, in Italy on Tuesday, the St. Kitts and Nevis Leader also called on the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) to assist Member Countries with seeds, fertilizer and other inputs to assist the farmers to carry out a rapid production of agricultural products.

“We need help and we need it immediately,” Prime Minister Douglas told the several Heads of State and Government as well as numerous Ministers of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, water, energy and environment.

Dr. Douglas also said there was an urgent need to develop measures to ensure that the adverse effects of the higher food prices on the poor are minimized and that sustainable measures are developed and implemented to reduce poverty.

He said that policy makers have a critical role in ensuring that bioenergy is developed in a sustainable manner thereby safeguarding food security and ensuring that the benefits reach the poor and those who are food insecure.

“Policy priorities would include safety nets to mitigate impacts of higher food prices on the poor and food insecure and the promotion of bioenergy policies that are environmentally sustainable and would foster market opportunities for small holders and other vulnerable groups,” said the St. Kitts and Nevis leader.

Dr. Douglas said that climate change is expected to impose new challenges to arable land areas, livestock rearing and fisheries and urged agreement on the actions that are necessary to achieve climate-responsive food security policies and programmes.

Nevis Island Premier – Joseph Parry

Charlestown, Nevis
June 03, 2008

Premier and Minister of Education in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), Hon. Joseph Parry, on June 01, 2008, officially launched the celebration of Child Month 2008, under the theme “Celebrating the present with an eye on the future.”

In a televised address at the studios of NTV Channel 8, Mr. Parry spoke of the importance of children and appealed to parents, teachers and the community to treat them well.

“I want for this month that teachers, members of the community pay special attention to children, remind them that we love them, remind them that they are the future of this country,” Premier Parry said.

He used that opportunity to remind the public that teenagers were not to be left out during the month-long celebration.

“We treat our kids very well when they are a year old and five years old but I want us also to remember the 12 year olds and 13 year olds are still children and to continue to pay as much attention to them, perhaps even more attention so that they can grow up and be good young adults,” he said.

Mr. Parry also expressed satisfaction with the NIA’s continued pledge to train, value and educate the children of Nevis.

“My government will continue to work in terms of education and training to help our children and of course our adults too but our main focus is on children,” he said.

According to Mr. Parry, the NIA’s provision of books, adequate supplies for the Early Childhood Centers and its ensuring that teachers were available to teach students were indicators that the Administration recognised the importance of Nevis’ children.

Dirty Money In The Caribbean

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
June 03, 2008 (CUOPM)

Lawmakers in St. Kitts and Nevis meet on Wednesday to approve legislation aimed at ensuring the Federation’s legal, law enforcement, financial and regulatory regimes are in compliance with international standards and increasing financial transparency within certain key institutions within the Federation.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Sen. the Hon. Nigel Carty will introduce The Payment Systems Bill, the Bills of Exchange (Amendment) Bill, the Financial Services Commission (Amendment) Bill and the Financial Intelligence Unit (Amendment) Bill and Minister of National Security, the Hon. Dwyer Astaphan will introduce the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill at Wednesday’s Sitting of the National Assembly.

The Payment System Bill establishes a comprehensive legislative framework governing the establishment, maintenance and functioning of the payment system operated by the St. Kitts-based Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB). It provides for the direct participation by the Central Bank in payment systems not operated by it including non-currency union payments systems and addresses matters relating to the designation of a funds transfer system and a settlement system including the operation of standards within such systems.

Under this law, the ECCB will be empowered to issue directives to financial institutions which appear to or are actually engaged in conduct with respect to the payment system that results in or is likely to result in systematic risk or is contrary to the public interest relative to the integrity, effectiveness, efficiency or security of the payment system.

The Financial Services Commission (Amendment) Bill increases the efficiency of the Financial Services Commission by endowing the commission with powers to impose sanctions on financial institutions that are acting in a manner that violates safe prudential practices as set out in the Proceeds of Crime Act, the Anti-money Laundering Regulations, the Anti-Terrorism Act or similar legislation.

Orginization of American States 2008 Meeting

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
June 03, 2008 (CUOPM)

The peoples of the Americas have a right to expect a deeper engagement and a heightened leadership role from the Organisation of American States (OAS) with regard to crime and violence, their number one social challenge.

This is the view of St. Kitts and Nevis Minister of Foreign Affiars, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris.

Addressing the 38th Regular Meeting of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Medellin, Colombia, which has as its theme, “Youth and Democratic values,” Minister Harris challenged the Western Hemispheric body to intensify its efforts to work with and support member states in their elaboration of sound policies and focused programming an issue “of such burning hemispheric concern.”

Minister Harris made reference to the efforts being made by the Governments of St. Kitts and Nevis and other Caribbean countries including a special Summit on crime and violence which was held in Trinidad in early April.

He referred to the work of the Caribbean Civil Society Organizations and to the Meeting of Health Ministers of the Hemisphere in Mexico in March 2008, where the Declaration on Violence and Injury Prevention was adopted.

But, Minister Harris said: “The peoples of the Americas have a right to expect that the OAS, working in unison with Inter-American partners, with other regional and international agencies, and with member and observer states, would intensify its efforts to work with and support member states in their elaboration of sound policies and focused programming on an issue of such burning hemispheric concern.”

He said that he was aware that Secretary General Insulza, has convoked a meeting of Hemispheric Ministers with Responsibility for Public Security to be held in Mexico this coming October, and that violence prevention will be foremost on the agenda.

Dr. Harris noted that it will be the first such Hemispheric meeting of highest level authorities on Public Security and congratulated The Secretary General on this initiative.

Vance W. Amory Airport, Newcastle, Nevis
Photo by Michael S. Maxson

Charlestown, Nevis
June 2nd, 2008

Radio show host, Hastings Daniel, welcomed the Premier of Nevis, the Honourable Joseph Parry, to the popular program, “Tell Me”, where Premier Parry discussed the upcoming runway extension of the Nevis Airport.

Premier Parry, Cabinet Secretary- Mr. Ashley Farrell and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Laurie Lawrence met with Prime Minister, the Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas in St. Kitts last week, where they discussed a number of issues; the airport extension being “one of the main concerns”, according Premier Parry.

Since Premier Parry attended the World Bank meeting in Washington D.C last year and returned stating that he had received in principle the assistance for the runway extension, numerous persons have questioned the a need for airport expansion.

Premier Parry reported that he does not believe that the people of Nevis are fully aware that the American Eagle has been landing on Nevis with a number of restrictions, some being that they can not come to Nevis with a full fuel tank, after dark flights into Nevis are not allowed and the planes can not accommodate all passengers with their baggage, if the flight is full.

Last year, during a World Bank meeting in Washington D. C., the Premier of Nevis met with Kuwaiti officials and discussed the possibility of securing assistance from the Kuwaiti Government.

PM Douglas Calls For FAO Agricultural Assistance

Nevis Premier Launches Child Month

St. Kitts – Nevis To Strengthen Money Laundering Laws

St. Kitts & Nevis Join OAS In Fighting Regional Crime

Nevis Premier To Speak About Airport Expansion