St. Kitts – Nevis Sustainable Energy Policy

PM Douglas at World Food Security Meeting

PM Douglas (center) at FAO Confernece

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
June 04, 2008 (CUOPM)

The development of bioenergy and other alternative forms are of critical importance to St. Kitts and Nevis.

So says St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister and Minister of Sustainable Development, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, who told a high level conference on World Food Security at the FAO Headquarters in Italy on Tuesday that the twin-island Federation has developed an energy strategy that is intended to help promote and contribute to the sustainable development of the country.

“Consequently we are seeking to develop indigenous sources and fuel substitution in the generation of electricity and transportation fuels. The use of biomass for energy generation is one area that is under active consideration. However our aim is to ensure that such biomass use is sustainable and does not adversely effect domestic food production,” Prime Minister Douglas told the several Heads of State, Heads of Government, Ministers and experts.

He said his governing St. Kitts – Nevis Labour Party Administration has given approval in principle for a biomass (cane grass) project as well as the establishment of a wind farm.

Much attention he said is currently being paid on the development of a geothermal project for electricity generation while the use of solar energy is also under active consideration.

The St. Kitts and Nevis leader said there is no doubt that the escalating price of fossil fuel has impacted negatively on food security, while there is continued debate about the effects of bioenergy.

He noted that bioenergy has been defined as energy produced from biomass such as energy crops, forestry residues and organic wastes and currently much attention is being paid to the production of liquid biofuels, mainly ethanol and biodiesel.

The biofuels are mainly produced from food crops and are used for transport. Ethanol is mainly produced from sugarcane and maize while the production of biodiesel is from rapeseed but also palm oil and soyabean oil. The growing biofuel market is driving up commodity and food prices and represents a new source of demand for agricultural commodities.

Read More

St. Kitts – Nevis To Strengthen Money Laundering Laws

Money Laundering In The Caribbean

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.

Read More

St. Kitts – Nevis Nutrition Week Activities

A Balanced Healthy Diet To:  All Local Media From:  SKNIS Date:  May 30, 2008 Subject:  Nutrition Week Activities (June 01 to 07, 2008) Notice:  The Nutrition Unit of the Ministry of Health is encouraging residents of St. Kitts and Nevis …

Read More

First Woman Labour Party Candidate Honored

PM Douglas and Ermine Queeley-Evelyn

PM Douglas and Ermine Queeley-Evelyn
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
May 28, 2008 (CUOPM)

Labour Women ““ the women’s arm of the St. Kitts – Nevis Labour Party has honoured the party’s first female candidate ““ Nevisian-born businesswoman, Mrs. Ermine Queeley-Evelyn.

St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister and National Political Leader of the governing St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, the Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, presented the Leadership Award to Mrs. Queeley-Evelyn during the Labour Women Conference at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino.

Mrs. Queeley-Liburd, the Labour Party’s candidate in the Nevis Local Elections in 1979 and the National Elections in 1980, was honoured for her “outstanding leadership in Politics and Business. For your courage and your pioneering spirit and for your being a good role model for the women of St. Kitts and Nevis.”

In accepting the award, Mrs. Queeley-Evelyn thanked Labour Women for the recognition and urged women of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party to work hard to achieve their goals.

Unmarried in 1979, Ermine Queeley was the lone female candidate for the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party when she contested the local elections and the 18th February 1980 General Elections. She ran on the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party ticket for the Gingerland seat in Nevis which was against Mr. Simeon Daniel of the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP).

Born in New Castle, Nevis, Ermine is the first child of the late Elmond Queeley and Rosanel Queeley, both of Newcastle. She attended the Combermere School, and at an early age demonstrated a passion for business when she started, with the help of her mother, to make and sell coconut drops and frozen-joys to her classmates, teachers and others around the community. Her entrepreneurial spirit was encouraged by her father, himself a businessman, when he sent her abroad, at a very early age to gain more into the field business.

Read More