St. Kitts – Nevis

ILO’s 97th Conference Will Discuss Various Issues

International Labor Organization Logo

International Labor Organization Conference

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
May 28, 2008 (CUOPM)

A tripartite delegation from the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is among 3,000 government, worker and employer leaders in Geneva, Switzerland for the annual Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The 28 May to 13 June meeting to discuss a wide range of issues including rural poverty reduction, the latest developments in labour rights and enhancing skills development.

This year, the Caribbean will be represented by tripartite delegations of eight CARICOM countries – Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. Representatives of two non-metropolitan territories, Bermuda and the Netherlands Antilles, which are also covered by the ILO Sub regional Office for the Caribbean, will be members of the delegations of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

The tripartite delegation from the Federation is comprised of St. Kitts and Nevis High Commissioner to London, His Excellency Mr. James Williams; St. Kitts and Nevis Commissioner of Labour, Mr. Spencer Amory; President of the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades & Labour Union, Mr. Clifford Thomas; Executive Director of the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Ms. Wendy Phipps and St. Kitts and Nevis Honorary Consul in Geneva, Mr. Steven Goldstein.

The annual meeting of the ILO will also consider strategic challenges in terms of obtaining decent work, as well as host a high-level panel discussion on 11 June on “Tackling the Food Crisis through investment, production and decent work.”

ILO Director-General Juan Somavia will provide delegates with an overview of ILO issues and concerns in an address on 9 June. The Director-General will present a new report on “Decent Work ““ Some Strategic Challenges Ahead” that examines the role of the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda in promoting balance and equity in a world at an
economic, financial, social and environmental crossroads.

Among other special events, the plenary will mark the World Day Against Child Labour on 12 June under the theme “Education, the right response to child labour.”

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CARICOM Commission To visit St. Kitts – Nevis

St. Kitts Youth - World Aids Day 2007

St. Kitts Youth – World Aids Day 2007
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
May 26, 2008 (CUOPM)

A CARICOM Commission on Youth Development (CCYD) which has embarked on an information and fact-finding mission across the region to conduct an analysis of the situation of Caribbean youth is to visit St. Kitts and Nevis.

The CARICOM Secretariat in a news release said the exercise aims at obtaining stakeholders’ views and recommendations on youth governance structures in member states and it represents one component of the CCYD’s mandate to conduct a comprehensive regional analysis of the situation of Caribbean youth aged 10-29.

A team comprising commissioners Hally Haynes, of Barbados; Co-Chair Yldiz Beighle, St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Kyle De Freitas and Suriname’s Melvin Bouva, made its first stop in Barbados where they engaged representatives of departments responsible for youth affairs, national youth councils and national youth organisations in discussion.

Accompanied by Deputy Programme Manager Youth and Community Development, Dr Heather Johnson and Youth Consultant Sherwin Bridgewater, both from the Caricom Secretariat, the team focused their discussions on the strengths, challenges and opportunities of the existing youth governance structures and in the departments responsible for youth affairs and national youth councils/organisations.

Similar discussions will be held in St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Belize, The Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Haiti and Jamaica and will contribute to a regional analysis of youth development and empowerment trends, issues and gaps.

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Changes To UK Visa Application Process

British Passport

British Passport

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been advised by the British High Commission of changes regarding the logistical arrangements for issuing visas for the United Kingdom. These changes are part of a move to concentrate decision-making on visa applications in a number of hub posts around the world, to ensure quality and improve efficiency in the face of rising demands.

The Ministry has been advised that from 2nd June 2008, the British Consulate in New York will be responsible for making decisions regarding the issuance of visas. Applicants will continue to apply to the British High Commission in Barbados, which will in turn forward the relevant documents to the British Consulate in New York.

Online applicants will be required to pay for the Visa with an internationally recognized credit card at the time of completing the visa application form. Applicants will still be required to pre-book appointments. However, applicants must also make a personal appearance at the British High Commission in Barbados to submit documents and provide the necessary biometric data.

When the British Consulate in New York would have made a decision, which may be arrived at approximately three weeks, applicants will be alerted via email. Subsequently, the British High Commission in Barbados will notify the applicant that the documents are available for collection. Alternatively, the documents could be forwarded directly to the applicant (living outside of Barbados) by courier, a service which would have been paid for during the online application process.

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St. Kitts – Nevis Promotes Healthy Diet

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis March 27, 2008 (SKNIS) The promotion of healthy diets and lifestyles is the key concern of a workshop designed to build capacity for the development of food based dietary guidelines. The multi-sectoral workshop takes place …

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