Saint Kitts and Nevis

CDB’s public procurement reform programme enters second phase

admin — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 10:50:01 +0000

CDB’s public procurement reform programme enters second phase

/sites/default/files/imported_articles_images/node__1036.jpeg

admin Sun, 06/19/2022 - 10:50

Monday, April 18, 2022

Original Publisher

Barbados Advocate - Business

Original Article

CDB’s public procurement reform programme enters second phase

CDB’s Head of Procurement, Douglas Fraser.

THE Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has started a new phase of its public procurement reform programme, which is helping Eastern Caribbean countries to increase efficiency and effectiveness in govern- ment procurement.
The second stage of the programme, which will include finalising legal reforms and establishing electronic systems, kicked off with a 47-participant workshop, held recently in the Virgin Islands.
“Better expenditure management provides a foundation for building stronger and more inclusive economies. This can be achieved through ro- bust public procurement that provides transparency and accountability by promoting civil soci- ety participation, stimulating private sector growth and investment, and encouraging wider improvements in governance,” said CDB Head of Procurement, Douglas Fraser.
Before the procurement reform started in 2018, CDB-financed assessments showed that few countries had dedicated procurement legal or reg- ulatory frameworks. In ad- dition, existing systems re- lied on outdated financial and administration Acts. Often appropriate institu- tional structures were not in place to undertake and oversee procurement and almost none of the public servants were dedicated to procurement whilst those involved in procurement lacked suitable qualifica- tions.
Typically, public pro- curement can account for more than 10-15% of a country’s gross domestic product, but the amount can be considerably higher for small island developing states such as those in the Caribbean where US$8-11 billion is spent every year on public pro- curement. Consequently, there is significant need for CDB to support its Borrowing Member Countries’ development objectives in this area.
In the past four years, with support from the Bank, legal and regulatory reform took place in Antigua and Barbuda and the Virgin Islands, and is at an advanced stage in Anguilla, Dominica, Montserrat and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Across the Member Countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), chief procurement officers and other senior procurement officials were appointed, often in newly created posts. Some 20 senior officials from across Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent received Diplomas in Procurement and Supply, accredited by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), through the Caribbean Procurement Training Programme, after long-term study.
CDB also actively advo- cated for all of the OECS countries to join and participate in the Inter- American Government Procurement Network to share technical knowledge and best practice, with the result that for first time all the OECS procurement leads had a venue to meet and build technical relationships.
The second phase of the procurement reform, estimated to last until mid- 2024, will involve the completion of the outstanding legal and regulatory reforms, the formation of dedicated procurement institutions in the countries, the development of stan- dard procurement documents and support for the introduction of electronic procurement to provide for greater transparency and efficiency.

Business

Caribbean

Business

PAHO to provide 100 800 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Barbados

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 15:20:01 +0000

PAHO to provide 100 800 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Barbados

/sites/default/files/imported_articles_images/node__3600.jpg

admin Mon, 03/01/2021 - 15:20

Monday, March 1, 2021

Original Publisher

Barbados Advocate - News

Original Article

PAHO to provide 100 800 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Barbados

The PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and Eastern Caribbean countries, Dr. Yitades Gebre.

On Friday 26 February 2021, the COVAX Facility announced its final allocation of COVID-19 vaccines for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean countries, to receive a proportion of 16% to 20% of their population coverage.

The countries will receive the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine which recently was approved for Emergency Use List (EUL) by World Health Organisation. The countries were allocated the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine of 100,800 doses to Barbados; 74,400 doses to St. Lucia; 40,800 doses to Antigua and Barbuda; 21,600 doses to Saint Kitts and Nevis; 45,600 doses to Grenada; 28,800 doses to Dominica; and 45,600 doses to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The PAHO Revolving Fund for Vaccines (RFV) will procure and deliver the COVAX vaccines to the countries in the Eastern Caribbean and Barbados. PAHO is working with its Member Countries to close the purchase orders and to expedite administrative, regulatory, and logistics procedures to scale up vaccinations in the region.

The countries will start receiving their first vaccines through COVAX in March if all the conditions are met. Countries received the letters from COVAX informing about the volumes they will receive until May from the first producer that met the EUL authorisation from WHO and finalised the commercial agreement with COVAX.

The PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and Eastern Caribbean countries, Dr. Yitades Gebre, stated that, “the priority of the first phase of vaccination is to save lives. We will achieve this by vaccinating the most exposed groups – like the health professionals, and the most vulnerable groups to developing severe COVID-19 illness.”

COVAX is financially supporting access to vaccines for the four Eastern Caribbean countries of Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, that probably would have to wait many months to get vaccines if the facility did not exist.

Dr. Gebre further stated that “the vaccines will not have an important impact on virus transmission itself in the next months. To achieve herd immunity, we will need to vaccinate at least 70% of the population.”

While we are vaccinating the most vulnerable and reducing the mortality, we need to keep all public health measures that can reduce the transmission: the use of masks, physical distancing, avoiding closed and crowded spaces.

News

Caribbean

News

PAHO: Barbados to receive 100 800 doses of COVAX COVID-19 vaccines

admin — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 15:50:01 +0000

PAHO: Barbados to receive 100 800 doses of COVAX COVID-19 vaccines

/sites/default/files/imported_articles_images/node__8516.jpg

admin Sun, 02/28/2021 - 15:50

Original Publisher

NationNews Barbados — nationnews.com

Original Article

PAHO: Barbados to receive 100 800 doses of COVAX COVID-19 vaccines

Bridgetown – The COVAX Facility has announced its final allocation of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines for Barbados and countries in the Eastern Caribbean that will see them receiving a proportion of 16 to 20 per cent of their population coverage by the end of March.

According to PAHO, following the approval for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for Emergency Use List (EUL) by the World Health Organisation (WHO), 100 800 doses of the vaccine will be delivered to Barbados; 74 400 doses to St Lucia; 40 800 doses to Antigua and Barbuda; 21 600 doses to Saint Kitts and Nevis; 45 600 doses to Grenada; 28 800 doses to Dominica; and 45 600 doses to St Vincent and the Grenadines.

In a statement on Saturday, PAHO said that its Revolving Fund for Vaccines (RFV) will procure and deliver the COVAX vaccines to the countries in the Eastern Caribbean and Barbados.

“PAHO is working with its member countries to close the purchase orders and to expedite administrative, regulatory, and logistics procedures to scale up vaccinations in the region.

“The countries will start receiving their first vaccines through COVAX in March if all the conditions are met. Countries received the letters from COVAX informing about the volumes they will receive until May from the first producer that met the EUL authorisation from WHO and finalised the commercial agreement with COVAX.”

The PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and Eastern Caribbean countries, Dr Yitades Gebre, stated that, “the priority of the first phase of vaccination is to save lives”.

“We will achieve this by vaccinating the most exposed groups — like the health professionals, and the most vulnerable groups to developing severe COVID-19 illness.”

COVAX is financially supporting access to vaccines for the four Eastern Caribbean countries of Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines, that probably would have to wait many months to get vaccines if the facility did not exist.

Gebre further stated that “the vaccines will not have an important impact on virus transmission itself in the next months”.

“To achieve herd immunity, we will need to vaccinate at least 70 per cebt of the population.”

COVAX – the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, is co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) – working in partnership with developed and developing country vaccine manufacturers, UNICEF, the World Bank, and others. It is the only global initiative that is working with governments and manufacturers to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are available worldwide to both higher-income and lower-income countries. (CMC)

Caribbean

News

Bitt breaks new ground with digital currency transaction

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 18:40:01 +0000

Bitt breaks new ground with digital currency transaction

/sites/default/files/imported_articles_images/node__182.png

admin Thu, 02/25/2021 - 18:40

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Original Publisher

Barbados Today

Original Article

Bitt breaks new ground with digital currency transaction

International financial technology firm Bitt has executed its first successful retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) consumer-to-merchant transaction using DCash, in partnership with the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB).

DCash is the newly developed ECCB digital currency. The transaction was completed at Geo F. Huggins’ Foodland, in the island of Grenada on Friday, February 12, 2021, as part of the digital cash infrastructure project.

Commenting on this achievement, Governor of the ECCB Timothy Antoine said “this transaction is a major milestone in our mission to place DCash in the hands of the people of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU)”.

“I congratulate Geo Huggins on making history. We are now on the cusp of the public launch of DCash,” said Antoine.

The ECCB has begun to issue DCash to participating financial institutions to enable customer purchases at selected merchants, as part of the closed segment of the DCash pilot. This live exercise is the final step before the public launch in four of the ECCU’s eight sovereign member countries.

Over the last year, Bitt has worked hand in hand with the ECCB in creating the DCash infrastructure using Bitt digital currency management system (DCMS).

Bitt has further enabled every stakeholder of the ecosystem, including financial institutions, merchants, government agencies, and end-users, with the infrastructure and applications necessary to fully issue, transfer, hold, transact and remediate using digital currency DCash.

Chief Executive Officer of Bitt Brian Popelka said he was “extremely proud to provide the ECCB with our digital currency management solution to efficiently service the entire financial ecosystem within the ECCU”.

“Bitt’s DCMS is at the forefront of integrating digital currency operations into any financial infrastructure. The future of financial transactions is about delivering ultimate efficiency, end-to-end, for institutions, businesses and customers. Bitt’s mandate is to promote financial inclusion through our technology of digital cash,” he added.

The DCash Pilot is a key initiative of the ECCB’s transformational agenda as articulated in its 2017-2021 Strategic Plan. Governor Antoine spoke about this historic pilot in that context saying, “DCash is about the people of the ECCU. Through DCash, we intend to increase their financial inclusion, competitiveness and resilience”.

Over the next few weeks, Bitt is supporting the ECCB as registered financial institutions, merchants and agents achieve full readiness for the public roll out in the countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia. (PR)

Caribbean

Fatal shooting incident in Mcknight

admin — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 07:10:01 +0000

Fatal shooting incident in Mcknight admin Tue, 01/12/2021 - 07:10

Monday, January 11, 2021

Original Publisher

Local News – The St Kitts Nevis Observer

Original Article

Fatal shooting incident in Mcknight

Police in St. Kitts and Nevis are investigating a fatal shooting incident that took place this evening in the McKnight area.
The incident took place shortly after 7:00 pm with another individual also being wounded in the matter.

A police barricade was formed on the western section of the Bay Road where the incident took place while other Police vehicles circled the area for any leads into the matter.

More to this story would be provided when it comes to hand.
The post Fatal shooting incident in Mcknight appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Caribbean

News

Explorer’s Youth Clubs inaugurate new Phillip’s Village headquarters

admin — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 22:20:01 +0000

Explorer’s Youth Clubs inaugurate new Phillip’s Village headquarters admin Mon, 01/11/2021 - 22:20

Thursday, December 31, 2020

Original Publisher

Local News – The St Kitts Nevis Observer

Original Article

Explorer’s Youth Clubs inaugurate new Phillip’s Village headquarters

Ribbon-cutting ceremony, left to right, Inspector Rosemary Isles; Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Shawn Richards; Prime Minister Dr. The Hon. Timothy Harris; Permanent Secretary Osmond Petty; Resident Taiwanese Ambassador H.E. Tom Lee; and Commissioner of Police Hilroy Brandy.
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — Following the official opening of their headquarters in Phillip’s Village, the Explorer’s Youth Clubs now have a permanent place to call home.
The new 10,420 square foot building was opened by Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. The Honourable Timothy Harris, at a December 31 ceremony. It features a number of amenities for the members of the 12 Explorers Clubs across St. Kitts. Each club is expected to have weekly sessions there when the threat of COVID-19 ends.
Project Engineer, George Gilbert of the Public Works Department, congratulated Myron Percival and his company, M&D Construction for the excellent work in building the $2.47 million facility. Gilbert said that the sleeping rooms with accompanying bathrooms for males, females, and staff will allow camping events. Also featured are a recreation room, offices, a common dining room and kitchen, and a laundry area. There are three 500 gallon water storage tanks on the roof.
Prime Minister Harris plays table tennis with Inspector Rosemary Isles at the Explorer’s Youth Clubs Headquarters.
In his remarks, Prime Minister Harris referred to the incredible growth of the Explorers Movement, which started in July 2017 with the launch of the Mol-Phil group. Since then, other communities have joined including Tabernacle, Shadwell, Cayon, Newtown, Lodge, Old Road, Dieppe Bay, St. Peter’s, St. Paul’s, Trinity, and Newton Ground.
Dr. Harris said that there are over 1,200 Explorers. He expects the numbers to continue growing as other communities have signalled an eagerness to establish clubs.
“This is a legacy development in the context of law and order in our country,” said the Prime Minister. “This is a legacy initiative that generations after us will speak to as being an important stabilizer of our society and contributing to the advancement of St. Kitts and Nevis.”
He said the government remains committed to the empowerment of young people as well as the rule of law within society. This is reflected in the record amounts allocated to related ministries for the 2021 fiscal year.
The Ministry of National Security was allocated more than $86.1 million. The Ministry of Education received over $103 million, while the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture was allotted over $10 million.
Prime Minister Harris appealed to parents, businesses, and other stakeholders to join with the government in building a stronger and safer future for all.
The post Explorer’s Youth Clubs inaugurate new Phillip’s Village headquarters appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Caribbean

News

Coronavirus Latest–Deaths USA-362,139, Brazil-196,591, UK-75,431

admin — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 22:20:01 +0000

Coronavirus Latest–Deaths USA-362,139, Brazil-196,591, UK-75,431 admin Mon, 01/11/2021 - 22:20

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Original Publisher

Local News – The St Kitts Nevis Observer

Original Article

Coronavirus Latest–Deaths USA-362,139, Brazil-196,591, UK-75,431

What you need to know:

England entered another national lockdown on Tuesday as coronavirus cases surge in the UK.
Hospitalizations in the US continue to rise following the holidays — and the case surge has also limited the vaccine rollout, officials say.
As California battles its devastating Covid-19 surge, some Los Angeles County ambulance crews were given guidance not to transport patients with little chance of survival.
Singapore police can obtain data from the country’s Covid-19 contact-tracing technology for criminal investigations.
Coronavirus Cases:
86,261,376

view by country

Deaths:
1,864,098

Recovered:
61,206,169

#
Country,
Other
Total
Cases
New
Cases
Total
Deaths
New
Deaths
Total
Recovered
Active
Cases
Serious,
Critical
Tot Cases/
1M pop
Deaths/
1M pop
Total
Tests
Tests/
1M pop
Population

World
86,261,376
+132,758
1,864,098
+3,518
61,206,169
23,191,109
107,936
11,067
239.1

1
USA
21,355,530
+2,479
362,139
+16
12,740,249
8,253,142
29,586
64,324
1,091
260,232,350
783,838
331,997,424

2
India
10,357,569

149,886

9,975,958
231,725
8,944
7,468
108
176,531,997
127,282
1,386,938,083

3
Brazil
7,754,560

196,591

6,875,230
682,739
8,318
36,350
922
28,600,000
134,063
213,333,114

4
Russia
3,284,384
+24,246
59,506
+518
2,662,668
562,210
2,300
22,501
408
92,000,000
630,281
145,966,653

5
UK
2,713,563

75,431

N/A
N/A
1,847
39,865
1,108
56,665,511
832,473
68,068,853

6
France
2,659,750

65,415

196,037
2,398,298
2,666
40,701
1,001
36,162,648
553,388
65,347,723

7
Turkey
2,255,607

21,685

2,146,430
87,492
3,522
26,598
256
25,132,152
296,361
84,802,540

8
Italy
2,166,244

75,680

1,520,106
570,458
2,579
35,855
1,253
27,004,272
446,972
60,416,033

9
Spain
1,958,844

51,078

N/A
N/A
2,192
41,888
1,092
27,839,319
595,314
46,764,094

10
Germany
1,799,261
+3,045
36,221
+239
1,424,700
338,340
5,726
21,440
432
34,801,593
414,692
83,921,499

11
Colombia
1,686,131

44,187

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Caribbean

News

Person of interest in Police custody

admin — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 22:20:01 +0000

Person of interest in Police custody admin Mon, 01/11/2021 - 22:20

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Original Publisher

Local News – The St Kitts Nevis Observer

Original Article

Person of interest in Police custody

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — Troy Francis of Conaree/Cayon for whom a Person of Interest Poster was issued is now in Police custody.
He was captured by Officers at John Street, Newtown on Tuesday night, January 5.
The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force thanks its media partners for disseminating the information and the public for any assistance given with this matter.
The post Person of interest in Police custody appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Caribbean

News

8 Times Elected Congresswoman Yvette Clarke Takes Oath of Office

admin — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 22:20:01 +0000

8 Times Elected Congresswoman Yvette Clarke Takes Oath of Office admin Mon, 01/11/2021 - 22:20

Thursday, January 7, 2021

Original Publisher

Local News – The St Kitts Nevis Observer

Original Article

8 Times Elected Congresswoman Yvette Clarke Takes Oath of Office

Jamaican-American Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke has taken her 8th Oath of Office at the start of the historic 117th United States Congress.
“We ushered in the 117th Congress — the most diverse Congress in our nation’s history — and I proudly took my 8th Oath of Office to represent New York’s 9th Congressional District,” Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) on Tuesday following her swearing-in for her eight consecutive, two-year term.
“While this is often a celebratory occasion, we must not forget we are beginning this new Congress during a time of extraordinary difficulty,” added the representative for the predominantly Caribbean 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York.
“Since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, we have experienced more than 350,000 tragic deaths, over 20 million infections, an unprecedented economic crisis, a racial reckoning,” continued Clarke, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce, and Homeland Security Committees.
“The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated many of the inequalities plaguing our nation. Still, it has served as an opportunity for House Democrats to focus on the critical issues to the American people.”
With the passing of the US$900 billion pandemic relief bill, the congresswoman said communities have begun receiving enhanced unemployment benefits, US$600 direct cash payments and protections against evictions.
She said the legislation is “a strong beginning to continued efforts to accomplish all that we had hoped.”
Clarke said navigating this pandemic has been “extremely challenging,” adding, however, that “we have seen many within our communities that have been most adversely impacted and marginalized arise as true champions for democracy.
“Additionally, I find it alarming that some of my colleagues are utilizing this difficult time to advance divisive agendas to contest the electoral college results,” she said, alluding to a statement by late US Congressman John Lewis.
“‘The vote is precious. It is almost sacred. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democracy,’” she quoted Lewis as saying.
“These efforts are futile and harmful to our democracy; now is not the time for division,” Clarke said. “Now is the time for unity, and the strengthening and preservation of our democracy.
“I am proud to continue representing the residents of the 9th Congressional District as we strive towards more accountability, transparency and truth in supporting the needs of the American people,” she added.
CMC
The post 8 Times Elected Congresswoman Yvette Clarke Takes Oath of Office appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Caribbean

News

CBI: Americans Can Become SKN Citizens in 2 Months

admin — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 22:20:01 +0000

CBI: Americans Can Become SKN Citizens in 2 Months admin Mon, 01/11/2021 - 22:20

Friday, January 8, 2021

Original Publisher

Local News – The St Kitts Nevis Observer

Original Article

CBI: Americans Can Become SKN Citizens in 2 Months

LONDON, Jan. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — As political unrest reaches a breaking point in the United States, American nationals could be pleased to know that there is a lucrative investment opportunity in the dual-island nation of St Kitts and Nevis that culminates in the receival of second citizenship.
Since 1984, the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis has been offering wealthy investors a safe and secure route to dual citizenship under its Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme once making an economic contribution to its Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF).
Once investing in the SGF, applicants must undergo meticulous vetting procedures that involves a multi-tiered approach utilising both local and international agencies. After successfully passing the necessary security checks, which can take as little as 60 days, investors gain receipt of citizenship and can thus apply for their second passport. Revenue generated from the CBI Programme is then channelled into national development projects ranging from healthcare and education to infrastructure and tourism.
“Established almost 40 years ago, the oldest CBI programme in the world, it implements a strict due diligence process in full compliance with national legislation and international standards. The program also helps fund community-focused projects that drive economic growth for local people and investors and is a major driver of inward investment,” Les Khan, the CEO of St Kitts and Nevis’ CBI Unit, wrote for C-Suite Quarterly.
The benefits that stem from acquiring a dual citizenship includes increased travel mobility to nearly 160 countries and territories, an advantage that much of the western world can no longer enjoy as COVID restrictions lead to another wave of lockdowns across the globe. In addition to travel freedom, investors gain access to alternative business prospects and can also pass down citizenship for generations to come.
Those who become citizens of St Kitts and Nevis enjoy a fruitful business environment in a Caribbean paradise with a priority to maintaining the rule of law. In addition, the dual-island nation reports only 33 confirmed coronavirus cases with zero deaths, demonstrating an ability to implement stringent measures and protect its citizens.
The post CBI: Americans Can Become SKN Citizens in 2 Months appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Caribbean

News