 |
| St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas at Monday night's Cabinet Briefing. |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MARCH 13TH 2007 - (CUOPM) - In an effort to keep Kittitians and Nevisians informed of developments in the twin-island Federation, the Prime Minister, the Hon. Dr. Denzil L.Douglas, has introduced a weekly Post-Cabinet briefing.
The first statement was issued Monday evening, shortly after a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, which is chaired by the Prime Minister.
During the eight-minute statement, Prime Minister Douglas said the Cabinet addressed a number of issues including ongoing preparation work for the hosting of Cricket World Cup; the adoption of the National Action Plan of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and Land Degradation; the granting of duty free concessions for local start-up businesses; and the decision to tackle illegal occupation of crown lands giving rise to a special demolition team to ensure compliance with the requirements set out by the Department of Physical Planning and Environment, and the Development Control and Planning Board.
Prime Minister Douglas explained the rationale for post-Cabinet statements.
"We are trying to establish greater accountability and transparency in Government in pursuance of good governance and the strengthening of our Democracy," said Dr. Douglas, adding: "Issuing the post-Cabinet statements is in keeping with my St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Government's contract with the electorate to keep the general public adequately informed of decisions taken by my government."
Since being elected as Prime Minister in July 1995, the Denzil Douglas-led Labour Administration has introduced several initiatives aimed at keeping the general public informed.~~adz:Right~~
These include the Prime Minister's Monthly Press Conference at which he issues an opening statement and allows members of the local Press Corps to field questions on issues raised or other matters; "Face to Face," at which residents direct questions to the Prime Minister and other Members of the Cabinet at a public forum and allowing members of the public and interest groups to send in written comments, suggestions and concerns following the First Reading of proposed legislation and before the Second, the Third Reading and Debate in the National Assembly and the radio-television programme "National Echo."
Two major initiatives introduced since the Labour Party took office are the transformation of the St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service (SKNIS) and the establishment of the Communication's Unit of the Office of the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis (CUOPM).
CUOPM disseminates information via new innovations about events and developments in the Office of the Prime Minister, as well as the various Ministries and Departments under his portfolios. CUOPM brings important and select events as they happen, live to members of the media - local, regional, and international - and Kittitians and Nevisians at home and abroad - in the form of audio, video and text. The website is http://www.cuopm.org
