~~Adz:Left~~ Good evening to all our citizens and residents. I bring you the Cabinet briefing for Cabinet meeting held today Wednesday July 18th, 2007. The meeting was held at the Cabinet meeting room at Government Headquarters and was chaired by Prime Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet, Dr Hon Denzil Douglas.
The Kyoto Protocol
One of the important outputs of the Cabinet discussion was the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol is an amendment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, named after the Japanese city in which the protocol was adopted. Countries ratifying the Kyoto protocol commit to reduce the emission of Carbon Dioxide, methane, sulpur hexafluoride and other greenhouse gases. These greenhouse gases interfere with the atmosphere and can cause global warming and climate change. St. Kitts and Nevis now joins all other Caribbean countries in ratifying this important protocol designed to protect the World’s fragile climate system.
Under the Kyoto protocol, industrialized countries are expected to reduce their levels of emission of greenhouse gases by 5.2% compared to their 1990 levels or by about 18% of current emission levels.
Under this protocol, developed countries which are net producers (or sources) of greenhouse gases are expected to finance and supply technology for climate-related projects to developing countries which are net absorbers (or sinks) of greenhouse gases.
Cabinet wishes to assure all concerned that the Government is very much concerned about the potential impact of climate change on the economy and on the livelihood of people in St. Kitts and Nevis, which is already prone to natural disasters, like hurricanes and floods, that are associated with climate change.
The ratification of the Kyoto protocol would make it possible for renewable energy developers in St. Kitts and Nevis in the very near future to access financing that is made available under the protocol. Cabinet took the opportunity to reinforce its commitment to the development of alternative energy projects such as producing electricity from wind, household waste and sugarcane.
Special Land Initiative
Recalling its decision of June 4, 2007 to empower young persons and persons without their own land through the process of land ownership, Cabinet received an update on the progress of plans to make 5000 lots of land available to our citizens in the short term. Cabinet approved the allocation of 603 acres of land in 24 different locations around the island of St. Kitts where the lots will be distributed. The lots will have a minimum size of 4000 square feet in residential projects that will have roads, electricity, water and other important infrastructure installed.
Cabinet is pleased to inform that the land sales office is now being set up and additional staff is being mobilised so that the special land distribution initiative can commence by August 6, 2007. Citizens are asked to note that the processing time for the lots of land available will be very short and are therefore asked to begin to contact their financial institutions (banks and credit unions) to arrange financing where necessary. ~~Adz:Right~~
Electoral Reform
Cabinet received an update on the electoral reform process and was satisfied that plans to have a new electoral system in place in the next few months are progressing smoothly. As members of the public are aware, the national advisory electoral reform and boundaries committee (NAERBC) headed by Mr. Raphael Archibald MBE, as recently as last week handed over its report to the Parliamentary Constitutional and electoral reform and Boundaries Committee (PAERBC), headed by the leader of Government business in the Parliament, the Hon Sam Condor. This committee also has the following members: Hon G A Dwyer Astaphan, Hon Vance Amory (replacing the late Hon Malcolm Guishard), Hon Dennis Merchant – Attorney General, the Hon Shawn Richards and the Hon Patrice Nisbett. This committee will soon meet to consider the report from the NAERBC.
Today, project managers from Fujitsu, the company out of Barbados contracted to develop the new national registration system, were on island and met with local counterparts. Officers from the Ministry of national Security, the Statistics Department, the electoral office, the ministry of Health, the ministry of Finance, the registrar and the Ministry of Planning were involved in discussions about the implementation of the project. Cabinet mandated that the planning and implementation move swiftly to ensure the completion of the project within the shortest possible time.
Cabinet reiterated its commitment to the process of electoral reform in a very transparent and very inclusive manner.
The End
This brings to an end the cabinet briefing for cabinet meeting held Wednesday, July 18, 2007.
