St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly in session

This has been disclosed by Minister of State for Information and Technology, Sen. the Hon. Nigel Carty, who disclosed that in accordance with its commitment under article 3 of the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS) of the WTO ( or the World Trade Organisation), Cabinet discussed and approved the ‘Protection of Lay-out Designs or Topographies of Integrated Circuits Bill’ for its onward passage to Parliament for debate and final passage.

He said that an integrated circuit is a small electronic circuit or microchip that is used in the processors of modern computers and other electronic devices.

Minister Carty said that the purpose of the bill is to protect the intellectual properties of persons who produce original creations that are the results of their own intellectual efforts.

“This legislation is intended encourage the development of circuit topographies that would help to advance computer technology to make them faster and more commonplace. This Bill is intended to be introduced at the next sitting of the Parliament,” said Minister Carty.~~Adz:Right~~

Mr. Carty also disclosed that under the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances to which St. Kitts and Nevis has acceded, the government  is committed to the introduction of laws to eliminate the diversion of precursor chemicals that can end up being used in the production or preparation of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

“Many of the precursor substances to be controlled under the intended law are not in and of themselves illegal but because their use in the production and preparation of hard drugs is so prevalent, their trade will be monitored. Hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, ammonia, potassium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and acetone are among approximately 24 substances whose trade will be monitored,” said Minister Carty, who added that the bill will be introduced at the next sitting of the Parliament.