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| National assembly Chambers. Photo by Erasmus Williams |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, AUGUST 29TH 2005 A bill to provide for the registration of nurses and midwives is one of four pieces of legislation that will be given a second reading and debated during Wednesdays sitting of the National Assembly.
The Nurses and Midwives (Registration) Bill, 2005, the Salaries Review Commission Bill 2005, the Caribbean Community Bill, 2005 and the St. Christopher and Nevis Vacation Plan and Time-Sharing Bill, 2005 were introduced at previous sittings of the lawmaking body, will be debated.
The Caribbean Community Bill, 2005, which stands in the name of Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Industry and Commerce, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris, will give effect to the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas Establishing the Caribbean Community including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.
The Nurses and Midwives (Registration) Bill, 2005, provides for the establishment of a Nursing and Midwives Council, which should maintain a Register of nurses and midwives and a Roll of Nursing Assistants, who satisfy the conditions for admission to the Register.
The proposed legislation also provides for the Certification of registration, staff and expenses, the protection of members of the Council, duties of the midwife in emergency, the penalties for unlawful assumption of title of Registered Nurse, the falsification of the Register and suspension.
The legislation, which stands in the name of Minister of Health, the Hon. Rupert Herbert, also provides for procedures for the Nurses and Midwives Council to recommend disciplinary action to the Public Service Commission and an Appeal process.
The Nurses and Midwives (Registration) Bill, 2005, will repeal 1961 legislation and will empower the Nursing and Midwives Council to make rules for regulating the formation, maintenance and publication of the Register, regulating the conditions of admission, the conduct of examinations and fees for registration.
The Nursing and Midwives Council is expected to consist of the Principal Nursing Officer, the Director of Institutional Nursing Services (the Matron) of the Joseph N. France General Hosp[ital, Director of Institutional Nursing Services (the Matron) of the Alexandra Hospital, the Head of Health Sciences Division of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, Coordinator of Community Nursing Services, Supervisor of Community Nursing Services in the island of Nevis and six Appointed Persons.
The Appointed Members of the Council shall hold office for a period not exceeding three years and shall be eligible for re-appointment, but shall not serve no more than two consecutive terms.
The Salaries Review Commission Bill, 2005 provides for the establishment of a Salaries Review Commission, which shall Chairperson and four other members and who shall be appointed by the Governor General after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.
The Commission, shall every three years, with the approval of the Governor General, review the salaries and other conditions of service of the Governor General, Members of Parliament including the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Prime Minister, Attorney General, Ministers of Government,, Parliamentary Secretaries or Minister of State, the Leader of the Opposition and the holders of such offices as may be prescribed and make recommendations to the Government.
The St. Christopher and Nevis Vacation Plan and Time Sharing Act, 2005, will provide for the creation, regulation and management of Time-Sharing and Vacation Projects and to provide for the Protection of Purchasers of Time-Sharing and Vacation Plans.
The 53-page Bill legislates among other matters, licences for the time-sharing project, exemption from customs duties for the construction projects, inspection of facilities and the power of the Board to suspend or revocation of licences.
