BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, June 25th, 2016 (PRESS SEC) – This week’s formal meeting of the Cabinet took place on Monday, June 20th and again on Thursday, June 23rd, 2016. The meetings were chaired by Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris.
The Cabinet of Ministers discussed a number of important matters.
1. On Monday, June 20th, the Cabinet met with Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Mr. Osmond Petty and some members of the High Command of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, namely Commissioner Ian Queeley, Deputy Commissioner Hilroy Brandy, and Assistant Commissioner Merclyn Hughes, head of the Administrative, Resources, Technology and Intelligence Directorate. The High Command members updated the Federal Cabinet on the security situation in St. Kitts and Nevis. In particular, they presented a very positive outlook in terms of the execution and impact of the 2016-2019 Police Strategic Plan. This includes the Six-Point Plan, which hinges on i) Crime Prevention, ii) Intelligence-led Policing, iii) Targeted Operations, iv) Collaboration with other Agencies, v) Engagement of Stakeholders, and vi) Improvement in Administration.
They reported on the physical condition of the police stations throughout St. Kitts and Nevis, and sought the support of the Federal Cabinet in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of officers in the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force. “In that regard, the Cabinet assured that its respect for the dignity and comfort of all of our citizens and, in this particular instance, the officers of the Police Force should never be in doubt,” the Honourable Prime Minister said in commenting on the Police High Command’s report. “The Cabinet will always listen to the voice of the Police High Command in matters pertaining to the living conditions and welfare of the police,” Prime Minister Harris added.
In their report to the Cabinet, the police pointed out that Cabinet’s removal of all duties and customs service charges on all surveillance equipment to be used by households and businesses, effective April 1st, 2016 until December 31st, 2016, was a critical support mechanism provided by the Government to enhance the security of all, as it served as an impetus for private individuals and businesses to beef up the protection of their premises.
The High Command members also credited the recent a) purchase by the Ministry of National Security of six trained dogs to enhance the K-9 Unit, b) stepped-up deployment of police officers into our communities, aided in part by the suspension of training at the Police Training Centre, which has enabled more officers to participate in ongoing operations such as stop and searches, and c) promotions of five Inspectors to the rank of Acting Superintendent, six Corporals to the rank of Acting Sergeant and six Constables to the rank of Acting Corporal, as well as the confirmation of two Acting Sergeants in the rank of Sergeant, with helping to bolster the police’s crime-fighting efforts and strategies.
Two days after Monday’s Cabinet Meeting, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force held its quarterly Commissioner’s Parade through the streets of Basseterre, where on Church Street in front of Government Headquarters the officers gave a salute to the Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris.
Commenting after the parade on Wednesday, June 22nd, Commissioner Queeley said, “Parades and other activities that build esprit de corps and showcase our Police Service will be regular fixtures. These activities tie into the new thrust of ensuring the morale of the service is kept high.”
2. The Cabinet discussed matters in relation to the stimulation of the economy going forward. The Cabinet of Ministers affirm via this Cabinet Briefing that the latter half of 2016 should witness even better growth in the country as a result of the implementation of a number of initiatives.
The Cabinet is cognizant of the positive multiplier effects, such as the creation of jobs and maintenance of economic growth, that are to be had from government spending on developing public infrastructure and other capital projects. “Cabinet committed to improving upon the public infrastructure and ensuring that deficiencies in human settlement, such as the many housing developments that had been left devoid of roads, water and electricity, will be addressed in a phased manner over the next coming months,” Prime Minister Harris said after the Cabinet meetings.
During this week’s meetings, the Cabinet of Ministers considered the role that the soon-to-be-unveiled housing program would play in that regard. The Team Unity Government has committed $30 million for housing construction work this year. The government is also in the process of establishing a National Housing Policy aimed at boosting home ownership rates, social welfare and economic development.
The Cabinet of Ministers also discussed further expanding the Fresh Start Program, which the Team Unity Government launched in September 2015 with an initial capital injection of US$5 million. Under the Fresh Start Program, over 200 applicants were successful in attaining concessionary loans and technical assistance from the Development Bank for their small and medium-sized enterprises. These businesses involve trucking, taxi and omnibus operation, cosmetology, broiler chicken farming and layer bird production, pig farming, catering, e-commerce, light manufacturing, agriculture, agro-processing, arts and crafts, music, and videography.
3. The Cabinet discussed new policy guidelines with respect to immigration practices in the country. In particular, the Cabinet of Ministers evaluated the working of the work permit system. The Cabinet accepted a number of recommendations from the Ministry of National Security, which would lead to immigration policy and law reforms in the Federation.
“In the meantime, Cabinet encourages the enforcement of the laws and regulations as they relate to immigration,” Prime Minister Harris said in discussing Cabinet’s deliberation on the matter of immigration. “At the same time, sensitivity and good sense should be shown with respect to the changing environment, having regard to our regional treaty obligations under the CARICOM Single Market & Economy (CSME) and Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) unions,” the Prime Minister added.
4. Cabinet was briefed by the Minister of Health, the Honourable Eugene Hamilton, and the Minister of State with responsibility for health, Senator the Honourable Wendy C. Phipps, on the health situation in the country.
“The Cabinet of Ministers expressed concern about certain false and mischievous allegations that were being propagated in the media surrounding a regenerative medicine project,” Prime Minister Harris said in his discussion of Thursday’s Cabinet meeting, adding that the Cabinet of Ministers approved a response by Senator the Honourable Wendy C. Phipps, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health. Dr. Harris continued: “In that regard, Cabinet noted the hypocrisy of the election losers who had committed to advancing a regenerative project and had gone so far as to permit the SIDF to expend nearly $1 million in such a project, with nothing to show for it.”
5. The Cabinet took note of the Investiture Ceremony that His Excellency the Governor-General Sir S.W. Tapley Seaton GCMG, CVO, QC, JP will hold at Government House on Tuesday, June 28th, 2016 at 10:00am. The ceremony, which will be carried live on ZIZ Radio and Television, will see the Governor-General formally confer the nation’s highest award, the Order of National Hero, on Dr. the Rt. Excellent and the Rt. Honourable Sir Kennedy Simmonds, our first Prime Minister and only living National Hero. The Order of National Hero was awarded on National Heroes Day (September 16th) in 2015.
The Governor-General also will confer the following awards: Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.) on Mr. Keith Ian Scarborough, for his contribution to our cultural development, and Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) on Ms. Clarita Richards, for services to education, music and public administration. The Orders of the British Empire were awarded in the New Year’s Honour List (2016).
Cabinet was pleased that the preceding Investiture Ceremony, which was held at Government House for the 2015 National Honours Awardees on Tuesday June 21st, 2016, went very well. At that ceremony, His Excellency, the Governor-General conferred the Companion Star of Merit (C.S.M.) for “long and meritorious service, or for loyal and devoted service to the Nation” on Mr. Washington Archibald, for his contribution to education, on Mr. Richard Llewellyn Caines J.P., for his contribution to business and politics, and on Mrs. Marjorie Morton, for her contribution to public service. His Excellency also conferred the Medal of Honour (M.H.) for “outstanding and meritorious service to the Nation” on Mr. Ivan Hanley Sr., for his contribution to policing, on Mr. James Hanley III, for his contribution to sports and community development, and on Mrs. Sylvia Garnette, for her contribution to nursing. Ms. Farida Hobson accepted the Medal of Honour on behalf of her father Mr. Theodore Luther Hobson Q.C., who was awarded for his contribution to law.
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