Nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis are invited to submit applications to pursue studies in a variety of areas including Accounting, Finance, Auditing Courses, Telecommunications and English. Technical courses are also available.
The opportunities are offered through the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, Government of India, and cover short term or long term studies ranging from ten (10) days to two (2) years. Applicants must be between the ages of 25-45 years and medically fit.
Interested persons are asked to contact the Human Resource Management Department at 467-1323/1036 for further information.
Scholarships from India
Department of Marine Resources receives fishing vessel
Department of Marine Resources receives gift of fishing vessel from Government of Japan.
Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 17, 2016 (SKNIS): In a brief ceremony today, a representative from NBK Corporation out of Japan, handed over the keys to the fishing vessel “FV Transformation” to the Department of Marine Resources. The fishing vessel will aid in conducting training for fishermen/women, performing marine research, as well as carrying out surveillance activities within the marine waters.
The ceremony took place at the Basseterre Marina where Minister of Agriculture, Honourable Eugene Hamilton, revealed that one year ago in Antigua, while at a meeting for Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries, along with Director of Marine Resources, Mark Williams, he was able to secure a grant within the vicinity of US $1.5 million from the Government of Japan. The fishing vessel “FV Transformation” is part of this grant. Minister Hamilton said that the fishing vessel forms part of the project that the Government is embarking on to improve its marine/fisheries resources. Other marine resources to be received by November of this year as part of the grant include freezers for both fishing complexes in St. Kitts, power saw for cutting fish, and a freezer truck to transport fish across the country which will include Nevis if necessary.
“I am happy that this boat is here,” said Minister Hamilton. “I want to thank the Government of Japan for its contribution to the development of fishing in St. Kitts and Nevis. I want to encourage those who will use this boat in the conduct of their daily work, complementing the Fisheries Department, to ensure that they take good care of it, and that from their efforts the country will benefit.”
Mr. Williams, Director of Marine Resources, said that during this week, June 13 to 17, the staff at the Department of Marine Resources was trained in the operation and maintenance of the boat. Two captains were also trained; one will be there full time and the other will come in on a needs basis.
The fishing vessel is equipped with a modern navigation system that includes radar, GPS, fish finder and radios.
CARICOM and ILO Sign Significant MOU
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is closer to setting up a labour market information system for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). On Thursday, June 16, CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRoque, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The MOU allows CARICOM Member States to utilise a software tool developed by the ILO for the facilitation of labour market analysis and other related functions. The MOU was signed at the CARICOM Secretariat’s headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana.
The software, called .Stat, was first presented by the ILO at a regional consultation hosted by the CARICOM Secretariat in October 2015. This was attended by representatives of Ministries of Labour, Statistics and Social Security from the Member States. Coming out of subsequent meetings with Member States, it was decided that the software tool was appropriate for setting up a CARICOM Labour Market Information System (LMIS). Apart from facilitating labour market analysis, the software tool allows for the monitoring and reporting on policies as well as information sharing and coordination. The MOU authorises CARICOM and its Member States to use the software free of charge for the implementation of an LMIS both nationally and regionally.
This MOU is critical in achieving the objectives of a major project under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) which involves CARICOM Member States participating in the CSME ‘establishing a labour market information system for the proper management of the regime for free movement of skills within the CSME’.
Petroleum prices – June 2016 – Grenada
The General public is hereby informed that, effective, Saturday June 18, 2016, the retail prices of petroleum products (Gasoline, Diesel, Kerosene and LPG ) in the State of Grenada will be as follows:
Grenada: |
||
| Products | Old Price | New Price |
| Gasoline | $13.50/IG | $13.91/IG |
| Diesel | $12.04/IG | $12.56/IG |
| Kerosene | $6.45/IG | $7.01/IG |
| L.P.G (Cooking Gas): | ||
| 20 lbs Cylinder | $42.00 | $42.00 |
| 100 lbs Cylinder | $174.60 | $183.25 |
| Bulk | $1.85/lb | $1.90/lb |
Carriacou |
||
| Products | Old Price | New Price |
| Gasoline | $13.68/IG | $14.09/IG |
| Diesel | $12.22/IG | $12.74/IG |
| Kerosene | $6.64/IG | $7.20/IG |
| L.P.G (Cooking Gas): | ||
| 20 lbs Cylinder | $51.00 | $51.00 |
| 100 lbs Cylinder | $197.60 | $206.25 |
| Bulk | $1.85/lb | $1.90/lb |
Petite Martinique: |
||
| Products | Old Price | New Price |
| Gasoline | $8.18/IG | $8.59/IG |
| Diesel | $6.72/IG | $7.24/IG |
| Kerosene | $6.64/IG | $7.20/IG |
The new Retail Prices are computed based on the average FOB costs: that is; (Ex-refinery prices), for the period, 14th May, 2016 to 12th June, 2016..
It important for the public to understand that petroleum prices are likely to remain high since Grenada imports nearly all of its fuel. Consumers are, therefore, urged to act wisely by conserving and using energy efficiently.
Furthermore, consumers are encouraged to immediately notify the Price control/Consumer Affairs Unit in the Ministry of Finance of any instance of overpricing at telephone number 440-1369.
OECS Week focuses on Youth
Dominica’s Ambassador to CARICOM and the OECS, His Excellency Felix Gregoire, has called on youth within the OECS to be prepared for the global environment.
Ambassador Gregoire spoke with GIS news on the OECS 35th anniversary activities on Tuesday 14th June.
He says while the OECS has already achieved free movement between member states, the OECS is now trying to attain free circulation of goods.
Ambassador Gregoire expressed that the aim is also to foster unity among the youth within OECS member states.
“We are looking at number, more persons you have the stronger you are in various aspects such as commerce; foreign affairs, numbers will matter and that is what we are aiming at. Some people have bought into it but some people are still debating if it is necessary. The youth is where the future is in unity because if we can get the youth to buy in the OECS unity then the work has been done. We are now engaging the youth so that they can take over the work that is required to be done.”
On June 8th, the OECS commission launched the OECS youth strategy under the brand OECS yes.
The strategy was developed based on the need for greater attention and action to issues directly affecting OECS youth.
The goal of this initiative is to develop a youth empowered society by focusing on key areas crucial to young people: Yes I belong- citizenship & identity, yes I earn- employment & entrepreneurship, yes I express- creativity & culture, yes I inherit- environment & sustainable development, yes I learn- education & training, yes I matter- child & youth protection and yes I move- healthy lifestyles.
He stated that the goal is to prepare the youth to be competitive regionally and internationally.
“A number of programmes will be geared towards businesses, getting them to be business oriented in their thinking… that is how we want our students to think, that they can excel in whatever avenue and field that they do themselves and their families and their country proud.”
Continue to promote Environmental Messages
Artistes across Barbados have been challenged to go the extra mile in promoting, highlighting and strengthening the educational value of their work through clearly articulated environmental messages.
Minister of the Environment and Drainage, Dr. Denis Lowe, issued this challenge for the 2016 NIFCA competition as he delivered remarks during the presentation of nine Environment Awards to the 2014 and 2015 recipients at his Warrens, St. Michael, office recently.
“I am excited about what you will come up with this year,” Dr. Lowe said, while pledging his Ministry’s willingness to continue partnering with the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) to award artistes for their outstanding contributions and artistic expressions in the area of the environment.
He also called on the NCF to work more closely with his Ministry to assist with identifying artistic contributions that were worthy of further development, exposure and support, in an effort to reach national and regional communities with messages that outlined the pathway to sustainable development.
Noting that the partnership between the Ministry and the NCF dated back to 2003, the Minister explained that it was established to draw attention to the environment by highlighting its uniqueness and beauty, as well as its mistreatment.
He told the artistes that the Ministry would welcome the opportunity to further showcase their work among its environmental stakeholders at various conferences and expos.
The 2014 awards went to the Lawrence T. Gay Memorial Primary School in the culinary arts category for itsTrees are Important cupcake display; Blackman and Gollop Primary School for its musical pieceSustainability; St. Luke’s/Brighton Primary School, in the category of visual arts, for a piece entitled: Beach Clean Up; and Tessa King-Inniss, for her literary arts piece, Mr. Tafari’s Sweet Life.
Meanwhile, Shane Phoenix captured the culinary arts 2015 award for his piece on Nesting Turtle: Iced Cake; Akoya Dance Ensemble was awarded for their dance Future Ones; Dawn Haynes-Grimes for her literary arts piece, Brown Phenomenon; Clish Gittens for his video H2O; and Charla Marville of The Alexandra School for her visual arts piece, On the Stove.
Parliamentarians to fully assume their responsibilities
OAS Secretary General urges Parliamentarians to fully assume their responsibilities.
Washington, D.C. The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, takes note with great concern that the Haitian National Assembly has failed to pronounce itself within the delays set forth by the February 5th Agreement on the extension or not of the mandate of the interim President or, as the case may be, on other measures to insure institutional continuity. He consequently urges Parliamentarians, in their capacity of elected representatives of the People, to fully assume their responsibilities by meeting in National Assembly to decide on how to best guarantee institutional stability and the continuation of the elections process.
As evidenced by the just concluded OAS General Assembly, the continuation of elections in Haiti in a stable and calm atmosphere is a priority for our hemispheric organization. “It is long past time for Haitian political stakeholders to prioritize the interests of the Nation in order for the aspirations of the People to finally be heard and for the country to be in a position to tackle the great socio-economic challenges it faces.” the Secretary General emphasized.
Creation of Business Opportunities
CARICOM emphasises creation of business opportunities at SELA meeting.
June 16, 2016: The creation of increased opportunities for businesses in the region is a key goal of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as its representatives engage with its Latin American counterparts in Georgetown, Guyana.
A meeting of representatives of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA) got underway on Wednesday morning at the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana, with the aim of addressing the importance of trade, investment and cooperation relations of Mexico, with Central American and Caribbean countries. An analysis of the network of cooperation, economic and trade agreements in the region covering Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean; possibilities for their coordination and convergence; and the existing or potential mechanisms to promote and diversify economic and trade relation, will be done during the sessions that conclude today.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Guyana’s Minister of Business, the Hon. Dominic Gaskin pointed out that increased cooperation with Mexico could increase trade diversification among other partners and create opportunities for businesses across the board, with the Region’s populace firmly positioned as the ultimate beneficiaries.
While calling for the strengthening of mechanisms for cooperation, the Minister said that he was confident that the two-day assessments would advance the integration of economies and create greater economic opportunities for the region’s peoples.
“The ultimate beneficiary of all of our efforts must be the hundreds of millions of people who formed the population of our countries…in strengthening the mechanisms for cooperation we must ensure that the opportunities created are accessible and beneficial to all sides and at all levels so that diversification in its broadest sense can occur,” the Minister said.
Assistant Secretary-General, Trade and Economic Integration, CARICOM, Mr. Joseph Cox, also referred to the creation of opportunities for the private sector. He pointed out that if greater strides were to be made, issues to be addressed had to include a more informed private sector across the region.
“The Private Sector from each side will have to get to know each other better, by gaining a better understanding of the respective business climate and business culture in each country. In so doing, we can build the required trust to do business with each other,” he said.
He added that there was need also to urgently address what is “maybe the biggest constraint in doing business with each other – that of more direct transportation links. The lack of direct or regular air and sea links poses a huge challenge for all cooperation initiatives, especially since it negatively affects competitiveness on both sides.”
He also told delegates that the language difference should be embraced rather than treated as a constraint. The meeting was conducted in both English and Spanish with Mr Javier Gordon Ruiz, Director of Relations for Integration and Cooperation, Permanent Secretariat of SELA welcoming delegates in Spanish.
“I need to say that it is an urgent imperative for us in CARICOM to stimulate economic growth in our Member States. I am certain the same applies for both Mexico and Central America. As such, we are duty bound to do whatever it takes to increase trade and investment amongst us. Let us continue to remind ourselves that increased trade and investment translates into increased production, increased employment, increased foreign exchange and thereby increased quality of life for all our citizens,” the Assistant Secretary-General said.
Discussions on Wednesday centred on the Caribbean and trade and cooperation relations with Latin America.
Today, the delegates will discuss trade and cooperation relations between Central America and the rest of Latin America. That discussion will have as its focal point a presentation of the study: ‘Analysis of trade flows between SICA and Latin America and the Caribbean. Policy recommendations for their promotion, stabilization, and diversification’.
Technical and Vocational Education and Training
Government of St. Vincent and The Grenadines Technical and Vocational Education and Training Development Project.
The Government of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines (GOSVG), has received financing from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), in an amount equivalent to US$12.647 million towards the cost of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Development Project to support the continued transformation and responsiveness of the TVET system as a vehicle for workforce development, consistent with St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ (SVG), human resource development needs, and intends to apply a portion of the proceeds of this financing to eligible payments under contracts procured under this project.
Payments by CDB will be made only at the request of GOSVG and upon approval by CDB, and will be subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement.
The Financing Agreement prohibits withdrawal from the financing account for the purpose of any payment to persons or entities, or for any import of goods, if such payment or import, to the knowledge of CDB, is prohibited by a decision of the United Nations Security Council, taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. No party other than GOSVG shall derive any rights from the Financing Agreement or have any claim to the proceeds of the Financing.
The following consultancy assignments will be procured under the project:
- Enhancement of the operational framework for the School Transportation System;
- Development of a Life Skills/Health and Family Life Education/Gender-Based Violence Program;
- Enhancing Access to TVET by Persons with Disabilities;
- Establishment of a Code of Conduct – Collaborative Provisions for the Ministry of Education (MOE);
- Establishment and implementation of a TVET Student Support Services Framework;
- Provision of Engineering Designs and Construction Supervision Services for construction of Smart Classroom Blocks and ancillary works at the technical institutes and construction of Science and Technology Laboratories for Bishops’ College and Dr. J. P. Eustace Memorial Secondary School;
- Design studies for the establishment of the Marriaqua Technical Institute and the construction of a TVET block at Union Island Secondary School; and
- Strengthening of the project management system.
It is expected that these will be procured during the period September 2016 to December 2017.
The following goods and/or works and/or non-consultancy services will be procured under the project:
- Smart classroom blocks and ancillary works for the technical Institutes;
- Science and Technology Labs for Bishops’ College and Dr. J. P. Eustace Memorial Secondary School;
- Equipment/Tools, Furniture, Supplies and Curriculum Support Materials; and
- Skill Areas and pedagogical training of TVET instructors and teachers.
It is expected that these will be procured during the period September 2016 to June 2018.
Consultants, Contractors and Suppliers from member countries of CDB will be eligible to participate in these procurement opportunities.
The Ministry of Education is the executing agency for the project. Further details of the project can be obtained by contacting the address below.
Education Ministry Improving Financial Management
The Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Ruel Reid, said strategies are being implemented to strengthen the financial management of his Ministry.
He was speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on June 15.
Mr. Reid said that for the first time, a management accountant will be brought on board to improve financial accountability and efficiency.
He said a corporate finance committee and an audit committee will also be established.
The Minister informed that as at July, principals and travelling officers of the Ministry will receive their motor-vehicle upkeep with their salaries.
This decision was made following consultations with the Jamaica Teachers’ Association.
Minister Reid, in the meanwhile, expressed satisfaction with his first 100 days in office.
“The honeymoon is over and the hard work begins to build Jamaica and move us from poverty to prosperity,” he said.
