BELIZE: Government of Belize Places Temporary Restrictions on Movement in Belize’s Portion of the Sarstoon River for One Month
Belmopan. Friday, April 29, 2016. The Government of Belize announces that, after consulting with the Prime Minister, His Excellency the Governor General of Belize has made Regulations under Section 2 of the Public Safety Act, Chapter 142 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, RE 2011. The regulations prohibit persons and vessels, without lawful authority, from entering into Belize’s portion of the Sarstoon River. The regulations take effect from today and the restrictions will remain in force for one month.
Government advises that this course of action has become necessary in order to prevent any “commotion” or “threat to public safety” that might arise in consequence of the continuing tense and dangerous standoff between Belize and Guatemala over the Sarstoon, and the tipping point that could be caused by the unregulated insertion of members of the Belizean public into this very volatile mix.
During the one month period for which the restrictions are to last, it is expected that a diplomatic solution will be found to the problem, and that the solution will provide for safe passage of Belizean civilians along the Sarstoon River.
ST. LUCIA: Funds will be utilized to finance the Saint Lucia Post Trough Emergency Infrastructure Rehabilitation Program.
His Excellency, Ambassador Mikael Barfod, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Eastern Caribbean Countries, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat and the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) met with Honourable Dr. Kenny D. Anthony, Prime Minister, on the evening of April 26, 2016.
During the meeting a Financing Agreement between the European Commission and Saint Lucia was signed. The Financing Agreement is valued at Six Million, One Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand Euros (€6,175,000.00) and will be utilized to finance the Saint Lucia Post Trough Emergency Infrastructure Rehabilitation Programme. These resources were made available from the Emergency B envelope of European Commission grant resources following the passage of the trough in December 2013.
The overall objective of the programme of rehabilitation is to contribute to the enhancement of the quality of life of residents of Saint Lucia by improving the delivery of transport services. The Post Trough Emergency Infrastructure Rehabilitation Programme will include the construction of a new bridge in Piaye and reconstruction of the Venus-Anse La Raye Road utilizing a “build back better” approach. This should result in enhanced resilience to extreme weather events, improved delivery of transport along the south west coast, and more secure access to the John Compton Dam, the main source of drinking water in Saint Lucia.
The Post Trough Emergency Rehabilitation Programme will be managed indirectly by the World Bank, and will be implemented through the ongoing Disaster Vulnerability Risk Reduction Programme (DVRP). The DVRP, valued at Sixty Eight Million United States Dollars (US$68,000,000.00), is a World Bank financed Project using a blend of loan and grant resources aimed at reducing disaster risk, enhancing resilience and improving adaptation to climate induced risks.
Minister of State Honourable Wendy Phipps receiving the yellow fever vaccine at the hands of Community Nurse Davida Irish (photo courtesy of the Press Secretary)
Minister of State Honourable Wendy Phipps receiving the yellow fever vaccine at the hands of Community Nurse Davida Irish (photo courtesy of the Press Secretary)
ST. KITTS: Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 28, 2016 (SKNIS): Minister of Health, Honourable Eugene Hamilton has described the vaccination coverage rate of St. Kitts and Nevis as “world class” during the last sitting of National Assembly, held April 27, 2016.
He was at the time acknowledging that the Federation is commemorating Vaccination Week in the Americas under the theme “Go for the Gold, Get Vaccinated.” He noted that currently, there are zero cases of measles, zero cases of polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
“This has meant, Mr. Speaker, for us less hospitalization and less expensive complications as well,” Minister Hamilton said. “Our government, my government will continue to ensure that vaccinations are provided and we are also guaranteeing that other public health programmes are continued. We give that our full support. I therefore extend appreciation to all nurses in all of the 17 health centres across the country for the outstanding work.”
The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) was thanked for its four decades of outstanding work.
Minister Hamilton had specific words of advice for adults including parliamentarians.
“I urge parents and guardians to get their children vaccinated and also turn to my colleagues,” Mr. Hamilton said, speaking to his fellow parliamentarians. “Colleagues you know that we travel from time to time and we should make sure that all of us, including me – I have not yet been vaccinated except four to five years ago, against yellow fever.”
The activities in commemoration of Vaccination Week in the Americas include a day that is reserved for parliamentarians and permanent secretaries to get their vaccinations against yellow fever, specifically Tuesday, April 26. Today, April 28 there was training for national healthcare workers on the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), while tomorrow, April 29, there will be two concurrent health fairs, one in Basseterre, St. Kitts and the other in Charlestown, Nevis. Activities at the health fairs will include the vaccination of Parks and Beaches Workers along with blood pressure and blood glucose screening and point of care rapid HIV testing, as well as the customary health education.
Minister Hamilton, who is also responsible for Agriculture took the opportunity to thank all who had coordinated and participated in the Agriculture Open Day which was held April 21 and 22. He said: “I consider the two days to be a success.”
ST. LUCIA: The Saint Lucia Government aims to continuously improve the standard of education on island.
In Wednesday’s throne speech, Governor-General of Saint Lucia, H.E. Dame Pearlette Louisy, made reference to the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College’s ongoing journey to establish itself as a University College.
The Governor-General said the effort fell in line with government’s mandate to raise the standard and quality of education, particularly in the tertiary sector.
“The transformation to a University College acknowledges the need to expand tertiary education provision to a wider segment of the population and to enhance the quality of the human resource which will undergird our national development efforts,” she said.
“It is anticipated that legislation establishing the University College will be laid before the House during the 2016-2017 academic year to enable the first entrants to register in August 2017 for the institution’s own Bachelor’s degrees in Business, Education, Humanities, Social Sciences and Nursing.”
She admitted the initiative to establish the Community College as a University College would elicit a great deal of time and effort.
“It will of course take a few years for the institution to be fully established as it consolidates its program offerings and improves the quality and level of its administrative structure, its physical plant, its staffing and support services. The cost of operating an institution of that nature will be significant. The College is in the process of restructuring its operational and financial management systems to meet these needs, but collectively, we as a community will need to determine how these future costs will be met.”
H.E. Dame Pearlette Louisy is a former educator and principal of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College.
ST. LUCIA: Serenity Park at Sans Soucis will feature an afternoon of musical entertainment on Labour Day holiday, May 2.
The Department of Labour, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industries, the Trade Union Federation, the NWU, CSA and the Saint Lucia Employers Federation, will host an afternoon of musical entertainment on Monday, May 2, from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Serenity Park in Sans Soucis.
Come hear the sweet sounds of the NS Band and other performances by local artistes.
It will be an afternoon to remember as we celebrate this holiday dedicated to all the workers of the country. Admission is free.
ST. LUCIA: In the past, such bridges have proven paramount in the wake of natural disasters.
The Ministry of Infrastructure, Port Services and Transport with the assistance of the World Bank under the Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project (DVRP) has procured approximately 300 meters of Bailey Bridges.The bridges arrived in Saint Lucia on April 12, and are presently being kept at the Vieux Fort compound of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Port Services and Transport.
They were supplied by 3S Bridges LCC, a company based in Barbados at a cost to the Government of Saint Lucia of USD$ 1,422,860.
“This strategic approach has been taken by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Port Services and Transport in its effort to help reduce the disaster response time in cases of natural disasters, and more specifically, to bridges that have been compromised or affected,” said Alison Jean, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure.
In the past, the procurement of such bridges has proven paramount in the wake of natural disasters. The December 2013 trough which left the West Coast disconnected from the rest of the island due to the loss of two main bridges namely the Canaries and Piaye bridges is an example of this.
The Ministry of Infrastructure, Port Services and Transport in less than two weeks, was able to reconnect the island to full vehicular access bringing the country to a state of normalcy due to the presence of the bridges.
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, APRIL 27th, 2016 (PRESS SEC) – The Income Tax (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2016, which had its first and second reading today, was passed in the National Assembly.
PM Harris in Parliament on April 27th, 2016
Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, in his capacity as Minister of Finance, sought leave in Parliament to introduce the Income Tax (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2016. The Prime Minister said that he and his Team Unity Government continue to engage the business community and have determined that the timing is right to enact this amendment into law.
The Income Tax (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2016 sought to amend Section 10 paragraph (l) of the Income Tax Act, Cap. 20.22, allowing businesses to claim tax deductions for salaries paid in excess of the current threshold of $75,000.00 per annum, all the way up to $90,000.00 per annum, the proposed new threshold.
Since 1982, the threshold was set at $60,000.00 per annum and, in 2012, the Act was amended to increase the threshold to $75,000.00.
The Government’s position is that increasing the threshold by an additional $15,000.00 per annum should stimulate economic growth and productivity. Whereas corporations could not take tax deductions for salaries exceeding $6,250.00 per month, the amended law would allow businesses to claim for salaries up to $7,500.00 per month. This would cover a lot more employees and also make way for companies to hire more skilled labour to complement the workforce.
Now that the Income Tax (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2016 has been passed, businesses will be able to expense up to $90,000.00 per employee at the end of each fiscal year.
“We are hoping that the adjusted threshold would assist private sector entities with attracting and retaining personnel with the skills, knowledge and experience necessary for building competitiveness in the private sector,” the Honourable Prime Minister said, adding that, “To avoid the administrative complexities that are associated with retroactive payments, the increase in the threshold would take effect from June 1st this year. This amendment signals my Government’s ongoing efforts to bolster public-private sector partnership.”
The Income Tax (Amendment) (No. 2) Act of 2016 also signals the Team Unity Government’s commitment to creating a more favourable tax climate for corporations out of a recognition that taxes do matter for businesses and the economy as a whole.
A lesser tax burden increases businesses’ competitiveness due to lower costs and also has the capacity to increase foreign investment in St. Kitts and Nevis, as well as the country’s global ease of doing business ranking.
“This Bill is the result of consultations with the private sector, in particular the Chamber of Industry and Commerce,” Prime Minister Harris said. “My Government is one that listens to the people and will continue to engage the people on matters that would have positive effects for our country. We are committed to putting systems in place that would facilitate sustainable economic growth to redound to the benefit of every man, woman and child of our beloved nation,” the Prime Minister added.
(Press release courtesy of the Office of the Press Secretary)
ST. KITTS: Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 29, 2016 (SKNIS): The Trade Competitiveness Section of the Trade Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat, in partnership with the Ministry of International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the Customs Excise Department of St. Kitts and Nevis, recently held a three day workshop for customs brokers.
The April 27-29 workshop was aimed at enhancing the capacity of customs brokers to further improve the efficiency of the trade and business environment in both St. Kitts and Nevis.
Topics such as Valuation of Goods, International Trade Transactions and Border Control and Agency Functions were covered during the training programme.
Charlton Edwards, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said that the workshop also provided “an insight into rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) valuation of goods system and its applicability to the work of the customs broker.” He added that it will also provide “participants with knowledge of selected trade facilitation measures which impacts on border control activities and agency functions.”
Mr. Edwards noted that customs brokers are very important in the import and export process as they generally act as an intermediary between traders and Customs in the shipping and importing process.
He said that a customs brokers’ knowledge of Customs laws and processes in addition to their work experience in the trade supply chain can be useful for both traders and Customs.
“While brokers support traders by providing all necessary documentation and undertaking formalities related to cargo clearance, customs brokers are also expected to maintain government interests by ensuring compliance with Customs and other regulatory requirements and the collection of appropriate duties and taxes.
TRINIDAD: April 29, 2016: The Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) will operate an emergency hotline to ensure efficient service to Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) Exam Centres on exam day (May 5th, 2016).
Principals and Supervisors who experience problems with electricity on the day of the exam are advised to call or text the T&TEC hotline at 794-4823/794-7264 from 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday 4th May, 2016 to 3:00 p.m. on Thursday 5th May, 2016.
T&TEC’s 24/7 toll free trouble report lines- 800-TTEC (8832) and 800-BULB (2852) will remain operational during the examination period.
JAMAICA: Prime Minister Andrew Holness is urging all Jamaicans to join in the fight against crime.
Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness
The Prime Minister was speaking in the aftermath of the brazen murder of 54 year old Judith Williams, who was attached to the Office of Police Commissioner, Dr Carl Williams.
Mr Holness said that he is deeply saddened by Miss Williams’ death and added that his government will not allow criminality to flourish.
“She dedicated her life to serving her country and was looking forward to her retirement. Her dream has been stolen by criminals who, like true cowards, pounced on her when she was most vulnerable. This government will not allow this type of behaviour and wickedness to persist” Mr Holness said.
In addition, Mr Holness said that all Jamaicans must recognise that while we have made gains much more needs to be done.
“If all of us do not join the fight against crime and criminals, Judith’s Death might be in vain. The Police and the Government need partnerships with all citizens to combat criminality”, Prime Minister Holness added.
