Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 02, 2016 (SKNIS): The formal meetings of the Cabinet took place on Friday, May 27 and Tuesday, May 31, 2016. The meetings were chaired by the Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris.
Cabinet received a presentation from Mr. Duncan Wattley, Director of the Department of People’s Empowerment. Cabinet discussed the programme of the Department for the rest of the year 2016 and gave its support to it. The Department of People’s Empowerment has been re-engineered and re-purposed within the Office of the Prime Minister. It has been redesigned to facilitate and hone leadership from the community level; trigger and guide renewal of rural and urban communities; accommodate public and grassroots development education and awareness on all national development matters where the people’s voices must be heard and advanced; facilitate engagement across ministerial portfolios on matters germane to the development, health, wealth and safety of all community residents; and create a forum and focal point for returning nationals who have much to contribute to the development of their homeland.
Cabinet discussed matters to do with the progressive movement of the Education Sector in St. Kitts and Nevis and looked at what resources will be needed in this endeavour.
Cabinet considered and approved an application for a new university to be built in St. Kitts and Nevis. In doing so, Cabinet took note of the growth in the offshore education sector and its benefits to the economy through housing, entertainment and other areas.
Cabinet approved several concessions.
Cabinet approved the plan for the establishment of a National Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Foundation.
Cabinet committed St. Kitts and Nevis to participate in an OECS (Organization of Eastern Caribbean States) Partial
Credit Guarantee Scheme intended to assist Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) in obtaining financing and other resources. Partial Credit Guarantees (PCGs) cover private lenders against all risks during a specific period of the financing term of debt for a public investment. PCGs are generally provided for privately funded public projects and are specially designed to extend maturity and improve market terms.