(Excerpts of Dr. the Honourable Godwin Friday’s 2023 Budget Presentation) The National Insurance Service (NIS) is a subject matter that is on people’s lips and quite rightly so because it affects their well-being. It’s been in the news and we know because of statements that were made recently by the Executive Director, Mr. Haynes, and some government ministers and people are aware of the importance of the NIS. Madam Speaker, what is suggested is, that if reforms were not made before 2024, draconian measures have to be taken. By Draconian, he meant that contribution rates, he said may have to…
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Under the theme ‘Enabling Sustainable Futures- Be The One To Make The Change”, Republic Bank on Wednesday January 25th unveiled its 2023 Power To Make A Difference (PMAD) partners within the East Caribbean Territories. PMAD is Republic Bank’s overarching social investment programme built on the knowledge that the bank has the power to make a difference by empowering others to learn, help, care and succeed. It is done through collaboration with advocacy groups in the pursuit of building successful and sustainable societies. The in-person event was held in St. Kitts, with token handovers occurring last week in the other territories…
Kerah Bullock has emerged the winner of the St. Vincent & the Grenadines Community College’s essay competition. Bullock, a second-year student pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, earned $500 for her winning submission. Arianna Jardine from the college’s Division of Arts, Sciences & General Studies claimed the $300 second place prize, while Gregory Hull, also from the Division of Arts, and Deanna Williams from the Division of Teacher Education tied for third and were awarded $150 each. All entrants received certificates of participation and SVGCC-branded items. Students were asked to write on the topic “The Importance of Accreditation to…
The recent headline with the Catholic Pope uttering that same sex, sex, is a sin but not not a crime, is just his opinion and is NOT scriptural. When was the last time the pope read 1 Timothy 1:8-10 ? As a refresher, here come those verses: “But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;Knowing this, that the law is not made for the righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,For whoremongers, for…
A joint operation between members of the Narcotics, Rapid Response, and Special Services Units was conducted in Bower Mountain, Georgetown on Thursday, February 2, 2023.During the operation, one AR-15 rifle, One Draco gun, two magazines, and ninety-three (93) rounds of 5.56 ammunition were discovered and seized by the police. Four (4) persons were arrested on suspicion and taken into custody pending the outcome of an investigation into the discovery.No one has been charged up to press time. Investigations are ongoing.
The Youth and Adult Training for Employment YATE Programme has a new home right in the heart of capital Kingstown. The office opposite the Ministerial building housing the Kingstown post office, offers many personal skill development services through the 10-million-dollar program. During the official commissioning ceremony Director of The National Qualifications Department Endall Johnson said the programs such as YATE and SKYE are providing new non-traditional learning opportunities to Vincentians and the organization is making every effort to facilitate these programs. Endall boasted “we have retrofitted all of our labs to bring them up to industrial standard because of all…
After just one week of this country’s ascension to the Pro-Tempore Presidency (2023-2024) of the Community of Latin America and Caribbean States (CELAC), a ministerial briefing was held at the Foreign Affairs conference room on Thursday, 2nd February, 2023, to present a work plan and organizational structure for the way forward.In his remarks at the briefing, Prime Minister Gonsalves emphasised that CELAC adds value to all member states, and every country must feed into the process framed by the fifteen specific declarations of Buenos Aires.“CELAC is an umbrella organisation of an inter-governmental kind…that addresses a range of functional cooperation including…
Cabinet has approved increases in salaries to all categories of Public Sector Workers including Daily Paid and Minor Salaries workers. On Wednesday January 18th, Cabinet approved as follows:2.5 % from January 1st, 2023 to 31st December 20232.0 % from January 1st 2024 to December 31st, 20242.5% from January 2025 Minister of Finance Hon. Camillo Gonsalves in his Budget address on January 9, indicated that the salary increases would cost the Government an extra 26 million dollars over the course of the three years. The Minister added that this salary increase represents a “5.7 percent growth in Budget 2023 for wages…
ANN has been reliably informed that there is currently an investigation ongoing into the fleecing of millions of dollars from the Treasury via the Customs and Excise Department in Kingstown. Our source claims that senior customs officers are among persons “assisting” this bombshellinvestigation. The source, who spoke exclusively to ANN, on condition of anonymity, claims both senior and junior staffers had been fleecing the Treasury over period of time. The source informed that, in some instances, business entities which should have been paying thousands of dollars in import duties, ended up paying as little as $800.00 to the Treasury. This…
February 1, 2023, Kingstown – As a consequence of videos being circulated on social media depicting some omnibus drivers engaged in dangerous and reckless driving, and irresponsible behaviour, the Traffic Branch of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) launched an investigation into the occurrences. This has resulted in Police Constable Joyron Hull of Green being charged with driving dangerously and his driving permit suspended. On Tuesday, January 31, 2023, Constable Hull was issued with a letter signed by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Colin John notifying him that his driving permit has been suspended by virtue…