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标签： Saint Kitts and Nevis

圣基茨和尼维斯

  • Saint Kitts and Nevis calls for stronger global partnerships to build SIDS resilience

    Saint Kitts and Nevis calls for stronger global partnerships to build SIDS resilience

    On the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 24, 2026, a high-level working lunch for members of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) brought together key global stakeholders to address the cascading threats facing Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Co-hosted by German Foreign Minister Dr. Johann Wadephul and Palauan Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, the gathering became a platform for SIDS leaders to amplify their urgent call for systemic international support.

    Speaking on behalf of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Acting Prime Minister Dr. Geoffrey Hanley delivered a stark wake-up call to the global community: the overlapping vulnerabilities SIDS face can no longer be treated as isolated, regional challenges. He emphasized that for small island nations like Saint Kitts and Nevis, climate change, energy insecurity, and economic fragility are not separate issues — they are deeply interconnected threats that undermine every pillar of national stability.

    “For us, resilience is therefore not simply an environmental objective. It is an economic and national security imperative,” Hanley told attendees.

    Discussions at the working lunch centered on three core priorities: evolving international climate policy, collective resilience building, regional security cooperation, and growing energy vulnerabilities amplified by geopolitical tensions disrupting the Strait of Hormuz. Hanley highlighted how even minor disruptions to global energy markets and international supply chains trigger immediate, disproportionate harm to small island economies, pushing up the cost of fuel, transportation, and imported food overnight, eroding limited fiscal buffers and deepening existing inequalities.

    To counter these risks, Hanley outlined a clear path forward: the international community must expand SIDS’ access to low-cost climate finance, accelerate the transfer of renewable energy technology, and invest in climate-resilient infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather events and market shocks. Only through these targeted actions can SIDS shift from a perpetual state of crisis response to long-term, sustainable development.

    “Our objective should be clear: to move from vulnerability to resilience through stronger partnerships, greater access to finance and technology, diversified energy systems, and a stronger collective voice for SIDS,” Hanley said.

    He closed by reaffirming Saint Kitts and Nevis’ unwavering commitment to collaborating with Caribbean neighbors, fellow SIDS across the globe, and the broader international community to advance practical, actionable solutions that strengthen the resilience and advance the sustainable development of all small island states. This call comes as SIDS face intensifying climate impacts, from rising sea levels that threaten territorial integrity to more frequent extreme weather events that destroy critical infrastructure, alongside growing global economic and geopolitical volatility that disproportionately impacts low-lying, trade-dependent small economies.

  • PAM’s Convention 60 set to bring new energy, entertainment and participation to Constituency 4

    PAM’s Convention 60 set to bring new energy, entertainment and participation to Constituency 4

    Basseterre, St. Kitts – September 23, 2026 — Four days from now, on Sunday, September 27, the small community of Verchilds will play host to a landmark political gathering when St. Kitts and Nevis’ People’s Action Movement (PAM) opens the doors to its 60th National Convention at the Samuel-Williams Playfield, kicking off the official program at 4:00 p.m.

    This convention arrives at a defining turning point for the 60-year-old opposition party. Earlier this month, members voted to elect Dr. the Hon. Shawn Richards as the party’s sixth political leader, and Convention 60 will serve as the first formal introduction of this new leadership body to PAM’s full national membership. The event will also host a formal vote to ratify the party’s newly selected executive committee, cementing the leadership transition ahead of upcoming political cycles.

    Adding a prominent regional perspective to the diamond anniversary celebration, the convention has tapped Jamaica’s Hon. Alando Terrelonge, Minister of State in Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, to serve as the keynote speaker. Terrelonge brings a wealth of diverse experience to the role. Raised in the Grants Pen community of St. Andrew, Jamaica, he completed his legal education at the University of the West Indies and Norman Manley Law School before earning a competitive Chevening Scholarship to pursue postgraduate studies at the United Kingdom’s University of Warwick. Early in his career, he worked in Madrid on projects focused on democratic governance and global peace and security, before returning to Jamaica to build a profile as a respected commentator on legal, political, and social issues ahead of his entry into elective politics. Over the course of his public service career, Terrelonge has held portfolios covering education, youth development, information, culture, gender equity, entertainment, and sport, giving him a broad, cross-sectoral perspective on Caribbean political and social issues.

    Unlike traditional, formal political conventions, PAM has structured the 60th gathering around active engagement from attending delegates. Organizers have framed the event as a rally-style convention, with scheduled presentations from party candidates and constituency representatives paired with non-stop entertainment running through the afternoon and evening. Delegates are encouraged to dress comfortably to fully participate in interactive sessions, as the new leadership looks to build direct connections with the party’s base. To further boost engagement, the convention will offer a number of giveaways: all attendees will be eligible to win door prizes including $75 USD Amazon gift cards, with a grand prize Apple iPad up for grabs in a general raffle.

    For newly elected leader Dr. Richards, the convention is more than a milestone celebration—it is a launchpad for the party’s next chapter. “The evolution of PAM into a bold and forceful opposition party is underway,” he explained. “As the main opposition in St. Kitts and Nevis, we intend, under my leadership, to excite the base again as we go forward with the one intention to form the next government.”

    Founded in 1965, PAM marked its 60th anniversary as a political organization in 2025, making this year’s national convention an official capstone to the year of diamond anniversary celebrations. With fresh leadership at the helm, a distinguished guest speaker from across the Caribbean, an interactive, participation-focused format, and clear goals for future growth, Convention 60 positions PAM to unify its members and supporters as it charts a course for the upcoming electoral cycle.

  • Global Partnership launched to advance equity and transform Sickle Cell Care

    Global Partnership launched to advance equity and transform Sickle Cell Care

    On September 23, 2026, a landmark new global initiative aimed at closing gaping disparities in sickle cell disease care around the world officially launched at a high-level event in New York, with the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis stepping into a leading role to drive forward this critical global health action.

    Dubbed OneSCD: A Global Partnership to Advance Equity and Transform Sickle Cell Care, the initiative unites a broad coalition of international stakeholders, all bound by a shared goal: to expand universal access to high-quality care for people living with sickle cell disease and eliminate systemic gaps that leave marginalized communities underserved. Attendees at the launch included representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, frontline medical professionals, patient advocacy groups, and other global health partners. The Honourable Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, Acting Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, led the federation’s delegation at the event, speaking on behalf of Prime Minister and Health Minister Dr. Terrance Drew.

    In his address, Hanley emphasized that Saint Kitts and Nevis was proud to co-host an initiative dedicated to translating breakthroughs in medical research into tangible, life-changing improvements for the millions of people impacted by this genetic blood disorder. “No child’s opportunity to live a full and healthy life should be determined by the circumstances of their birth or the country they call home,” Hanley stated.

    He went on to acknowledge that while medical science has delivered major advances in early detection, evidence-based treatment, and complication prevention for sickle cell disease in recent decades, access to these life-saving tools remains deeply unequal across regions and income groups. This global inequity is what the OneSCD partnership was designed to address.

    Hanley also outlined the concrete steps Saint Kitts and Nevis has already taken at the national level to strengthen sickle cell care and broader hematology services. These investments include upgrades to the country’s national Blood Bank, expanded community blood donation programs, the reactivation of a centralized national blood donor registry, and financial support through the Children’s Medical Fund for eligible families whose children need specialized medical treatment abroad.

    He further highlighted Prime Minister Drew’s long-standing, personal advocacy for improved sickle cell care across the Caribbean region. That advocacy includes ongoing collaborations with leading medical specialists in Germany, and a landmark call Drew made during his 2024 tenure as Chairman of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Authority to establish regional centers of medical excellence, including a dedicated facility for sickle cell disease treatment and research.

    For Hanley, OneSCD represents a rare, critical opportunity to scale up national and regional progress through coordinated global collaboration. By pooling shared expertise, directing targeted investment to under-resourced health systems, and centering equity in every aspect of its work, the partnership can turn fragmented local efforts into cohesive global action. “Through this partnership, let us move from fragmented efforts to coordinated action, and from unequal access to a future in which quality sickle cell care is available to every child and adult who needs it,” Hanley said.

    The federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis has fully endorsed the OneSCD partnership, framing it as a transformative step toward uniting the global community behind a coordinated response to sickle cell disease. The initiative’s ultimate goal is to ensure that cutting-edge treatment and high-quality care finally reach the underserved people and communities that need it most.

  • “Our task is not to wind down UNAIDS”: Acting Prime Minister Hanley tells UNGA81 side event

    “Our task is not to wind down UNAIDS”: Acting Prime Minister Hanley tells UNGA81 side event

    NEW YORK, September 24, 2026 — At a high-profile side event coinciding with the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Acting Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Hon. Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, delivered a resolute plea to the global community: reject any plans to downsize or wind down the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and instead commit to sustained, robust funding and international collaboration to meet the 2030 target of ending AIDS as a public health threat.

    Dr. Hanley opened the UNAIDS Transformation Side Event by framing the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS as both an urgent political priority and a defining measure of global collective solidarity. For small island nations like Saint Kitts and Nevis, and across the broader Caribbean Community (CARICOM) bloc, UNAIDS has proven irreplaceable, he explained, providing indispensable strategic direction, specialized technical expertise, and data-driven insights that underpin the design of effective national and regional HIV response policies.

    “For Saint Kitts and Nevis, and indeed across the entire CARICOM region, the response to HIV/AIDS is not only a political imperative, but a profound test of our collective solidarity and our commitment to ending a pandemic that has taken too many lives,” Dr. Hanley told attendees, which included global leaders, public health stakeholders, and AIDS response advocates.

    While acknowledging the meaningful progress that the global community has made in curbing the spread of HIV and improving access to life-saving treatment over the past four decades, Dr. Hanley emphasized that the mission remains far from complete. Hitting the 2030 end-goal, he stressed, depends entirely on three core pillars: unwavering political commitment from all member states, deepened cross-border international cooperation, and a fully empowered, resourced UNAIDS to coordinate the global response.

    Dr. Hanley also highlighted the organization’s longstanding leadership in keeping HIV/AIDS at the top of the global policy agenda, noting that UNAIDS has consistently provided critical technical and political backbone for every UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting focused on the pandemic, helping align global action around shared targets.

    “Our collective task is not to wind down UNAIDS, but to support it, fully resource it, and leverage its unique multisectoral expertise to end AIDS once and for all,” Dr. Hanley stated.

    He pointed to the 2026 UN High-Level Meeting Political Declaration as clear proof of the global mandate for this approach, noting that the document explicitly calls on member states to expand support, utilize UNAIDS’ unique capabilities, and provide full, consistent resourcing for the Joint Programme.

    In closing, Dr. Hanley reaffirmed the government of Saint Kitts and Nevis’ unwavering commitment to partnering with CARICOM, UNAIDS, and the entire global public health community to accelerate progress, remove gaps in access to care, and deliver on the shared promise of eliminating AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

  • Iran rejects US threats as Pezeshkian vows to defend country

    Iran rejects US threats as Pezeshkian vows to defend country

    Amid spiraling regional tensions that have put the global community on high alert, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a firm rejection of escalating threats from the United States during his address to the United Nations General Assembly in Manhattan on September 23, pushing back hard against Washington’s designation of Iran as a terrorist state while vowing unwavering defense of his nation’s sovereignty and security.

    Pezeshkian’s speech came just 24 hours after former U.S. President Donald Trump used his own UN platform to issue a harsh warning to Iranian leadership and repeat the controversial terrorist labeling, marking the latest escalation in a years-long standoff between the two countries. Speaking to assembled global delegates, the Iranian leader centered much of his address on the devastating human toll of sustained attacks targeting his country, laying out a litany of alleged unlawful actions by the U.S. and Israel against Iranian civilian infrastructure and innocent people.

    “I come from an Iran where, in truth, they bombed a school. You see these children? These children perished under bombs, with weapons used by the United States and Israel. They were innocent, had committed no crimes,” Pezeshkian told the assembly. He went on to accuse U.S. and Israeli forces of striking a civilian sports hall full of children in the Iranian city of Lamerd using multi-warhead weapons, adding that countless unarmed Iranian civilians – including top scientists, women and children – have been targeted in unlawful assassinations and attacks.

    “They martyred, assassinated, our scientists, our men, women, and children. Innocent children who, in truth, had committed no crimes, no sins,” he said.

    Rejecting the U.S. characterization of Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism outright, Pezeshkian argued that the label is a cynical projection by the actors that actually support and harbor violent groups. He emphasized that all of Tehran’s actions have been rooted in self-defense, not aggression. “Those who are terrorists and train and protect terrorists describe us as such. We have only defended ourselves. We are not terrorists,” he added.

    Pezeshhkian acknowledged that Iran has faced relentless cross-border attacks and targeted assaults in recent years, but stressed that his country has never surrendered to external pressure. “Yes, they did hit us, but we did not bend the knee. We did not bow our head. We responded, but we did not hit civilian populations,” he said. He further accused the U.S. and Israel of intentionally targeting Iranian civilian infrastructure – including universities, hospitals, schools, and healthcare centers – actions that he said flagrantly violate core tenets of international law.

    The Iranian leader also referenced the high-profile assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, which took place on Iranian soil just as he was taking office as president, as a fresh example of external aggression against his nation. Turning to the broader Middle East conflict, Pezeshkian condemned what he called Israeli genocide in the Gaza Strip, noting that more than 80,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced by the ongoing military campaign.

    Pushing back against widespread international narratives that frame Iran as a primary source of regional instability, Pezeshkian clarified that Tehran only seeks full national independence and the inherent right to defend its territory. He explained that Iran’s pursuit of military strength is purely a deterrent measure designed to prevent future attacks, not a tool for expansion or aggression. “Iran must be powerful so as to avoid being threatened, to avoid its future being threatened,” he said. “We do not seek power in order to attack or commit aggression. We seek energy for progress, not to threaten societies with weapons.”

    He stressed that Iran would never ask permission from foreign powers to exercise its right to self-defense, a direct rebuke to U.S. and European demands for limits on Iran’s military and nuclear activities. On the topic of Iran’s nuclear program, Pezeshkian defended Tehran’s sovereign right to develop peaceful nuclear technology for civilian energy and medical purposes, rejecting decades of international sanctions and diplomatic pressure as unlawful overreach.

    Pezeshkian’s remarks come at a time of sustained heightened tension between Tehran and Washington, with the escalating regional confrontation drawing widespread global concern over its catastrophic humanitarian and cross-border security implications. In closing, the Iranian president reaffirmed that his country’s military capabilities are solely intended to ensure that any attack on Iranian civilians does not go unanswered, and emphasized that Iran does not build its own national security on the insecurity of other nations in the region.

  • Suriname calls for UN reform, stronger international law and greater support for developing states

    Suriname calls for UN reform, stronger international law and greater support for developing states

    NEW YORK, MANHATTAN – Speaking during the annual United Nations General Assembly General Debate on September 24, 2026, Suriname President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons has issued a pressing call for sweeping reform of the United Nations, a renewed global commitment to upholding international law, and targeted, expanded support for vulnerable developing economies grappling with cascading global crises.

    Against a backdrop of growing global instability marked by spreading armed conflicts, escalating geopolitical frictions, and spiraling food and energy insecurity, Geerlings-Simons framed UN reform as a critical step to rebuild global trust in the institution’s ability to advance lasting peace, inclusive growth, and equitable sustainable development. She emphasized that for small, vulnerable sovereign states like Suriname, a rules-based international order rooted in consistent enforcement of international law is not an abstract ideal – it is a foundational requirement for survival.

    “As we depend on a rule based international order without which, like many other vulnerable nations, we simply cannot exist as sovereign countries,” Geerlings-Simons stated during her address. She added that strengthening international legal frameworks and their supporting institutions is indispensable to upholding global peace and security, protecting universal human rights, and delivering sustainable development that benefits all nations, regardless of size or economic power.

    The Surinamese leader drew direct connections between rising geopolitical tensions and the everyday suffering of ordinary people across the Global South, noting that even conflicts thousands of miles from developing nation borders can trigger sudden, sharp spikes in food and energy costs that erode quality of life and reverse years of development progress. She pointed to ongoing volatility in the Strait of Hormuz as a clear example of how regional instability can quickly roil global energy markets, driving up costs and undermining social and economic progress in developing states. “Common people suffer when food and energy prices rise, so the quality of life of our people is directly threatened, even by wars in regions far from their homes,” she said, adding that mounting conflicts have already unleashed unprecedented humanitarian harm, including exposing children to unspeakable violence and driving mass global displacement.

    In response to these interconnected challenges, Geerlings-Simons called for a global recommitment to the core principles of the UN Charter, chief among them the peaceful resolution of international disputes. “Dialogue is paramount for safeguarding a solid and proven UN system,” she argued.

    Turning to pressing regional crises, the president called for an end to the economic, commercial, and financial embargo on Cuba, urging all involved parties to prioritize sustained dialogue and negotiation to de-escalate tensions and reach a resolution that prioritizes the well-being of the Cuban people. She also called for sustained, coordinated international support for Haiti as the Caribbean nation works to rebuild security, restore constitutional order, and advance democratic governance, noting that Suriname backs solutions that center the needs and leadership of the Haitian people.

    Geerlings-Simons reaffirmed Suriname’s full backing for ongoing UN reform efforts, including the UN80 process focused on mandate rationalization, improving institutional coherence, and boosting overall organizational efficiency. She stressed that reform must strengthen the UN’s ability to deliver critical support to vulnerable nations, rather than reducing resources where they are most needed. She also reiterated Suriname’s longstanding support for UN Security Council reform, urging that the body be overhauled to become more representative, transparent, and accountable to the full UN membership, while also improving its capacity to respond rapidly to evolving global challenges. Specifically, Suriname supports Africa’s decades-long demand for permanent representation on the Security Council, and calls for enhanced representation for small island developing states and low-lying coastal developing nations, whose voices are often marginalized in global decision-making.

    Looking ahead to Suriname’s assumption of the CARICOM chairmanship in 2027, Geerlings-Simons highlighted the central role that regional and international partnerships play in advancing the nation’s social and economic development. She noted Suriname’s active participation in key regional blocs and mechanisms including the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO), and the Brasilia Process. Moving forward, Suriname will prioritize deepening collaboration with partners across key priority areas: food and energy security, climate resilience, cross-border connectivity, skilled labor mobility, and streamlined trade in goods and services. “These are essential to economic integration and our ability to withstand external shocks,” she explained.

    In closing, the president addressed the ongoing global push for reparations and restorative justice for the transatlantic slave trade and centuries of colonial exploitation. She noted that the adoption of a UN resolution on the issue earlier in 2026 has injected critical new momentum into global discussions, a topic of particular urgency for Suriname and Caribbean nations that continue to grapple with the intergenerational harms of slavery and colonialism. “The discussion is no longer about whether slavery and colonialism have caused lasting consequences, negative consequences. We know we are living them,” she said. Geerlings-Simons argued that global conversations have now shifted from acknowledging harm to identifying actionable solutions, stating that the core question facing the international community today is how nations that benefited from centuries of exploitation will provide reparations and address the ongoing harm that continues to shape development outcomes across the Global South. “That is the important issue now,” she emphasized.

  • Urgent action needed to protect sovereignty and survival of SIDS

    Urgent action needed to protect sovereignty and survival of SIDS

    As climate-driven sea level rise accelerates its destructive march across low-lying coastal regions, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are facing an unprecedented crisis that threatens not just their daily livelihoods, but their core sovereignty and long-term national survival. Speaking at a high-profile UN meeting convened specifically to address this growing emergency, the acting prime minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis has issued a urgent call for the international community to turn rhetorical recognition of the crisis into tangible, actionable support for at-risk island nations.

  • St. Kitts: Historian Larry Armony dies after Frigate Bay boating accident – WIC News

    St. Kitts: Historian Larry Armony dies after Frigate Bay boating accident – WIC News

    A devastating accident at St. Kitts’ popular Frigate Bay Marina has claimed the life of one of the island nation’s most celebrated cultural and educational figures, 80-year-old Larry Armony. The retired teacher, historian and performing arts pioneer died from critical injuries he sustained after being struck by a passing vessel while swimming in the marina on the morning of Monday, September 21, 2026.

    A resident of Sandy Point, St. Kitts, Armony was pulled from the water immediately after the collision, but had already suffered severe blood loss. Bystanders provided initial first aid at the scene before emergency medical responders arrived to airlift the 80-year-old to Basseterre’s Joseph Nathaniel France (JNF) General Hospital. He was admitted directly to the hospital’s intensive care unit for urgent treatment, but died of his injuries in the early hours of Tuesday, September 22.

    Beyond his decades-long career as an educator and historian, Armony leaves behind an extraordinary legacy that has shaped the cultural identity of St. Kitts and Nevis. A multi-disciplinary artist, he founded the Okolo Drummers collective, which later grew into the acclaimed Okolo Tegremantine Arts Theatre. As a performer, educator, drummer, performance poet and stage director, Armony was a staple of the region’s iconic Carnival and Culturama festivals for decades. Between 1989 and 2021, he also produced eight full albums of original work, cementing his status as one of the federation’s most influential cultural contributors.

    News of Armony’s passing has sparked grief across the St. Kitts community, and renewed calls for improved water safety infrastructure at Frigate Bay. One local resident commented on the tragedy, noting that the incident highlights the urgent need for on-site lifeguards at the popular waterfront, a change that would both create local jobs and prevent future loss of life. Another community member shared that Armony was able to recount details of the collision to responding paramedics immediately after the incident, but medical teams were unable to stabilize his critical condition, calling the outcome a senseless tragedy.

    Officials with local law enforcement confirmed this week that full investigations into the circumstances of the collision are still ongoing, with no further details released to the public as of press time.

  • St. Kitts and Nevis Expands Investment Focus to Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Technology

    St. Kitts and Nevis Expands Investment Focus to Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Technology

    For decades, tourism has anchored the economy of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, drawing visitors and international capital to its Caribbean shores. But by 2026, the small island nation is undergoing a deliberate economic expansion, broadening its priority investment sectors to include agriculture, aquaculture, renewable energy, information technology, financial services, light manufacturing and international education. This strategic diversification, overseen by the St. Kitts Investment Promotion Agency (SKIPA), is designed to build economic resilience, create new employment opportunities and unlock growth across multiple high-potential industries, even as tourism remains a core pillar of the national economy.

    Backed by an International Monetary Fund (IMF) projection of 2.5% medium-term economic growth for 2026, the Federation’s new investment framework offers global investors clear entry points across both established and emerging sectors. Growth is expected to be driven by expanding construction activity, rising agricultural output, utility-scale renewable energy development and continued expansion of the tourism industry, creating a stable foundation for new capital inflows.

    ### Modernizing Agriculture and Unlocking Blue Economy Potential
    Agriculture and aquaculture have emerged as top investment priorities, with opportunities stretching across every segment of the food production value chain, far beyond traditional small-scale cultivation. SKIPA has highlighted a wide range of open opportunities for investors, including commercial large-scale farming, hydroponic production, agro-processing, packaging infrastructure, climate-resilient storage facilities, inter-regional distribution networks and aquaculture development.
    This full-value-chain approach allows investors to engage at any stage of production: from technology-driven growing operations to post-harvest processing and distribution that adds significant value to local goods before they reach consumers.
    As part of its aquaculture agenda, the Federation is advancing both land-based and marine-based production to boost domestic food security, increase local fish and seafood output, and reduce unsustainable pressure on wild ocean fisheries. High-potential investment openings include cultivation of tilapia, shrimp and commercial sea moss, positioning the sector as a key player in the Caribbean’s growing blue economy.

    ### Accelerating the Energy Transition With Incentivized Renewable Projects
    St. Kitts and Nevis is pursuing a full transition away from expensive, fossil fuel-dependent power generation, opening multiple utility-scale and infrastructure investment opportunities in solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower and waste-to-energy. The country’s National Energy Policy actively encourages public-private partnerships to finance, develop and manage new renewable energy projects, with SKIPA outlining specific, shovel-ready opportunities for investors. These include 2-5 MW waste-to-energy facilities, 2-5 MW solar farms, 2-5 MW onshore wind projects, a 10 MW geothermal plant, and distributed infrastructure such as LED and solar-powered street lighting networks.
    To reduce upfront costs for investors, the government offers full import duty and customs service charge exemptions for all approved renewable energy equipment, including solar photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, solar water heating systems, solar air conditioning units and related project hardware. This policy support creates a favorable environment for investors looking to participate in the Federation’s transition to a low-cost, low-carbon energy system.

    ### Building Out a Competitive Digital Economy
    The third emerging investment pillar is information and communications technology (ICT), as St. Kitts and Nevis advances a national digital transformation strategy led by the National ICT Centre. Existing public digital infrastructure already includes end-to-end e-government services, dedicated ICT technical support, government cloud (G-Cloud) services, a regional innovation hub, digital telephony networks and specialized digital skills training facilities.
    SKIPA’s investment framework targets growth in business process outsourcing and digital services, with openings for investment in call centers, credit card application processing, transaction management, data entry and research, database administration, web application development and custom software development. The Federation is also developing a national Internet Exchange Point (IXP), which will reduce connectivity costs by enabling local peering between internet service providers and content platforms, while improving performance for digital services, strengthening national cybersecurity, enhancing emergency management communications and expanding access to digital educational content.

    ### Leveraging Regional Position for Advanced Financial Services
    Financial services are already one of the Federation’s most established non-tourism economic sectors, and St. Kitts has positioned itself as a leading financial hub for the Eastern Caribbean region. The country is home to key regional financial institutions including the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange and the Eastern Caribbean Central Securities Depository, giving investors access to an integrated regional financial ecosystem.
    The sector welcomes investment across a full range of activities, including deposit-taking institutions, investment management, insurance, trust services and corporate services, all operating under a robust regulatory framework aligned with international transparency and compliance standards. Legal structures available to investors include ordinary and exempt companies, limited partnerships, trusts, foundations and captive insurance companies, with the Financial Services Regulatory Commission providing clear, consistent supervision of the non-bank financial sector.

    ### Tourism Remains Central to Economic Growth
    While the Federation is actively diversifying its economy, tourism remains a core strategic sector and a major driver of GDP, foreign exchange earnings and employment. SKIPA continues to highlight significant untapped investment opportunities in the hotel sector and broader visitor economy, with existing and new developments already expanding the country’s total accommodation stock. High-end, luxury tourism is specifically identified as an area with strong potential for further growth and new capital investment.

    ### Strategic Advantages for United States Investors
    The Federation’s geographic and temporal positioning creates unique advantages for investors from the United States. St. Kitts and Nevis operates in the Atlantic Time Zone, aligning it fully with the U.S. East Coast business schedule – a major benefit for information technology and business process outsourcing firms serving North American clients. For light manufacturing investors, the country’s proximity to U.S. markets reduces shipping times and transportation costs, creating a competitive base for regional production and distribution.
    These aligned advantages create tailored entry points for different U.S. investor segments: technology firms can leverage the time zone alignment for digital and business process services, manufacturing investors can capitalize on proximity to major North American markets, energy investors can access pre-vetted renewable energy project pipelines, and education providers can explore opportunities in the country’s regulated international education sector. SKIPA serves as a single centralized point of contact for all international investors, providing comprehensive support for market intelligence, business establishment and ongoing operational guidance regardless of the investor’s home market.

  • Acting Prime Minister Hanley Leads St. Kitts and Nevis Delegation to 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York

    Acting Prime Minister Hanley Leads St. Kitts and Nevis Delegation to 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York

    As the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) enters its high-stakes general debate phase, the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has sent an official delegation led by Acting Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Geoffrey Hanley to the gathering in New York, marking the small island nation’s continued commitment to multilateral collaboration and global advocacy for its unique development priorities.

    The UNGA 81 session officially launched on September 8, 2026, with its flagship high-level General Debate set to open September 22 at UN Headquarters in Manhattan. This annual convening draws heads of state, senior cabinet officials, and high-level delegates from every corner of the globe, creating a central forum to dissect the most urgent shared challenges facing the international community and coordinate collective, cross-border solutions.

    For small island developing states (SIDS) like St. Kitts and Nevis, participation in UNGA is far more than a routine diplomatic engagement: it is a critical platform to elevate national priorities, contribute to global policymaking, and spotlight the specific challenges that disproportionately impact vulnerable small island economies. During this year’s session, the St. Kitts and Nevis delegation will center its participation on advancing discussions around key issues for SIDS: accelerating climate action, advancing inclusive sustainable development, expanding energy security, strengthening post-shock economic resilience, and improving equitable access to affordable development financing.

    Beyond plenary debates, the delegation will also hold a full schedule of bilateral and multilateral meetings with global partner nations and international organizations. These engagements are designed to deepen diplomatic ties, advance mutually beneficial development projects, and build broader international recognition of the unique structural vulnerabilities that SIDS face in an increasingly unstable global landscape.

    As a SIDS, St. Kitts and Nevis has long pushed for reform of the international system to make it more responsive and inclusive. The nation’s leadership emphasizes that global challenges from climate change to economic volatility hit vulnerable small states far harder than larger, more developed economies, requiring targeted policy and financial support to help these nations build sustainable, shock-resilient economies. Through its delegation’s participation in UNGA 81, the government of St. Kitts and Nevis is ensuring the nation’s voice, perspectives, and core interests are included in the global discussions that will shape the future of international development for decades to come.

    This report is based on an official press release issued by the Office of the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis on September 21, 2026, ahead of the opening of the high-level debate.