A Resolution was passed in the National Assembly, to extend the State of Emergency (SOE) for up to 6 months.
During an Emergency Sitting of the National Assembly on Friday, April 17th 2020, there were 10 I’s for the Resolution and 2 No’s.
The initial Statutory Rules and Orders (SRO) Regulations stated “and whereas the CoVID-19 virus continues to pose a significant threat, of a natural calamity on the scale of a public health emergency to the federation of St. Christopher and Nevis and it is therefore necessary to extend the SOE up to a period of 12 months or such shorter period as may be specified.”
A State of Emergency, is a situation in which a government is empowered to perform actions or impose policies that it would normally not be permitted to undertake. A government can declare such a state, during a natural disaster, civil unrest, armed conflict, medical pandemic or epidemic.
Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris, in an address on March 28th, said that he asked His Excellency, the Governor General, Sir S.W. Tapley Seaton on Friday March 27th, to declare the SOE.
The SOE, which began on March 28th, came on the heels of St. Kitts and Nevis recording its’ 1st two cases of the Coronavirus, which was announced on Wednesday, March 25th, 2020.
Meanwhile, new Regulations came into effect over the weekend and will be in force until Saturday, April 25th, 2020.
