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Hon Vincent Byron sworn in for second term in cabinet of Team Unity Administration

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

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Office of the AG

Mediation (12th Nov 2019) Launch of Public Awareness Campaign and Certificate Ceremony (127)
 
Mediation (12th Nov 2019) Launch of Public Awareness Campaign and Certificate Ceremony (127)
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HIGHLIGHTS

Hon Vincent Byron was sworn in for a second term of office in the Executive Branch of Government as Attorney General On Sunday 14th June 2020
Expanded slate of cabinet positions resulting from an increased number of parliamentary seats being won by Team Unity Government
Hon Vincent Byron culminates 5 years of weighted achievements; reflection on his success in the first term as well as his current.
The office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs intends to continue the ongoing work for the new term.
The areas of ministerial oversight will now provide a meeting place where law and order and access to justice can commune in perfect harmony.

On Sunday 14th June 2020 the Honorable Vincent Byron was sworn in for a second term of office in the Executive Branch of Government of St. Kitts and Nevis. He took the triple oaths to serve as Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs in the new Team Unity Administration. 

In this new term of the new Federal Cabinet, the Communications portfolio has not been included in his portfolio as opposed to the 2015 elections where Minister Byron had first served as Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Legal Affairs and Communications. 

This development is in keeping with the availability of an expanded slate of Cabinet positions resulting from an increased number of Parliamentary seats being won by Team Unity. 

As a fitting legacy of Minister Byron’s tremendous achievements in his first term, some of his notable highlights are as follows:

  • The refurbishment of the ICT Centre 
  • the seminal promotion of IT as a public good
  • launching of a national digital transformation strategy 
  • The strengthening of a government-wide area network and others.
  • All educational institutions equipped with internet connectivity and the development of an Edu-Net
  • The developing of  an effective partnership with The Cable following the establishment of expanding broadband for advancing digital penetration across the island of St. Kitts and offering fibre to all households on the island 
  • the goal of creating a curriculum to teach code to children at the primary school level
  • Strides in the development of E-Government
  • the upgrade of St. Kitts and Nevis in its world ranking from 54th to 34th place out of 175 countries and being adjudged the most dynamic country for access and use of the internet in the entire western hemisphere
  • the receipt by St. Kitts and Nevis of two of the three awards at the 14th World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Symposium in Botswana
  • Attorney General Website to be launched in 2020

 In addition to providing government-wide support in the form of counsel and advice to all ministries and departments, the Office of the Attorney General contributed to the robust Parliamentary life of the Legislature. Forty-eight (48) sittings of the Parliament deliberated upon the eighty-eight (88) Bills produced at an average of fifteen (15) per annum.

Highlights of Minister Byron’s achievements in this regard include:

  • Opening of New Second High Court                                              April 2017
  • Establishment of a Land Registry                                                           2017 
  • Freedom of Information Act Passed                                                       2018
  • Data Protection Act Passed                                                                   2018
  • Establishment of Integrity Commission                                       2018 – 2020
  • Abolition of Preliminary Inquiries                                                 March 2018
  • Land Administration Information System Launched                       July 2018
  • Laws Revision and Laws Online Project Launched                               2018
  • New Law Reform Commissioner                                                 March 2019
  • New Batch of Mediators Trained                                                 March 2019
  • Appointment of Additional Magistrate                                                    2019
  • Motion of No Confidence Act Passed                                  September 2019
  • Cadastral Mapping Project Launched                                      October 2019
  • Mediation Committee Established                                        November 2019
  • Cadastral Mapping Project Launched                                                    2019
  • Motion of No Confidence Legislation Passed                                        2019
  • SKN’s Improved Ranking in World Justice Report                       2018-2019
  • SKN Successful Participation in MESICIC Conference                         2018
  • Govt. Acquires C & C Building to House MJLAC Departments             2019
  • New High Court Annex Under Construction                                 2019/2020
  • Third Magistrate Court Facility pending                                                 2020
  • Laws Online Website launched                                                   March 2020

Going forward, the ongoing transformative work of the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs will continue to impact the performance of the government over the upcoming years of the new term. 

These important areas of ministerial oversight provide an appropriatet meeting place where law and order and access to justice can commune in perfect harmony to advance the good governance agenda of the Team Unity Government.

It is the principal mission of the Office of the Attorney General to provide legal advice and services to and on behalf of The Crown, and to conduct and respond to all matters of litigation for and against The Crown or any Ministry or Agency of the Government.

Importantly, its mandate includes the extensive oversight of the legislative agenda of the Government.

The Office of the Attorney General also provides administrative support for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and superintends all matters relating to the Electoral Office.

Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs

The Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs ensures that the rule of law is facilitated and supported by the various mechanisms by which citizens can have equal access to the justice system and by which they can be afforded the protection of the law. It also takes responsibility for ensuring that the statutes are updated and modernized to keep pace with an evolving society.

Quick and convenient access to important and noteworthy matters relevant to entities under the Office of the Attorney General and departments within the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs.

Hon. Garth Wilkin
Attorney General

Ms. Diana Francis
Permanent Secretary

(Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs)

The Office of the Attorney General

The Office of the Attorney General is chiefly responsible for providing legal counsel and advice to the Executive Branch of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis. The functioning of the Office is rooted in the Constitution and is further detailed by the provisions of the Attorney General’s Act Cap 3.02 of the laws of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.

One of the more prolific manifestations of the advisory functions of the Office of the Attorney General is its contribution to the legislative agenda of the government. As such, the responsibility of preparation of all legislation: from conceptualization to the presentation of Bills and the crafting of Regulations falls within the purview of the office.

Get In Touch

Government Headquarters,
Church Street, Basseterre, St. Kitts

+1(869) 467-1013

attorneygeneral@gov.kn

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