Civil Aviation Bill 2021 passed in St Kitts and Nevis Parliament

St Kitts and Nevis: The Civil Aviation Bill (amendment), 2021, which is a bill amending the Cap. 8.03 was passed in the Federal Parliament on Thursday, 25 March 2021.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Aviation and Mover of the Bill, Mark Brantley, said that the amendment is in line with the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

"This bill seeks to give effect to certain recommendations made to us by ICAO. These recommendations stemmed from the last ICAO audit on St. Kitts and Nevis in June 2018,” said Minister Brantley.

"It is important to note here Madam Deputy Speaker that the most important legislative function that ICAO performs is the formation and acceptance of standards and recommended practices for international civil aviation."

Minister Brantley notes that the amendment is not controversial and highlights important proposals from ICAO.

One of the key ICAO recommendations enshrined in the amendment relates to acts of unlawful interference. "National legislation will be amended to better align with the new international standards in this regard," he said. "One of the most important changes that Madam Deputy Speaker is proposed to introduce this concept of illegal interference and is treated in section (3) as a proposed amendment to section (2) of the principal Act.”

The aviation minister said the ICAO regulations were designed to protect civil aviation integrity around the world.

Minister Brantley added that another "equally important ICAO recommendation was to strengthen our background checks laws to better empower the the appropriate authority to conduct such checks and to carry out its supervisory responsibilities more effectively."

The Civil Aviation Bill (Amendment), 2021, was first read on 4 March 2021.