STAR Newspaper - 16 June 2018 by STAR Publishing

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The Star (St.Lucia)

SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2018

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Will the Sun of Justify Shine on DSH? Prime Minister Allen Chastanet (centre) flanked by his wife Raquel and trainer of Triple Crown winner Justify, Bob Baffert.

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The Royal Staff Awards 2018

A-M u s i n g s T Musings are thoughts, the thoughtful

kind. For the purpose of these articles, a-musings are thoughts that might amuse, entertain and even enlighten.

Guilty Secrets

By Michael Walker

ctually, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you for quite some time now, but I’ve never quite got round to it,” says this acquaintance and you look kind of sceptical, fearing the worst. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing unpleasant or surprising,” they go on. It gets even worse, of course, when they continue, “But I can’t for the life of me remember what it was.” You try to console them with a sympathetic, “Well, it can’t have been all that important, can it?” which doesn’t help at all because they immediately respond with, “Oh, but it was! I’ve been meaning to ask you for ages.” By now, any normal human being would be dying to hear the $10,000 question—I don’t think— (and in this case I consider myself to be a normal human being, despite what my detractors might say) so I usually add an inane word of encouragement, “Just don’t think about it and it will come to you.” Now, should you try to help your absentminded friend, or should you simply walk away from the unspoken enquiry? You see, the more suggestions we make, the closer we might get to things we really don’t want to talk about. You know: Was it about the time I . . . ? I’m really sorry about that. Or perhaps: I suppose you’ve been wondering why I . . . Yes, I wonder about that myself. I really do. Before long, if you’re not careful, you’ve uncovered every skeleton in your closet, which is a phrase that was coined in 19th century England. The word 'closet' is used nowadays in England to mean 'water closet', that is, lavatory, which is not really the best place to hide a skeleton, but then, it is not the worst either; I mean, who would go delving around in your water closet looking for skeletons? In actual fact, come to think of it, the English nowadays prefer to use 'a skeleton in the cupboard'. Skeletons in the ‘closet’ are definitely more common in the USA. You know how traditional, having so little of it, the Americans like to be. 'A skeleton in the closet' alluded to an apparently irreproachable person or family having a guilty secret waiting to be uncovered. The phrase was first used, I believe, by William Hendry Stowell, in the UK monthly periodical The Eclectic Review, 1816. The 'skeleton' in this case was disease, infectious or hereditary that people were ashamed to admit to having. “Two great sources of distress are the danger of contagion and the apprehension of hereditary diseases. The dread of being the cause of

misery to posterity has prevailed over men to conceal the skeleton in the closet,” is how the author put it. Edgar Allen Poe, in The Black Cat from 1845, wrote of a man who had murdered his wife and entombed her in the wall of his dwelling, but not very well. He wrote, '"Gentlemen, I delight to have allayed your suspicions" and here, through the mere frenzy of bravado, I rapped heavily upon that very portion of the brickwork behind which stood the corpse of the wife of my bosom. The wall fell bodily. The corpse, already greatly decayed, stood erect before the eyes of the spectators.' Prior to the UK's 1832 Anatomy Act allowing the more extensive use of corpses for medical research, it was said that doctors would conceal in cupboards the illegally held skeletons they used for teaching. Although concealed skeletons are occasionally found walled-up in houses, they are usually those of unwanted infants. The Victorian author William Makepeace Thackeray, in The Newcomes; memoirs of a most respectable family, 1854– 55, wrote, '… some particulars regarding the Newcome family, which will show us that they have a skeleton or two in their closets, as well as their neighbours.' The 19th century philosopher Jeremy Bentham is perhaps the best-known actual skeleton in a cupboard, but he did not wish to keep his skeleton a secret; he willed that his body be preserved in a wooden cabinet. It is on public display in University College, London. The American expressions 'come out of the closet' or simply 'come out' date from the 1960s to indicate that someone had decided to broadcast his/her/or its sexual preferences to all and sundry as a matter of local, national and even global importance. Using the British version to declare one’s homosexuality doesn’t quite cut it. I mean who would want to “come out of a cupboard” - I mean, it sounds as if someone got caught with his/her/its hand in the “cookie jar” (I know; I am mixing my Englishes). Personally I believe that LGBTQI folk came out of the closet, especially the men, when “cottaging” was all the rage. “Cottaging” was the habit of meeting in public toilets for illicit sex or, as one dictionary puts it, “discreet acts of buggery performed in a toilet cubicle, often anonymous”. Given the gay abandon with which homosexual men dedicated themselves to unprotected, random sex in those days, and the inevitable outcome of HIVAIDS, they really were dealing with “skeletons in the closet”.

he Royal St. Lucia Resort and Spa awarded its top performers at a gala awards ceremony on Saturday May 26, 2018. Over 20 employees, supervisors and managers were recognized in various categories including Length of Service, Above and Beyond, Customer Service, Employee of the Year, Supervisor of the Year, Manager of the Year, and Department of the Year. General Manager Richard Michelin thanked his management team and staff for their dedicated service. He disclosed that The Royal is currently ranked No.1 in the Rex Group of Resorts in the region. Rex Resorts operates hotels in Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Tobago and Saint Lucia. The Royal St. Lucia also continues to maintain a high rating on TripAdvisor. Michelin attributed the success of The Royal to the hard work, commitment and loyalty of its staff. This year’s Royal Staff Awards was held under the theme 'Going the Extra Mile'. The guest speaker was former Governor General of Saint Lucia, Dame Pearlette Louisy. She commended The Royal for recognizing its staff. Speaking to the theme, Dame Pearlette told nominees: “When you go the extra mile, you are carving out your own trail of success. You are

Fabian St. Rose (left) was awarded Employee of the Year by his general manager Richard Michelin.

contributing to your personal development. You are becoming the best person you can be. Make use of the talents that are given to you.” Dame Pearlette reminded the nominees that “excellence is a journey”. Borrowing from the famous quote from Longfellow: “the heights of great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, for they while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night”, she implored those gathered to “let our Nobel laureates be our examples to follow”. The coveted Employee of the Year award was won by Fabian St. Rose of the Food & Beverage Department. Fabian has given 20 years of unbroken service to The Royal. He joined the hotel as a steward back in February 1998. Over the years he has worked his way up the ranks and is now Chef

de Parte. For quite some time, Fabian worked in the kitchen at L’Epicure, but he has recently been assigned to the upscale Chic restaurant. Based on the resounding applause from his peers, Fabian was definitely a popular choice for Employee of the Year. Fabian, who has been recognized before, attributes his winning streak to his ability to get along with his peers and interact with guests from time to time. He revealed: “Most of the time I would come out of the kitchen after dinner and speak to the guests, ask them how they enjoyed dinner.” Fabian described his co-workers as “family.” He recently cut his vacation short to return to The Royal because he missed work so much. His advice to young persons in the industry is: “You can start at the bottom and work your way to the top.”

NEW MARKET DESIGN RECEIVES MAYOR’S NOD

is Worship, Mayor Peterson D. Francis is ecstatic about, and very contented with, the new design for the Castries Market Project which is now at an advanced stage. The redesign, which was done by the architectural section within the Department of Physical Planning, comprises several components including a food court, high-end airconditioned restaurants, craft market, box park, viewing tower, entertainment area, meat and fish depots and duty-free shopping boutiques. The redevelopment of the Castries Market will create a nexus between Saint Lucia’s goods and services exports and the vending opportunities that are available which will, in turn, promote excellence and authenticity and provide an upgrade for product display and quality. In addition, the project will assist in ensuring that the products sold are authentically Saint Lucian, and increase the

A visual impression of the proposed structure for the Castries Market.

diversity and creativity of the vending activities for a more attractive and aesthetically pleasing display. It will also create a unique experience for visitors by distinguishing it from other Caribbean markets and generally elevate the standard of vending and customer service to international standards. Speaking of the new design, Mayor Francis says the intention is to achieve a public space which appeals to visitors, citizens and vendors. “It will do so by integrating

the history, culture and architecture. The redesign of the Castries Market forms part of the wider revitalization and redevelopment of the City of Castries, with the market being one of the main features within this extensive redevelopment.” Construction work is expected to begin in the summer of this year. All stakeholders will be engaged and can expect the designs to be made public in the coming weeks along with an active consultative and awareness campaign.

THE STAR

Sandals Saint Lucia Team Members Shine at Employee of the Year Gala in Jamaica

A vibrant group shot of the Ultimate Team Member nominees.

he three Sandals Resorts in Saint Lucia were represented at the recently concluded Ultimate Team Member Awards held in Jamaica. Dwight Goodman, representing Sandals Regency La Toc Golf Resort and Spa, Khadijah Preville representing Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort and Marvin Alfred representing Sandals Grande Saint Lucian Spa and Beach Resort, all Diamond Team Members at the local level, were among over two dozen of the most outstanding team members in the Caribbean at the recently staged 10th annual Sandals Ultimate Award Ceremony and Dinner in Whitehouse Jamaica on Thursday June 7, 2018. The Saint Lucian team members joined their colleagues in the company’s history books for all having been a part of the group’s milestone tenth year of exceptional recognition of its team members. They and all other Ultimate nominees were treated to gifts of engraved sterling silver bracelets and a week of activities including tours to the Group’s various head offices in Kingston, a day of adventure at Jamwest Adventure Park and outreach in the Whitehouse community in partnership with the Sandals Foundation.

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But although the Ultimate Award winner was Jardine Vassell, a supervisor from Beaches Ocho Rios’ Photoshop, the Saint Lucian contingent gave unforgettable performances and meshed seamlessly with their colleagues, stealing hearts and building longlasting camaraderie that will undoubtedly add to their personal and professional growth. In a captivating speech, Deputy Chairman of the Sandals/ATL Group Adam Stewart encouraged the nominees to find their passion and to make the best of every chance they receive. He also urged those with the wherewithal, to take chances on young talent, reminding the room that the company’s success was largely due to the fact that many people gave his father and the company’s Chairman, the Honourable Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, chances. He said, “Success has to be about teamwork and giving people chances. Every one of us in this room is unique and everyone watching across the region is unique; we all have something inside of us that is magic. All it takes for that magic to manifest is a chance. Tonight is about recognizing a group of winners, a group of

people that are finding their passion and making the most of the opportunities and chances they receive. We treasure you, we appreciate you and we will continue to go above and beyond to provide you with the chances you need to become your best selves.” To identify the ultimate winner, nominees were assessed by various criteria, including team spirit, training hours, attendance record, ambassadorial qualities, and community and environmental stewardship. After weeks of examining the nominees’ profiles, the selection panel was confident to announce Vassell as the Ultimate Team Member – the best of the company’s 14,000-strong team. Saint Lucia has a rich history of creating ultimate winners. In 2011, Roger Pierre Louis represented Sandals Regency La Toc Golf Resort and Spa and came home with the Grand Prize – Winner, Ultimate Team Member. In 2016, Neil “Captain Neil” Jammer Georges, who represented Sandals Grande Saint Lucian Spa and Beach Resort, brought home the Grand Prize – Winner, Ultimate Team Member. No doubt team members look forward to copping the Grand Prize over the coming years, for Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort.

WLBL Resurrects an Old Favourite

ednesday night was a big one for the Windward and Leeward Brewery Limited (WLBL). With Coca Cola, one of its most popular brands, sponsoring this year's largest, global, sports event— the FIFA World Cup—the team was set to kill two birds with one stone. They ushered in the FIFA season while simultaneously resurrecting, with much fanfare, their 200 ml glass bottle– commonly referred to as the “returnable glass bottle”. WLBL's Coca Cola brand manager, Sharlene JnBaptiste, highlighted for all in attendance the significance of the move: “This is basically our way of starting and continuing the conversation about sustainable practices. It is our way of bringing value to our customers and consumers. The bottles being returnable, means it is out of the landfills; it means you, as a consumer, enjoy your beverage, then you bring them back to us instead of dumping them in the trash.” The event was held at Sandals Grande Saint Lucia and was hosted by Kwency Griffith, more affectionately known as Superman HD to a crowd of WLBL team members, affiliates and lucky customers. After news of the returnable glass bottles, a night of games and trivia ensued. The WLBL team provided the crowd with

Coke’s 200 ml returnable glass bottles have made a comeback!

multiple opportunities to win FIFA merchandise in the form of USB devices, keychains, caps, duffle bags and more. The FIFA World Cup games will be airing on HTS throughout the tournament down to the finals on July 15.

Soufriere Pitons Lions Club supports Kids Insight Project

he St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association (SLBWA) has received a much needed donation from the Soufriere Pitons Lions Club to support the Kids Insight project, one of the core programmes of the SLBWA. Kids Insight is a joint project of the SLBWA, the Lions Clubs of St. Lucia and the West Virginia Eye Institute. The Lions Clubs committed to being the fund-raisers to sponsor the volunteers from West Virginia to serve the children of Saint Lucia. Denise Godin is the Eye Health Officer with the SLBWA. She explained, “The Kids Insight Project first started in 2003. At that time our intention was to address cataract surgery for seven of our children and we invited a wonderful team of specialists from West Virginia Eye Institute for a one-time visit. And, when they came, they examined 80 children and said, ‘We can’t leave all these children behind. We’re going to come again.’ And they’ve come every single year since 2003 and we’ve never even been able to complete and cover the needs of our children with blinding eye conditions.” The last visit by the team of volunteers was in

Monica Felix (right) from the Soufriere Pitons Lions Club presenting a cheque to Denise Godin (left) on behalf of SLBWA.

February 2018 when they saw over 118 children plus adults with blinding eye conditions requiring specialist services. “We have an excellent team of volunteers here on the island who, every year, support them, make sure that it happens. It is one project where the benefits not only affect the individual, but affect their future, and it can affect the future of Saint Lucia,” Godin said. For the past nine years the Soufriere Pitons Lions Club has held an annual Tea Party with all of the proceeds going towards supporting the Kids Insight project. Faydian Gill, President of the Soufriere Pitons Lions Club, said the club is a service organisation working towards the improvement of people, the

community and the country by undertaking various projects such as Kids Insight. “Today we are here to present a cheque to Kids Insight. We had a fundraiser some time ago and, as a result of that Kids Insight fundraiser, we were able to donate $6,000 to a very worthy cause which is Kids Insight,” Gill announced. He made an appeal to other service clubs to support the tremendous work of the St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association. “Every Saint Lucian should know that the Blind Welfare Association needs all the help it can get. So every service club in Saint Lucia, I would encourage them to do whatever it is they can to raise some funds to assist the Blind Welfare Association.”

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Footballer, Christian, Looshan . . . Cyrille Regis was that and more! Claudia Eleibox

he FIFA World Cup 2018 started on Thursday and usually around this time the catchy theme songs, opening ceremonies and social media excitement make Caribbean people wish we had a competing team. Our local football matches visibly show that the talent is spirited here, and some do make it to the international scene. The rest are satisfied to participate vicariously before their TV screens or online. But whether player or fan, Saint Lucians are always happy to see one of our own performing well overseas. And although his story reads like a fairytale, Cyrille Regis was just that—an international footballer who made his mark on and off the field, with close ties to Saint Lucia.

Cyrille (right) with his friend and former teammate Brendon Batson during a visit to Saint Lucia.

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Cyrille was playing leisurely at 17 when he was scouted by John Sullivan for Molesey, a non-league club, and then was later bought by West Bromwich Albion in 1977. By 1978 West Brom was the first British football club to have three black players fielded simultaneously. Cyrille Regis was one, along with Laurie Cunningham and Brendon Batson. They were nicknamed The Three Degrees. The trio is still referred to as players who changed the British football scene forever, having survived the racist abuses of the 1980s. Most recently, in 2012, The Three Degress were recognized with a ten-foot high statue in West Bromwich called “The Celebration”. The statue is not yet complete but Laurie Cunningham will not enjoy the unveiling either. He died in a tragic accident in 1978, a sad occurrence that led Cyrille to reconsider his spirituality and to walk with Christ. During his career Cyrille scored 112 goals from 297 appearances with West Brom, and then 62 goals from 274 appearances with Coventry City Sky Blues. He earned himself five caps with the England national team, played briefly for Aston Villa, Wolves, Wycombe Wanderers and Chester City before retiring in 1996. In 2008 he was awarded an MBE. Cyrille lived most of his life in England but his father was Saint Lucian and, although he lived just one year of his childhood here, Cyrille kept in close contact with his aunts, uncles and cousins (many of whom came from Canaries). He also visited Saint Lucia at every opportunity. “He was a very private man,” said Christella, wife of Cyrille’s nephew. “Fame didn’t mean much to him; he

would visit Saint Lucia and only a few would know he was here.” Christella shared fond memories about Cyrille and was helping him plan his 60th birthday, to be celebrated here at Spinnakers, surrounded by proud relatives. He also planned to deliver an inspirational presentation to local aspiring footballers. Alas, Cyrille passed away on January 14, 2018 just weeks

From his first games with West Bromwich Cyrille Regis was both a favourite and a target for racism.

before his birthday. He was still in England. That day, Julia Regis and her husband, Cyrille, spent their Sunday in church and then went home. She didn’t know it would be the last time she would see his dimpled smile. Cyrille’s death was abrupt and saddening for his family. In a tribute printed by the Birmingham Mail for his funeral, Julia zeroed in on Cyrille’s wish

to spread the Christian gospel. Equally significant, a lengthy list of accomplished footballers offered their comments for print, reminiscing about Cyrille’s inspiration to them as black athletes. Through his career during and after football, his charity work, his Christian lifestyle and his relationships, Cyrille was always described as forgiving, joyous, and loving.

School of Music Goes to the Beach Tonight!

he Saint Lucia School of Music (SLSM) is proud to present Interlude at the Beach, a concert this evening, Saturday 16 June, at the St Lucia Yacht Club in Rodney Bay. The SLSM opened its doors in January 1988 and this fund-raising concert is one of a number of events to celebrate the 30th anniversary. The SLSM is

proud of its work over the years and welcomes this opportunity to showcase some of its success stories. The concert features Reflejos, a group comprising one faculty member and three graduates from the SLSM: Daniel Petrocelli is a Venezuelan guitarist who currently teaches at the school; Ronnie J. Duplessis, the bassist, now plays in the band of the

Royal Saint Lucia Police Force; Jesse Julian Billy is the drummer, and Anderson D. Charles is the flautist and saxophonist. The concert commences at 7.30 p.m and the dress code is elegantly casual. Tickets, priced $50, are available from the Saint Lucia School of Music, telephone 452 2473 or 285 2936, and on the door.

THE STAR

DRASTIC CHANGES AHEAD FOR BARBADOS I

n her first Budget address since her party’s recent 30-nil election victory Barbados Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mia Mottley outlined what she termed her government’s “Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan”. The budget came mere days after an official visit by officials of the International Monetary Fund, after which the IMF issued a statement that read in part: “Barbados is in a precarious economic situation. International reserves have dwindled to US$220 million, while central government debt is unsustainable. The fiscal deficit has decreased over the last few years but remains large, at about 4% of GDP in FY2017/18. In the coming months, we expect to continue our close dialogue with the Barbados government, with the aim of reaching understandings on economic policies that could underpin an IMF supported program.” The plan, Mottley says, will be carried out in three phases, with the first phase seeking to “reduce the fiscal deficit in the first year. The government’s detailed plan includes a 5% increase in salaries for public workers, increased pay for pensioners, and the hiring of three temporary judges at a cost of $700,000 thanks to a backlog of ten thousand criminal cases. Effective 1 October, Value Added Tax (VAT) will be charged on all online transactions (goods and services) in the country. Pointing out that a large number of Barbadians now engage in online transactions via Amazon, Ebay or Netflix, Mottley said, “The technology now exists for us to capture these transactions for the purpose of taxation.”

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VACANCIES ACCOUNTANT Carnival Sailing Limited invites suitable candidates to join the team in the position of an Accountant. Main duties include, but not limited to: • Sales invoicing • Preparing deposits • Processing purchases and payments • Maintaining Customer and Vendor Accounts Candidates should be able to work in a timely manner and is required to be a team player. Candidates with a practical knowledge in PeachTree and Microsoft Office Programs will be given preference.

Will the changes made by Prime Minister Mia Mottley change the country’s situation for the better?

On 1 July, the road tax that was in the region of $400 to $1,600 per year will be no more. There will also be significant changes in income and corporation taxes, with a new rate of 40% on incomes greater than $75,001 and the highest corporation tax rising from 25% to 30%. Some of the new taxes are similar to those imposed by the Saint Lucian government. Replacing the road tax will be a fuel tax. This new tax will be levied at a rate of 40 cents per litre of petrol, 40 cents per litre of diesel and five cents per litre of kerosene. October will see the introduction of an Airline Travel & Tourism Development Fee. Passengers flying out of Caricom will pay US$70 and within Caricom US$35. This new fee will be added to their already established departure

tax of US$27. 50. Said Mottley: “For those who may be worried, may I remind persons that in Saint Lucia they raised their fee at the airport through similar taxes and, in spite of that, they saw not a reduction in travel but an 11% growth in tourism.” In a full fiscal year, the tax is anticipated to raise $95 million. Prime Minister Mottley passionately challenged Barbadians to stand and proclaim with confidence that “Barbados is back! Our country needs us; it is now time for us to rally to the cause!” On 13 June, Mia Mottley led a three-team delegation from Barbados to Washington, for further talks with the IMF. ---Joshua St. Aimee

All applications should be submitted to peter.byrne@carnivalsailing.com.

Crew Members Carnival Sailing are looking for Hard Working, Honest, And Great Team Players wishing to work in the tourism industry and training tour guides. You will require the following: • Great Customer Service Skills • Swimming ability • First Aid and Basic Crew Training skills will be given If you think this could be your opportunity to shine Then Send your CV to Carnival@candw.lc or drop it into our office at Vigie

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Justify Shines Its Light On Teo Ah Khing . . . (And DSH?) P

rior to June 9, only twelve horses in the history of American thoroughbred horse racing had captured the coveted Triple Crown. The award is given for winning America’s three major horse-racing events: Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. The latest horse to join the elite group is 3-year-old Justify. The Belmont Stakes is the oldest of the three races, first held in 1860, predating the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes by eight and six years, respectively. The 2018 race at Belmont Park, New York attracted an audience of 90,327. Justify led the race from the onset and went on to win by a length and three quarters. The prize for first place was US$800,000, with second to eighth places also receiving monetary awards. At the winner’s press conference Justify’s part-owner

Mr. Teo Ah Khing said, “We are thankful for everybody here, especially our partners. They are on cloud nine, and so am I! Triple Crown is not easy to achieve.” Presumbly, by “partners” Khing referred to fellow members of his China Horse Club. As for the winning thoroughbred’s immediate future, its owners have promised that the superhorse will race again but for now a good rest is a priority after the last few grueling months of competition. Recently, the owners signed a mega deal with Coolmore Stud— the world’s largest breeding company—giving them the breeding rights for Justify. The deal is worth a whopping US$75 million! ---JSA Justify having captured the Triple Crown, the equine spotlight is shining on Teo Ah Khing (centre) and the China Horse Club.

St. Lucia Teachers’ Credit Co-operative Ltd. Notice of Meeting

Notice is hereby given that the 33rd Annual General Meeting of the St. Lucia Teachers’ Credit Co-operative Ltd. will be held at THE GOLDEN PALM CONFERENCE CENTRE, RODNEY BAY Sunday 24th June, 2018 commencing at 11:00 a.m. Open Session

AGENDA

1. National Anthem 2. Prayer/Invocation 3. Welcome Address

Close Session

1. Call to Order 2. Ascertainment of a Quorum 3. Notice Convening Meeting 4. Apologies for Absence 5. Adoption of Standing Orders 6. Reading and Approval of the Minutes of the last AGM and discussion of matters arising there from and any intervening Special General Meetings 7. Adoption/Confirmation of Reports: a. Board of Directors b. Treasurer c. Auditor d. Credit Committee e. Supervisory Committee f. Any other Sub-Committees 8. Unfinished Business 9. Resolutions 10. Elections to: a. Board of Directors b. Credit Committee c. Supervisory Committee 11. Appointment of Auditors for the ensuing year 12. Announcements/Closing Remarks 13. Adjournment By Order of the Board

Saint Lucia delegation participates in Global Entrepreneurship Event

nvest Saint Lucia, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, and two local start-ups have just returned from a global pitching competition for start-ups and entrepreneurs. The Global Meet Up - 2018, an event hosted by the Dutch ‘Get in the Ring’ founders, took place in Cascais, Portugal from May 30th to June 1st. The three-day event brought together 150 selected start-ups from all over the world, with a special invite to innovation professionals, government officials and investors. The goal of the Global Meet Up, now in its seventh instalment, is to collaborate on a global scale in supporting the growth of start-ups through invaluable exposure including start-up and investor meetings, thereby unlocking business opportunities. The local leg of the Get in the Ring competition, one of the activities of Global Entrepreneurship Week, was held in March 2018, when Saint Lucian start-ups got

L-R: Jodi Boodhoo, Agnella Joseph, Zaina Pamphile, Natasha Edwin-Walcott and Patrick Eze.

the opportunity to test the viability of their innovative ideas or businesses. Patrick Eze of EZE Green Energy Company, producer of biofuel and dishwashing liquid from waste oil, emerged victorious. Zaina Pamphile, runner up and co-founder of Eco Carib, a green energy company, was selected as a wild card entrant to the global competition. Both participants and the Chamber of Commerce representative, Agnella Joseph, were sponsored by the Get in the Ring Foundation. For Invest Saint Lucia, recognising the importance of

nurturing the entrepreneurship ecosystem, and with its own current campaign on the feasibility and development of a proposed Incubator Programme to assist micro and small businesses as vital lynchpins of economic sustainability, this event presented a valuable opportunity to make meaningful connections with an array of professionals working in the entrepreneurship space. Invest Saint Lucia was represented by Deputy Chairman, Mr. Jodi Boodhoo and Mrs. Natasha Edwin-Walcott, Manager for Research, Policy Advocacy and Communications.

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TIME TO COME CLEAN? “This above all: to thine own self be true. And it must follow, as the night the day. Thou canst not then be false to any man.” Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 3. Peter Josie

it by bit, with patience and perseverance, we arrive at the truth, and discover facts. Contemplation and persistent questioning—two philosophical guide posts— came to mind last Thursday as I listened to TALK with Rick Wayne. The talk show host declared he believed the former prime minister of Saint Lucia called early general elections in 2016 because he became impatient and frustrated over the tardiness of work at St. Jude Hospital. If Rick is correct, why didn’t friends of the former PM deliver that simple message to the public

instead of their tissue of lies? Reckless misinformation is the preferred route of vagabonds and miscreants. Apparently, the truth had to be hidden to save face, and to protect those in whom much confidence had been reposed. The former PM and his Minister of Health had announced, on at least three occasions, dates for the completion and re-opening of St. Jude Hospital. At their third announcement the hospital was only half-completed. The PM, perhaps embarrassed and fed-up, threw up his arms in disgust. Instead of admonishing those responsible, he reached instead for the presumed face-saving device of a general election. He could not have carried out the same elaborate bluff of a naming

ceremony as he did with the OKEU Hospital. Rather than exposing the culprits, he may have chosen to protect them by resorting to Machiavellian tactics at the expense of the Chastanet family. Why didn’t the former PM pull the rug from under the real culprits? Did someone suggest that there was more in the mortar than the pestle? Many have concluded that the promise of better days, underpinned by transparency and accountability, lies buried in the rubble at St. Jude Hospital. It seemed easier to bluff and obfuscate than to trust the people with verifiable facts. The second ploy, the attempt at scapegoating the Chastanets, father and son, was worse than the first. To impute improper motives to others,

CLOSURE NOTICE WONDER BAKERY LTD ST. LUCIA As of Friday 15th June, 2018 Wonder Bakery Ltd. ceased operations in St. Lucia as a result of prevailing business conditions in the industry. All employees have been officially informed. A skeleton staff will be on site for a few weeks following the official closure to complete all outstanding transactions. Wonder Bakery Ltd. expresses thanks to all our former employees for their valuable contributions over the years. We would also like to thank our customers and other stakeholders for their support over the years.

It would be interesting to discover how many political skeletons are buried here, and who buried them!

rather than expose the guilty, cried out for redress. It was the first time since Independence, some 39 years ago, that a political leader had fingered a family as the target of his political vendetta. It smelt like desperation politics. Besides, a leader who had distinguished himself by his silence on important issues of foreign investments seemed out of character in his outburst. Some had argued that his frustrations with the incomplete St. Jude Hospital, and the proposed horse-racing track at Vieux Fort, together with the lease of 1,000-acres to another foreign outfit, would have aroused the curiosity of the electorate more than the attacks on the Chastanets. Unfortunately, rather than address the nation on his stewardship and the difficulties encountered in attempting to deliver on his promise of better days, the secretive prime minister decided it was better to hide his frustration behind an early election. He paid the price! Two years later he still persists in blaming everyone else but himself for the hospital fiasco and for the election results. The cards he kept close to his chest blew up in his face. Perhaps in disgust over St. Jude Hospital he forgot to mention that he had earmarked more lands in the south and southeast of the island to foreigners than the former six prime

ministers of Saint Lucia since Independence. Notwithstanding the above, the former prime minister owed it to himself to make a clean breast of it and come clean after the last elections. St. Jude Hospital was regarded primarily as an institution for Vieux Fort and its neighbouring communities. A simple apology to his Vieux Fort constituents would have sufficed. After all, they expected better from his stewardship as their MP and PM. Instead of a simple apology, he seemed to admit defeat by passing the leadership of the Labour Party and parliamentary opposition to the long-suffering Philip J. Pierre. One hoped that once the former leader was free of his burdens he would finally summon the courage to come clean over St. Jude Hospital. Sadly, the former PM continued to do what he does best—hide behind others—as cowards often do. It is my sincere petition that the issue of St. Jude hospital is not allowed to fade silently into the night. The good people of Vieux Fort must come together and resolve to return the town to a path of progress it once enjoyed. While we contemplate a brighter future, we must insist on knowing the whole truth about the St. Jude Hospital re-construction effort. Who were the people paid to order equipment for

the hospital? Who gave the order to pay contractors before verifying their work was up to the required standard? Most importantly, when will Prime Minister Allen Chastanet and his government provide answers to these questions? Alas poor Vieux Fort! My heart bleeds for you. I have witnessed your decline in words too painful to speak. Your air and sea ports are poor relics of the 1970s. Would someone care to analyze the town after these past twenty years? The most damning thing about those wasted years, especially with the St. Jude Hospital reconstruction, is that the former PM never seemed sufficiently incensed about the waste and delay at the hospital to act more resolutely on behalf of the people of Vieux Fort, and of Saint Lucia. One may look back and postulate that worse could have happened to Vieux Fort. For example, Hewanorra International Airport could have been handed over to a foreigner to operate; New Dock could have disappeared into the sea from neglect, and the Baccadere could have been swamped with pigs and other animals. But God is good. We pray that the people of Vieux Fort will be true to themselves in their next act for the town. We pray, too, for the long darkness soon to end!

THE STAR

june 16, 2018

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june 16, 2018 THE STAR

Derek and Roddy may be gone but some are determined to keep their memory forever alive and well! Keryn Nelson

intage recordings and stories about a onceupon-a-time Saint Lucia can be haunting. Last week Friday, before a cheque presentation related to Walcott Place, organisers aired the documentary The Walcott Brothers. A portion of the film shows the alwaysthoughtful future Nobel laureate reminiscing about his childhood compound at Chaussee Road in Castries. At one point, as the house where he was born, now in ruins, fills the screen, Sir Derek Walcott says, “I don’t want to remember it like that. It was a beautiful place.” The poet and playwright’s words might also be applied to the current surroundings, also no longer as they were when

Walcott was a boy. Today, a walk along the Chaussee Road would reveal, like a budding dandelion in a bed of rubble, Walcott Place, freshly painted in yellow and white amidst a drab and depressing backdrop of dilapidated buildings. Work to restore and repurpose the structure and some of its surrounding acres was officially begun in 2015 by the Saint Lucian government, through the Saint Lucia National Trust (SLNT). While at Walcott Place on Friday, I spoke with SLNT Director Bishnu Tulsie while on the almost vacant second floor of the building. He indicated the locations that had been the bedrooms of the brothers Roderick and Derek, their older sister Pamela and their mother Alix. I was struck by the smallness of the area that had housed a family destined

VACANCY

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

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Walcott Place is slated to be part of a Castries walk-through tour jointly undertaken by the Saint Lucia National Trust and the Castries City Council.

to be legendary. How inspiring for today's Saint Lucians,

preparation of interim and year-end audits. • Compile and analyze financial information for the preparation of financial statements. • Provide financial and relevant information for feasibility studies conducted by NY; assist in feasibility studies if necessary. • Ensure financial records are maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and procedures. • Ensure all financial reporting deadlines are met including the weekly monitoring reports on sales, receivables and bank reconciliations. • Ensure accurate and timely submission of monthly, quarterly and year end reports • Resolve accounting discrepancies and irregularities. • Analyze and advise on business operations including revenue and expenditure trends, financial commitments and future revenues. • Travel to Islands as needed to ensure financial goals are met and complied with. • Update management on IT issues in the islands and recommend solutions. • Set expectations and targets regarding tasks and deadlines. • Other duties and responsibilities as assigned from time to time. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE • Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance, ACCA or CPA preferred • With minimum of 5 years of public or private accounting experience, required. • Extensive knowledge of generally accepted accounting practices and principles and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) • Strong organizational, interpersonal and analytical skills, required. • Demonstrated abilities in problem solving, proficiency in written, analytical and verbal communications, required. Proficiency in spreadsheet applications and computerized accounting systems, such as ACCPAC is required. • Demonstrated qualities of being thorough, detail oriented, highly organized, analytical and responsible. SEND APPLICATION TO: LEVERAGE MANAGEMENT CONSULTING POSITION FOR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER MONGIRAUD, P.O. BOX 2000 GROS ISLET, SAINT LUCIA EMAIL: EMPLOYMENT@LEVERAGEMGT.COM DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: JUNE 18, 2018

convinced their own humble circumstances could deny them their dreams. Ironically, as uplifting as is the documented story of the Walcotts, there can be no escaping the harsh reality outside the building dedicated to Roddy and Derek. Even as I marvelled at their never fully appreciated (anyway, not while they were still with us) genius, it occurred to me that the twins died dreaming about a home for the arts that was never to be. Nevertheless, consider this from the SLNT’s website: “Walcott Place proposes to create a physical space to celebrate Roderick and Derek Walcott’s achievements.” Along with adjoining lands owned by the Saint Lucian government, “the space was to be converted into a museum of the boys' work, with studio space for art and writing workshops and a theatre.” Hearts were reportedly set on seeing the area transformed during a Walcott Place and Grass Street Urban Enhancement Project. Several people in the area were to be employed. Sadly, as often happens here, the reconstruction project ended prematurely. “About four years ago, ” Tulsie recalled for my benefit, “our government was in talks with the government of Taiwan, and funds made available to do phases one

and two of the project. Phase one is complete but we have lost the funds for phase two. It’s with government.” The Taiwanese government had awarded a grant of EC$7.53million which saw the completion of the project’s first phase, and the opening of Walcott Place in January 2016 in the presence of an emotional Derek Walcott. In the 2017-2018 fiscal year the government zeroed the Saint Lucia National Trust's subvention. In June 2017 the Trust shut down Walcott Place. Revisiting meetings with the prime minister, Tulsie recollected: “We were told, 'It’s not a priority at this time.' It’s important to add 'at this time'. There is a suggestion there that at some future date it could become a priority. We look forward to that. There are other priorities, mainly around tourism and the Castries Waterfront. The problem we have is that we cannot see how a re-development of Castries could take place without Walcott Place.” In February this year, for the Nobel Laureate Festival, the doors of Walcott Place were reopened, thanks in part to the Castries City Council and FLOW. Contributions, big or small, the SLNT says, go a long way. For instance, the group Beyond Iyanola, a UK-based faction of mainly culture and

art-conscious Saint Lucians, presented a cheque to the Trust on Friday last week. Beyond Iyanola raised a total of $1,050 via events and social gatherings held solely to spread the word on the SLNT's needs. For Mandy PrevilleFindlay, who had flown in from the UK to represent the group, the SLNT holds special meaning. “I grew up on their summer programmes. I have seen virtually all of Saint Lucia through the different programmes that they did over the summer and I find their work invaluable.” Said Preville-Findlay of Derek Walcott, “He may have passed, but he is still here. He did so much in terms of representing Saint Lucia in a fantastic way. We need to do all we can to ensure his legacy lives on.” Moving forward, Tulsie explained that despair has not completely set in as many, like the Castries City Council, see the value of keeping the facility open and completing the Urban Enhancement Project. He said: “We are working with them to develop the walking tour of Castries, which will include Walcott Place. We are hoping that this will roll out for the next cruise season. The idea is to create a walk from the habour, through to Derek Walcott Square and to come over to Walcott Place.”

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SAINT LUCIAN YOUTH AWARDED

he Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Young Leaders Programme was established to encourage community development by challenging students to implement sustainable projects to benefit their communities, while developing leadership skills and teamwork. This year’s theme is "I am We—Leading Change in Our Community". The programme operates in Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, St. Kitts/Nevis, Trinidad and Antigua. Locally, eight secondary schools participated: Saint Mary's College, St. Joseph's Convent, Entrepot, Leon Hess, Choiseul, Babonneau, Sir Ira Simmons and Gros Islet. Following months of preparation and anticipation, the students gathered on Tuesday at Sandals Halcyon for the award ceremony. Welcome remarks were made by Mr. Roger Hassell, RBC Baywalk branch manager, who lauded the 130 students who took part.. "By participating in this

programme,” said Hassell, “you have challenged yourself and set the stage for change. You showed your family, friends and colleagues the change you want to see. And what you, as an individual in a team, can do simply with some creativity and passion. That is your personal and everlasting gain!” The day’s first award, the Judges’ Award, went to Babonneau Secondary School, for its "Don’t Trash it, Recycle it!" project. The award for Most Outstanding Young Leader went to Justice Mauthurin, whose school, Entrepot Secondary, also captured the Award of Honour (4th place). The Award of Merit (3rd) went to Gros Islet Secondary School. In 2nd place, receiving the Award of Excellence, was Sir Ira Simmons. Chosieul Secondary School and Saint Mary's College tied for the Award of Distinction. Guest Speaker and former Saint Mary's College principal Mr. Rowan Seon created the Young Leaders Programme. He said, with a note of regret: "The programme started

in 1997 with 21 schools participating. This year we are down to eight. In 2012 there were thirteen schools; in 2015, twelve; in 2016, eleven. Can you see a trend here? There is a serious problem!” For the continuation and growth of the programme, he recommended it be mandatory for the involvement of at least two teachers at each participating school. In the event one leaves, the programme would not be negatively affected. Mr. Seon encouraged the bank to ensure there is continuity by making a website, or featuring students in banners/magazines. He advised that documents prepared by schools, in addition to their community projects, should be distributed. "We cannot afford to let this programme fail,” he said. “It’s much too important. We have to make it our priority!” The theme for the 2019 RBC Young Leaders programme will be "I am We— Embracing Change in a Digital Environment”.

Students from Saint Mary’s College (above) and Choiseul Secondary School (below) after receiving the Award of Distinction.

---Joshua St. Aimee

THREE LOCAL CHARITIES BENEFIT FROM PM'S INDEPENDENCE BALL

JOIN OUR TEAM!!!!! The Windward and Leeward Brewery Limited (WLBL) invites talented and enthusiatic professionals to apply for the following position:

HR Officer – Reward & Payroll Role:

To be a strong, mature, and confidential individual responsible for the computing and processing of management, monthly, fortnightly and weekly payroll.

Department:

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree; in Accounting or Business Administration or similar field of study

Experience:

Minimum of four – five years relevant experience

Skills:

Computer Literate Adept in the use of Microsoft Word and Excel, Lotus Notes Basic English – written and oral Knowledge of accounting procedures and policies Good Communication Skills Adept in the use of Microsoft Office applications Interested applicants should apply to: The Human Resource Manager Windward & Leeward Brewery Limited P O Box 237, Vieux Fort Fax: 1 758 454-6301 Email: recruitment@wlbl.lc

For further details on this employment opportunity, visit our website at http://www.wlbl.lc Deadline for Submission is Friday June 22nd 2018 Please note that only suitable applications will be acknowledged

Left to right: Ms Debora McClean - Officer Responsible for Administration, Finance and Project Development, St Lucia Blind Welfare Association; Mrs Theresa Collymore - Director, St Lucia School of Ballet & Modern Dance; Sister Antonia David - Administrator, Holy Family Children's Home; Prime Minister Honourable Allen Chastanet.

he prime minister's annual Independence Ball may be seen as just an event of glitz and glamour. But after the curtains are drawn, all funds are channelled to worthy causes. This year the event raised just over $60,000 which was divided and shared amongst different charities. On Thursday June 14, Prime Minister Allen Chastanet presented three cheques at the Graeham Louisy Building. The St Lucia Blind Welfare Association received $30,067.24, the Holy Family Children's Home accepted $15,000.00, and a further $15,000.00 went to the St Lucia School of Ballet & Modern Dance.

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june 16, 2018

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YOUR GOVERNMENT OF WORKERS THANKS YOU SAINT LUCIA Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Continue to

Build a New Saint Lucia!

More Energized More Committed On the Right Track

#theworkers

Read the 100 Achievements over the last two years of the United Workers Party Government at www.facebook.com/uwpstlucia

14 comment

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JUNE 16, 2018 THE STAR

And The The Week Is

ven millennials (oblivious as are so many of anything that predates their arrival) are likely to have heard about the long ago event that changed the history of rock ‘n’ roll. Conceived as “three days of peace and music” by John Roberts, Joel Rosenman, Artie Kornfield and Michael Lang, the plan was to make enough money from the event to build a recording studio near the arty New York town of Woodstock. When the promoters could not find an appropriate venue in the town itself they decided to hold the festival on a 600-acre dairy farm in Bethel, 50 miles or so from Mayor Lindsay’s Big Apple. By the August 15, 1969 date of the festival close to 190,000 tickets had been sold and a maximum audience of 200,000 anticipated. But judging by the early arrivals, it occurred to the promoters that they had bitten a lot more than they could possibly swallow. Fearing the crowd would prove beyond control, they opened up the concert to everyone—free of charge. Close to half a million people attended, jamming the roads around Bethel for eight miles. Adding to the resultant chaos were heavy rains that turned the fields into a muddy mess, inadequate bathroom facilities, and a shortage of first aid tents. Still, there were

only two serious casualties: a teenager who was accidentally run over in her sleeping bag by a tractor, and a young man who died from a drug overdose. Among the performers were then up-and-coming stars Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, Joe Cocker and Ritchie Havens, now music legends. In the aftermath of Woodstock ’69 new laws were enacted that today serve patrons and performers at music festivals such as Coachella that takes place over two April weekends in Indio, California. In 2016 the Indio City Council decided to allow an increase in the attendance cap from 99,000 to 126,000. All camping attendees must be at least 18 years old, holders of IDs or accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and in possession of their own valid festival passes for entrance. Then there is Glastonbury. Considered a major cultural event in Britain, according to related brochures, “the festival is inspired by the hippie counterculture and free festival movements.” Since 1981 it has been held every year, except for “the fallow years”—taken mostly at 5-year intervals, intended to give the land, the local population and organizers a break. The next Glastonbury is scheduled for 2019, 2018 being

a fallow year. Since the UK’s terror attacks in 2017 security at the festivals has become even tighter than before. Ticket holders expect as a matter of course to be searched by security personnel. They are directed in advance what to wear (no large back packs) and carry (displayed IDs and other tags)—nothing in plastic bags. Assistant chief constable Caroline Peters announced ahead of the 2017 Glastonbury that there would be “high visibility of officers on the boundaries of the site helping security with searches. While we want everyone going to have a great time, public safety is always our priority.” Unlike in previous years, there would be “no facilities in the car parks and fans will be required to wait in their vehicles until the gates are opened.” It would appear that in Saint Lucia it is easier to acquire permits to stage festivals than it is to organize protest marches and political rallies. Which is not to say related laws, at any rate, on paper, are in harmony with the popular notion that when it comes to public entertainment anything goes. It is, according to our statute books, illegal for individuals under age 18 to visit places where liquor is

Despite that most open-air music festivals and other part perhaps the obvious differences have ever

THE STAR

JUNE 16, 2018

COMMENT

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e Word Of s . . . BOMB!

ther parties are overseas considered “cultural events,” as we do our own, have everything to do with our native definition of we kolcha!

sold. Does that requirement apply also to open-air parties fueled by booze and other testosterone boosters? Do our obscenity laws, those pertaining to dress especially, apply to after-sunset beach saturnalias? Are patrons subjected to random police searches? Are there stated limits to attendance numbers? What about stand-by fire department personnel and ambulances? NEMO reminds online that in November 2008 the police commissioner declared a new policy for the police that “any event attempting to take place without security would be stopped.” There are also official demands that promoters have in place appropriate personnel to handle possible health emergencies. And speaking of the police, it would appear the promoters of mass crowd events recruit most of their security from the regular force—which must impact policing elsewhere, especially on occasions when there are mass crowd events at more than one venue. At this point I might remind readers that I’ve never been especially famous as a campaigner for modesty or for tighter restrictions on adult entertainment. But when among the featured attractions at under-policed mass crowd events are deliciously under-dressed liquored-up gyrating ladies, anything can happen—and often does, as, regrettably, several online videos will attest. Even as I write, the muted word is that at the most recent beach bacchanal several young women in transparent thongs and other beckoning kit were sexually assaulted while not-so-smart gawkers gawked via their smart phones. Keeping in mind the reluctance on the part of victims to report such matters, not to mention their anticipation of what might be the popular reaction to a

rape allegation by a near-naked female reeking of stale tequila, it can hardly be a surprise that there have been no official public announcements connected with the most recent beach bash. Not even from the usual online dispensers of fake news! I am however reliably informed that one 17-year-old did complain to the police of sexual assault and was taken to Victoria Hospital for related tests, accompanied by her distraught mother. Alas, at some point she changed her mind and refused to cooperate with the authorities. Better that another fingered deviant should get away with his crime than that a doting mother’s trust be cruelly shattered in the presence of strangers. At any rate, so concluded my source. As I write, the reliable new word is that the police have received at least two more reports of sexual assault. Alas, they could not persuade the alleged victims to face the usual rigors associated with charges that could take years before they reach the courts. Score another one for “the rapists in our midst.” Meanwhile, police officers remain concerned that in the present circumstances especially demented individuals could easily cause havoc at poorly lit, unfenced, over-populated, unmonitored and under-secured nighttime events. According to their license application, the promoters of last weekend’s mass-crowd beach event anticipated a maximum turnout of approximately 500. By most calculations, however, at least four times as many showed up to let down their weaves and other accessories on the cool beach sands. Yes, dear reader, you got that right: some 2000 soused-up thrill addicts policed by just 20 cops. Then again, considering similar events had all attracted what appeared to be half the island’s population, shouldn’t the police have known for themselves what to expect at the weekend? As for the event itself, it might be worth looking up the dictionary definition of its name! Yeah, cute!

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THE FUNNIES!

GETTING TO KNOW YOU by Michael Walker

A scene inland.

new interactive series of programmes from IETV to engender pride in our nation by promoting literacy and local general knowledge. The series can be viewed on channels 118 (FLOW), 102 (Karib analogue), 32 (LIME) and on NTN.

3. The surface of the road appears

7. Most of the houses are a. to be in need of repair. b. to be well maintained. a. wall houses. c. full of potholes. b. wooden houses. c. two or three storeys 4. The side roads are high. a. mere dirt tracks. b. paved. c. frequent. 5. The area looks

1. This road might be described as a. winding. b. straight as an arrow. c. full of sharp bends. 2. The road might be described as a. flat. b. sloping. c. undulating.

c. deciduous trees.

8. The traffic is a. light. b. heavy. c. periodic.

a. like a low income housing area. b. to be fairly prosperous. c. like a densely populated area.

9. The sides of the valley are

6. The trees are predominantly

10. This area is called

a. fir trees. b. palm trees.

a. barren. b. forested. c. cultivated.

a. Monier. b. Cul de Sac. c. Choc.

Answers: 1 a, 2 b, 3 b, 4 a, 5 b, 6 c, 7 a, 8 a, 9 b, 10 a.

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june 16, 2018

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june 16, 2018 THE STAR

WIN AN ALL INCLUSIVE SPA WEEKEND

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WHEN YOU PURCHASE ANY MABE PRODUCT AT COURTS (EXCEPT MICROWAVES)

Prices are correct at the time of going to print. Courts reserves the right to subsequently change prices without notice. Offers available while stocks last. All finance terms are subject to credit approval. Weekly prices are based on Gold 36 months repayment plan. 3 to 36 months credit plans available. See in-store for details. OFFER ENDS JUNE 30TH, 2018

THE STAR

AUNTY CHARLIE - A BANK STALWART OF A DIFFERENT KIND

unday June 10 marked the 100th birthday of Mrs. Murial Elaine Charles, who is distinguished at CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank as one of the institution’s oldest active account holders. The Morne Fortune resident, affectionately known as Aunty Charlie, commenced her banking relationship with one of the bank’s parent institutions, Barclays Bank Plc, in June 1986. With her 100th milestone falling days ahead of the bank’s annual Client Appreciation Day programme, staff from CIBC

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FirstCaribbean’s retail unit visited the centenarian on her birthday, bearing floral bouquets and a birthday cake. The team also joined friends and family in a celebratory church service in honour of Mrs. Charles “to highlight the significance of the occasion and demonstrate our highest regard”. Branch Manager Mrs. Smerna Pompelis said it was “remarkable and gratifying” for the team that, despite her age, Aunty Charlie was able to remember some of those

present. “Throughout our journey in banking we meet customers who touch our lives and allow us to form lasting bonds and relationships with them. We are privileged to celebrate such milestones, especially with one of our most cherished and beloved customers," Mrs. Pompelis said. Customer Service Manager Angelina Nathaniel described the centenarian as “a legend” among staff, whose energy and vigour was an opportunity for customer service representatives (CSRs) to live

out the principles of service excellence espoused by the bank. She is remembered as one who demanded the best in customer service, and who would refer new CSRs to their supervisors when they did not meet her standards. As a result she built relationships with those who provided the exceptional service. Mrs. Charles’ exacting standards in customer service were honed in the late 1960s in the United States where she worked as a caregiver for several families, later joining

Aunty Charlie flanked by CIBC staff in celebration of her 100th birthday!

the staff of the Dobbs Ferry Hospital where she cared for patients and was recognized as a model employee during her 15 year stint there. Mrs. Charles was born on June 10, 1918 in Kingstown, St Vincent. She traveled to Curacao

where she met and married Saint Lucian Gerald James Charles. The two are parents to Haynes Anthony James and Catherine Marie James. In 1985 Aunty Charlie and her husband retired and returned to Saint Lucia to settle.

LAUNCH OF PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR AGENCY

t the end of May, Martin Carasco & Associates Ltd announced the launch of its first private investigative security agency, Equalizer Private Investigator Services Limited. It has no relation with the movie starring Denzel Washington, but the firm promises the same quality! Equalizer Private Investigator Services Limited (EPIS) says it is dedicated to

investigating any incident or service, and that its private investigators are ready to assist if you feel cheated, powerless to act, afraid, or if you feel you are being treated as less than you deserve. EPIS cites examples of the services you may require, be it to write a letter or be accompanied to a head office to request a refund for an overcharge; or you may need

help getting money from the person who damaged your car when the cost of repair is less than your Insurance deductible. Your court case may have turned cold; a theft or fraud might have affected your business. Whatever it is, EPIS invites you to call. EPIS says it is the pragmatic choice when searching for a private investigator in Saint Lucia,

and that it will exceed your expectations, not your budget! EPIS provides a wide range of investigative services that can be tailored to specific needs of individuals, law firms, corporations, financial institutions and insurance companies with professional, confidential and discreet investigative assistance. EPIS advises that it can: • Facilitate submission of

third party insurance claims for bodily injury, death, and third party property damage. • Submit applications for expunging of criminal records enabling you to travel freely or apply for jobs. • Investigate a cheating spouse and infidelity concerns. • Carry out background checks, follow-up skip trace and missing persons and confirm identities for cases

related to debt recovery. • Investigate cases of employee theft and employee fraud. • Reopen “closure”, “prosecution”, cold criminal and civil cases in collaboration with the police by Fiat or other lawful procedures. For further information, call EPIS at 1 (758) 723-4544 or 461-7206.

Consultancy Service for Land Survey Works Invest Saint Lucia (ISL) is executing a Land Rationalisation Project in the unplanned communities located in the south of the island. To commence the process, the Agency requires the services of Land Surveyors to undertake topographic/occupational survey works. ISL intends to pre-qualify licensed land surveyors and their surveying teams with 10 or more years of professional experience to execute these works in the following areas:

Contract Group Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5

Contract Name Occupational Survey in Lumiere & La Pelle/Dennery Occupational Survey in Pierrot & Grace 2/Vieux Fort Occupational Survey in Grande Ravine/Dennery Occupational Survey in Grace 1/Vieux Fort Occupational Survey in Despinoze & La Resource/Dennery

Persons interested in providing services for any of the above contracts are invited to submit a statement of capability that should comprise the following: • Qualifications, experience and technical competence of the Land Surveyor and the proposed team. • Resource capacity to undertake the contract. • Experience working on projects of a similar nature (Land Rationalisation). • Financial capability of the proposed firm. • Litigation history. Note that applications may be made to pre-qualify for only two of the above contract groups. A Statement of Capability must be submitted in sealed envelopes clearly marked “Statement of Capability for [contract group and name]” and must be delivered to the Senior Manager Human Resources on or before Friday 22nd June 2018 at the following address: ATTENTION: SENIOR MANAGER HUMAN RESOURCES Invest Saint Lucia 1st Floor, Heraldine Rock Building P.O. Box 495, Waterfront, Castries or via email at info@investstlucia.com Pre-qualified applicants will be supplied with detailed Terms of Reference and invited to submit technical and financial proposals to carry out the contracts. It is expected that the services will be required during the period July 2018 to February 2019. Only applicants who pre-qualify will be acknowledged.

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Three health centres will undergo fortifying refurbishment in preparation for the hurricane season.

Temporary closure of Mon Repos, Desruisseaux and Belle Vue Wellness Centres

hree Wellness Centres in the southern part of the island will undergo major refurbishment work to make them more energy-efficient and resilient to natural disasters. The facilities are being retro-fitted under the SMART Health Facilities project. Commencing Monday June 18, 2018, Mon Repos, Desrisseaux and Bell Vue Wellness Centres will be closed for three months as refurbishment work gets underway. As a result, alternative arrangements for the services offered at these facilities have been put in place. Julietta Frederick-Cassius, Assistant Principal Nursing Officer for the Community Nursing Service, advised, “Services will be relocated. So, for persons from Belle Vue, Vieux Fort, they can access service at the Vieux Fort Wellness Centre. Residents of Desrisseaux and Mon Repos can either access service at the Micoud Wellness Centre or the Ti Roche Wellness Centre or the Vieux Fort Health Centre. So, whichever health centre is within your transportation route or is more accessible to you, you can access services at any of those facilities.” Nurse Cassius called for patience and understanding from the clients of the wellness centres during the period of closure as the renovations being undertaken are absolutely necessary at this time. “It is very important that we do those renovations so when we do reopen we will be able to provide service of a better quality. Also our infrastructure will be on a par with modern technology to be able to withstand disasters like I indicated. We know that our health service is very important, particularly post-disasters. So we need to ensure that the infrastructure is intact after a disaster so we can continue providing healthcare to persons within communities,” Cassius explained. She added that diabetes and hypertension clinics and medical clinics would be open on weekdays except Thursdays at the Micoud Wellness Centre. Clients can also access any of the other wellness centres around the island if they choose to. Persons who had prior appointments will be contacted for the rescheduling of these appointments at another wellness centres. Work on the Desrisseaux, Mon Repos and Belle Vue Wellness Centres is expected to be completed in September.

THE STAR

KIM’S KORNER

Stress: The Silent Killer T

he World Health Organisation states that stress has become a worldwide epidemic. The organisation’s definition of stress is “a physical, mental, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension. Stresses can be external (from the environment, psychological or social situations) or internal (illness or from a medical procedure).” As a physiotherapist I often meet people whose stress causes them pain, and others whose pain causes them stress. So, what exactly is stress and how does it affect us? Stress has been around since the beginning of time and was originally a survival instinct: fight, flight or freeze. Acute episodes of stress can still be beneficial and have been known to motivate people into action: that phone call when your mother says she will be over in 15 minutes but dishes are still in the sink and dirty laundry is lying on an unswept floor. You somehow get more done in 15 minutes than you usually do in a whole weekend. As well as survival stress, we can experience: internal stress, where we worry about things that we cannot change; environmental stress, such as noise, workplace or family issues; fatigue and overwork— life is so fast-paced these days that we often find ourselves taking on too much and for too long. We rarely take a break for rest or relaxation, or do not learn how to effectively manage our tasks and our time. It’s when stress becomes regular and chronic that it starts to have harmful manifestations. Constant neck and back pain, achy joints, fatigue, moodiness and insomnia are just a few of the symptoms of chronic stress. Identifying what is causing our stress can often give us the key on how to cope and manage our stresses. Despite the cause of our stress, the process that takes place in our body is the

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same: stress manifests in the brain and leads to a chemical reaction which can bring about physical and emotional responses. The first signs of (shortterm) stress include: • Heart beats faster • Start to sweat • Cold and clammy hands, feet and skin • Shortness of breath • Dry mouth • Tensing of muscles • Butterflies in the stomach • Frequent urination Although releasing stress can minimise the effects, quite often society requires us to monitor our reactions and keep our stress ‘under control’. Choosing this response to stress can often affect our minds as well as our bodies: • Affects judgment and decision making • Perceiving all difficult situations as threatening • Making you feel low and depressed • Difficulty in concentrating and thinking clearly • Leading to a range of emotions like anxiety, anger, frustration • Choosing to isolate yourself from others, feeling sad or rejected. Prolonged or chronic stress has an effect on the body and the mind leading to nervousness, loss of appetite, insomnia, nervous habits (fidgeting, biting nails, pacing, fatigue). It can even affect general health and wellbeing causing headaches, ulcers,

other aches and pains and more episodes of colds and flu. The feelings of being overwhelmed and anxious can lead to mood swings, depression, irrational fears of impending unseen disasters and even addiction to food, drugs or alcohol. There is greater awareness and a move towards acceptance of the real and serious consequences of stress. There has been a move away from drug-based cures to more self-help and management of symptoms. If one of your main problems is pain then a physiotherapist can help identify the structures responsible for your pain and design a programme that may include massage, joint mobilisations and posture re-education. A physiotherapist can formulate a graduated stretching and strengthening exercise plan and advise on breathing and relaxation techniques. Pain can be the result of stress or the cause of stress. Learning to recognise pain patterns, and employing pacing techniques to build up exercise tolerance, and breathing techniques to promote calmness and focusing of the mind are all self-help techniques over which you have complete control. If you feel overwhelmed or have severe depression, consult your healthcare provider, a counsellor or other qualified professional.

Kim Jackson is a UK-trained physiotherapist with over 20 years’ experience. She specialises in musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction including back pain and sciatica, stroke and other neuro conditions plus sports physiotherapy, having worked with local, regional and international athletes and teams treating injuries and analysing biomechanics to improve function and performance. She is registered with the Allied Health Council and is a member of PASL. She currently works at Bayside Therapy Services in Rodney Bay, office: 458 4409, cell: 284 5443; www.baysidetherapyservices.com

Commerce and Coffee:

HR Breakfast Meeting O n Friday June 22nd, 2018 from 8:00 a.m. at Coco Palm Hotel Rodney Bay, Dr. Harvey Millar, Saint Lucian Management Consultant and Professor at St. Mary’s University in Nova Scotia, Canada, will lead the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce discussion and learning colloquium on Human Resource Development in a power breakfast setting. Leaders, key decision makers and human resource managers and professionals will participate in this enlightening forum where Dr. Millar will seek to get them to “Connect” with some

powerful and provocative ideas on “Maximizing Your Return on Human Resources”. Dr. Millar will table some concepts to challenge the traditional thinking about catapulting human resources to achieve greater and better performances, and lead a discussion among the HR Managers of some of Saint Lucia’s largest and most progressive firms. He will introduce and suggest an HR Excellence Model (HREM) which will allow firms to take a systems approach to building an HR infrastructure. The two-hour session has been specifically designed to

be brief, sharp and practical. At the end of the breakfast discussion, participants will be inspired to look at HR through an enhanced lens and commit to making the kinds of improvements that will maximize their return on HR investment. Persons interesting in taking advantage of this opportunity to learn and better understand how they can maximize their return on HRiInvestment are invited to contact the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce on (758) 452 3165 or email info@stluciachamber.org by June 20, 2018.

VACANCY NOTICE SAINT LUCIA SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY

POSITION OF WEIGHBRIDGE ATTENDANT Applications are invited from suitably person for the appointment of Weighbridge Attendant at the Deglos Sanitary Landfill. The successful applicant will be required to work six (6) hours per day, six days per week on a shift system. 1. Qualifications i. Two (2) years tertiary level education preferably with emphasis in a science field. ii. Computer literacy with proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word. 2. General Accountability The Weighbridge Attendant will report to the Operations and Landfill Manager and will be primarily responsible for ensuring that vehicles entering the Deglos Sanitary Landfill are properly instructed on the use of the facility. The Weighbridge Attendant will also be responsible for recording information on all vehicles utilizing the facility. 3. Duties and Responsibilities 1. Work in close collaboration with Operations and Landfill Manager to ensure that all vehicles entering and leaving the landfill facility are properly directed in the use of the facility. 2. Operate an electronic weighbridge and record relevant data on a computer database of vehicles entering and leaving the landfill facility. 3. Ensure that users of the facility comply with all rules and conditions-of-use of the facility. 4. Prepare daily, weekly and monthly reports on vehicles utilizing the facility for submission to the Operations and Landfill Manager. 5. Assist the Operations and Landfill Manager in undertaking environmental monitoring of the facility. 6. Undertake audits of waste collection vehicles and licensed waste haulers. 7. Supervises the operations at the Landfill in the absence of the Operations and Landfill Manager. 4. Salary Salary will commensurate with qualifications and experience. 5. Applications Written application along with certified detailed particulars of qualifications, training and experience, together with two (2) references should be received no later than Friday, June 29th, 2018 at the office of the Authority at Sans Souci, Castries. Applications could be delivered in person or by mail to the following address: The General Manager Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority P.O. Box CP5722, Conway Post Office, Castries

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A Cheap Dollar and A Glass of Rum! the

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ome Gros Islet residents once told this reporter about an act of patriotism that occurred some 60 ago. A group of young picnickers en route to Cas-en-Bas beach found themselves confronted by a no-trespassing sign. They walked back to Gros Islet, some with tears in their eyes because they had lost their favourite picnic spot. Their parents and other villagers were not as accepting of what they considered a gross insult to the Saint Lucia Constitution. Within minutes of hearing the bad news, scores of residents headed to Cas-enBas and removed the offending impediment to the beach. On their return to Gros Islet, they informed their kids that the way was now clear and they were free to proceed with their planned picnic. “As far as we were concerned, the beach had never been private property and no white man would prevent us from making full use of it. We pulled down his fence and his sign and never heard from him.” On Monday, Verve St. Lucia announced that after three years of promoting the popular Vice beach party they had decided to call it a day. It is unclear whether this was because some angry, hardcore, local environmentalists had let their feelings be known. A well-known individual who requested anonymity on this occasion admitted he loved a good time, as do most Saint Lucians, but he was not about to encourage further attacks on the environment “for a cheap dollar and a glass of rum”. He said Cas-en-Bas beach has long been a nesting site for leatherback turtles, and he could not believe his eyes as he “witnessed people digging out heaps of sand from the beach with a backhoe”. He claimed that on the

When it comes to Vice on the beach it seems, if only this once, the ayes can’t have it!

morning immediately following last weekend’s beach party the beach was excessively littered with plastic straws that have proven “most damaging to marine life”. He was also quite disappointed that the National Conservation Authority and the Department of Fisheries had approved last Saturday’s Vice promotion, especially right after World Oceans Day on June 8. Ironically, on World Oceans Day, Verve St. Lucia had posted on its Instagram page the following: “VERVE joins the rest of the world in celebrating World Oceans Day… As we look to open our summer with our event VICE, we encourage all to practice proper disposal habits, take full advantage of our free disposable cups and take full advantage in protecting what Mother Nature has blessed us with.” The National Conservation Authority’s mission statement: “To identify, manage, conserve and generally provide stewardship over natural assets including beaches, coastal, protected and other declared or designated areas, in a sustainable manner and to provide ancillary amenities thereby contributing to the social and economic development of Saint Lucia.” When contacted for comment the NCA’s general

manager, Jacintha Annius Lee, could think of just one beach where mass crowd events would not be permitted. And the reason had nothing to do with the environment. “We don’t allow events at Choc Beach,” she said, “because of how close it is to the highway, and there is no parking.” In any case, she added, organisers would first have to seek approval from other entities, by which she meant the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, NEMO and the Saint Lucia Fire Service. Additionally: “There is a community service manager that visits the site before, after and sometimes even during the event to ensure everything is fine.” As for the garbage left behind, Lee said: “One of the things agreed to when the approval is given is that the place has to be cleaned. There’s a refundable deposit if the place is cleaned to our satisfaction.” As for the leatherbacks, Lee admitted: “We know the turtles will not be able to nest this season since they cannot get through the dried Sargassum seaweed. But we plan to clean the shore.” For the purposes of this article, Cas-en-Bas beach vendors confirmed cleaners were at work the day after Vice, from 7 a.m. ---Claudia Eleibox

THE STAR

ENTERTAINMENT

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june 16, 2018

Campari Brings It All Together

ampari, Saint Lucians’ favourite bittersweet red aperitif and cornerstone ingredient in the Negroni, is definitely onto something intriguing and awe-inspiring with its brand new campaign. Distributed by Peter & Company Distribution (PCD) in Saint Lucia, Campari on Friday June 1, 2018, launched its new campaign, Come Together. The major components of the campaign were unveiled at a VIP-style exclusive party at the ruins of Pigeon Island National Landmark. The event gave purpose to one of the brand’s mantras: “Campari sets the stage for pleasurable and exciting moments”. Sticking to the touch of red theme, guests made their way to the venue that was decked out in décor fit for a Hollywood premiere. The launch party brought together some key partners including the media, retailers, local celebrities, event promoters, bartenders and mixologists and, of course, specially invited consumers. Speaking at the event, which was teeming with

Campari’s supporters gathered for the launch of its Come Together campaign.

excitement, Dexter Percil, Senior Sales and Marketing Manager at PCD, remarked that the new campaign fell in alignment with what Campari stood for, including its charismatic appeal and unusual, yet alluring, nature. “In Saint Lucia and the Caribbean it is this sort of magical appeal that brings us together to celebrate, to have fun and enjoy drinks

with friends in wonderful atmospheres like these,” said Mr. Percil. He also thanked his team for growing the brand, as well as the media and other partners for continuing to spread the message. Denver Alcee, Campari’s Brand Manager, remarked that the Come Together campaign was part of a wider Caribbean drive which was now being embraced here. “We like to

come together to celebrate and have a good time and this is what Campari is all about. And I can assure you that you will be seeing and hearing a lot more about Campari in the coming weeks and months as we continue to be innovative and creative,” Alcee said. For the Come Together launch event, Campari also teamed up with the PCDdistributed Grace Foods line.

With its new “Flava with a Beat” tagline, the combination made for a truly gastronomic event, infused with other brands from the Campari portfolio. The Campari Come Together campaign will feature new billboards, posters and on-premise visuals, radio, print and television commercials. Imagery and TVCs will reflect the coming together of authentic Caribbean elements: the people, the scenery, the nightlife, the music and, of course, places where Campari best brings it all together - the community bars, restaurants, and outdoor events. Campari’s Come Together campaign unveiling is timely— in sync with the start of Saint Lucia’s carnival, where the brand intends on having a strong, compelling and stimulating presence during one of the island’s major cultural showpieces which runs from June to July. The event featured a number of Saint Lucian performers, all offering a taste of the energy and thrill that they are expected to bring out this

season, with Campari in the mix, of course. The performers included Sedale, Shemmy J & Nerdy, and Ezra “da Fun Machine” all backed up by the Extreme band featuring Ricardo. The band and performers, as well as DJ Levi Chin, had guests getting down on the dance floor as soon as the formalities were out of the way. Ahead of the exclusive launch, PCD staff received a first look at the new campaign during an after-work lime on Wednesday May 27, 2018. They were given an overview of the Come Together campaign and were treated to food, drinks, cocktails and live performances as well as interactive fun events promoting the Campari brand. Campari is an alcoholic spirit obtained from the infusion of bitter herbs, aromatic plants and fruit in alcohol and water. With its vibrant red colour, intense aroma and inspiring flavour, Campari has always been a symbol of intrigue and pleasure, which unfurls itself into a captivating drinking experience.

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24 FATHER’S DAY

june 16, 2018 THE STAR

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From: Zuwena To: Ricardo

From: Faydra To: Cornelius You are so full of love and strength. When we need a strong hand of support in our family, you are always there. We love you for being who you are and all that you do. Happy Father’s day to a wonderful husband and father!

From: Tammy, Rhonda and Janee To: Timothy Happy Father’s Day to our amazing daddy, Timothy. We really appreciate you, everything you’ve done and your constant support to our family. Thank you and we love you!

Most kids have both parents to rely on while growing up but I only had my dad. I lost my mom when I was 1 year old and he has been both parents to me. He has been the strict yet lenient father and the loving, warm, kind-hearted mother. Raising a baby girl on his own wasn’t an easy task for him but he made it through and did a pretty great job. He has been there for me through the most difficult moments in my life and has never given up on me. I don’t know what I would do without him and I will forever be grateful for having him in my life. Being a parent is tough but he makes it look so easy, if I ever meet someone who is half the man my dad is then I would consider myself very lucky. Happy Father’s Day Daddy, I love you to the moon and back.

From: Aaliyah and Malia To: Corneil Loving your child, being the best example that you can be and going above and beyond for your little one. That’s what being a dad is all about and you’re great at it! Happy First Father’s Day!!

From: Anicia To: Andrew My father is no ordinary man. He grew up in Vanard. If I weren’t told, I would never know that my father grew up knowing no love. He is the most loving, giving, caring and selfless person I have ever known! Not only is he a great dad to me and my three brothers but also to anybody who turns to him in times of need. I didn’t have everything I wanted growing up but, thanks to my father, I had everything I needed mentally, spiritually and emotionally. You did and continue to do everything right dad. Happy Father’s Day!

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JUNE 16, 2018

Who will win the World Cup? One factor might be travel distance

country, they are still spread across three time zones, at stadiums nearly 2,000 miles apart. According to data esearch shows that collected by the aircraft charter athletes perform company Chapman Freeborn, worse after flying long distances. For example, in Major all 32 teams will travel at least 1,000 miles from their base League Baseball, while the camp to their three matches typical away team loses 54% in the group stage of the of the time, teams travelling competition, and 10 teams will across three time zones lose fly more than 5,000 miles going at a rate of almost 61%, with back and forth. the effect most pronounced The disparity in travel for teams travelling from west between teams—Egypt will to east. In Super Rugby, an travel 6,000 more miles than international rugby league that includes teams from Argentina, Colombia during the group stage—is part luck and part Australia, Japan, New Zealand, planning. Not every team in and South Africa, studies show a group plays its matches at the visiting team is at a huge the same location, putting disadvantage. some teams at a natural Jet lag will also play a disadvantage. But they did have role in this year’s World Cup. some latitude: each squad gets The competition takes place to choose its base camp for the in Russia, the world’s largest tournament. They could choose country by land area. Though to optimize their base for travel, matches will only take place or to prioritize other amenities. in the western half of the

By Dan Kopf

England, for example, said it would base the team in the Gulf of Finland town of Repino even before its schedule was released. The team will travel the most miles of any team in its group, but manager Gareth Southgate is not concerned. The team felt it was more important to stay in a hotel it could use exclusively, so the players could unwind without distractions. In contrast, Australia based itself in Kazan, the location of its first match against France. The team believes this gives them an advantage, as France will have to travel 500 miles before the match. No country will travel more during the group stage than Egypt. The team is set to fly over 7,300 miles to get to and from its three matches. The Egyptians chose to set up in Grozny, the capital of Chechnya—a controversial decision given the human

The Hemp Revival: Why Marijuana’s Cousin could soon be Big Business

ong associated with the hoariest hippie stereotypes, hemp is now chic. The crop—which is a cannabis plant very similar to marijuana, but lacking its best-known property: getting you high—is a versatile raw material and, like its more notorious relative, it could once again become very lucrative. The spread of marijuana legalization has sparked renewed interest not because of hemp wallet fanatics, but due largely to demand for CBD, a chemical both it and marijuana produce in which some see potential as a pharmaceutical and nutritional supplement. For decades US anti-marijuana laws have made it very difficult to experiment on and develop new uses for hemp, though, according to the US government, hemp contains less than 0.3% THC, the plant’s primary psycho-active ingredient. But the climate is changing. In recent weeks, the US Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, a conservative Republican who opposes marijuana legalization, has called for hemp to be legalized,

a move which would benefit farmers, though McConnell still opposes marijuana legalization. China, though wary of marijuana, has emerged as a hemp “superpower”, according to a fascinating 2017 story in the South China Morning Post. While hemp is indigenous to China, Chinese research advanced only recently in 1970 when the military used it for uniforms that would be more comfortable in the Vietnamese jungle. Today, the Morning Post notes, China holds more than half of the world’s more than 600 hemp-related patents. Hemp’s revival is only the latest chapter in a long history. In China, hemp has been used to make fabric and rope for more than 3,000 years. A Chinese eunuch named Cai Lun, who is credited with inventing paper during the early Christian era, used hemp as one of his source materials. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, hemp rope, sails and rigging were so vital to the British Royal Navy that the supply was considered a national security issue. Both Henry VIII and Elizabeth I encouraged growing the crop.

In the US, some of the founding fathers grew hemp. Stoner lore has it that the constitution and declaration of independence were written on hemp. It’s not true – they were written on parchment – but drafts of the documents probably were. And there are more uses for hemp still. The seeds are a good source of protein, popular with vegans. Hemp can also be made into a building material known as hempcrete, which is currently easier to access in parts of Europe than in the US. A bridge in sixth-century Gaul was built from hempcrete. Bryan DeHaven’s Coloradobased clothing company, Chiefton Supply Co, makes T-shirts from a hemp/cotton blend. The component organic hemp is grown, processed into fabric and then stitched into apparel all at one facility in China’s Shangdong province. Hemp is not completely illegal in the US but the current rules are wildly convoluted, probably even more so than those for marijuana. ---The Guardian

rights abuses of the restive region’s leadership. The team will have to make a 2,400-mile round-trip to its first match, while opponents Uruguay will travel half that distance. Egypt’s world-class striker Mohamed Salah may not be able to overcome this disadvantage, especially as he is battling an injury picked up at the end of the league season. Everyone, from the big banks to data scientists, has published predictions for the World Cup, based on past performances, economic indicators, and more. In most cases, the prognosticators don’t seem to incorporate travel. If you made bets purely on travel distance for groupstage games—the lesser, the better—you would definitely back some big underdogs, like Australia, Iran and Tunisia to top their respective groups. You would also go against some of the tournament favourites, with Brazil and Spain slated to crash out at the group stage.

Chamber and Southern Business Association Host an Encounter with CIP St. Lucia

aving addressed the business community in the north of the island in April this year, as promised, Saint Lucia’s Citizenship by Investment Programme, under the Chairmanship of Ryan Devaux, will be delivering a similar presentation to the Business Community in the South of the island on Wednesday June 20, 2018. The venue of the presentation will be the NSDC Conference Facility from 4:00 p.m. Chairman of the CIP Mr. Ryan Devaux and the new Chief Executive Officer Mr. Nestor Alfred will be providing an update on the performance of Saint Lucia’s CIP programme and taking questions from the floor. Some insight into the proposed Residency Programme which government is considering will also be provided. Last year’s presentation was well attended and received and it is expected that members of the Southern Business Association will attend in large numbers. The Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Business and Agriculture invites the Southern Business Community to attend and remain informed on the Citizenship by Investment Programme.

NOTICE Government of Saint Lucia Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority

ENGAGEMENT OF SOLID WASTE COLLECTION CONTRACTORS The Saint. Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority (SLSWMA) as part of its mandate to improve the existing standards of solid waste collection is seeking the services of Waste Collection Contractors to provide the necessary vehicles, equipment and labour to efficiently provide this service. In execution of the above tasks, the SLSWMA seeks expressions of interest for the COLLECTION AND TRANSPORTATION OF RESIDENTIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL SOLID WASTE to designated solid waste disposal facilities. Contracts will be for a duration of five (5) years. Tenders are currently available for the following waste collection zones. 1. Gros Islet North 2. Gros Islet South 3. Castries Outer 4. Dauphin 5. Castries Inner 6. Castries South 7. Anse La Raye/Canaries 8. Micoud 9. Vieux Fort 10. Soufriere 11. Laborie 12. Choiseul 13. Dennery North 14. Dennery South The successful tenderer will be required to operate in full compliance with relevant national and international legislation, guidelines and standards

in respect to health and safety, environmental pollution and plant and vehicle operation. Tender documents may be purchased from the Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority on Maurice Mason Avenue, Sans Souci, Castries for a nonrefundable fee of EC$150.00 effective Monday, June 11th, 2018. The SLSWMA will hold a pre-bid submission meeting on Friday, June 22nd, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Ministry of Infrastructure Conference Room, Union, at which time all relevant information will be presented to interested tenderers. Following this meeting interested tenderers are to submit expressions of interest in the form tender document at the address indicated below. Tenders shall be delivered to the address indicated below on or before 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 25th, 2018. The Secretary Central Tenders Board Ministry of Finance Finance Administration Building Pointe Seraphine Castries For further information contact either the General Manager or Deputy General Manager at Telephone No. 453-2208 or Fax No. 453-6856 or email admin@sluswma.org.

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#WorldOceansDay: Mediterranean could become a 'sea of plastic'

major conservation organisation has warned that the Mediterranean could become a "sea of plastic", calling for measures to clean up one of the world's worst affected bodies of water. In a report published on Friday June 8, coinciding with World Oceans Day, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said the Mediterranean had record levels of micro-plastics - tiny pieces of plastic less than five millimetres in size which can be found increasingly in the food chain and pose a threat to human health. "The concentration of micro-plastics is nearly four times higher" in the Mediterranean compared with open seas elsewhere in the world, said the study, titled Out of the Plastic Trap: Saving the Mediterranean from Plastic Pollution. Plastic represents 95 per cent of the waste floating in the Mediterranean and on its beaches, with most coming from Turkey and Spain, followed by Italy, Egypt and France, the report said.

John Tanzer, leader of the WWF International oceans programme, said the effects of plastic pollution in the Mediterranean are "also being felt across the world and are causing serious harm both to nature and human health". To tackle the problem, there has to be an international agreement to reduce the dumping of plastic waste and to help clear up the mess at sea, the WWF said. All countries around the Mediterranean should boost recycling, ban single-use plastics and phase out the use of micro-plastics in detergents or cosmetics. Plastic is one of the biggest environmental threats facing the planet, according to the United Nations. By some estimates, as many as five trillion plastic bags are used worldwide every year. "Our world is swamped by harmful plastic waste," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a speech in May. "Micro-plastics in the seas now outnumber stars in our galaxy. From remote

Plastics and other garbage on a beach in southern Athens, Greece. (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP Photo)

islands to the Arctic, nowhere is untouched. If present trends continue, by 2050 our oceans will have more plastic than fish," he added. Globally, eight million tonnes of plastic is dumped into

the ocean every year, killing marine life and entering the human food chain, according to the UN Environment Programme. Late last month, the European Commission called

for a ban on single-use plastic products, including cutlery and straws, in an effort to combat ocean and beach pollution. The proposals also included obligations for producers to help cover the

costs of clean-up and waste management for items such as cigarette butts, wet wipes and lightweight plastic bags. ---Al Jazeera

'The end of the Cold War': How the world reacted to the historic meeting between Trump and Kim

he world's eyes were fixed on Singapore on Tuesday as President Trump met with Kim Jong-un in the first ever summit between a US President and North Korean dictator. President Moon Jae-in, who kick-started the peace process at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics earlier this year, said the "historic" talks will end "the last Cold War conflict". "The June 12 Sentosa Agreement will be recorded as a historic event that has helped break down the last remaining Cold War legacy on Earth," he said. Mr Moon, who did not attend the summit, was shown a live feed of Trump and Kim shaking hands as they met for the first time and smiled. Marchers in the Philippines expressed their support for the talks and activists gathered outside the White House to celebrate the historic day. The governments of of

South Korea, China, Russia, Japan and Malaysia all welcomed news that talks had gone well. However, the Iranian regime warned Pyonyang that America cannot be trusted to honour its word after Trump abruptly cancelled the nuclear deal signed under Obama last month. South Korean media was plastered with images from the summit. South Korean newspaper Munhwa Ilbo carried a huge photo of a smiling Kim shaking hands with Trump in front of their national flags on its front page, with the headline: 'Handshake of the century: From hostilities to peace. New history begins.' Earlier, morning newspapers splashed wide front-page headlines about what they call a 'fateful day,' a 'meeting of the century' and a 'first step toward peace.' Internet sites were also full of stories about the summit. Ordinary citizens expressed surprise that the unbelievable

meeting did really take place. "I never imagined I would be able to see Chairman Kim and President Trump being in the same place," a 31-yearold office worker said while watching TV. Japan's largest newspaper, the Yomiuri, printed a special edition in both Japanese and English that was distributed for free in major cities. An editorial in the stateowned China Daily emphasised China's role in bringing Trump and Kim together while calling on them to maintain the positive momentum. "This would not only reward all those who have spared no efforts in their attempts to make their meeting a reality, it would also enable both to hail it as a success," the paper said. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the meeting was "creating a new history" as he spoke to reporters after the summit got underway. "The United States and North Korea have been in a

state of antagonism for more than half a century," Wang said. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang later said that U.N. sanctions against North Korea could be suspended or lifted in accordance with the North's actions. "We believe the Security Council should make efforts to support the diplomatic efforts at the present time," he said. "Today, that the two countries' highest leaders can sit together and have equal talks, has important and positive meaning, and is creating a new history." Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that North Korea has a "bright future" ahead of itself if it decides to "tread the right path". Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said his country will reopen its embassy in Pyongyang. The embassy has been empty since Kim Jong Nam, the North Korean leader's half-brother, was murdered at the airport in Kuala Lumpur last

year. The killing is widely believed to have been carried out on Kim's orders which led to Malaysia, one of North Korea's few allies, removing its diplomats from the country. India's foreign ministry said in a statement that it hoped for complete implementation of the agreement signed in Singapore, "thus paving the way for lasting peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula". Meanwhile Russia expressed hopes that the sanctions on North Korea will be lifted while offering to help with dismantling the country's nuclear weapons. Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the meeting was a positive step, but the "devil is in the details". Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hailed the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un as a "positive" step. 'We have not yet seen the documents [signed at the

summit]. I don't think they have been published. But the mere fact that this meeting took place is of course positive," the agency quoted Lavrov as saying. The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog welcomed the statement issued by US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the end of their summit in Singapore. "I welcome today's Joint Statement of President Trump of the United States and Chairman Kim of the DPRK at the Singapore Summit which includes the DPRK's commitment towards complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Yukiya Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said. "The IAEA stands ready to undertake any verification activities in the DPRK that it may be requested to conduct by the countries concerned," the statement adds. ---Mail Online

THE STAR

june 16, 2018

CLASSIFIED 27

www.stluciastar.com

For sale Request for Proposals The Events Company of St. Lucia Inc. invites reputable organizations to submit proposals for the provision of the services below. These services will be for Roots & Soul (August 31 to September 2) which forms part of the Soleil Saint Lucia Summer Festival 2018.

Bar Management Catering Services – Artiste, Production, VIP Crash Barriers Customs Brokerage Event Décor Ground Transportation Electrical Installation (Temporary) Mobile Containerized Washrooms Photography Plumbing Road Side Cleaning Services Security VIP Shuttle Services Temporary Structures – Tents & Stage Travel Services Venue Cleaning Please contact Events Company of St. Lucia Inc. for detailed guidelines and submission details for any of the above-mentioned services. E-mail Address: admin@eventssaintlucia.com Tel. # (758) 458-6076 The deadline for receipt of proposals is Friday, June 29, 2018

BRITISH AMERICAN COMMERCIAL PROPERTY PRICED

FOR SALE

Call

2 Storey Commercial Building, Massade(Adjacent to the Bank of Saint Lucia) Approx. 1,600 sq. ft. floor area each floor- Offices, Kitchens & Washrooms Car Park accommodation for 6 – 8 cars; Additional Car Park space available All services connected & GF & FF metered separately

284 4472

Call:

Newly renovated 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom house at Reduit Park , 3 minute walk from the Baywalk Mall at Rodney Bay. Property is ideal for an Air BnB listing.

for enquiries

All reasonable offers will be considered. Further information or offers to: Frank Myers, Judicial Manager Tel.#: (758) 453-1471 or via email at frank@frankmyersconsulting.com Only serious enquiries please The Judicial manager is not bound to accept any one offer

452 0027 / 720 4886

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The property is the former offices of British American Insurance Company Limited located in the heart of Castries on #49 High Street opposite the Seventh Day Adventist church. The area is mainly commercial and the property comprises of a two (2) storey building with total floor area of 3,032 ft. sitting on 2,226 sq. ft. of land.

FOR RENT

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286 6190

Two bedroom unfurnished apartment located at Trouya, Bois D’Orange Wired for 110/220 V Solar water heater Fully enclosed with parking for one vehicle 5 minutes or less walking distance to transportation

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Calling all young, talented, energetic and intelligent ladies. Between the ages of 18–35 who is unemployed and in need of making finances in an amazing entertainment club opening soon in Rodney Bay. Unlike anything you’ve seen before. Ladies bring out your talent whether singing, dancing, acting, games etc. and come shine with me in growth and progress for your future. Call me - Contact No: 722 9885 Email: sarah.d007@live.com

VEHICLE FOR SALE

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Best price! Best offer! Please call Mobile: 730 1844 or 720 5046 For viewing

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Call: 520-1444

SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2018

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$2.00

Photo by Bill Mortley

A House Divided? S&S

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STAR Newspaper - 16 June 2018

Articles inside

And The Word of The Week Is... Bomb!

Justify Shines Its Light On Teo Ah Khing ... (And DSH)