STAR Monthly Review - February 2021

$2.75

The Rocky Horror Road Revisited!

FEBRUARY 20, 2021

MONTHLY REVIEW

www.stluciastar.com

INDEPENDENCE

Picture Courtesy National Archives Authority of St. Lucia

FEBRUARY 20, 2021

THE STAR

COMMENTARY

INDEPENDENCE: The Rocky

Horror Road Revisited!

S t Lucia’s banana industry had never fully recovered from the effects of strikes orchestrated in 1973 by George Odlum and Peter Josie. When Premier John Compton relieved George Mallet of his agriculture portfolio shortly before the 1974 general elections it was generally assumed Compton, in private life a farmer, had decided to take charge of what was considered the government’s most important ministry. The job went to Ira d’Auvergne who had twice been rejected by the electorate. Compton then declared 1975 Agriculture Year. This announcement was followed by phatic noises about a revised school curriculum “to encourage a new appreciation of local food.” Thousands of tax dollars were invested in colorful newspaper advertisements, radio discussions and “consciousness raising sessions” with the island’s farmers—as if already they were not painfully aware of the sad state of local agriculture and needed to be advised by city hotshots concerned mainly with keeping the shine on their platform shoes.

Alas, seventeen committees were not sufficient to bring about the highly promoted grand food exhibition that was to have climaxed Agriculture Year. The baby project manager Ira d’Auvergne delivered to “Daddy Compton” was stillborn.

Meanwhile George Odlum and Peter Josie continued to add to the premier’s problems. At the conclusion of a libel suit that centered on allegations Compton had acquired Crown lands for his personal use, Odlum had been ordered by a libel court to pay record damages of $60,000.

In retaliation his outraged followers took to jeering at the premier and his wife whenever the showed up in public. On one occasion when Compton proudly reminded members of parliament of his record as a champion of the working class, the packed gallery exploded in a thunder of boos.

It was in this highly combustible atmosphere that Saint Lucia’s premier announced his intention to seek independence from Britain. Almost immediately there was strong opposition from the Labour Party’s radical OdlumJosie wing. They demanded the premier

settle the question of independence via a referendum. Compton refused, sparking protest demonstrations island-wide that more often than not resulted in clashes with the Special Services Unit that served only tear gas and rubber bullets, and on rare occasions the killer variety.

At a conference in London, the House opposition leader Allan Louisy had argued for an indefinite postponement of Compton’s independence ambitions.

Plagued by its own socio-economic woes, the British government had ears only for Saint Lucia’s premier. Soon he would be crowing over state-controlled Radio St. Lucia and from the island’s sole TV station that come February 22, 1979 the island would be an independent nation with its own place at the United Nations General Assembly. Free at last! Free at last!

George Odlum issued his own ominous message: “Come Independence Day, Saint Lucia might not be the safest place in the world”—a stunning confirmation for the more conservative that he was behind the bombings that turned many late-night party addicts into early to bed chickens. A visiting British MP was rudely awakened from his hotel bed by an angry mob determined to be heard on the matter of “Compton’s trickery.”

The SSU had to be called. Police charges were laid against Odlum. Through all of that Premier Compton prepared for his installation as his country’s first prime minister—even as the powerful Civil Service Association was gearing up for a showdown with the government over a pay dispute.

Many of the island’s schoolteachers had refused to attend classes, on the ground that the government had persistently refused to heed the recommendations of two respected tribunals. The government had instead appointed a committee to “review the issue”—a move that the CSA outright rejected. At a rally in William Peter Boulevard the premier complained that selfless dissidents were holding a gun to his head and demanding what they

SAINT LUCIA

(cont’d on page 2)

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FEBRUARY 20, 2021

THE STAR

01

COMMENTARY

Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra delivers the first Throne Speech to the Houses of newly independent Saint Lucia. At left, legendary House Speaker Wilfred St. Clair Daniel. (Photo courtesy St. Lucia National Archives Authority)

knew only too well he was in no position to deliver. He said he had absolutely no intention of taking another bank loan to accommodate irresponsible and selfish strikers that wanted him to “take from the have-nots to give to the haves!”

When hecklers raised their volume the premier reminded them they were free to leave the public service. Additionally, if they persisted with their outrageous demands and their protest activities they would soon discover “there are several ways to skin a cat!” He ordered on-strike teachers to return to work the following day or face dismissal—a threat that brought out more teachers in protest.

By February 19 the capital city of Castries was teeming with journalists from Canada, Europe, Japan, the U.K. and the Caribbean region. The BBC’s Martin Bell arrived with his camera crew and fell in love at first sight of George Odlum.

Everywhere Odlum went Bell followed with his bulky videocams: Marchand, Soucis, Morne Dudon, all the ghetto areas where the SLP paragon was especially popular.

Every explosive syllable that slipped out of

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the Oxonian Odlum’s mouth was picked up

by Bell and company for the purposes of the BBC, replete with supportive rhetoric from intimidating angry snaggle-toothed fish vendors and dreadlocked followers of “Brother George” and Jah. The London Times had been prescient enough to predict the Labour Party would “pose little threat to Mr. Compton’s government at election time,” thanks to the opposition’s “contradictory and often vague policies,” as if pellucid policies had ever guaranteed election victories in the Caribbean. Or, for that matter, the United Kingdom.

On the morning of February 20, 1979, at the government’s special invitation, some one hundred or so overdressed festive individuals gathered at the West Indies Associated State Secretariat in Castries to celebrate the imminent installation of John Compton as prime minister. The arrival of Princess Alexandra and her husband the next day did not attract hordes of excited flag-waving natives, as in earlier times whenever royalty visited. It is also true to say the

anticipated scores of protesters never materialized. The dozen or so half-naked Rastas who showed up carrying antiIndependence placards that proclaimed the wrath of Jah kept well away from the scene of the crime. The following morning a press conference exclusively for visiting press representatives proved chaotic, with Compton doing his best to put out their fiery questions with answers dripping gasoline.

On the evening of February 21, even as the visiting princess was dishing out medals to some of the island’s more appreciated official peacemakers, SSU sharpshooters on the roof of Geest’s nearby banana shed and at other strategic points along Faux-a-Chaud Road guaranteed Queen’s peace was kept. They need not have worried. The ceremony ended shortly after midnight without a shot, save for the blanks fired by a police honor guard. By all Radio St. Lucia’s Margaret Robert-Steele reported, everything had gone strictly in accordance with the plans of Compton’s special committees. For others, however, it was

another matter.

The cardboard revolutionaries, whose task it was to prematurely terminate the flagraising ceremony, were finally too high on Dutch courage to carry out their assignments.

Another set of sots managed to knockout several telephone lines in the island’s north when they were supposed to put out the lights at the site of the night’s main event.

Radio St. Lucia, their main target, broadcast every little tidbit without disruption. The building that housed Radio Caribbean, also targeted for demolition, suffered no disturbance. Too late the wannabe saboteurs discovered they couldn’t tell an electric pole from a hole in the ground—and knew even less about explosives. Another crew abandoned “the people’s revolution” at first sight of the SSU. They determined it made no sense at all exposing their hides to machine-gun fire while their comrade leader sequestered himself miles from the battlefield with his fat-assed libidinous alibi!

The preceding is a truncated version of an account featured in Foolish Virgins, by Rick Wayne.

INDEPENDENCE

Allen Chastanet: We can, we will!

by STAR Reporter

COVID-19 has forced yet another celebration into the virtual sphere.

February is normally a festive time of year, when Saint Lucians turn out in large numbers to celebrate the anniversary of Independence. The military parade, Bikers Round the Island, and fireworks displays would attract thousands, most attired in national colors. This year, however, the celebration will take a different form.

The Independence Planning Committee officially launched Saint Lucia’s 42nd Independence Celebration on February 9.

“Independence is traditionally a time of national celebrations marked by various festivities that highlight several aspects of our culture, and reflect the talent and diversity of our people,” said Prime Minister Allen Chastanet in an address aired prior to the launch. “This year our celebrations will be tempered because of the restrictions brought about by COVID-19.

But it has already taken from us more than enough. We are determined that the show must and will go on. We’ve planned an exciting series of events, showing the best of Saint Lucia and in which you will be

proud to participate, if only virtually.”

The prime minister observed that over the years the country had prevailed against deadly hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters. “What has seen us through in the past has been our ability to come together and work as one people. It can be no different now,” he said.

Chastanet advised that while citizens cannot celebrate in the usual ways, still they can use this opportunity to reflect on the nation’s progress, and appreciate the sacrifices of their forefathers. Citizens should focus on how to use this latest crisis as a catalyst to reposition the country.

He went on: “There are things that will never return. That is why it’s important to refine and redefine how we work, how we educate our children, how we accommodate visitors, how we feed ourselves, what we produce, how we prepare for climate change and myriad other things relating to everyday life and business.”

If we all work together to be resilient, he added, we can, and we will succeed!

For her part the Minster for Culture, Senator Fortuna Belrose, recalled that

every year since Independence in 1979, Saint Lucia has rocked the world in way or another.

“Whether it’s through our resilience and achievements in climate change, politics, economics, arts, sports, culture or tourism, we’ve demonstrated globally that we take the business of nation building seriously,” the minister said. “Our Nobel Laureates, our gold medal winners in sport, our countless awards in tourism, agriculture, the arts and culture, our goodwill and brand ambassadors, are all symbols of our success, our resilience, our capabilities and our potential as a nation.”

The chair of the Independence Committee, Jeannine Giraudy-Mcintyre, indicated that all activities will be held virtually, in strict adherence to COVID protocols. Events will be carried on the National Television Network (NTN). At midday on February 22 a fireworks display will kick off the celebrations. The military parade will begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by the flag raising ceremony at 10:00 a.m.

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet will deliver his Independence Address at 10:30 am. Visit www.independence.lc for more information on the calender of events.

Culture Minister Fortuna Belrose: ‘We take seriously the matter of nation building.’

Happy 42 Independence Saint Lucia nd

To The Government and People of Saint Lucia from

The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) FEBRUARY 20, 2021

THE STAR

03

INDEPENDENCE

The Architect of St. Lucia’s Independence

by Guy Ellis

I

t is more than 13 years since his death but no Independence observance— whether elaborate or scaled down for such as Covid-19—would be complete without reflection on the life of Sir John George Melvin Compton, the man whose relentless drive took our island out of British control. Compton was the last survivor of the breed of political leaders that emerged in the Caribbean in the 1950s around the time of universal adult suffrage when people 21 years and over got the right to vote. He died in September 2007 at the age 82.

Compton was regarded as the chief architect of the modern St. Lucia and took the island from a sleepy, backward colonial state to a regional power in its own right and leader among the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). He also led a spirited fight in the face of intense pressure from opponents at home, to take his country to full independence from Britain in 1979.

Born April 29, 1925 in Canouan, Compton was frequently referred to as “The father of the Nation,” an accolade he refused to accept.

“Every country in the Caribbean has its heroes,” he once said, “but to call any one of them ‘Father of the Nation’ is a misnomer and for any to accept it, is a display of arrogance”. Still, Compton was affectionately known “Daddy Compton” to many St. Lucians, especially to the residents of the twin eastern villages of Micoud and Dennery where he planted his political roots in 1954, winning an election that sent him to the then Legislative Council (later House of Assembly) for the first time.

In later years, Compton would represent either one or both of the villages in parliament for 42 unbroken years, until he retired in 1996 to return for another fateful spell in 2005. He served as head of the government here on seven occasions, 30 years altogether (1964-79, 1982-96 and again 2006-2007).

In 1954, fresh out of law school in Britain, and although a member of the then ruling St. Lucia Labour Party, Compton chose to contest general elections as an independent candidate and carried away 51 percent of the vote in a fourcornered contest. The 1957 sugar strike also established Compton’s political base in Micoud and Dennery for the next four decades to the extent that he easily won every election he contested there and for a long time any candidate he chose to sponsor in any of the four constituencies in that region was guaranteed victory. The Labour Party was only able to break this stranglehold in 1979.

In 1961 Compton fell out with the SLP and formed his own party, the National 04

FEBRUARY 20, 2021

THE STAR

The late Sir John Compton poses with school kids from the Entrepot school on Independence Day 1987.

Labour Movement which three years later merged with the Peoples Progressive Party to form the United Workers Party (UWP). In June 1964 he led the UWP to victory over the SLP and became Chief Minister. Three years later St. Lucia achieved Associated Statehood, a form of semi-independence from Britain and Compton became the island’s first Premier. This was followed by full independence in 1979, when he became St. Lucia’s first Prime Minister.

In matters of the island’s sovereignty, Compton was outspoken and uncompromising. At the London conference which negotiated self government Compton criticized Britain over its refusal to include issues of aid, trade and migration in the talks. He argued that without this, the new status would be completely meaningless. Then, at the final formal session of the conference, with several British government officials around the table, he dropped a diplomatic bombshell: “The colour of our skins is against us,” Compton told them, “and a government, even one that professes democracy, is pleased to legislate and propound the doctrine of second class citizenship for people of another colour.”

More than a decade later, Compton was back in London negotiating independence in the face of strong opposition at home by the SLP. When it appeared to him that Britain was taking longer than he had expected in severing the last constitutional link with St. Lucia, Compton used a similar setting to let loose. “It is absolutely humiliating and intolerable,” he told the London constitutional conference, for a government that has been duly elected

by the majority of the people of St. Lucia since 1964 . . . to be traveling at great expense of time and money to the United Kingdom . . . like so many mendicants seeking favours from a master.”

In the 1960s Compton appeared to have designed a mental blueprint for St. Lucia’s development that included huge investments in infrastructure: highways, one of which bears his name, air- and seaports, utilities, industrial estates, housing projects, and later a dam, also named after him. He conceived most of the projects himself and some appeared so grandiose, if not impossible at the time, that his opponents and skeptics labeled him a dreamer.

But in the end Compton always had the last laugh. Like the time he decided to dredge several acres of swampland in Gros Islet that had become a breeding ground for sandflies and mosquitoes and prepare it for development. Today, the area known as Rodney Bay is a modern commercial, housing and industrial community, with several of the island’s finest hotels and restaurants and a yacht marina.

Compton also took a lot of pressure for building the causeway that links Pigeon Island to the mainland. Decades earlier, even his dredging of the Castries Harbour that now accommodates mega cruise ships today, earned him criticism. Some say he was sometimes arrogant, others that he was muleheaded. But Compton, as a leader, took decisions that he felt were his to take. Some were unpopular, like refusing to increase public sector salaries, on the ground that the country could not afford the demanded increases. He often said that he was more concerned about

the “future of tomorrow’s children rather than with today’s vote.”

Compton trusted his own judgment ahead of anyone else’s and this is why he proceeded to undertake development projects, even in the face of criticism, even ridicule. Every single one of these projects turned out to be successful in terms of the opportunities they created for the people, and their overall contribution to the nation’s well-being.

With Compton at the helm, St. Lucia became the leader of the small islands in the Eastern Caribbean chain that would later comprise the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and his achievements for his country won him admiration well beyond the region.

In December 2006, with his UWP facing the prospect of a third consecutive defeat at the polls by the SLP, Compton, who had come out of retirement, once again achieved instant success leading his party to a resounding victory. He put together a new Cabinet, presented the new government’s first fiscal budget and seemed set to go out into the sunset quietly leaving behind a new UWP administration of much younger men and women to carry the torch forward. But differences within the party over relations with China-Taiwan and the sharp divisions which that issue produced left Compton seriously stunned and heart-broken.

He fell ill at the beginning of May, was hospitalized in the United States and was unable to resume office when he returned home. A life-size monument to Sir John Compton stands in Constitution Park in the capital near the entrance to St. Lucia’s parliament.

Fond Doux Eco Resort captures another major Award

F

ond Doux Eco Resort was announced a winner of the 2020 North America Business Awards, as the “Most Romantic Luxury Resort in Saint Lucia.”

The announcement comes from New World Report, an insightful and informative business news platform that provides readers throughout the Americas with business advice, inspiring success stories, and trends and innovations to encourage continuing business growth.

Eroline Lamontagne, the resort’s executive director: “Saint Lucia has produced two Nobel laureates, Sir Arthur Lewis and Sir Derek Walcott, for economics and literature respectively.

They have challenged fellow Saint Lucians to be the best we can be and to rise above global circumstances. The two giants are on our minds as we celebrate our 42nd Year of Independence. We have surmounted the recent challenges by merging our tourism and agriculture products in a sustainable way and fashioning a new dream for our staff.”

This last year, 2020, has been a time of great change for huge swathes of global business. Despite the unprecedented difficulties, however, News World Report has seen incredible successes across all industries and businesses of all sizes. In a time where success seemed to be in short supply, these achievements became

Fond Doux Eco Resort is an outstandingly perfect location, and fully deserving of recognition in New World Report.

magnified and in many ways crucially important to recognize. It is with this in mind that they launched this year’s edition of the North America Business program.

Awards Coordinator Katherine Benton took a moment to speak on the achievements of those recognized.

“It is always a pleasure to highlight companies across the nation, especially with consideration of the challenges

all businesses and all industries have faced over the last year. I offer sincere congratulations to all acknowledged in this program and hope you have a fantastic year in 2021.”

Says the resort’s managing director Lyton Lamontagne: “This pandemic has challenged us in ways we never could have imagined and the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccines has rekindled new hope for the future.”

Fond Doux Eco Resort continues to be recognized globally for its authentic Saint Lucian offerings, romantic rainforest atmosphere, legendary hospitality and French architectural heritage. There is everything to admire about what Fond Doux offers guests, and to the local communities. Everything has been carefully and meticulously designed to ensure guests have the most authentic St. Lucian experience.

FEBRUARY 20, 2021

THE STAR

05

Just So You Know:

When is a lie not a lie?

I

n the 2009 matter of Kenny D. Anthony versus the Attorney General—popularly referred to as “The Tuxedo Villas Scandal”—Justice Brian Cottle had ruled in favor of the plaintiff. But he had also gone out of his way to add: “The minister was frank and open. He impressed the court as a reliable witness who gave his evidence in a credible and forthright manner. In cross-examination the Minister of Tourism was candid.”

In other words, as a witness in the particular case the way the witness Minister Allen Chastanet delivered his testimony on the occasion had found favor with the trial judge Cottle. The defendants appealed. So did the plaintiff, Kenny Anthony, as usual represented

by Dominican senior counsel Anthony Astaphan assisted by local legal eagles Peter Foster, Renee St. Rose and Leslie Mondesir. The attorney general was a noshow.

Somewhat controversially, the appeal court delivered its verdict mere days before the unusually contentious 2011 general elections—in the process creating a political storm. Finally the court not only dismissed the government’s arguments but it also allowed Kenny Anthony’s cross appeal—with costs.

As if that were not trouble enough for the good ship UWP, especially at election time, there was also this: “When, as often happens, much turns on the relative credibility of witnesses who have been examined and cross-examined before the judge, the court is sensible of the great advantage he has had in seeing and hearing them. It is often very difficult to estimate correctly the relative credibility of witnesses from written depositions; and when the question arises which witness is to be believed rather than another, and that question turns on the matter of demeanor, the Court of Appeal always is, and must be, guided by the impression made on the judge who saw the witnesses.

“But there may obviously be other circumstances, quite apart from manner and demeanor, which may show whether a statement is credible or not; and these circumstances may warrant the court differing from the judge, even on a question of fact turning on the credibility of witnesses the court has not seen.”

The above quoted remarks was credited to Lindley, MR in Coghlan v Cumberland. Lord Thankerton’s guidelines in Watt v Thomas were also cited: “The Appellate court, either because the reasons given by the trial judge are not satisfactory, or because it unmistakably appears so from the evidence, may be satisfied that he has not taken proper advantage of his having seen and heard the witnesses, and the matter will then become at large for the Appellate court.”

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In setting aside Cottle’s assessment of the witness Chastanet, the court had taken into account Astaphan’s arguments that the tourism minister was not a credible witness because “some of his answers were evasive and so outrageous as to be false and because he said he was not at a Cabinet meeting on 26 June 2008, when the Minutes recorded him as being present.”

The appeal court disagreed. The judge actually wrote that the court would not have interfered with Justice Cottle’s assessment of the witness Chastanet had he been “otherwise a credible witness.”

What proved a problem for Chastanet was his testimony that conflicted with the evidence before the court: he testified he was off-island and therefore had not attended the crucial 26 June 2008 Cabinet meeting. It had not helped his case that the witness produced no hard evidence supportive of his claim. All he relied on were uncorroborated words; his own!

Nevertheless, the on-going campaign assertions that in the Tuxedo Villas case the appeal court had declared Chastanet “a certified liar . . . the only government minister in Saint Lucia to be so stamped,”

could not be farther from the truth.

I hesitate to say the salted to taste allegations are pure invention, untrue.

Judges seldom if ever refer to witness testimony as lies—preferring instead to say when appropriate that a statement was not credible. Indeed, the reader may fairly ask: Aren’t we splitting hairs here?

Not necessarily. In her highly lauded 1978 book Lying—Moral Choice in Public and Private Life, philosopher Sissela Bok observes: “Lying is a form of deception but not all forms of deception are lies.”

Moreover, that lying is giving some information “while believing it to be untrue, intended to deceive by doing so.” How then to describe a statement that the maker believes to be true but lacks the evidence or the ability to prove its veracity?

Witness: In Saint Lucia, especially, countless victims of sexual assault have had their complaints dumped by juries, on the ground that the alleged victims were not credible because of their personal history, their occupation, lifestyle and so on. Often inferior legal representation—or no representation at all—is to blame.

In the eyes of the jury the testimony of the accused was more credible, for the

same reasons the complainants’ charges were dismissed: status, personal history, lifestyle, demeanor, to say nothing of the defendant’s superior defense team.

I should emphasize that credibility has little to do with truth. It simply means one story is more believable, more plausible— for whatever reasons—than the other. A credible statement is not automatically truth. If something is credible, you can believe it, whether or not it’s real— whether or not you can trust it.

Evidence is reliable if it is what it purports to be. To Chastanet’s detriment, he was never in a position effectively to contradict the plaintiff’s claim that he had attended a particular Cabinet—a claim that was supported by Cabinet minutes.

The unrepresented witness never offered proof that the evidence before the court was not what it purported to be. Still, that in no way proves his testimony was false or that he lied in court.

To say a judge had declared Allen Chastanet a “certified liar” is to risk being seen as the proverbial pot that called the kettle black—or something worse!

---RW

On Being Different All fresh organic produce, household, grocery, health and beauty products, frozen foods and bakery needs.

A relative places a wreath on Sir Arthur’s tomb. He passed away on June 15, 1991 in Barbados but was interred in St. Lucia, the land that gave him birth.

by Sir Arthur Lewis

A

constant theme in today’s West Indies is that we should stop imitating other peoples and do our own thing. We should be different, and West Indian. It is an attractive theme; has indeed become almost a bandwagon theme. Every public speaker takes the chance of recording his adherence to it. I, too, want to get into this popular stream but I am also a little more anxious to find out just what it is all about.

Obviously West Indians cannot be different from other men in everything, since we all belong to homo sapiens. So, one has to ask where we should draw the line. In what respects should we be the same as other peoples and in what should we strive to be different? My only qualification for talking about this subject is that I have probably thought about it more than most West Indians. Since no job was available for me here when I graduated, I have had to spend most of my life out of the West Indies. And in striving to earn my living in the great wide world, I have had to try to master the highly competitive skills of my profession. In the process I have become what is now called in the West Indies an “Afro-Saxon.”

The term is meant to be abusive but what in practice it seems to mean is a black man who can compete with white people on their own ground. Facing this difficult challenge, I have had to ask myself over and over again, over the past thirty years, what sort of person I ought to be trying to be. West Indian, yes. But just what does this mean that is intended to distinguish us from other human beings? Before I tackle this question let me first note that the ground is not entirely occupied by Afro-Saxons and the advocates of an exclusively West Indian culture. We have in our midst a third group who advocate that we should model ourselves on the Africans, since Africa is the place where our forefathers came from some two centuries ago.

I will leave aside the complication that there are more Indians than Africans in Guyana and nearly as many Indians as Africans in Trinidad—and follow the proponents of this idea in arguing as if West Indians were all descended from African . . . In the first place, Africa is the most diversified of all the continents in terms of strictly indigenous institutions, languages, food patterns, clothes or any

other index which you care to choose.

There are hundreds of tribal and national groups, very different from one another, so there is no unique African model that West Indians could imitate. In the second place, Africans themselves are trying hard to get into the modern world and are in the process of shedding a great number of the characteristics which they developed in isolation.

The idea that we should choose as models what they are discarding seems to them a little quaint. To use a popular jargon, the Africans are having as big a crisis of identity as we are. In stretching out to them, we shall find sympathy and understanding, but hardly remedies for the condition in which we both find ourselves. Since we are not racists we are committed to the proposition that we are essentially the same as other men. Societies differ not in their underlying humanity but in what they make of themselves and their environment. What differs is the human achievement. So when we say West Indians are to be different we mean that they must make something different. Our achievement must be unique.

There is a distinct West Indian personality, marked by its aggressiveness, which in turn derives from the insecure family life in which the great majority of children are reared. Our aggressive personality has some advantages. It is the chief reason why West Indians figure disproportionately in the black leadership in the United States.

But it also has its disadvantages. For example, as Sir John Mordecai’s book on the breakdown of our Federation shows, the chief reason was the inability of our three leaders in the same federal political party to maintain personal relations and compromise with each other. We also make rather poor business men, compared with, say, the Nigerian Ibos, because unlike the Ibos we are spendthrift and not very reliable in keeping our commitments punctually.

For my part I think our aggressive personality makes us inferior to our African brethren in warm, stable and secure family situations, and who therefore produce a stable personality. If we must imitate the Africans, this is what I would suggest our countrymen imitate. Also, if we continue to be unbusiness-like and spendthrift, our society will have no long-term future, since it will not survive in this Darwinian world!

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS APPLY. Let us work together to remain safe.

OPEN: Mon - Fri 8:00am – 7:00pm Saturdays 8:00am – 8:00pm Sundays 8:00am – 1:00pm

Happy 42nd Anniversary St. Lucia! from the Management & Staff of Eroline’s 26 Church Street, Soufriere Tel: 459-7125 Mobile: 730-5206 Office: 457-1350 Warehouse: 459-7878 Email: erolinefoods@hotmail.com

LOVE,

A Resilient Nation.

We Can, We Will

Oh LOve

our Island Home nd Happy Anniversary

42

of Independence St.Lucia

from the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of the Bourbon Street Business hours: Mon-Thur 8:00am-3:00pm Fridays 8:00am-4:00pm • Saturdays 9:00am-1:00pm Tel: (758) 453-2706 F: (758) 451-7221 Gablewoods Mall Business hours: Mon-Thur 8:00am-3:00pm Fridays 8:00am-4:00pm Tel: (758) 458-1923

FEBRUARY 20, 2021

THE STAR

07

Is Bordelais a Ticking Time Bomb?

(Pt 1)

Joshua St. Aimee

W

hen the Bordelais Correctional Facility opened in 2003, government officials stopped just short of labeling the $48 million facility a panacea. Built to house 500 inmates, the plan was for the BCF to bring an end to the “inhumanity and indignity of the old Royal Gaol,” on Bridge Street, Castries.

Moreover, that “lives will be changed and transformed for good” at the facility.

What exists now is a facility “bursting at the seams” and for the most part, an agitated prison population—the majority of whom have not experienced due process.

Around midday on February 2, aggrieved inmates armed with a cellphone and Internet access, utilized Facebook’s livestream feature. Over two thousand viewers were glued to the hour-long broadcast as the men vented their frustration over trial dates, living conditions, prison food and COVID-19. After airing their concerns for thirty minutes, they apparently reached a tipping point.

“Ya’ll want us to hold a police and beat a police bad?” asked a masked inmate. “That ya’ll want us to give a police?” another asked, brandishing a sharp object. “Ya’ll waiting for it to get hot? Do something for us before it get hot.

It will get hot, we have weapons. We go start killing police,” he ranted.

The inmates promptly shifted gears to reassure viewers they had no violent intentions and simply wanted answers regarding their court appearances. Another livestream started around 5:30 p.m., following the arrival of riot police officers at the Dennery-based facility.

The inmates were not impressed.

Some complained they had merely asked for their day in court and for that “officers came to kill us.” One inmate promised the police would not be attacked, but warned that he and fellow protesters would defend themselves if necessary. As the sun went down a tactical operation was launched.

Prisoners stubbornly disregarded police instructions. The livestream abruptly ended.

Two inmates were later taken to OKEUH and St. Jude Hospital. One had

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suffered facial trauma, the other a wound to his lower back. The injured have since been returned to the correctional facility.

Firefighters were also called to tackle a cell fire. Mattresses, clothing, and other combustible materials had been set alight.

Officers were not spared. According to the National Security Minister five regular police and two prison officers were injured after “a chemical substance” was tossed at them.

Behind February’s unrest are many lingering problems. BCF Director Hilary Herman told the STAR prison personnel had long been trying to prevent contraband reaching the inmates, with little success.

He said prison officers did not have jamming devices that might’ve prevented livestreams.

On February 2 the facility was severely undermanned, with several personnel quarantined and awaiting COVID test results. Inmates took advantage of the unusual circumstances. The director revealed that a fence between the Bravo and Charlie units was broken down. At the time of the first livestream only six officers were on duty. They had not intervened because, said Herman, they would’ve been greatly outnumbered.

“Remember,” he went on, “there was in the recreation yard at the time in excess of three hundred inmates. It would’ve been extremely dangerous for an officer who attempted to confiscate a cellphone from an inmate. I had them stand down and allow the inmates to vent. I didn’t want anyone being taken hostage; I didn’t want any of our officers hurt.” The director considered his decision “tactical.”

Herman said the prison has addressed some COVID-19 related concerns. Masks were manufactured in the prison’s tailor shop but inmates had difficulties with the material used. Herman stated that since then disposable masks had been handed out. Liquid hand sanitizer was made available but this caused problems.

“We discovered a lot of the inmates were drinking it with Coke so we had to resort to a gel sanitizer.” Nevertheless, the director says the virus itself is the least of the prisoners’ concerns. The prolonged periods before their cases are heard is the major complaint.

At time of writing, the population at the BCF is 498, 357 being on remand. At the most recent Senate sitting on February

Bordelais Director Hilary Herman insists COVID-19 is the least of his inmate’s complaints.

10, Home Affairs Minister Hermangild Francis echoed Herman’s sentiments: “The Chief Justice has added to the roster an additional judge to deal with matters virtually. She also announced at the recent opening of Law Week that criminal trials before only a judge was on the horizon.”

A committee has been established comprising representatives from the offices of the attorney general, the prime minister, the department of Justice, Bar Association, Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Director of Public Prosecutions office and the high court. “We will

also be looking at cases where inmates have been on remand for an inordinate length of time, to be in a position to make recommendations to the relevant authorities including the DPP and the Governor General” said Francis.

The Senator also referenced the newly established Parole System, describing it as a “rehabilitative tool.” With good conduct and participation in the BCF’s programs, he said, inmates can become eligible. Last December, two inmates who had received life sentences for murder and served twenty years, were granted parole. (To be continued next issue)

FEBRUARY 20, 2021

THE STAR

09

Beware encounters of the fourth kind!

by Cockadoodle Doo

I

think we could all do with a laugh at this time, albeit a serious laugh. What’s that you say? You’ve never heard of such a thing? All right, then, come along.

Shakespeare has it that somewhere there’s a catalogue of men, and the Bard never lies. I’ve discerned from close local observation, four categories: 1) He who knows and knows that he knows. He is wise, so consult him and follow him. 2) He who knows and knows not that he knows.

He’s asleep, so wake him. 3) He who knows not and knows that he knows not.

He’s a child or a student, so teach him.

Now, here comes the big one: 4) He who knows not and knows not that he knows not. He is a fool, so shun him.

Reject him—and never make the mistake of following him, for you’ll be asking to be led into the blazing inferno.

Where do you see yourself? In which category? Take your time deciding. Also of interest: Where do others see you?

Enlightening to discover that, for sure.

Perhaps you should be open-minded enough to enquire of your friends, family, even foreigners! A good cross-section of responses could well turn out to be similar.

Yes, indeed, that could be most instructive.

Might even necessitate a fundamental behaviour adjustment on your part.

While Shakespeare’s observation may not exactly be cut and dried, it does open a window on the different types of individuals we might daily come across— whether those oh so often mentioned but unidentified friends, family and foreigners, plus co-workers. Or those unavoidables (deplorables?) we encounter repeatedly on the radio or television. Again, while the categorization may not quite establish full cause and effect in each case, it may very well point to the existence of a correlative relationship, and could serve to open your eyes about a particular individual.

Let’s test the theory, then. Having recourse to specific examples familiar to everyone is always helpful, indeed required, whenever attempting to elucidate a theory. A few striking examples come to mind. Shall we begin with the ones who are part of a group, say, the always predictable head honchos of the Teachers’ Union?

They come, they go, they come, they go, the more they change the more they remain the same. They may as well not have been replaced. So predictable. This is very much the case at present. Another

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A young Philip J. Pierre campaigning in 1997 from the steps of the Castries market.

puppet of the puppet master. Where do you place him? I sure know where I do.

Then there are those clueless squawking heads that refer to themselves as political analysts, which always makes me think of them, I can’t figure why, as political proctologists. There’s a long list (too long, for me) of them. No need for names; you know them as well as I do.

Like the legendary Energizer Bunny, they go on with their gibberish, on and on and on, burnishing the already burnished brass, so to speak. They are clueless about their singular subject—as if indeed more proof were needed that they know not that they know not. Good, you agree. We know where they belong!

Still in Category 4. But, let’s get really specific. I know you can hardly wait to get to him. Patience, please. He epitomizes Category 4. And I’m about to remind you of the evidence. Forever dishing out false information, or holding forth on stuff way over his head, being blissfully oblivious of his mess-ups. I mean, big time!

I realize you already know who will be our close encounter of the fourth kind, but still we can prolong the uncovering, just for the fun of it. Here’s a hint: “Keeping it Real! Keeping it Real! Keeping it Real every

day, every day, every day!” All the while pounding the table with his little girly fist.

No, no, Philip J. you got that wrong, too. It’s not every day every day; it only seems that way-to you. And that’s because De Bowtie Man is like Shadow’s bass man banging in your head. Believe it or not, “Keeping it Real” only comes on every Tuesday evening. That adds up to just once a week.

Not every day, every day . . . Okay? You got that? I do hope so.

But dear reader the examples are endless. A couple more? Our LOO again: “The Prime Minister did not attend the meeting. He refused to get on the plane.”

More proof that he knew not—and knew not that he knew not! Talk about kicking your balls between your own goal posts.

Not once or twice but everyday, everyday, everyday!

There are a whole lot more where that came from, for they just roll off the LOO’s tongue, but let’s take just one last shot: his breaking-news prediction to the world that Election Day in Saint Lucia would be before the end of 2020. Ah yes, unforgettable. In the midst of the COVID-19 plague. It was August, and he was itching to be seen as Saint Lucia’s lead gadè.

“It must happen before 11th

December,” he prophesied. Totally wrong, of course; ill-conceived. Just like that notorious dead-on-arrival No-Confidence Motion. But enough. We wouldn’t want to add him to our growing list of last-days false prophets. As they say, later for that.

So, what does that make him?, I wonder. The conclusion is obvious. Q.E.D. Particularly as the condition appears to be permanent. How are his handlers handling him? Or are they? Some in the public have even started to say those handlers have their own not-so-secret agenda. Which raises some sinister questions.

Isn’t it a good job we have neither a doomsday button nor a Category 4 prime minister to press it at his discretion? In our own national interest, I suggest we keep things just as they are, thank you.

I’ll bet you do, too, dear cautious reader.

Oh, by the way, don’t forget to keep your masks on, wash your hands often throughout the day and, above all, leave the mass gatherings to those who cannot tell their own goal posts from their opponents’—or the difference between ole mas and the mass get-togethers that already have caused our nation much pain!

Happy

42

ndIndependence

ST. LUCIA

A Resilient Nation. We can, we will.

FEBRUARY 20, 2021

THE STAR

11

Long before COVID there w nation’s premier killer: Dia

by Rick Wayne

I

t remains altogether conjectural why our recently reassigned prime minister permitted, if not encouraged, many among us to believe that under his Good Samaritan’s costume the Saudi multibillionaire Walid Juffali was just another scheming low-rent scumbag. Less than half a dozen Saint Lucians had heard of him before his widely headlined imbroglio over money with his third wife, an American former calendar pinup named Christina Estrada, when he sought refuge behind the immunity afforded him by his position as Saint Lucia’s permanent representative to the International Maritime Organization.

Estrada’s lawyers had challenged Juffali’s defense, in the process dumping our tiny island smack dab in the middle of a miasma of negative publicity that reverberated around the world—especially after a UK court had effectively declared Juffali’s appointment a sham, a papier mache shield against his former wife’s petition for a divorce settlement totaling multi-millions of U.S. dollars.

Online reports about the case had been in circulation over a week when the day’s leader of the opposition United Workers Party, Allen Chastanet, took to the airwaves to demand the government account for the no longer secret marriage of convenience. It being the season of elections, it was hardly surprising that at least half the country concurred with Justice Hayden’s conclusion: that Juffali’s maritime appointment reeked of shellfish and sardines; that in the murky details a greedy shark lurked. Many speculated openly about what they saw as yet another surreptitious official pay-forplay arrangement. Others choked on silent embarrassment!

As I’ve elsewhere underscored, back in 2016 the doomed prime minister had decided Chastanet’s questions unworthy of reasonable response. Typically, he hit back with an ill-considered non sequitur: While on a private visit aboard his luxury yacht Walid Juffali had somehow tracked him down to express sincere love and admiration for our incomparably beautiful island and to offer salvation to its neglected diabetes-plagued population.

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As earlier mentioned, most of what the prime minister delivered from the steps of his favorite Castries perch was hastily invented hyperbole. We the people were left to speculate without official assistance about the IMO appointment: did the visiting billionaire sheik proffer his special services? Was it he who made an offer at once prestigious and timely?

As by now the whole world knows, at the time of his appointment as Saint Lucia’s IMO representative Walid Juffali was near death by cancer. He never attended a single meeting of the organization. And even if he had been in a position to attend, he was wholly inexperienced in maritime matters and absolutely unqualified for his position— facts that had not escaped Justice Hayden.

What Walid Juffali knew a lot about was W Science. A private company that he founded for the stated purpose of establishing medical and scientific partnerships. Juffali was its chairman until his death. By reliable account, Ernest Hilaire was introduced to the billionaire when he was still Saint Lucia’s high commissioner in London. Their several postprandial discussions over several months had reportedly led to Juffali’s company agreeing to undertake a study of diabetes in Saint Lucia.

Shortly after Juffali’s passing in July 2016 Hilaire informed reporters that a $2million fund existed for the purpose of setting up a diabetes research center here but it all depended on the present government’s attitude to the project.

Doubtless, he was cognizant of the fact that Juffali had been permitted to become a political football at election time; that something good may have been allowed to go bad on the altar of selfish political motives. In all events, the feasibility study was undertaken in 2015—another secret that only recently has come to light. The expectation was that the study would allow W Science to gather perspectives and explore the interest and capacity for a collaboration with Saint Lucia and the Caribbean community and learn how the company could work with the people to have a positive and meaningful impact on their well being.

“It also was hoped there would be opportunities to develop sustainable partnerships and programs centered on the special needs of people with diabetes in Saint Lucia.”

Medical and research teams put together by W Science visited the island between 2 and 5 September 2015. (It turns out Juffali never visited Saint Lucia,

not by luxury yacht, not by private jet and conceivably must’ve lost his Saudi heart to Helen’s admittedly irresistible brochure pictures.)They were allowed “unprecedented access to private and public hospitals, universities and technical schools, non-profit associations, health-care professionals and diabetes patients.”

With the endorsement of the health ministry a core committee was assigned responsibility to interface with the visitors.

Among leading figures on the committee were former senator and CMO Dr. Stephen King—which left me wondering why he remained silent on Juffali while others played muddy political football with the philanthropist billionaire’s reputation.

In all events, and as I mentioned in an earlier report, the study revealed some shocking statistics that speak volumes about the history of healthcare in Saint Lucia: “The commonly cited Graven study from 2007 that indicated Saint Lucia has the highest prevalence of diabetes in the world was flawed and discredited by all stakeholders questioned. However, members of the public still believe what the study claims is true.”

W Science concluded that setting the record straight had either not been attempted or has been unsuccessful.”

The health ministry, meanwhile, had acknowledged its continuing use of “the discredited statistics as a means to promote improvements in diabetes healthcare.

Regardless, public awareness of the nature of the diabetes problem and the social burden of the disease appeared quite low.

[See side bar.] At the same time, people with diabetes are reluctant to disclose their condition for fear of discrimination, and are unaware of its seriousness, impacting negatively on management of their disease.”

Additionally: “It is impossible to say exactly what the burden of diabetes in Saint Lucia is, due to a paucity of reliable information. There is no reason to suspect that any less than approximately 9% of the population have diabetes.” The W Science report states what already most of us have known from the heyday of long deceased health minister Romanus Lansiquot: both Victoria Hospital and St Jude “are old and in poor repair.” However, there was the silver lining that “the new Owen King EU Hospital is soon to replace Victoria Hospital.” That of course depends on the local definition of “soon.”

At the time of the study—early September 2015—the Owen King Hospital (built with EUR54M assistance from the European Union) was “in its final stage of fitout prior to opening.” A planned fifth wing to

the hospital remains unbuilt, reportedly for lack of funds. (Nevertheless, shortly before the June 6 elections the government staged a much-ballyhooed ceremony to name the hospital, with scores of invited overseas and local guests, at a cost of well over $100,000.

The W Science report also warned that with the opening of the new hospital “healthcare costs will increase.” As for the island’s existing 33 clinics, “they are over-run and often suffer shortages of medications and supplies and poorly skilled workers without routine supervision.”

Of great concern, the study revealed a shortfall of screening and public awareness had led to the majority of diagnoses being made when patients present themselves to healthcare staff with established complications of diabetes (end-care renal, cardiovascular and other diseases.) “Some clinicians suggested that a shocking 90% of all diagnoses occur at this stage, with foot ulceration being the most frequent presenting complaint.”

Also significant, opportunities to prevent the devastating complications of diabetes are routinely missed or wrong diagnoses made”—with dire consequences both to patients and to the nation.

The island does not have a national diabetes registry, the report revealed.

Individual hospitals and community primary care clinics have had to develop their own registries. Victoria Hospital received five computers that were still boxed at the time W Science visited. They were donated by Morehouse School of Medicine to pilot the establishment of a diabetes registry.

Again quoting from the W Science study of 2015: “There are eleven dialysis machines at Victoria Hospital, ten at St. Jude Hospital and five at Tapion—private and more expensive. The machines are fifteen years old but working well, since the staff is well familiar with the machines’ idiosyncrasies.

No home dialysis is performed, due to risk of infection. No kidney transplants are performed on Saint Lucia: patients must travel to Trinidad, Martinique or Barbados.”

Additionally: The reluctance of a significant proportion of patients to seek help for diabetes is noteworthy. Many believe in the health properties of local herbs and plans; also that there are poisons in modern medicine which cause unpleasant side effects and so they need to cleanse their body of the poisons. The use of alternative medicine is rampant.

Poverty is another major contributor to non-compliance. Limited supplies force many patients to obtain medication via other sources that are not free, or go

was our What Do You Know abetes! About Our Worst D Dr. Stephen King was one of the honored guests at the naming of the hospital in honor of his deceased father. He was also on a special advisory committee to a visiting team of experts from W Science, chaired then by the late Walid Juffali. Kenny Anthony was prime minister in 2015 and Ernest Hilaire Saint Lucia’s high commissioner in the UK!

without. “Even if medication is available,” the investigating committee observed in its report, “some people don’t have access to a refrigerator to properly store their medication . . . People buy food they can afford, not what the dietician tells them to.”

Of special interest is the following, taken from the study: Despite the political inertia and the practice of deliberately preventing the facts or full details from becoming known, “the country acknowledges many of the problems regarding diabetes healthcare and is ready for change and to collaborate with W Science to improve the management and care of people with diabetes in a sustainable and ultimately self-financeable fashion, linked to active research programs. Political will and support was received at the highest level—and most specifically the returning high commissioner to the UK, Mr. Ernest Hilaire.”

Moreover, “the government of Saint Lucia is open and supportive of international partnership to improve diabetes healthcare.”

But all of that was before the Juffali waters had been turned into a political cesspool by self-serving election candidates, by Prime Minister Kenny Anthony especially. The distressing report from which I’ve quoted so liberally has never been made public, thanks to obscurantist politicians that pay lip service to healthcare in Saint Lucia—with scant regard for the afflicted hundreds of thousands!

Killer Disease?

iabetes is a word that everyone has heard of in St Lucia.

In 2007 St Lucia was labelled as the country that had the highest per capita incidence of diabetes in the world.

These figures were not official but were the results of a study carried out by a Canadian Expert. Official figures from the World Bank state that in 2016 14.6% of the population had diabetes which had dropped to 11.6% in 2017. This figure no longer has us as the country with the highest rates per capita but we are still a lot higher than the United States at 10.8%, Canada at 7.4% and the United Kingdom at 4.3%. Changes in diet and lifestyle may have a big part to play in this steady decline but what exactly is diabetes?

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder where the body is unable to control sugar (glucose) levels in the blood either due to poor sensitivity to the protein insulin or the poor production of insulin by the pancreas. Glucose comes from either our food or from the liver where it is stored as glycogen, glycogen is converted to glucose when blood sugar levels are low and we have not eaten for a while. Glucose is an essential source of energy used by muscles and it is also the main source of fuel for brain function. There are three types of DM, the first one is irreversible but the second two are classed as reversible, although it may take a lot of effort and discipline: Type 1 DM also known as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) – a chronic disorder where blood sugar is high (hyperglycemia) and disruption of the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. High blood sugar is normally controlled by insulin which is produced in the pancreas; in this condition the pancreas produces little or no insulin at all. It tends to have a rapid onset and predominately affects children and adults under 30 years of age.

Type 2 DM usually occurs in adults and is known as noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) as it can usually be controlled with diet and medication. Unlike Type 1 DM the body does produce enough insulin the problem is with the liver, fat and muscles cells which respond differently to insulin, known as insulin resistance. This causes a build-up of sugar in the blood.

Gestational Diabetes occurs during pregnancy, there may be no sign of diabetes before the pregnancy and in most cases it disappears after giving birth. High blood sugars can be a risk to both mother and baby’s health but adopting a healthy lifestyle, by eating nutritional foods and exercising, blood sugar spikes can be controlled. If diet and exercise alone are not effective then medication may be prescribed. Although it disappears after birth it can increase the risk of developing Type 2 DM. There are known risk factors for developing DM, some are present across all three types but some are unique: Type 1 DM – family history, pancreatic disease, infection or illness which can affect the pancreas Type 2 DM – obesity, sedentary lifestyle, impaired glucose intolerance, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels, gestational diabetes, ethnicity, age, family history, polycystic ovaries Gestational Diabetes – obesity, glucose intolerance,

ethnicity, family history, age The symptoms of pre-diabetes and Type 2 DM are not always obvious and Type 1 DM may initially go unnoticed but over a short period of time the loss of body weight, despite an increased appetite, raises the alarm. There are also other obvious signs like an unquenchable thirst and increased frequency of urination, although the increased trips to the bathroom are usually seen as the result of the increased fluid intake. There are other symptoms that become more noticeable and it is these that often prompt a visit to the doctor. The most obvious are tiredness, a feeling of weakness, being easily irritated, blurred vision and numbness or tingling in the hands and feet.

As the symptoms of DM are not always obvious regular blood screening should take place in those who have high risk factors. If DM is suspected, then there several tests that can be carried out to confirm a diagnosis such as Fasting plasma glucose test, an oral glucose tolerance test or a Random plasma glucose test Complications of DM are not immediate and develop slowly over a period of time. The most common cause of complications is uncontrolled blood sugar levels which increases the risk of: • Cardiovascular diseases such as angina, heart attack and stroke • Nerve damage caused by damage to capillary walls, the small blood vessels that nourish the nerves. Symptoms include tingling, burning or pain which can start in the tips of the fingers and toes and spread upwards. But it isn’t only the limbs that are affected, it is also possible to experience damage to the nerves of the digestive system, causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation. It has even been known to cause erectile dysfunction in men.

• Eye problems such as glaucoma and cataracts are another regularly seen complication. If there is damage to the blood vessels of the retina it can lead to blindness.

• Kidney damage which can progress to irreversible kidney failure.

• Lower Limb Amputation is also another complication caused by infections. Poor circulation, decreased sensation, a higher risk of bacterial and fungal coupled with poor healing can increase the risk of losing a limb so all diabetics are encouraged to practice good foot care.

Prevention is always better than cure and although Type 1 DM cannot be prevented there are steps that you can take to reduce the risk of developing gestational and Type 2 DM. Choose a healthy diet that is low in fat and high in fibre; exercise for at least 30 minutes a day – it could be something as simple as a brisk walk or a swim; keep your weight down – being overweight is one of the common risk factors for all three types of DM and lastly a very important thing is to manage your blood pressure. High blood pressure is a silent killer and not only a risk factor for DM. Follow these steps to happier, healthier life.

FEBRUARY 20, 2021

THE STAR

13

The Land, the Queen and

by Lord Alexander Jackson Maier I

I

’m a Black St. Lucian, and proud to be.

I’m proud to be part of an expansive island with many distinct cultures. From Castries English to Creole to French, the diversity of our great nation is expansive.

Yet through the individualistic qualities and characters of these cultures runs the Crown, the British.

While sometimes some use the monarchy to uselessly divide us rather than unite the people around their Queen, the Queen of the United Kingdom is the Queen of St. Lucia, and will be forever. It isn’t about trying to change something that isn’t broken—in fact it works quite well.

St. Lucians have a diverse population and have been given a national identity. Under our own devolved flag, in the streets of our communities, we are St. Lucian. That, like the Queen, cannot be robbed from us either.

During the exploration of the East Caribbean, peers and foot soldiers alike were sent on a ruthless campaign to collect as many islands as they could at

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once. Their mission was to take Britannia hand and hand and extend her reach as far as it could go. After the ascension of Her Majesty the Queen, our Empire was dismantled and in its place came national devolution with the retention of the Queen as Head-of-State. Many try to dismiss Her Majesty as a simple figurehead and fancy the Governor-General as a rather ceremonial role, but it is anything but.

The requirement of legal ascension by the Governor-General on behalf of the Queen prevents the sorts of political and military coups that island nations are often prone to. A rather small amount of hereditary peers established their main House Estate in these colonies they had conquered. My family did a couple centuries ago, and as of a few days ago I became Lord Alexander, the 11th Marquess of Annaville. The part of my family that carries this hereditary right came from Northern Ireland and as the first Black Lord in my family it’s pretty safe to say my ten predecessors looked nothing like me.

Annaville Manor, our family’s central estate, is located in Maingot. Imagine the distance from London to there. Many

thousands of miles to have such influence and resources exported over St. Lucia, no? Well, not exactly. There’s a drumbeat from the younger generation to re-examine and dismantle the important monarchical institutions on our great island. Many contrarians in opposition may shed the light on ugly things done by the British to us. Atrocities happened and the proper historical inquiries should and must be made. In the meantime, a lot of political effort has

Questions been spent into knocking down what already exists. Knocking down what has been around for almost a century. As the new Marquess of Annaville, I have an alternate proposition: togetherness, not separation. Equality and equity. Understanding, not racism.

After getting quite a shocking call, I realized I only had days to put together my new house. I became number 11 and my legacy would now be recorded to some extent. My legacy no longer belonged to myself. When I ascended I had an idea. What if the monarchy could be cool again, be hip again? What if we could both recognize and find a way to accept tough aspects of the past while celebrating our Britishness and St. Lucian culture. Although St. Lucians are relatively more in support for the monarchy compared to other Commonwealth realms, the contrarians are starting a dangerous mission of polluting St. Lucian politics to the tune of division, instead of union.

With privilege comes responsibility. Many hereditary families have sitting wealth—large sums of money that remain in their bank accounts and rarely enter the economy. What if, unlike the United SStates where the top 0.01% control swaths of wealth and do nothing, I could do something? Remember Britannia, respect her

role and history in our island’s rich history?

The next question is how is that glory, that enamoring effect help St. Lucia? Education, information, and promoting ideas that work.

I’ve been given a stage and a microphone, all provided thanks to London. With my platform from the UK, I hope to bring ideas and prosperity to the people of St. Lucia. Moving past political deadlock and supporting ideas instead of polarization. Giving back to my family’s island home.

But without the monarchy there would not be an assumptive first Black Lord who hails from St. Lucia. Without the monarchy, we don’t have Her Majesty the Queen that holds our nation together through our common thread.

At the same time, without decency you have pointless aristocrats. The smallest decision by my ancestors can and will make changes in St. Lucia. May God save the Queen.

Editor’s Note: Our feature entitled St Lucia’s First Landowners caught some special attention, among them the author of the above provocative article. He will shortly be in Saint Lucia and has promised to appear on TALK with Rick Wayne.

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FEBRUARY 20, 2021

THE STAR

15

business

What Will It Take To Improve Our Relationship With Agriculture?

by Celeste Boyd-Franklin

O

ver the 10-month period since the initial lockdown, the value and fate of the agricultural sector has seemingly returned to consciousness. But then again, during every economic crisis there is heightened talk about the importance of agriculture. Of course, I need not state that there’s many a slip between the cup and the lip, to confirm that despite the rhetoric of policy makers the past three decades have been marked by a benign neglect of the sector.

For far too many, the agricultural sector is synonymous with backwardness.

Now especially, too many view tourism as the only viable pathway to employment and poverty alleviation.

Given the fragilities more than ever exposed by COVID-19, what then is the future of agriculture in Saint Lucia? Given our historical attitudes are a guide, I would not be too sanguine about the sector’s prospects. However, I also accept the adage that necessity is the mother of invention. Our survival necessitates we break with certain modes of thought and behavior. To be sure, some of the factors that have impeded the performance of the agricultural sector are external. This does not obviate the need to understand them and to undertake mitigating measures.

A quick historical or contextual reflection will explain my angst. The wellknown Moyne Commission Report (1945), in its section on agriculture asserted: “The general level of agriculture . . . is low in technical knowledge, business organization and management efficiency.

Systematic agriculture, by which is meant mixed farming on a plan suited to the inherent circumstances of the area, is unknown. The basic types of agriculture are shifting cultivation under which land may be used for, perhaps, two years in every eight or ten and the continuous growing of one crop on the same land over a long period. Livestock are never the effective complement . . . So long as these methods continue it will be impossible for agricultural production to provide even the essentials of life for the growing population . . . Comprehensive reform of existing agricultural methods is therefore inevitable.”

Notwithstanding the warnings or recommendations tendered 75 years ago, our agricultural sector continues to have the following features: 1) High specialization in a single tropical staple export: bananas. 2) Limited processing of that export. 3) Absence of

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Nearly 80 years ago the long sidelined Moyne Report noted the folly in placing agriculture in one basket of bananas!

a significant livestock/dairy sector and 4) Underdevelopment of domestic food-crop sector, as reflected in the low volume of production and consequent limited availability at supermarkets Incidentally, there is great variety of produce from small farmers, indicating a greater willingness than demonstrated by larger producers to try new products and seek new markets. Unfortunately for those small farmers, their output and returns have been too low, eliminating the likelihood of it being their principal source of income.

According to our Ministry of Agriculture, there are approximately 730 registered farmers, of whom 192 are women. The average size of their land holding is 1.5-2 acres, while their average age range is 45-55. These figures confirm the perception that agriculture is a backward and unattractive endeavor. Were it otherwise, there would have been more registered farmers, and a younger average age.

With a food import bill of over $400 million, an imbalance of nearly $300 million, it is indicative of the great divergence between what we eat and what we produce— evidence of misaligned priorities and values. Our centering of tourists and mimicking their consumption patterns, while placing domestic concerns on the periphery, have not allowed us to develop truly food sovereign strategies.

I expect the retort to be that the price of the imported food items makes them more affordable to lower socioeconomic groups. At first blush this seems

a meritorious argument. However, closer examination would suggest otherwise.

First off, produce farmers in the countries from which we import are heavily subsidized by their governments. Secondly, the imported processed foods have no greater nutritional value than our locally produced foods. Thirdly, the continued purchase of imported items compounds the problems: it does not allow for the emergence of scaled production levels that can reduce unit costs.

The challenges are not beyond us.

Their resolution depends on our attitude to manipulate the land, labour, capital and enterprising spirit. This should be undergirded by scientific research, the expansion of credit or capital to farmers, the provision of marketing support and the adoption of more business-like approaches.

The Agricultural Digest does not indicate how much land is currently utilized for agricultural production.

However, simple eyeball tests suggest that there is much land that was previously utilized for agriculture that is now either fallow or have been converted to other economic activity. Given the improvements in technology, should additional lands be cultivated for agricultural purposes, greater yields and hence greater total output can be generated off said lands, enhancing our food security.

With high levels of unemployment, significant portions of who are low skilled, there is a high reserve pool, or what Sir Arthur Lewis described as an unlimited supply of labour, that can be deployed

to work in agriculture, if only we permit ourselves to view agricultural work for what it is; vital. Several unemployed are eager to join the Canadian Farm-workers Program,” indicating an interesting attitude to agriculture—but not at home!

The current liquidity of financial institutions means there is much capital available to finance agricultural initiatives.

For instance, the available liquidity can finance 1) the needs of farmers and entrepreneurs; 2) the transactions between the actors along the value chain, 3) infrastructure needs and 4) research and development in support of the sector.

There are many with degrees in management who are ostensibly proficient at planning, organizing, directing, and controlling resources, that would allow them to take acceptable financial risks in order to get a profit.

Those with such entrepreneurial skills ought to be directed towards the agricultural sector. This solution may well be the most vexing part of the challenge, as there are many lingering questions about our managerial and entrepreneurial spirit.

Though I concede it would take some time to shift our production capacities to a level where we can adequately supply external markets, fulfilling local demand should be less arduous. The politicians should undertake a more determined effort at persuading Saint Lucians to eat what we grow and grow what we eat.

After all, they seem to have little trouble persuading the population to drink from their respective Kool-Aid troughs!

Did You Know?

Brown v Board of Education of Topeka A

fter the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, policies throughout much of the United States supported racial segregation. In Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that separate facility for black Americans were acceptable and afforded equal protection under the 14th Amendment.

In 1951 a group of parents of African American schoolchildren filed suit in federal court against the Topeka, Kansas Board of Education, asserting that segregation provided an inferior education.

The court ruled against the plaintiffs, holding that black and white schools in Topeka were equal in all regards.

On appeal by the plaintiffs, the U.S. Supreme Court rule 9-0 that state laws establishing separate schools for black and white students were unconstitutional, thereby reversing its earlier decision in Plessy. The court cited several secondary sources in its decision, including Gunnar

Biden Restores ObamaEra Spelling Rules

Photograph by Chip Somodevilla / Getty

Attorney Thurgood Marshall, who represented the plaintiffs, became the first African American U.S. Supreme Court Justice in 1967. He passed away on January 24, 1993.

Myrdal’s An American Dilemma: The Negro Problem and Modern Democracy (1944) and Doll test studies by psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark, who argued that segregation had a negative emotional impact on black school children.

by Andy Borowitz

I

n his first official act as President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden signed an executive order restoring Obama-era spelling rules.

The order, which had been widely expected, brings the United States back into the community of spelling-observant nations after four years as a pariah state.

According to one provision of the order, the letter “I” will, in most cases, return to its traditional position before the letter “E,” except in those instances when

both letters are situated after the letter “C.” Biden critics at Fox News wasted no time in denouncing his “blatant prospelling agenda,” calling the mandate “overreaching” and “divisive.”

Joe Biden is telling the rest of us that there’s only one way to spell—his way,” Tucker Carlson said. “My friends, it’s going to be a long four years.”

Carlson’s attack appeared to have little effect on Biden, who later signed an executive order banning the random capitalization of nouns.

Happy 42nd Anniversary St. Lucia!

from the Management & Staff of

Laborie Credit Union

We are National. Join us today!

Contact us: LABORIE BRANCH: Allan Louisy Street, Laborie. Tel: +1 (758) 459-6900 Fax: +1 (758) 455-9289 VIEUX FORT BRANCH: New Dock Road, Vieux Fort. Tel: +1 (758) 459-6925 Fax: +1 (758) 454-6069 Website: www.mylaboriecu.com • Email: info@mylaboriecu.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mylaboriecu/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mylaboriecu/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mylaboriecu

FEBRUARY 20, 2021

THE STAR

17

All eyes are on St. Jude!

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet looks on as construction workers at St Jude install cladding panels.

O

n page 43 of the United Workers Party’s 2016 election manifesto, the health sector took center stage: “The situation at St. Jude’s Hospital, which continues to be housed in the national stadium after almost five years of SLP rule, highlights the insensitivity of this administration to both the persons needing health services and the youth. The sick are being held in dilapidated conditions, while the young people are being denied access to sporting facilities. The new UWP government will as a matter of urgency complete the hospitals that were started years ago.”

In March 2020, the Owen King European Union hospital was completed.

Doctors and nurses began the long awaited move from Victoria Hospital to the new facility. Meanwhile, as the UWP administration approaches its fifth year in office, St. Jude Hospital remains housed

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THE STAR

at the George Odlum Stadium. Shortly after the 2016 general elections, the Allen Chastannet government decided to halt reconstruction. In February 2019, work began on a new 90-bed facility, with the government arguing that the existing buildings were “not built according to hospital standards.”

The main contractor is the Overseas Engineering Company from Taiwan. The subcontractor is locally based Fresh Start Construction Company.

At a pre-Cabinet press briefing on February 27, 2020 the permanent secretary in the Department of Economic Development, Claudius Emmanuel, updated the press on the contentious project: “With the structural frame continuing into the month of May, we anticipate that by October we will move to the next phase— mechanical, electrical and plumbing. We anticipate that by November 2020, there

will be a handing over or a transition with the Ministry of Health to ensure we can have a functioning hospital that hopefully can be open to the public by Christmas 2020.”

Shortly after Emmanuel’s assurances, Saint Lucia began experiencing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Attempts at reaching the Emmanuel this year have proved difficult. Prime Minister Allen Chastanet and Economic Development Minister Guy Joseph visited the construction site on February 5, 2021 to see firsthand the installation of cladding panels. Days later reporters pressed Joseph for a timeline for the project as he made his way to Parliament.

“I don’t give estimated timelines,” the minister said. “When the project is completed everybody will see it . . .

It is clear the project is on the path to being delivered but when it comes to

timelines, I’m not in the business of giving them. Construction can be affected by unexpected hurdles.”

On the other hand Prime Minister Allen Chastanet was “very excited about the progress made.” He expressed special satisfaction with the cladding panels used.

“They are produced right her in Saint Lucia,” he said. “They are more functional and will help resolve mold issues.”

The prime minister indicated that the next phase would include flooring.

Dividers are currently being installed inside the structure. “We’re doing very well,” Chastanet enthused, when pressed for a timeline. “We are determined to complete the project as soon as possible.”

The original St. Jude Hospital was destroyed by fire on the night of September 9, 2009.

----JSA

These Insta Meals are a Win All Around Here’s how social media chef Sunita mastered her culinary art!

M

ost people have found something during the pandemic that they always loved to do but just never had the spare time. The same might be said of culinary whiz Sunita Chitolie Asselin— except she’s been working miracles in her kitchen long before social distancing and lockdowns became the norm.

For anyone with aspirations of learning to throw down something tasty in the kitchen without the usual resulting chaos, Sunita is one to watch. The restaurant style meals she shares photos of on the regular on social media caught our attention recently, as did the love with which she makes them for lucky hubby Chris. For the sake of sharing a bit about this self-made chef (and to share some tips worth keeping close at hand!) we invited Sunita to share some of her most appetizing secrets!

How long have you been making these amazing insta recipes?

I’ve been cooking since I was a teenager but in the last four years I’ve gotten more interested in learning different methods, experimenting with various cultural recipes, as well as food styling and presentation.

After all, people eat with their eyes first!

Where do you get the inspiration?

My inspiration definitely comes from my family. My parents exposed my brothers and me to different cuisines and styles of cooking at a young age. Both my mother and older brother are phenomenal cooks, which naturally inspires some friendly competition. The biggest for me is to be able to recreate restaurant-style meals at home with a personalized touch. You don’t need to be a chef or pay top dollar to make/ eat delicious, beautiful food. Challenges are a major source of inspiration whether it’s a technique to learn, a new recipe or not being able to dine out at your favorite restaurant. Challenges inspire creativity!

What’s been your favorite dish, and why?

Bao buns! Soft, pillowy steamed buns that are so versatile you can fill them with anything you like. Crispy fried pieces of chicken, spicy sriracha mayo and fresh veggies or beef short ribs that are braised until they are melt-in-your-mouth tender.

Add some pickled onions for the perfect balance of tang to complement the rich, flavourful beef and some cucumbers to add some crunch. I enjoy making a meal with different components and textures that add something special to the overall presentation and taste.

We’ve seen your husband is quite the willing participant in the taste department for your meals! What’s his favorite meal, and what sort of reaction did he have when you first made it?

One of my husband’s favorite dishes

is Lamb Biriyani. Our local Indian restaurant was closed for a few weeks during lockdown and it was the perfect opportunity for me to test this recipe out at home. Basmati rice infused with floral spices, layered with tender pieces of lamb that have been marinated in yogurt, Indian spices and cooked in one pot. It was homemade, more flavorful than the restaurant’s and cheaper than take-out.

He was so impressed with this dish he requested it for his birthday dinner. A win all around!

Tips from Sunita to master your pandemic cooking hobby!

Dont stress!

Getting started can be a little intimidating sometimes. Try to remember you’re cooking for yourself and the people closest to you. This is your meal. There’s no Gordon Ramsay watching you on a side and no angry customers.

Get organized Have your ingredients laid out in front of you so you’re not scrambling to find things in the midst of having a pot overflowing on the stovetop or something overcooking in the oven.

Clean as you cook Don’t let dishes accumulate and pile up, it will cause unnecessary stress. Put ingredients away as you’re done with them so you can have a clear workspace.

Have a plan Read up on the recipe you’d like to make.

Scroll through your favorite instagram food pages for plating inspiration. Ensure not only that you have the right ingredients, but familiarize yourself with the steps so you can estimate how much time you will need to avoid rushing.

Have fun!

Food should be fun and cooking can be therapeutic. Take your time, have a cup of tea or a glass of wine to calm those nerves and enjoy the process.

FEBRUARY 20, 2021

THE STAR

19

20

FEBRUARY 20, 2021

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Royal Bank of Canada - St. Lucia Branch Operations

Summary Financial Statements 2020 October 31, 2020 (expressed in Eastern Caribbean Dollars)

Notes to Summary Financial Statements

Summary Statement of Changes in Equity For the year ended October 31, 2020 Share capital ($’000)

Other reserves ($’000)

(Accumulated deficit)/ retained earnings ($’000) 4,231 (8,596)

Total equity ($’000)

1.

Incorporation and business activities Royal Bank of Canada St. Lucia Branch Operations (“the Bank” or “RBC”) whose principal place of business of its Head Office is 200 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is a chartered bank operating under the Bank Act of Canada and is registered in St. Lucia as an external company under the St. Lucia Companies Act, with its principal place of business as 22 Micoud Street, Castries, St. Lucia.

Balance at October 31, 2019 Net loss after taxation Other comprehensive income: - Changes in fair value - Remeasurement of post-retirement benefit obligation Total comprehensive income/(loss) Amounts received from Head Office Balance at October 31, 2020

-

41

-

75

-

30 105 146

(8,596) 3,397 (968)

30 (8,491) 3,397 (822)

Balance at October 31, 2018 Transition adjustment Balance as at November 1, 2018 Net income after taxation Other comprehensive income: - Changes in fair value - Remeasurement of post-retirement benefit obligation Total comprehensive income Amounts remitted from Head Office Balance at October 31, 2019

-

27 27

(2,955) (254) (3,209) 7,089

(2,928) (254) (3,182) 7,089

-

-

-

-

The principal activities in St. Lucia are retail banking and related operations.

-

14 14 41

7,089 351 4,231

14 7,103 351 4,272

On May 1st, 2015 RBC entered into a business transfer agreement with RBTT Bank Caribbean Limited (“RBTT Caribbean”) and acquired the banking business of the St. Lucia Branch of RBTT Caribbean by vesting order.

-

4,272 (8,596) 75

The Bank is licensed as a foreign bank under the Banking Act (“the Act”) which governs the operations of financial institutions in St. Lucia and is regulated by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank.

RBC Financial (Caribbean) Limited and its subsidiaries (“the group”) provide diversified services, including personal and commercial banking, within the Caribbean. RBC Financial (Caribbean) Limited is registered in Trinidad and Tobago and is a subsidiary of the Royal Bank of Canada.

Summary Statement of Cash Flows For the year ended October 31, 2020

Operating activities Net (loss)/income before taxation Adjustments for: Provision for credit losses Depreciation and amortisation Interest income - loans Interest income - securities, affiliated companies and treasury bills Interest expense

Year ended October 31, 2020 ($’000)

2019 ($’000)

(2,351)

7,305

10,655 2,360 (17,571) (73) 3,504

1,097 1,207 (19,482) (202) 4,334

(3,476)

(5,741)

11,470 (141) (79,803) 1,869

12,673 132 136,581 (2,704)

(10,868) 8,285 1,948 (1,557)

(4,983) (128,482) 70 (1,575)

Interest income received Interest paid Taxes paid

(72,273) 16,787 (3,500) (1,493)

5,971 19,448 (4,381) -

Cash (used in)/from operating activities

(60,479)

21,038

Operating loss before changes in operating assets and liabilities (Increase)/decrease in operating assets Loans Statutory deposit with Central Bank Due from associates and affiliated companies Other assets (Decrease)/increase in operating liabilities Customers’ deposits Due to associates and affiliated companies Due to banks Other liabilities

On December 12, 2019, the Board of Directors of the Royal Bank of Canada announced they entered into an agreement to sell all banking operations in the Eastern Caribbean, including the business of personal and business banking carried out by the Branch in St. Lucia and substantially all its related assets and liabilities, to a consortium of five indigenous banks in the region. The completion of the sale of the Branch’s operations is dependent on commercial closing conditions and both Governmental and Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (“ECCB”) approval. Approval from the ECCB was received subsequent to year end on December 22, 2020. Completion of the transaction is expected within twelve months of the balance sheet date. Upon completion of the transaction the Royal Bank of Canada will cease its banking operations in St. Lucia and no longer be required to be licensed as a foreign bank under the Act. No adjustment has been made to the carrying values of the Branch’s assets and liabilities, determined in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as described in the notes to the audited financial statements, which represent the amounts management expect to realise.

Investing activities Purchase, sales and redemption of treasury bills Additions to premise, equipment and computer software Disposal of premises and equipment

(452) 5

203 (432) -

Cash used in investing activities

(447)

(229)

Financing activities Cash remitted from Head Office

3,717

296

Cash from financing activities

3,717

296

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

(57,209)

21,105

66,981

45,876

9,772

66,981

2.

Basis of preparation The audited financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards. The summary financial statements are derived from the audited financial statements and are prepared in accordance with Section 69(3) of the Saint Lucia Banking Act No. 3 of 2015.

FEBRUARY 20, 2021

THE STAR

21

LAPSES & INFELICITIES THE CANCER THAT IS OUR POLITICS! Review by McDonald Dixon

R

ick Wayne’s eclectic prose meanders throughout 600 pages of this book, reminiscent of the old road from Castries to Vieux Fort when the journey was a butt-peeling two-hour drive. That was, before crown agents intervened in the 70s and straightened out the hairpin bends, with the exception of Morne Road, at the right angle suicide spin below Government House. A rich lively rhetoric reminiscent of Gore Vidal’s Washington D.C. and to a lesser extent Norman Mailer’s The Armies of the Night, particularly as Wayne paints his livid caricatures, brushstroke after brushstroke, to people the work.

“So now, in the all-revealing light of time’s torch, come with me as I revisit October 1994, shortly after Saint Lucia’s prime minister . . . rescued a failed politician from more or less permanent residence at a village rum shop and relocated him to New York.”

“Barely had the commencement date been announced when . . . a programmed Labour Party robot who on the occasion described himself as a building contractor, filed a Notice of Motion for an order to prohibit the attorney general—cited as respondent—from holding the Commission of Inquiry.” “ . . . the day’s emcee was introducing the event’s first speaker following the opening prayer when all eyes turned from the podium to focus on the apparition standing in the convention hall’s only doorway. If he was to the majority of the congregation a mysterious stranger, still there could be no denying the apocalyptic tone of his placard’s scrawled message . . . ” Sounds like a work of fiction? It is not. To the uninitiated, this book could well pass as a novel. But then that would be a dangerous assumption, even as history is sometimes as incredulous as the truth. This book is contemporary political history of post-Independence Saint Lucia, covering the action of the first 30 years in the life of our small nation. To begin, it is extremely difficult beyond reportage to write contemporary history and to interpret the facts as they manifest. Biases and personal flavors will come to the fore. We are human, after all.

Our feelings will permeate through the woodwork. There will always be among readers, as in government, sympathizers and opposition. There will be the miscreants that will twist facts with the agility of steel benders, and also the usual suspects who will agree with everything written until you are led to believe they had dictated the manuscript under a pseudonym. Since his return to Saint Lucia after years in the United States, Wayne has worked with all sides, in and out of government. As he aptly states, he has been “in the belly of the beast.” He understands its machinations. He writes naught that needs evidence supportive of

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FEBRUARY 20, 2021

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his claims, which he generates in a series of episodes, as in newsreels, to make his case, but in forthright forceful language that commands the reader to sit up and listen.

“The pampered first son of a popular Seventh Day Adventist city barber, he had started out with much promise. At 17 he was a star athlete, nicknamed “the flying darkie” by football fans for his prowess between the goal posts . . .” Before this book, there were “It’ll Be Alright In The Morning” and “Foolish Virgins.” They corroborate various bits and pieces of testimony through the voice of other characters, where applicable, if only in modus operandi. There have been countless articles in the STAR newspaper under the author’s name since time immemorial, unchallenged to this day. Is it all truth? I cannot know. Is it contemporary political saga? Yes, and what a helluva story it makes! Everyone is entitled to his peculiar brand of fetish. Wayne’s is politics. And boy, does he wallow in it!

Lapses and Infelicities will represent different things to different people.

Incidentally, the book’s title is taken from a statement by Kenny Anthony while referencing a particular controversy during his tenure in office—the so-called Poverty Reduction Fund scandal. No need to go further into this here.

I can guarantee it’s all in the book. Also there is the long forgotten UN Scandal, Labour’s fall from grace in 1982, the UWP’s defeat in 1997 and the rise of Kenny Anthony as a formidable politician. If it is possible to block one’s mind from the grand events still shaping our political landscape and assume an approach without bias, it could quite easily be forgiven as one of the most hilarious pieces of contemporary political satire that one finds only in calypsos. The sequence on page 347, between Rick and George, before and after the announcement of the 1997 election results, is at once funny and bizarre: “I was never certain about George Odlum’s chances in Castries Northeast. One minute the tea leaves promised sunshiny weather; the next, rain. To be absolutely candid, his public meetings never drew anything close to the crowds that once had traveled miles to join his mostly illegal public demonstrations, ominous possibilities be damned. Despite the sweat poured into his campaigns, the response to him personally, not necessarily to his guest speakers, was relatively lukewarm, conceivably a consequence of familiarity—if not his chameleonic characteristics. Shortly before the ballot count started I sat with Odlum in a dimly lit far corner of his campaign headquarters while a half dozen of his gofers made short thrift of leftover lukewarm beverages and suspect cheese sandwiches donated by person or persons unknown. He did not appear confident. But something told me he was merely indulging his thespian inclinations. After a time, I said: ‘Hey, George, c’mon, let’s get some air.’ We exited the room,

The apparition at the door with his apocalyptic placard!

walked listlessly down some concrete steps to the near deserted main road, strolled around the block in eerie silence. Then I asked: ‘So what’s bugging you, man? For crissakes, cheer up. The fat lady’s still in make-up. The show’s not yet over. We gave it our best shot, all we can do now is keep our fingers crossed.’ ” “No big thing,” he said, “it’s just another election, right?”

“No big thing indeed. Nevertheless I said: ‘If things don’t go as we expect, you’ll still be OK. It’s clear the party is winning bigtime. Kenny won’t turn his back on you!’

“By the time we returned to base, the wind of change had blown away the earlier gloom. Now his campaign headquarters was a zoo. More people than had ever attended all of his rallies put together were now hanging from the rafters, shouting from the balcony, messing with the refrigerator, blowing red plastic whistles, demanding that Brother George join the carnival-like jump-up outside. Small wonder that he was soon taking full credit for the Labour Party’s victory in the Castries basin. He had done for Philip J. Pierre, his brother Jon Odlum and Sarah Flood what only one year earlier he could not do for himself.”

There are the crude aspersions that represent the building blocks of Caribbean politics and substitute most times for debate.

For example, Vaughn Lewis’ “Chinese Cabinet,” with such characters as Tu Ju Su, Phuk Em Yung, Fan Chou Moon and Lim Ping. They hold no real value, except to an audience present only for the night’s entertainment and more often than not have no impact on the outcomes in the ballot boxes. However, our people have long since been honored for plumbing the depths of their creative ingenuity to father these figments of the imagination and

clothe them in the personalities of real men with a credibility far greater than their living accomplices can exude. Then there is Rick Wayne’s own nefarious wit that stings like a gloved hand to the solar plexus.

“In the distance a familiar voice sounded: ‘Brothers and sisters, I call on you now to stay cool. Protect your revolution!’ “ ‘Dear God,’ a shaken, perplexed Allan Lousy muttered under his breath. ‘What the hell is George up to now?’

“If God knew the answer, he wasn’t sharing it. In all events, Odlum was as much in the dark about his next move as was anyone else. Without a script and with no idea whatsoever how this particular production was supposed to play out, the ridiculously costumed revolutionary had little choice but to improvise . . .”

The storyline weaves from chapter to chapter with the ease of film. Light on the eyes, seldom pedantic. Rick Wayne no doubt had a novel in mind when he wrote this book, but novels are works of fiction and the closest this work comes to fiction is where the legendary yo dee (idle gossip) appears, not often. Of course the author is entitled to his own assumptions and I am not prepared in this brief review to challenge the veracity of his statements. I am not equipped to hunt down the mundane and if asked whether I believe everything in the book, I would have no comment. I enjoyed it immensely and would recommend it to every potential applicant for the post of politician. One message is quite clear: beware the duplicity of pretending to serve the people while draining their pockets.

Rick Wayne also gives us short insights into the early life of one our prime ministers, Kenny D. Anthony, as well as the difficult teething period Prime Minister Vaughan Lewis experienced on assuming the mantle of leadership after Sir John Compton. Wayne also shows how in politics villains in one life easily become heroes in another. This was skillfully done with Sir Allan Louisy’s written endorsement of Kenny Anthony as political leader of the Labour Party. Webster in “The Duchess of Malfi” wrote: “A politician is the devil’s quilted anvil. He fashions things.”

These words assume a semblance of truth as you read through the pages of “Lapses and Infelicities.” From the machinations of George Odlum and Peter Josie to the checkers game between Sir John Compton and Vaughan Lewis and the vainglorious contretemps that enabled Kenny Anthony to emerge over Julian Hunte.

This is a book all nationalistic Caribbean persons should read so as to understand the divisions that they so vociferously support, ripping the veneer off the mahogany that is our little societies, are nothing more than egos basking in a moment’s glory. The real power rests with the people, free and indivisible under God. Thank you, Rick Wayne, for this poignant exposé of our times, laying bare for all to see—the cancer that is our politics.

Buckeye St. Lucia Terminal Ltd

42

THE LAND, THE PEOPLE, THE LIGHT.

nd

Anniversary of Independence Saint Lucia.

A Resilient Nation.

We Can, We Will

Congratulations to the Government and People of Saint Lucia on their 42nd Anniversary of Independence.

From The Management and Staff of

Buckeye Terminal St. Lucia Limited Cul De Sac

St. Lucia, WI

Tel: (758) 456.1600

A climate-resilient future

By HE Mr Bruce Lendon, Australia’s High Commissioner to the Caribbean

2020 tested the strength and resilience of communities worldwide. It was a year dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, but for Australians it started with the most devastating bushfires in our history.

Resilience to encourage greater ambition, finance and coordination to protect against growing climate risks.

And Australia has joined the Coalition for Climate Resilience Investment, which aims to shift private investment towards climate resilient infrastructure and support vulnerable communities to attract private sector investment.

As with COVID-19, Australia’s bushfires demonstrated the importance of marshalling collective will, innovation, resources and leadership to overcome our most pressing challenges.

Of course, adaptation action must go hand in hand with reducing emissions.

The Climate Adaptation Summit hosted by the Netherlands in January this year was a timely opportunity for the international community, including Australia and countries of the Caribbean, to work together towards a more climate-resilient future.

Australia is aiming to reach net zero emissions as soon as possible. We remain resolutely committed to the Paris Agreement and are on track to meet and beat our 2030 target, having reduced emissions by almost 17 per cent since 2005.

Australia has reaffirmed our commitment to ambitious and practical action to combat the impacts of climate change at home, in our region, and around the world.

As the driest inhabited continent in the world, Australia has committed over AUD15 billion to make our natural resources, environment and water infrastructure more resilient to drought and climate disasters.

We are spending more than AUD2 billion on bushfire recovery efforts to regenerate habitats, help native animals recover and build knowledge for better land management.

Australia recognises that climate change is the biggest long-term threat to the health of coral reefs worldwide.

We’ve committed AUD2.7 billion to the effective management and protection of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. We’ve also launched the AUD150 million Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program that brings together world leading marine science to research

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Photographer: W. Stewart, Copyright: Commonwealth of Australia (GBRMPA). strategies that can help reefs recover from bleaching events and adapt to changing ocean temperatures.

While our adaptation and resilience work starts at home, Australia is also committed to supporting neighbouring and global communities to tackle climate change.

Australia has pledged AUD1.5 billion for global climate finance. AUD500 million of this will directly help our Pacific neighbours deploy renewable energy and improve their climate change and disaster resilience.

We are joining the Call for Action on Raising Ambition for Climate Adaptation and

Australians are building and investing in renewables at worldleading rates. Almost one in four Australian homes now have solar—the highest uptake in the world—and we expect renewables will contribute at least 50 per cent of our electricity by 2030.

Whether responding to COVID-19 or tackling the challenges posed by climate change, we need to embrace innovation and strengthen global partnerships.

Our scientists tell us that, even with the most ambitious global emissions reductions, we will still need to adapt to changes in our climate over coming decades. Practical actions that help us adapt to those changes and strengthen the resilience of our local environments are critical.

Australia looks forward to working hand-in-hand with the Caribbean. Together, we will make a difference.

FEBRUARY 20, 2021

THE STAR

23

THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN SUPREME COURT IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE SAINT LUCIA

IN THE MATTER of the discharge and or cancellation of Judicial Hypothecs and the registration of Judgments/Orders registered in the Office of Deeds and Mortgages and in the Land Registry AND IN THE MATTER of Article 2028 of the Civil Code of Saint Lucia AND IN THE MATTER of sections 88 and 54 of the Land Registration Act 1984 CAP 5.01 of the Revised laws of Saint Lucia 2008 AND IN THE MATTER of parcels of land registered in the Land Registry as 0847C 20,0426B 23,1251B 625 and 1456B 450;

CLAIM NO. SLUHCV 1999/57 BETWEEN:

1. Mr. PETER NUNN 2. Mrs. CAROL NUNN Claimants and 1. AVISTUS ST BRICE 2. SYLVESTER EMMANUEL 3. URSULA CHARLERY Defendants

WITHOUT NOTICE: SYLVESTER EMMANUEL

NOTICE TAKE NOTICE that an application has been filed in the High Court case No.SLUHCV1999/57 by SYLVESTER EMMANUEL in that the Applicant SYLVESTER EMMANUEL applies to the Court that the registrations of the judgment in (1) The Office of Deeds and Mortgages Mortgages on the 20th day of September 1999 in volume 152A Number 180302 and (2) The Land Registry as a caution with instrument number 413 of 2000 be cancelled, on account of the fact that the Judgment obtained by Peter Nunn and Carol Nunn has been fully satisfied.

AND service of the Notice of the Notice of Application, the Affidavit in Support of the Application and notice of all proceedings in this action be effected by this advertisement in 2 Local Newspapers circulating in Saint Lucia for one month.

AND the Notice of Application and the Affidavit in Support of the Application can be viewed at the High Court Office at Jeremie Street, Castries, Saint Lucia or at the Chambers of ALVIN ST. CLAIR 12 Laborie Street, Castries, Saint Lucia.

IF YOU DESIRE to defend or contest the said application or to be heard you must within twenty-eight (28) days of the last publication of this advertisement file an Acknowledgement of Service at the Registry of the High Court of Justice, La Place Carenage, Jeremie Street, Castries, Saint Lucia.

IN DEFAULT of filing such Acknowledgment of Service within the time stipulated, the Court may hear the case in your absence without further notice and such Orders may be made as the Court deems fit.

Dated this 12th day of February, 2018 ALVIN ST. CLAIR & ASSOCIATES Per: Signed: ALVIN ST.CLAIR Solicitor for the Applicant This Notice was filed by ALVIN ST. CLAIR& ASSOCIATES, Chambers 12 Laborie Street, Castries, Telephone Numbers 452-4722 email: alvinstclairchambers@gmail.com Solicitors for the Applicant The court office is at La Place Carenage, Jeremie Street in the City of Castries, telephone number 468-7500, fax number 468-7543, E-mail stluhco@eccourts.org The office is open between [9:00 a.m.] and [2:00 p.m.] Monday to Thursdays and 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Friday except public holidays.

JOB OPPORTUNITY World University Service of Canada (WUSC Caribbean) is currently recruiting for the position of Agribusiness and Marketing Officer (One each for Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica & Saint Lucia); and a part time Regional Communications Specialist (to be based in either Dominica, Guyana or Jamaica) for the Sustainable Agriculture in the Caribbean (SAC) Project. These positions are open to CARICOM nationals only and the initial posting will be for a period of two (2) years.

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Jared Kushner Asks Dad to Bribe His Way Into Electoral College

by Andy Borowitz

W

A detailed job description for each position can be found on WUSC’s website at: www.wusc.ca/en/work-wusc/ Suitably qualified persons are invited to submit their cover letter, CV, and the name and contact information of 3 professional references no later than the 1st of March, 2021 via e-mail to dhope@wusc.ca WUSC Caribbean offers competitive remuneration packages and subscribes to the principles of employment equity and safety in the workplace and for all stakeholders in the project. While WUSC Caribbean thanks all applicants for their interest, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.

The Sustainable Agriculture in the Caribbean (SAC) Project is implemented by World University Service of Canada (WUSC), with funding support from the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada (GAC).

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POSITION SUMMARY Reporting to the Country Coordinator, the Agribusiness and Marketing Officer will provide support to the Country Coordinators in the planning, management, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the SAC project’s programing activities linking women and youth to sustainable agricultural market systems. Reporting to the Project Director, the part time Regional Communications Specialist will be responsible for guiding WUSC Caribbean’s communications policies, procedures, implementation and products support.

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PROJECT OVERVIEW The SAC project will promote climate resilient agriculture for equitable economic growth using an inclusive market systems (IMS) approach to increase economic prosperity of women and youth (female/male) in more sustainable agricultural markets. Women and youth (f/m) will be central players in targeted agricultural market systems. The SAC project will encourage climate resilient domestic agricultural production to enhance productivity, food security, and reduce reliance on imported agricultural products, for more sustainable economic growth by engaging agricultural markets in Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia and Suriname.

24

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ith less than a week until Election Day, Jared Kushner has asked his father to bribe his way into the Electoral College.

Noting that Charles Kushner donated two and a half million dollars to Harvard before his son was accepted, Jared pointed out that his dad “might have to pony up more this time around.”

“The Electoral College only accepts !ve hundred and thirty-eight applicants,” he reportedly told his dad.

“Even Lori Loughlin couldn’t get her kids in.”

In addition to persuading his father to “make it rain on the E.C.,” Jared said that he was putting together a “stellar” application.

“I’m pretty sure I can get a letter of recommendation from Bob Woodward,” he said. “We had an awesome interview.”

Between his father’s “Benjamins” and his own “rock-star status,” Jared said that his admission to the Electoral College should be “a lock,” arguing, “How can they turn down the guy who ended the pandemic?”

National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) Universal Service Fund (USF) Request for Proposals Universal Service Fund dŚĞ &ƵŶĚ ǁĂƐ ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽŵŽƚŝŽŶ ŽĨ hŶŝǀĞƌƐĂů ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ dĞůĞĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƚŝŽŶƐ Đƚ ϮϬϬϬ͕ hŶŝǀĞƌƐĂů ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽǀŝƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ͗ • Public voice telephony; • internet access; • telecommunications services to schools, health institutions and similar institutions and the physically challenged; or • other services by which people access efficient, affordable and modern telecommunications.

Objective of the Fund As specified by the Act, the source of funding of the Universal Service Fund comes from Telecommunication Providers. The Universal Service Fund Office under the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC), is responsible for its management. The Fund supports the expansion of telecommunications services particularly to the underserved who currently do not have sufficient access and provides telecommunications services which are readily accessible and affordable. Support is provided for the introduction and expansion of telecommunications services to schools, health facilities and other organizations serving public needs as well as for the promotion of technological innovation in the telecommunications sector.

The Universal Service Fund has so far implemented the following projects with the aim of improved broadband connectivity, community Wi-Fi and computer equipment to enable adequate access and voice telephony through payphones: 1.

2.

Soufriere Community Access Centre and environs (project closure as of Oct 2018) Digicel Payphones-increasing the existing fleet of payphones by fifteen (15) in underserved communities (project closure as of April 2019) 3. Babonneau Library and environs 4. Ciceron Secondary School and environs (project closure as of February 2020) 5. The Libraries and Community Access Centres throughout St. Lucia 6. Sir Arthur Lewis Community College -Southern Campus 7. The Holy Family Children’s Home-Ciceron 8. Improved service access for individuals who are differently abled in six (6) Institutions 9. Boys Training Centre and environs 10. National Skills Development Centre 11. Castries South East Community Wi-Fi (6 locations) 12. COVID-19 Response- Students Lernbook/E-book and MiFi initiative Most recently the National Telecommunication’s Regulatory Commission through its Universal

Service Fund agreed to a COVID-19 response. The need materialized when the Ministry of Education approached the NTRC/USF with a proposal to supply computer equipment. The response involved a contribution to the education system in St Lucia by supplying 4000 Lernbook devices and 4000 MiFi units due to the unprecedented nature COVID-19 and its impact on the Education sector. Whereas, this initiative fell outside the USF’s normal mode of implementation, all projects are subsidized by the NTRC, for a period of five (5) years.

The National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, under its Universal Service mandate is requesting project proposals from any legal entity, group or person, in keeping with the stipulated requirements. All Project proposals are to be submitted on the approved application form which may be obtained from the office of the Commission or on the Commission’s website at https://www.ntrcslu.lc/͘ To submit Project Proposals and for further information, the Commission’s Universal Service Fund Office can be contacted as listed below: dŚĞ hŶŝǀĞƌƐĂů ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ &ƵŶĚ ĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƚŽƌ dĞůĞƉŚŽŶĞ EƵŵďĞƌ͗ ;ϭϳϱϴͿ ϰϱϴͲϮϬϯϱ Žƌ ;ϭϳϱϴͿ ϰϱϮͲϲϴϳϭ ŵĂŝů ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐ͗ ntrc@ntrcslu.lc ͬ ntrc_slu@candw.lc ĂŶĚ ĐŽƉŝĞĚ ƚŽ͗ sjones@ntrcslu.lc ͬ sjones@ectel.int ; ĂŶĚ ncassius@ntrcslu.lc ͬ ncassius@ectel.int

FEBRUARY 20, 2021

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SAINT LUCIA WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER AGAINST COVID-19 6 ft

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COVID-19 SAFETY STEPS to keep us all healthy STAY HOME IF YOU DON’T FEEL WELL

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Stay Stay Stay Stay

Safe Healthy Focused United

Together we can win this war.

nd

Happy 42 Anniversary of Independence St. Lucia A Resilient Nation. We Can, We Will.

Visit covid19response.lc

FEBRUARY 20, 2021

A message from the Office of the Prime Minister

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