SLP Stalwart Advises Pierre: Dump Kenny Now!

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2019

www.stluciastar.com

$2.00

SLP Stalwart Advises Pierre:

Are House opposition leader Philip Pierre (pictured) and his famously radical party colleagues singing from the same hymnal? Or is he really only a back-up vocalist?

DUMP KENNY NOW! See page 8

Issue 37 | 29

Nov, 2019

AR EEK THE STE SSW BUSIN IN THIS

AR.COM LUCIAST

O KPO:CAN BPO TL IA S FROMSA INT UC TUNITIE CE HOW NEW OPPOR SPAition ing CINsucGcessful ly pos GRABE OUTSOUnR s such as tly and firm quie g IN TH years Saint Lucia has beeg (BPO) hub, encourratiaginons on the island.

R 7, 2019

DECEMBE

WWW.ST

t few sourcin se ope Over the pas iness Process Out s and KM2 to hou Bus Teleservice NDENT itself as a Digicel, Ark ESPO EEK CORR OJO Labs, BUSINESSW

EDITION

OF

SBW

THE STAR EEK BUSINESSW

ibbean’s The Car Economy Shadow the largest has one of , The Caribbeanomies in the world informal econ street vendors, sing encompas businesses and craft d unregistere ers. work Page 3

IS, STAR

MORR

BY CATHERINE on page 4 Continued

r Kristalina ng Directo IMF Managi y IMF Photo courtes

Georgieva.

es Advanc Aviation 0s the in the 202 depends on

region The Caribbean tion of airplanes andle . Few peop effective opera they utilise the airportsglobe would look upon s ercial flight the across the ional comm most tradit of great efficiency, but by as displays long been beset r. has Caribbean within the aviation secto challenges Page 5

People, Empowering Lives! g in Transformy of Equity, Social Justice, Ministr Focus on the ent and Empowerment nm Local Gover

1

1

• Tel: (758) 450-0021 / 31 / 728 1000 • Fax: (758) 450-0092 • Email: info@bluewatersslu.com • Website: www.bluewatersslu.com

info@stluciastar.com

02 LOCAL

www.stluciastar.com

december 07, 2019 THE STAR

GO FAKE YOURSELF 94 Schools Across “

World Bank says poor need money”; “Federal Agents Raid Gun Shop, Find Weapons”; “Woman missing since she got lost”; “Homicide victims rarely talk to police”; “Cows lose their jobs as milk prices drop”; “Breathing oxygen linked to staying alive”; and the media question of the day in, of all places, Polk County Florida, “Are prostitutes getting screwed?” These are all fine examples of what we know as media screw-ups and we not only expect them but, in my case at least, I thrive on them.

For example, we pronounce the name “Cockburn” as “Co-burn” but when after the wedding the headline reads, “Cockburns Off On Wedding Trip” it might cause, or be caused by, some serious friction.

Just like the headline “One-armed man applauds the kindness of strangers”, so too I commend the media for getting it right occasionally. History has shown that to err is human, we all make bad decisions and mistakes, and even in proofreading our own work we see what we think we wrote and not what is actually on the page or in the paper. This might explain why “Drunk Driver Fails Blow Job Test”, “Condom truck tips, spills load”, “Psychic Arrested Again- still didn’t see it coming”, and “Statistics show that teen pregnancy drops off significantly after age 25.” I definitely won’t make a big thing of a baseball headline about the games’ stars, “A-Rod Goes Deep, Wang Gets Hurt”.

The real tragedy is something that has been around since the Devil gave Eve an apple to eat after assuring her it would give her all the powers of God. This is Gospel truth to many although there are some misguided people who assert it is “fake news”. Scientific American says, “History is littered with examples where the facts were altered to suit a specific purpose.” In the 8th century, the Catholic Church came up with “The Donation of Constantine”, which it claimed was proof that in the 4th century, Emperor Constantine had transferred vast tracts of land to Pope Sylvester I for curing him of leprosy. The Church was able to maintain this hoax until the 15th century.

Fake news in America did not start with Donald Trump although he popularised it by dismissing all media criticisms of his Presidency as “fake

news”. In 1782 Benjamin Franklin created a fake issue of a Boston newspaper which claimed that American forces had discovered bags of money and goods that appeared bound for the king but included among them the scalps of soldiers and civilians. The bag of scalps featured a letter addressed to the king asking him to accept the scalps as a token of friendship and loyalty. The public was outraged. Franklin’s “news” added to the animosity directed against Native Americans and caused them not to be trusted or accepted in the “new” America. In a very real sense people believe what they want to believe. As latenight comedian, Conan O’Brien, said, two thirds of the country believe fake news, however defined, causes confusion. The other one-third said, “Why are we talking about this when we’re being invaded by killer dolphins?”

Caribbean Newspapers have embraced the term “fake news” like the old man in the bible with his prodigal son, fatted calves and all. I got 210,000 results in .40 seconds in a Google search of the Gleaner for “fake news” and the one that led the way was about “Tertiary Students Peddling Fake News For Fun.” I found 1,430,000 in the Barbados Nation including stories about “fake” schools, advertising, smart cards and a fake voters list in Dominica. The St Lucia Star had 13,700,000 results in .48 seconds and they included a headline, “Fake News from the Police no different from Social Media Fake News!” However, the media cannot be blamed for reporting an increasingly troubling phenomenon. An Interim Report from the British Parliament on “Disinformation and ‘fake news’” states, “There are many potential threats to our democracy and our values. One such threat arises from what has been coined ‘fake news’, created for profit and other gain, disseminated through state-sponsored programmes, or spread through deliberate distortion of facts, by groups with a particular agenda, including the desire to affect political elections.”

Earlier this year, an OBSERVER article by Dr. Greg Hill, Director of the Idaho Policy Institute, warned, “Dishonest Reporting Is Undermining Trust In Media Worldwide” and confirmed that “Due to the rise of digital

technology, false news stories are more pervasive and, even more alarming, harder to identify.” The paper cited a case in which The Daily Mail was caught publishing a blatantly false “bombshell” piece regarding global leaders being duped into spending billions of dollars to combat global warming based on manipulated data.

The biggest problem with this and other examples of fake news is that they can lead to total mistrust of the mediasomething that is already happening. Recent polls show that a majority of Americans believe mainstream news outlets produce inaccurate reports, UK adults feel that the news media isn’t doing a good job, and Canadians (71%) worry about fake news.

At the same time, there are honest journalists working hard each day to provide their readers with a sense of what is happening in their countries and the world, and the implications and consequences of these events.

There will always be genuine errors of fact by a profession which deals with tight daily deadlines and operates in an extremely stressful environment. Some recruits are handicapped from the start. Journalism in the region is ongoing proof that the freedom of the press belongs to who owns them and, because it is a buyer’s market for labour, many of the people who come into the profession lack the basic skills, knowledge and education to cope with the challenges. I don’t mind reading “Midget sues grocer, cites belittling remarks”, “Most Earthquake Damage is Caused

by Shaking”, “Marijuana issue sent to a joint committee”, “Diana Was Still Alive Hours Before She Died” and even “Woman in sumo wrestler suit assaulted her ex-girlfriend in gay pub after she waved at man dressed as a Snickers bar”.

What I mind is what seems to be a constant echo of the English satirist Peter Cook, “I have learned from my mistakes, and I am sure I can repeat them exactly.” *Tony Deyal was last seen being thankful for his name after he read in a paper which apologised for the “incorrect spelling of a name. Pastor Dick Bigelow was incorrectly identified as Dick Bigblow.”

the OECS Benefit from Grants to Improve Literacy!

Canaries Infant School uses grant to improve boys’ reading levels!

A

s part of the OECS/USAID Early Learners Programme (ELP) within the Education Development Management Unit of the OECS Commission, small grants were provided under the project to support school-based reading intervention projects.

A total of ninety-four (94) schools across the OECS have benefitted from school-based grants of which approximately sixty-three (63) were specific to support reading improvement.

A total of $593,341.75 Eastern Caribbean Dollars (XCD) has been disbursed by the ELP as well as the OECS Education Support Project (OESP) to support schools.

The Canaries Infant School, received XCD$ 8,070.00 in grant funding to establish a programme to make reading more interesting for boys of Grades One and Two. With boys underperforming girls over consecutive years and struggling to read, the Canaries Infant School took action, and implemented a series

of innovative initiatives over a six-month period, as they recognized that many male students are kinesthetic learners (learning through physical activities) and required a different approach.

Accordingly, the play approach was used on 11 boys, who were encouraged to learn through their senses to activate their brain. This was manifested through meaningful learning experiences where the boys actively engaged in hands on literacy activities including; role playing, the establishment of a literacy station, use of male themes such as superheroes, cars, trucks and dinosaurs in the various reading activities and a male role model to support the various activities.

The results of these initiatives have been favorable with improved reading by the male students within the programme, observed by the teachers and an improvement from the standardized pre-test

scores taken after the initiative.

For the nine (9) male students who took the standardized test, there was 100% improvement in basic reading skills. According to Janessa Felix, class teacher, “The project began last year and for sure we have already seen huge benefits. There has been an increased level of participation among the boys when it comes to reading and literacy activities. A higher level of confidence has also been noticed as well as a greater level of participation.”

OECS examination results across the OECS reveal that boys underperform girls in minimum standard testing and as a result, additional support for boys has become an important factor within the ELP work programme. The ELP and the individual Member States have instituted similar initiatives in the classroom to provide the young boys of the Caribbean with the added support they need to learn in a manner that is more effective for them.

THE STAR

DECEMBER 07, 2019

www.stluciastar.com

03

04 LOCAL

DECEMBER 07, 2019 THE STAR

www.stluciastar.com

Missing Vieux Fort Man’s Family demands answers as search enters third week

to assist us in locating this gentleman,” he said. “The major crime unit has been assigned to carry out an investigation into this report of a missing person.”

The family claims the nother agonizing week for the family of a missing police told them Blaze was released at around 6:40 pm on Vieux Fort man. Michael November 24 but that a review ‘Coco’ Blaze, 21, has been MIA of the camera footage indicated since November 24, following his release from police custody. that it was after 9:00 pm when Blaze was set free. A relative At a press briefing on Monday, told the STAR on Wednesday police superintendent George that the family had searched for Nicholas confirmed a missing Blaze all over Choiseul, to no person report had been filed. avail.

He said Blaze was arrested

“It is hard for us to in Vieux Fort on November understand how the police 22 and held for two days at released him in Choiseul at the the Choiseul police station in time they said, and he never relation to a robbery. Nicholas came home. He knows how to said Blaze was released on the 24 November 2019, and has not take a bus, or if he doesn’t have money for bus, he will walk. It is been seen since. very strange.”

Nicholas added: “The evidence was not substantial, so On Tuesday, Kenny Anthony, the MP for Vieux Fort South, the suspect was released.” He stated in a press release that declined comment on rumors he was “deeply troubled” by that Blaze had mental issues.

Blaze’s disappearance. He “We’re asking persons with also expressed concern for information to come forward Joshua St. Aimee

A

Courts launches regional debt forgiveness campaign in time for the Christmas Season!

C

Released from police custody on November 24, Michael Blaze (pictured) has not been seen since.

His distraught family is crying out for answers.

the family. “The children in the Mangue are traumatized

by Coco’s unexplained disappearance. Understandably, the family needs answers and very quickly. While Coco

has a history of autism, he is a sensible, kind, warm and jovial individual. I have known him since he was a child. I pray that he is alive and well somewhere.”

No. 1 in the UK for Value-added (The Guardian, 2017)

Top 10 UK University

ourts- a subsidiary of the Unicomer Group has announced the launch of its regional debt forgiveness campaign. In this, the time of giving, one of the country’s leading retailers is engaging customers who faced challenges with servicing their credit accounts. This welcomed opportunity will allow for a significant portion of outstanding debts to be cleared off!

This campaign, entitled; “Let’s Make a Deal”, was chosen to invoke a sense of fun yet still encourage open dialogue between Courts and their valued customers. “We understand that servicing debt is seen as an embarrassing subject for some and are confident that this initiative will

foster confidential discussion and strengthen customer relations.” says Ms. Hermine Thomas, Unicomer OECS Credit Director. “We recognize that in some instances, persons have accumulated these “bad debts” as a result of them taking credit on behalf of a third party which compromises their ability to utilize the company’s credit offering.”

Whatever the reason, Let’s Make a Deal Debt forgiveness campaign is here! Courts looks forward to welcoming back these individuals granting once more access to the island’s best hire purchase option. Persons are invited to take advantage of this exciting initiative by visiting their nearest Courts branch or calling 457-8100 and inquiring about “Let’s Make a Deal.”

APPLY NOW FOR JANUARY 2020 INTAKE

(Graduate Employability)

100% FLEXIBLE 100% ONLINE 100% RELEVANT

Edinburgh Napier University Online Programmes are endorsed by the St Lucia Department of Education

MBA/MBM

Exceptional value — earn an accredited UK MBA or MSc Business Management (MBM) for under US$10,000 • Can be completed in 18 months • Flexible, modular payment plans

Specialisations:

Banking, Criminal Justice, Entrepreneurship, Events, Finance, Health Management, Hospitality & Tourism, HRM, Info. Systems, Leadership & Innovation, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Marketing, Project Management

BA Business Management (Top-up) Final Year Entry to holders of Associate Degree and/or Diploma Specialisms: Finance, Hospitality, HRM and Marketing BA Business & Enterprise (Top-up) BA Marketing Management (Top-up) BSc Computing (Top-up)NEW BSc Nursing Studies (Top-up) for Registered Nurses

Free Apple iPad Mini 5 (Conditions apply)

MSc HRM (SHRM Recognised) MSc Data Science MSc Data Engineering MSc Construction Project Management (RICS and ICE accredited) MSc Transport Planning and Engineering PG Cert. in Career Development

Regional Office: 27499 Riverview Center Blvd., Suite 223, Bonita Springs, Florida 34134, USA Tel +1 239 444 4399 • Fax +1 239 444 4398 • info@SEIdegrees.com

www.seidegrees.com

THE STAR

05

www.stluciastar.com

DECEMBER 07, 2019

ONE DAY

SA LE

SUNDAY 8TH, DEC MARISULE 10AM-6PM | CHAUSSEE 11AM - 4PM | VIEUXFORT 11AM - 3PM |BLUE CORAL 10AM - 2PM | SOUFRIERE 10AM-2PM

43”

UP TO

SAVE

$1,350

80% OFF

SELECTED ITEMS BUY ONE, GET ONE

50% OFF ALL TOYS 40% 40% OFF

GET THIS

SAMSUNG

43”SMART LED FHD TV | 1070A7

NOW CASH DISCOUNT PRICE

$1,499

WAS CASH DISCOUNT PRICE $2,799

RUGS & ACCESSORIES

OFF ALL SLEEP ON IT MATTRESSES

MICROWAVES FROM $149 COOKERS FROM $399 TWIN TUB WASHERS FROM $699

EARLY BIRD SPECIALS & CRAZY DEALS STORE WIDE

FR EE CHILD’S BIKE WITH THE PURCHASE OF ANY ADULT BIKE

Prices are correct at the time of going to print. Courts reserves the right to subsequently change prices without notice. Offers available while stocks last. All finance terms are subject to credit approval. Weekly prices are based on a Gold 36 months repayment plan. 3 to 36 months credit plans available. See in-store for details. Offer ends on December 8th, 2019.

shop today,

pay us in MAR 2020.

no deposit, no down-payment, nada, zilch, nil nothing!

06 local

www.stluciastar.com

DECEMBER 07, 2019 THE STAR

Guy Joseph: ‘I Can’t Wait To Hear Hilaire Explain His Allegations Against St. Lucians!’ hear what he had to say about how Juffali was first introduced to the government of Saint Lucia and what happened to the promises he made in relation to his diplomatic immunity I couldn’t believe what I at a time when he faced the was hearing this morning possibility of paying out a from the member for record divorce settlement to his Castries Southeast. He’s a divorced wife.” seasoned parliamentarian

On a more personal note of great dexterity, shall we Joseph added: “I know the say.” Whatever spin Kenny opposition has been trying Anthony may have attempted for years to nail me to corrupt to put on the word at last practises. They’ve tried Tuesday’s House session when everything they possibly can, he referenced the Castries legal and illegal, to try and get Southeast MP, the fact is that me. Now they’re saying I’ve “dexterity” is properly defined never been the subject of an as “mental skill: adroitness”— official investigation, but Saint oodles of which Guy Joseph Lucians have lost count of served up during an interview the number of allegations the with the STAR earlier this opposition has leveled against week. No surprise that it me. There is hard evidence that started with his comments when they were in government on the widely discussed Al they paid out millions to an Jazeera documentary, entitled American investigator to dig up Could Ernest Hilaire (right) have chosen a worse time to stump for Roosevelt in Dominica? Guy Joseph “Diplomats for Sale.” (Shortly dirt on me.” (pictured) can hardly wait to question the former high commissioner’s role in the Juffali Affair! after it appeared on the

Guy Joseph recalled Internet a government minister courts.” was assisted in acquiring a that’s well planned. And it days ahead of a general election that recently, when the prime commented to me, in hushed minister hinted in parliament Naturally, that’s not how diplomatic passport on the basis was planned in Saint Lucia. It in Dominica on December 6, in tones: “If that documentary had he was Saint Lucia’s permanent the opposition SLP sees the was planned in Saint Lucia to which Prime Minister Roosevelt about an investigation into been about Guy Joseph can the Grynberg controversy, matter. This week the party representative at the IMO but happen in Dominica!”

Skerrit is up for re-election. you image what the other side “only because the former issued the following statement: who never attended a single A spokesperson for Saint Al Jazeera’s investigation also would be saying? The answers prime minister has stubbornly “The UWP is fully aware that meeting of the organization in Lucia’s United Workers Party reveals Skerrit allegedly took they’d be demanding of him? refused to volunteer related Hon. Ernest Hilaire does not two years. I call on the then has called on the authorities hundreds of thousands of The calls he’d get from the local information,” Kenny Anthony appoint ambassadors or prime minister Kenny Anthony, both here and in Dominica to dollars for his 2014 election media?”) stood up in the House and issue diplomatic passports.

Philip J. Pierre, as his deputy question Hilaire on his shocking campaign from an Iranian

For Joseph himself, “The threatened: ‘If you carry out that prime minister, Alva Baptiste as To create the impression that statement. Hilaire also revealed businessman named Alireza documentary dealt mainly investigation I promise to see to Dr Hilaire did is malicious, foreign affairs minister, to voters in Dominica what Monfared in exchange for an with the sale of diplomatic it that you reap the whirlwind.’ defamatory and libelous.

To and the former high presumably they did not already ambassadorship for Dominica passports and I must say what it Then, there was that there will further suggest that he may commissioner and now know, and which flew in the to Malaysia. Besides money, uncovered was quite shocking. be no peace threat by Anthony have been paid for doing MP Ernest Hilaire to furnish face of the Al Jazeera report: Monfared also allegedly Saint Lucia is highlighted, and in relation to planned work on something that he had no details of the so-called Juffali “Let me tell you something. provided Skerrit with T-shirts I formed the impression the St. Jude Hospital by the current power to do is aggravating Affair. By all they said when in You see your prime minister, you and other paraphernalia for his documentary was inspired by administration. the accusation.” The release office, Walid Juffali so loved have a great man in Roosevelt 2014 campaign.” what happened in Saint Lucia

“The corrupt practices of did not say whether Hilaire Saint Lucians he never met Skerrit. You have a great man

Nevertheless, by Hilaire’s in 2015. But I hope it is seen as the Labour Party couldn’t be had in any way influenced the that he undertook to give their in Roosevelt Skerrit. The first yardstick, the Dominican prime the clandestine actions of only a more evident,” said Joseph government’s decisions relative time I met Roosevelt Skerrit we minister was a great man who country a research centre for few officials.” finally. “I wish Saint Lucians a to the Saudi billionaire. diabetes. All for free. Well, were far away in the Solomon deserved to be the island’s

He went on: “People should happy holiday season but come

Speaking of aggravating where is it? What happened Islands. From the first time I prime minister indefinitely. No not confuse the CBI programme January I’ll be coming out with one particular accusation, to it? If Juffali was given a met him I knew he was going to surprise that with the Juffali with the under the table sale all guns blazing as I expose the Ernest Hilaire was last seen on diplomatic passport on the be a great leader. I knew that!” matter resurrected, some see of diplomatic passports. The corruption for all to see, detail basis of promises made to Saint the Dominican prime minister

He did not refer to the Hilaire as desperate to help a issue of diplomatic passports upon detail. They’ve had their Roosevelt Skerrit’s campaign Lucia, then let’s hear the story counter assessment by Al fellow maligned friend. is exclusively a government time making wild allegations platform, passionately warning from those who know it best.

Jazeera: “Undercover filming Hilaire did not attend last function; the CBI is not. That Let’s not forget the damage this Skerrit supporters to “be careful reveals how former Dominican Tuesday’s House sitting. Had he they cannot prove. Now it’s their is why I am saying that what turn to be exposed for what of the United Workers Party. whole thing did to Saint Lucia Prime Minister Oliver Seraphin been present, Kenny Anthony’s we all saw in the Al Jazeera they are!”

Very careful of them. Do not worldwide. We were made to offered to broker a secret deal “parliamentarian of great documentary should not be Presumably, the MP appear in collusion with Juffali’s fall for their tricks. And I’ll tell to hand out an ambassadorship dexterity” might have addressed permitted or condoned. Here’s referred to blazing metaphorical you something: you see all widely criticized attempt to in Asia for fees totalling him on his role in the Juffali a gentleman who at best guns. that’s happening in Dominica, deny his wife justice in the UK $470,000. The revelation comes affair. “I would have loved to Dean Nestor

“

THE STAR

december 07, 2019

www.stluciastar.com

07

08 comment

www.stluciastar.com

december 07, 2019 THE STAR

LETTER TO DR. KENNY ANTHONY: PLEASE BE PATRIOTIC . . .

GIVE PIERRE ROOM TO BREATHE!

Following his second election loss, Dr. Anthony hurriedly resigned as leader he late George Odlum was of the SLP but he clung to the Vieux Fort south seat that on the button with his he’d won by less than 200 assessment of regional votes—against a no-name colleagues: “Caribbean candidate notorious for his politicians do not resign. lackluster campaigning. In They must be hounded out of most democracies it is the office.” It is time for Dr. Kenny convention that a defeated Anthony to do the right thing, party leader hands in his the best interests of party and resignation as a sign of respect country. Time to put patriotism to his colleagues and in the before pride and gracefully best interests of the party slide out to allow the St. Lucia generally. In short, he takes Labour Party a real chance responsibility for the electoral at victory in the next general defeat. Of course, dependent elections. And while I have on the circumstances the party no way of knowing when the executive may decide not to prime minister might ring the accept a leader’s withdrawal— election gong, Dr. Anthony is proof of confidence in his well placed to know the prime leadership. minister is constitutionally

The fact that Philip Pierre free to call a snap election is now the leader of the SLP whenever convenient. After all, Dr. Anthony did just that in 2016, only validated the widespread belief that responsibility for disastrously.

By Nicholas Joseph

T

Is Kenny Anthony (left) a concrete slab around the neck of recently elected party leader Philip J. Pierre?

St. Lucia Teachers’ Co-operative Credit-Union Ltd.

VACANCY NOTICE The St. Lucia Teachers’ Co-operative Credit-Union Ltd. is looking for a dynamic leader and change agent to fill the position of GENERAL MANAGER. Key Roles and Responsibilities: • Ensure effective management of the Credit Union, by optimizing the efficiency and effectiveness of operations.

• Implement strategies and monitor performance of team members to achieve strategic goals.

• Ensure high standards of customer service are consistently maintained.

• Effectively implement and enforce policies and procedures.

• Provide on-going support to committees and staff as needed.

• Direct overall financial activities to ensure achievement of revenue, profit and compliance objectives.

• Prepare monthly reports including budgetary, variance, delinquency and recoveries and take appropriate actions when and where necessary.

• Develop solutions to address organizational needs and issues.

Skills & Competencies • Strong leadership skills • Decision-making, planning and problem solving skills • Excellent written and verbal communication skills • Strong interpersonal and people management skills • Strong Microsoft Office skills • Strong commitment to excellence • Integrity and professionalism Qualifications and Experience • BSC or MBA (Finance, Management or Accounts)/degree certification by a professional body in a related field.

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience and proven experience in a managerial position.

• Similar post in a customer-focused organization is an asset.

If you meet these requirements, please send your CV, cover letter, certified copies of certificates and two (2) recent references to vacancies@hrwiseinc.com with the subject “Vacancy – General Manager”.

Applications should be addressed to: “The President, St. Lucia Teachers’ Co-operative Credit Union Ltd” and emailed to sltccu@gmail.com. submitted by Tuesday 17th December 2019.

the party’s unexpected defeat at the 2016 polls belongs to Dr. Anthony. Allen Chastanet’s resounding, surprising victory amounted to a national vote of no confidence in the style and policies of Kenny Anthony’s leadership. His misjudgments, his refusal to account for several troubling issues had rendered him dangerous.

It is an acknowledged truth that Pierre is uniquely qualified and experienced to be Saint Lucia’s next Prime Minister. He skillfully served the country as Tourism Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and has represented the East Castries Constituency in Parliament for five consecutive terms.

He serves honorably with distinction and has avoided the stench of corruption, although some may say he is guilty by association. He has a passion for people, for which he credits his teacher mother and policeman father, who instilled in him the values of hard work, discipline and morality.

But Pierre faces a monstrous problem. He is burdened with the dead weight of the failed policies and leadership of Dr. Anthony, which the ruling party will certainly hand around his neck at election time. It will be an uphill battle convincing the electorate he contributed little to Kenny Anthony’s decisions, even

though at least one commission of inquiry has proved the prime minister often acted alone and outside the country.

Frenwell, Grynberg, the back from the dead Juffali affair immediately come to mind.

Pierre’s unappreciated loyalty to Dr. Anthony could prove his Sisyphean stone if he does not act now.

I put it to you, Dr. Anthony: It is not fair to Philip Pierre, considering the way you isolated him from most of your decisions, decisions that turned out to be inimical to the country’s best interests. You flipped on a major promise and implemented as the country’s savior a tax you earlier had described as “oppressive, anti-worker and anti-poor.”

You launched the problematic Citizenship by Investment Program, only to say later you “always had anxieties” about it. Your so called New Labour copycat idea proved your lack of political imagination, innovation and vision—a repudiation of the party’s theme of Bread, Freedom and Justice.

You isolated the party from its base and lost the trust of the electorate. Your destructive arrogance cost the party the support of the country’s independent thinkers. Sir, you even called a snap election without prior consultation with key personnel. They were caught with their pants around

their ankles. Pierre’s loyalty to his party and to you should not be rewarded by you handing his opponents a concrete slab to place around his neck as he strives to swim out of the mess you created around him.

Dr. Anthony, you know Philip as I do, he will probably read this and immediately demonstrate his anger at me for writing it. But then we’ve known each other a very long time and he knows I’m an independent thinker and writer. I gave much thought to putting my thoughts on paper. I finally decided to write because someone’s got to tell you what you already know—even though Philip is on this occasion more concerned with your feelings than with the harm you can do the party’s election chances by sticking around. Remember how in 1997 Vaughan Lewis’ election chances were sunk by John Compton’s history? Prove you are the man some imagine you to be. Do the right thing for our party. Step aside before you are shoved by the electorate to the political curb with the rest of the team. Help restore the shine to Labour. You did it once by coming in; do it again by leaving.

Nicholas Joseph is a former editor for the STAR. He recently earned a BA in Journalism from Georgia State University.

THE STAR

december 07, 2019

www.stluciastar.com

09

10 LOCAL

www.stluciastar.com

december 07, 2019 THE STAR

PHILIP J. PIERRE: ‘MY PAST HAS BEEN HONORABLE . . . I AM NOT A RAT!’

By Alvin Charles

A

recent lunchtime conversation with friends did not play out in customary fashion. Our regular news spin sessions have always been spirited and intellectual. On the other hand ideological slants were always predictable—until the recalled instance. After kicking around the usual political footballs of healthcare, education, crime and corruption, the conversation took an unexpected turn: to Philip J. Pierre’s leadership of the St. Lucia Labour Party. Imagine my astonishment when an ardent Laborite in the group broke the red line by questioning Mr. Pierre’s ability to lead.

Here was an individual who had vociferously defended Prime Minister Kenny Anthony’s decision to read on TV important sections of the so-called IMPACS report— even before the sitting DPP knew of its existence. The speech had further alienated the maligned police force and unidentified sections of the business community as facilitators of local crime. He wasn’t about to switch allegiance in consequence of Pierre’s leadership but our friend made it quite obvious he had serious concerns about the SLP’s immediate future, concerns shared in degrees by others at our table. Later I wondered whether Pierre’s recent interview on Liberty FM might have something to do with the expressed sentiments. The interviewer was Harvey Cenac, a wannabe Labour election candidate who seemed to bowl full tosses throughout the televised engagement. Cenac began by inviting his guest to reintroduce himself to Saint Lucians after a quarter century in parliament, mainly on the government side.

Finally Pierre said: “So, I come now to the table as leader of the party and leader of the opposition well experienced, and I’ve made the point that I am the most experienced person to vie for the role of prime minister in Saint Lucia’s history. There’s nobody else who has come to become Saint Lucia’s prime minister with the experience that I have. This is a fact. If you go through all the ministries I’ve gone through, all the ministries I’ve worked in, you’ll see my performance.”

The interviewer saw no reason to question Pierre’s review

of his own song, which was not surprising considering his own political aspirations. Instead, he offered his guest the opportunity to paint a picture of what Saint Lucia would look like with him as prime minister: “I remember you highlighting one of your goals, you called youth economy . . . Tell me a little more about it.”

“The Youth economy is a revolutionary idea,” Pierre revealed. “Right now young people get some benefits from different areas . . . What you want is a designated part of the economy for the youth. What exactly does that mean? Advice coming from the youth; what the youth want; how the youth want it implemented. So what we want to have is a designated ministry with special areas for the youth: creative industries, music, technology, web design, sports, modeling . . . a dedicated budget, not part of another ministry’s budget; a ministry of the youth economy.”

The acknowledgment at election time of the importance of young people is as new as sunrises in the morning.

Politicians have always presented themselves to the electorate as saviors dedicated to setting right the horrors of underrepresentation and the lack of youth empowerment.

A draft youth policy of 2000—enacted in 2003—sought to “provide the youth with a voice, equal opportunities and autonomy, with a view to developing their full potential.”

This formed the basis of the 2012-2017 Development Plan that focused on activities by the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports. The policy has since been revised—in 2016— and currently is awaiting review and enactment by the government.

Saint Lucia is a signatory to several regional and international youth development plans including the Caricom Youth Development Action Plan and the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment (PAYE).

A meeting was held last year on July 24, at which young people were afforded the opportunity to engage directly with public policy makers and put youth perspectives at the center of the social policy dialogue.

There is currently a ministry responsible for youth development. That ministry has purview over the relevant ancillary responsibilities of equity, social justice, empowerment, sports and local government.

There is also a ministry geared toward identifying, developing and supporting the arts (creative industries), which is purposefully linked with tourism. There may be a question as to whether these ministries are adequately funded but there is no issue structurally.

According to the most recent figures of the Central Statistical Office of Saint Lucia, out of a population of 178,696, the number in the youth category is 70,285 (remember that the aforementioned youth policy defines youth as between 10 and 35 years old; 21,267 are below the age of ten and only 24,797 are above the age of 55. So, 91,552 Saint Lucians are below the age of 35. This means more than half the country’s population fall under the “youth” umbrella.

Why then the necessity for a ministry concerned specifically with youth matters?

The interview continued with Mr. Pierre predictably lambasting the stewardship of the Chastanet administration, with the usual sprinkling of “vindictive” and “arrogant.” As if to save Pierre from getting lost, the interviewer, obviously very pleased with himself, said: “Go ahead, tell me a little about your vision for Saint Lucia. If Saint Lucia decides to make you the prime minister, to give you that mantle of responsibility in ten years, fifteen years, tell me what you would like to see.”

A poker-faced Pierre envisaged a “calm and less divided Saint Lucia.” He was a little sketchy on the details of how the stated ambition might be achieved. He might’ve done himself a service by explaining how the nation became divided in the first place. The interviewer persisted: “You’ve highlighted accountability more than once in your responses. The word accountability is often used conveniently. What would separate you from the political history?”

Pierre returned to reviewing himself: “First of all, I think my past in politics has been honorable . . . I’ve never been involved in any corruption. So I think that I am in the perfect position to lead by example.”

He seemed suddenly to change direction: “There should be structures, laws and facilities that would cause politicians not to get tempted or involved in any corrupted behavior.” Why a law against temptation, which is not a crime? The interviewer did not ask. In any case why

Will Philip Pierre (pictured) be the next election’s Vaughan Lewis burdened with shortcomings not necessarily his own?

Or will he furnish details of his former leader’s “mistakes”—referenced

by Pierre in a recent interview with Andre Paul?

hadn’t the “structures, laws and facilities” he now spoke of never enacted in his close to fifteen years as deputy prime minister?

Again the interviewer didn’t want to know. Neither did he ask Pierre what prevented him from putting related bills before the House even in opposition. Pierre proceeded to campaign for more pay for parliamentarians: “I don’t believe in the idea that politicians should get paid nothing just because they are politicians.”

Recently members of parliament received back-pay of millions of dollars. So much for being “paid nothing.”

Finally Cenac addressed the 800-pound gorilla in the studio: Kenny Anthony. The host recalled the 2004 campaign for U.S. president. “In the history of politics, oftentimes we see men rise to the occasion. I remember when Bill Clinton ended his second term. His vice president came on the scene and drew the line that he was his own man and it cost him because when it came to voting the masses did not give him the credence because he decided to separate himself. Do you embrace some of the ideologies of the former prime minister or do you define yourself

as your own man?” (Harvey Cenac must be the world’s most prolix interviewer.)

Mr. Pierre folded his arms on his chest, sighed. “First of all,” he said, “I am my own man. I don’t have to define myself. I will not be like a rat and say that I agree with this and I agree with that. I was in the Cabinet so I take full responsibility for being in the Cabinet,” he said.

Pierre alone knows for sure why “rat” is what came to mind when he referenced his years in Cabinet as Kenny Anthony’s deputy.

END OF HURRICANE SEASON MESSAGE I

n the Northern Atlantic Region, hurricane season occurs from June 1 to November 30.

According to National Oceanic Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) this season produced 12 named storms and 6 hurricanes, of which three were “major” Category 3, 4 or 5. Hurricane Humberto strengthened to a Cat 3 hurricane which passed through the Bahamas leaving 27, 000 people without power.

Closer to home, on

August 26th of this year Saint Lucia was spared the ravages of Tropical Storm Dorian which later devasted the Bahamas on September 9th as a Category 5 hurricane, leaving at least 43 people dead and many more missing. The 2020 season will officially begin on June 1st.

Though the hurricane season has officially ended, the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) encourages everyone that we should

always remain in a state of preparedness, as disasters and emergencies are not only storms and hurricanes; but can be of any kind, such as earthquakes, major accidents, fires and so on. And these can also occur outside of the hurricane season. As we enjoy and celebrate the Christmas season, NEMO advises residents to be cautious and to have a safe and enjoyable season.

THE STAR

M

december 07, 2019

Are We Making Life More Difficult For Crime Fighters?

onday’s police press conference was the first attended

by Police Commissioner Severin Monchery since his controversial declaration about the local media and crime. To remind: At a point at a November press meeting Monchery said: “I have asked the question. What contribution are the media making in crime fighting? Just last night I saw a clip of a crime committed in Piaye, and I really want to ask . . . The footage that I saw, is it of any consequential value to the public or is it going to help the police solve crime? I know and I will be the first to say the media have their role and we as police officers have our role.

Report fairly and be responsible in your reporting.”

At this week’s presser he was invited to elaborate. “I did not make any statement that was admonishing the media.” he declared. “I asked a question. Let me make it clear, before I asked the question I said I have absolutely no problems with the media. We have a very good working

LOCAL

www.stluciastar.com

transpired nothing the public learned was true.

Police on Friday had this to say on the matter: “On the 4th of December we received a report of a burglary during which a minor was detained.

This morning he was charged with the offense of burglary and he should be taken to the District Court for a bail hearing. Although he is a minor, by law he’s at the age of criminal responsibility. Social media now tend to broadcast a lot of incidents which are Police Commissioner Severin Monchery landed inappropriate for social media. in hot water when he seemed to suggest the But it’s difficult to control the media could be helping criminals by being less competent than expected. Turns out he was not actions of people; especially altogether wrong. when they find themselves in relationship. I understand, media. Remember the footage particular circumstances. But perhaps more than anyone of a young man hogtied to a we as law enforcement can also else, that the media have their motorbike and accused of theft? use what’s broadcast on social job and I have mine. So I have Remember the fight over a girl media to our advantage.” absolutely no problem with the allegedly bullied at school?

Unfortunately, by the media. I asked a question and There was no related account to time Friday’s police statement it was based on a scenario. I the police. Then there was the went out, it was two days too never accused, and would never young man who allegedly was late. The quick trigger media accuse the media, of causing caught breaking into a home. had already broadcast in full crime.” He sounded this close to The public learned about this the story with all the false apologetic. incident via social media. The information, further spreading

In recent weeks, there handcuffed young man gave his the fake news. It seems have been a number of worrying captors what were supposed to Commissioner Monchery had a incidents posted on social be his personal details. It soon point after all. –Dean Nestor

11

SLTA MARKETING TEAM PRESENTS 2019 RECAP & SECURES INSIGHT FOR 2020 MARKETING STRATEGY

I

ndustry partners had an opportunity to review Saint Lucia’s marketing programs of 2019 and the chance to provide critical input in plans for 2020 and beyond.

On December 4th, 2019 the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA), its overseas offices and their affiliated marketing agencies, met on island to make presentations to stakeholders and industry insiders, on their assessments of Saint Lucia’s current marketing strategy and to share their 2020 perspective and vision for positioning Saint Lucia as a leading destination of choice.

The presentations were held against the backdrop of a 7.5 percent increase in Year to Date visitor arrivals for 2019 thus far over 2018, coupled with enhanced product offering; the latest being the introduction of world-class horse-racing, which will make its international debut on December 13th, 2019.

In attendance at the December 4 activity were stakeholder representatives from the St. Hospitality and Tourism Association (SLHTA), the St.

Lucia Air & Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA), the Ministry of Tourism, the St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce, representatives of the banking sector and other industry partners. Tourism Minister Dominic Fedee lead the delegation of Government officials participating in the industry defining exercise.

Making presentations were industry professionals from Saint Lucia’s key markets like the United States, United Kingdom and the rest of Europe, Canada and the Caribbean region.

Presentations focused on key objectives like Increasing Stayover/Cruise/Yachting visits, Increasing Visitor Spend, Enhancing Brand Awareness, Promoting the Summer Festival and Increasing Airlift. Attention was also placed on key nice segments namely Romance, Dive & Adventure, Wellness, Family, MICE, Culinary & Culture.

The marketing meeting in Saint Lucia gave all stakeholders an accounting of how Saint Lucia’s marketing budget is being spent and how marketing opportunities are being maximized.

12 local

www.stluciastar.com

december 07, 2019 THE STAR

More Recognition for Jallim Eudovic!

GOVERNMENT OF SAINT LUICA MININSTRY OF FINANCE CUSTOMS & EXCISE DEPARTMENT

NOTICE NO. 10 OF 2019

SALE OF INTOXICATING LIQUOR Pursuant to the liquor License Act Cap. 13.17 of the Laws of Saint Lucia, persons who offer intoxicating liquor for sale must have the relevant liquor license.

Current holders of licenses must renew such licenses immediately.

Effective December 2nd 2019, The Customs and Excise Department along with the Royal St. Lucia Police Force and City Constabulary will be embarking on a rigorous island wide compliance drive to enforce the provisions of this Act. Persons found selling intoxicating liquor without the relevant license will be prosecuted. Your compliance in this regard is therefore solicited.

For further information please contact the Export Verification Unit, Maher Centre Building, William Peter Boulevard, Castries at telephone No. 468-4800/1432/33 or Customs Department, Chitolie Building, Beanfield, Vieux Fort, at telephone No. 468-4900/10 or the First or Second District Court.

Please be guided accordingly

Anita Montoute (Mrs.) Comptroller of Customs & Excise (Ag)

S

aint Lucian sculptor Jallim Eudovic was this week named a 2020 laureate by the Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence.

Launched in 2006 by the ANSA Mcal Foundation, the program seeks to recognize significant achievements and to encourage and support the pursuit of excellence by people from the Caribbean. The foundation advocates that talent in the region must be sought out, brought to light and encouraged. Awarded to individuals age 35-55, the areas of recognition are: Arts & Letters, Science and Technology, Public and Civic Contributions and Entrepreneurship.

Eudovic was awarded in the Arts & Letters category and is the second Saint Lucian to be recognised by the organization, the first being Adrian Augier who in 2010 was similarly recognized under Arts & Letters. The other 2020 laureates are Guyanese David Mendes (entrepreneurship); Jamaican Dr. Olivia Burke (public & civic contributions) and Trinidadian Dr. Shirin Haque (science & technology).

While announcing the laureates on Tuesday, the foundation’s secretary Maria Superville-Neilson observed that awardees have a track record of superior work and had demonstrated excellence, leadership and a pioneering ability. “They are in mid-career,” she said, “ and are expected to go on to significant future achievements, fulfilling their promise and potential. Their work can be benchmarked and is likely to be of tremendous benefit to our region. As such, these are not lifetime achievement awards.”

She noted that Eudovic's work had been commissioned as gifts for Prince Harry and Duchess Kate; Prince Charles; the

World-renowned sculptor Jallim Eudovic encourages fellow Saint Lucians always to strive for greatness.

Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg; President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador; former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet and the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres.

Eudovic serves on the board of the Cultural Development Foundation, and is an executive member of the St. Lucia Archaeological and Historic Society. These roles, Superville-Neilson said, have deepened Eudovic’s passion for Saint Lucia’s creative industries.

A tangible outcome is the launching of Eudovic’s company Papa Bois, a venture that seeks to rescue the indigenous basket weavers and potters from St Lucia’s craft mecca, Choiseul, from economic collapse.

Superville-Nielson also praised Eudovic’s works that have been showcased at exhibitions such as the Afro Future Art Exhibition (Miami, 2019), the Zari Gallery (London, 2016), Carifesta, Suriname (2013), the Stephen Lawrence Centre in London (2016) and the 532 Gallery Thomas Jaeckel (New York, 2017). “One of his most consistent foreign ports of call is China, where he has been invited to create public works for the cities of Zhengzhou, Changchun and Fuzhou since 2008,” she said.

It emerged that Eudovic was in China on Tuesday when the STAR interviewed him:

He recalled that even at age five he was already creating art pieces.

Referencing his latest accolade, he said: "I was extremely elated. I'm the second Saint Lucian to receive this award so I'm following in the gigantic footsteps of Adrian Augier.

This is an award not just for myself but for all of Saint Lucia. This is a statement that we can achieve and that we can function at the highest levels. My heart right now is filled with humility, pride, joy. A whole load of positive feelings."

He advised fellow Saint Lucians in the creative industry not to be deterred by criticism and to remain true to themselves.

“Just look at our stalwarts like Sir Derek Walcott, Sir Arthur Lewis, Ronald Boo Hinkson, Luther Francois, Adrian Augier, Vladimir Lucien and so many others who have blazed the trail and have put us on various maps globally. I would like my fellow artists and artisans to be more epic in their thinking and know that the world is their oyster, that they can achieve and attain anything their hearts desire.”

---Joshua St. Aimee

THE STAR

LOCAL

www.stluciastar.com

december 07, 2019

Remains of executed criminals to be reinterred at a site near the Bordelais Correctional Facility

SAINT LUCIA IS WORLD’S LEADING HONEYMOON DESTINATION YET AGAIN

T

he results are in and destination Saint Lucia has been adjudged winner of the prestigious title of World's Leading Honeymoon Destination for a record 11th time. The announcement of the highly coveted industry accolade was made on November 28th at the 26th Annual Gala Ceremony of the World Travel Awards in Oman.

Saint Lucia won amidst a crowded group of renowned honeymoon hotspots from around the world. An island where the greatest love stories unfold, romance, weddings & honeymoons, continues to be

a major niche market for Saint Lucia.

In receiving the award, Chairman of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA), Mr. Nicholas John, noted the island’s specific brand focus, “that places emphasis on its alluring beauty, romantic appeal, diverse culture, verdant landscapes, delightful people and the infectious and inspiring love for the island.”

To help celebrate the

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST SAINT LUCIA SAINT LUCIA HEALTH SYSTEM STRENGTHENING PROJECT (P166783) Credit No..: IDA63160 –LC Assignment Title: PROCUREMENT ANALYST Reference No. 059/CS/HSSP/01-20

National Security minister Hermangild Francis: Despite “stumbling blocks,” the senator is optimistic that construction of a Hall of justice and a new police headquarters should begin early in 2020.

C

onstruction of a new police headquarters and a hall of justice will begin early next year. That was the assurance given by National Security minister Hermangild Francis on Tuesday, as he made his way to the day’s Senate sitting. Last week parents and teachers of the Ava Maria Infant School called for the relocation of the Castries Magistrates Court, citing concerns over bomb scares that forced the school to be evacuated. Ten traumatized schoolchildren were reportedly taken to Victoria hospital for treatment.

Addressing the calls for relocation, Francis said he emphasized with the expressed concerns and regretted what the children had suffered. On the other hand, he said, citizens needed to be reasonable and practical. He revealed that upon taking office in 2016, the government had started looking for another location for a courthouse.

The Cultural Centre at Barnard Hill was given serious consideration, said Francis. Also the old site of the Castries prison, until the National Trust filed an injunction. Said Francis: “The National Trust came in, and on the basis that the remains of executed were buried there.” By all Francis said, the government has not given up on the prison site and awaits an amicable conclusion. Meanwhile, an area near the Bordelais Correctional Facility has been identified as an alternative resting place following the exhumation. He expects construction of the new court to begin early next year.

In a statement announcing the injunction last year, the National Trust described the old location as a “significant historic site” by virtue of its age, architecture and uniqueness.

---JSA

13

Saint Lucia has received financing from the World Bank towards the Health System Strengthening Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services for engagement of a PROCUREMENT ANALYST to provide short term adequate procurement expertise to the project, in accordance with the Loan Agreement and World Bank Procurement Regulation for IPF Borrowers, under the Health System Strengthening Project. The Procurement Analyst will be engaged on a full-time basis and will work for the Department of Health and report to the Project Manager, HSSP. The Procurement Analyst will also liaise and work closely with the Project Coordination Unit (PCU) of the Department of Economic Development, Transport and Civil Aviation until assessed as capable to work independently by the World Bank Team.

The Procurement Analyst will be responsible for the efficient discharge of the procurement processes throughout the implementation of the HSSP. The Procurement Analyst will be engaged on a full-time basis and is expected to commence the assignment on December 15, 2019. A performance evaluation after the first nine months of services rendered will be done; Engagement can cover a period of three years subject to annual performance reviews The Consulting Services (the Services) include Use the project management tools agreed to for the Project to manage, monitor and coordinate procurement processes as it relates to time and cost.

• Procurement Process: o Draft, coordinate, review and/or assist in the preparation of the

following solicitation documents: • Invitation to Quotes and Purchase Orders for procurement of goods

using Request for Quotations • Bidding Documents and Request for Proposals o Draft Requests for no-objection via STEP (Systematic Tracking of

Exchanges In Procurement) to procurement activities where necessary. o Input/ upload, Update and maintain procurement processes for each

activity / contract on STEP and in the Procurement Plan (excel format) ensure appropriate notes are made for reallocation of funds,

discontinuation of activities etc. o Prepare General Procurement Notice / Specific Procurement Notices

and ensure approval is sought for advertising space in the newspapers

from the Cabinet Secretary. o Attend and record Minutes of Bid Opening. o Prepare all forms for the evaluation and selection of consultants,

contractors and suppliers. o Table evaluation reports for approval by the relevant authority (Permanent Secretary, Departmental Tenders Board, and Central

Tenders Board) to allow for award of all contracts, o Preparation of letters to contractors/suppliers and consultants regarding award of contract, discharge of bid securities, discharge of

performance securities o Prepare notification of intent to award and or award of contracts,

letters to unsuccessful bidders and publication of award of contracts. o Receive complaints and draft responses; o Ensure the timely submission of signed contracts to the World Bank, Audit, Accountant General, Director of Finance and the implementing

agencies and to confirm receipt o Review and provide feedback to the Project Manager on the database of suppliers maintained to facilitate procurement under shopping procedures. o Review and signoff on the List of Contracts (Goods, Works and Consultant’s Services) procured under the various Projects to be

included into the Financial Statements o Work with the Project Manager to coordinate Site Visits, Pre-bid

Meetings and Pre-proposal Conferences o With assistance from the Project Manager engage the appropriate technical officers including the – Safeguards, Technical Team Health

on procurement activities o Maintain filing system for management of procurement processes • o o

o

Monitoring and Reporting Use the approved work plans for updating of the procurement plan.

Ensure that goods/services/works are procured in accordance with the approved Procurement Plan.

Follow up with Suppliers and Contractors for invoices for works and services completed/in progress. This includes visiting Project Site to

momentous win, the SLTA has launched an interactive social media competition that will see one lucky person winning a 5-night stay for two at a leading hotel on island. Interested persons simply need to Watch the SLTA’s Instagram stories for the next 11 days and answer correctly 11 engaging questions about destination Saint Lucia.

The winner will be randomly selected on December 10, 2019 and must be following @

TravelSaintLucia to qualify.

Apart from winning the highly coveted award, Saint Lucia was also nominated in three other categories, namely, World's Leading Island Destination, World's Leading Wedding Destination and World's Most Romantic Destination 2019.

The World Travel Awards is voted for by travel and tourism professionals and consumers worldwide.

monitor progress of works and services. o Attend Project review meetings with Donor Agencies to discuss project status. o Ensure labeling of all Fixed Assets procured o Participate in and contribute to Post Procurement Review and Annual

Audits for the Project. o Review and signoff on reports prepared by the Fiduciary Admin Staff

assigned to the Project o Review and sign off procurement files maintained by Fiduciary Admin Staff o Facilitate regular (e.g., weekly) reporting to the Bank, Department

of Health on procurement status including achievements, delays and challenges, o Ensure timely updating and reporting of procurement activities

to facilitate reporting by Financial Management Specialist and Project Manager • Overall Administration related to Procurement Process o Ensure accurate filing of Project related correspondence, including

providing guidance to Administrative team regarding the maintenance

and security of Project records o Procure equipment and other related office supplies for the PIU and

Department of Health o Undertake other specific tasks, within the competence of the

incumbent, as may be required under the Projects o Take responsibility for professional development by attending

webinars, online and on the job training • Update and maintain work plan on assigned duties and provide regular

feedback on implementation.

• Assist the Project Manager with close out of all project processes and activities (by returning all guarantees, bid securities, pay out of

retention,) and documenting lessons learned and best practices • Maintain integrity and confidentiality in the discharge of services and of all documents and information made available in the discharge of

these services.

• Execute all services to the best ability and in accordance with approved and recognized code of ethics of the Government of Saint Lucia The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website; www.finance.gov.lc The Department of Health and Wellness now invites eligible Individual Consultants (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services; (Curriculum Vitae, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, clients’ references etc.).

Interested Consultants should have the following requisite minimum qualifications and professional experiences listed below for undertaking the assignment.

Qualifications and Experience Requirements The successful candidate must have: i. Bachelors Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration,

Engineering, Law or related field with 3 years of working experience. ii. Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in basic procurement iii. Excellent interpersonal skills iv. Excellent written and communication skills.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016, revised November 2017 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultants Selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office 8:00 a.m-4:30 p.m. (0800 to 1630 hours).

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by December 10, 2019.

Project Coordination Unit Department of Economic Development, Transport and Civil Aviation Attn: Project Coordinator 2nd Floor, Finance Administrative Centre Pointe Seraphine Castries Saint Lucia Tel: 1-758-468-2413 E-mail: slupcu@gosl.gov.lc

14

www.stluciastar.com

DECEMBER 07, 2019 THE STAR

THE STAR

DECEMBER 07, 2019

www.stluciastar.com

15

16 local

www.stluciastar.com

december 07, 2019 THE STAR

Entrepreneurs Well-Pleased About ISL’s Southern Meet-Up

M

oving to Vieux Fort for the second of many Entrepreneurship Meet-Ups, Invest Saint Lucia played its part in bringing entrepreneurs together to network, showcase products and gain information on intentionally handling legal aspects of running an enterprise as part of the 5th Annual Business Month.

For the November 27, 2019 event, the format deviated from the panel discussion from the first meet-up at Pointe Seraphine in September, to a one-man presentation on business law by Mr Thomas Theobalds.

He began by elaborating on the process of franchising and the pros and cons associated with the practice, before he touched on topics including taxation and intellectual property rights. He also recommended to his listeners that they evaluate the legal risks and benefits of the type of business before diving into the venture.

Theobalds offered some sound advice tailored to the southern audience as

Attending entrepreneurs yearn for more events with more learning opportunities like Thomas Theobalds’ presentation at Wednesday’s meet up.

he referenced the Special Development Areas Act, 1998.

He encouraged business owners to invest in the locations listed on the Act and to take advantage of these opportunities while they still exist. Theobalds also reminded entrepreneurs of the market and traffic advantages afforded to southerners, and to which northern businesses do not have access.

Refreshing, informative and insightful, Theobalds’ talk garnered much enthusiasm from attendees.

The Southern Business Association was a key partner in bringing this event to fruition and many of its members came out to showcase products and services. Of notable mention was Shop D’ Caribbean’s display and owner Darrion Louis who recently won

PAWASOL POUR TI MAMAI P. O. Box 924, Castries, St. Lucia e-mail: pawasolpourtimamai@gmail.com Check us out on Facebook

GRAND PRE-CHRISTMAS SALE AT

PAWASOL CHARITY SHOP KOCONUTZ CAR PARK, RODNEY BAY

MONDAY, 9TH – THURSDAY, 12TH DECEMBER 10.00 A.M. – 4.00 P.M. DAILY AND SATURDAY, 14TH DECEMBER 8.00 A.M – 12.00 NOON GREAT BARGAINS ON:-

• CLOTHING FOR EVERYONE • ACCESSORIES • JEWELLERY • HOUSEHOLD ITEMS • BRIC-A-BRAC • CHRISTMAS ITEMS • TOYS

PRICES FROM EC$1.00 TO EC$40.00

ALL PROCEEDS HELP CHILDREN IN SAINT LUCIA

the Entrepreneur of the Year Award presented by Invest Saint Lucia at the 2019 Saint Lucia Business Awards. He said,

“The presentation hit home especially the intellectual property rights part. It’s a big issue and having someone to shed some light on it is really beneficial.

It is important that entrepreneurs who are starting off get this opportunity because this would have been so useful if I had it three years ago. It will save red tape, headaches and money.”

The Entrepreneurship Meet-Up, Louis says, is something that should be implemented several times in the year as a sort of rejuvenation exercise for business owners trying to “keep motivated in the journey”.

Harnel Mathurin of Agro-Boost—a local producer of household cleaners and fertilisers—said that Theobalds’ session was timely as he is considering exporting his

products. “It was so nice for someone to provide advice on copyright and trademarks,” he said, “For folks like myself, we tend to concentrate on the product rather than the business. Coming to these events you really get to understand that it’s not just about your product.

If you have a business, it’s much more than just having a great product.

That’s one of the reasons why I loved this event.

I think it’s time to get a lawyer!”

As the year comes to an end, Invest Saint Lucia has already begun identifying opportunities to respond to these types of requests and is planning on maintaining productive relationships with organisations such as the Southern Business Association.

Invest Saint Lucia Partners With Itelbpo To Diversify Its Labour Pool

I

telbpo in partnership with Invest Saint Lucia is developing a 20,000 sq ft factory shell located in the Hewanorra Free Zone in VieuxFort, Saint Lucia, which will house more than 300 employees in the global services sector.

It is a strategic move aimed at expanding its geographical footprint, ultimately diversifying its workforce and further enriching its global talent pool as the company pushes aggressively towards its 5-year goal of 5,000 new seats in its contact centre operations. itelbpo & Invest Saint Lucia have broken ground and the new site is set to open on April 1, 2020.

Just off the heels of a recent deal in which PanJam Investments and Portland Private Equity each acquired a 15% stake in itelbpo, the company is quickly activating its new capital investment with the development of a twobuilding site in Saint Lucia.

The site is located in the south of the island and is within walking distance of Hewanorra International Airport, which

is also undergoing extensive redevelopment to support the area’s booming economy. The south of Saint Lucia is quickly becoming a mecca of activity and socioeconomic progress.

“We are wasting no time in taking advantage of the growing global business process outsourcing (BPO) market. We see the enormous pipeline of opportunity for the Caribbean in this fast-growing sector, and we’re excited to realize the potential for job creation and revenue growth,” commented Yoni Epstein, itelbpo’s Founding Chairman and CEO. When asked about the partnership with itelbpo, MarieGrace Walcott, Investment Promotion & Fulfillment Officer at Invest Saint Lucia stated, “We identified itelbpo as a strong player within the Nearshore BPO market, with a solid focus on corporate social responsibility.

These attributes, amongst several others, led us to actively engage itelbpo to explore the many benefits of expanding here in Saint Lucia. The island offers investors an unsaturated

market that is complemented by a robust labor pool with avenues for capacity building and continued growth. Invest Saint Lucia is excited to be part of itelbpo’s strategic expansion and we look forward to the company’s establishment on the island.”

Known for nurturing an engaging company culture and designing eye-catching spaces with team comfort in mind, itelbpo will bring its own unique culture and style to Saint Lucia, along with a healthy and proactive approach to community outreach. As part of the retrofit and in keeping with the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability, the developers, Invest Saint Lucia, will be installing solar panels on the building’s roof. A second floor will be added, in order to maximize walkthrough and provide generous cubicle sizes for its staff that mirror the design and flow of its Jamaica headquarters, as well as maintain the company’s commitment to EX=CX (Employee Experience = Customer Experience).

THE STAR

december 07, 2019

local

www.stluciastar.com

17

First set of Saint Lucians learn to read and write with the Cuban Literacy Method "Yes I can"

T

wenty-seven Saint Lucians received on Sunday the title of graduates of the “Yes I can” program, in what was the conclusion of the first pilot stage in the application of this literacy method on the island. The ceremony, held at the Castries Finance Administrative Center, became a day of emotions for graduates, who along with their families and friends, demonstrated that it is possible to change and transform their lives through knowledge and education.

The implementation of the “Yes I can” Cuban literacy program is part of a joint cooperation between the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development of Saint Lucia and the Ministry of Education of Cuba. As part of this collaboration, the Doctor in Pedagogical Sciences, Jorge Tamayo, who is also the Main Researcher of the Central Institute of Pedagogical Sciences in Havana, National Advisor of the Cuban Literacy Program “Yes, I can” and Consultant of the UNESCO Organization in the Education of

S

Young and adult people traveled to Santa Lucia.

Jorge Tamayo has taught this first stage in the application of this literacy method for adults in the localities of Canaries and Micoud, where he worked intensively together with the local authorities and a group of facilitators who were previously trained. The result is the graduation of this group of Saint Lucians, humble and hardworking people who today appreciate the possibility of knowing how to read and write and their family and friends are happy together with them.

In the graduation activity, the Government of Saint Lucia was represented by the Honorable Ministers Gale T. C. Rigobert for Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development; Sarah Flood-Beaubrun for External Affairs and Dominic Fedee for Tourism, Information, Broadcasting, Culture and Creative Industries.

In attendance on the Cuban side were Ambassador Alejandro Simancas as well the Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences Jorge

Tamayo and the official of the Department of International Relations of the Ministry of Education of Cuba, Daimarelys Verdecia.

In her speech, the Honorable Minister Gale T. C. Rigobert highlighted the result of this joint work and acknowledged the dedication and effort of the Cuban specialists. At the same time, she called on the graduates not to stop at this stage and continue to excel for the benefit of their personal, community and country development. For his part, the Honorable Minister Dominic Fedee described Cuba as an example and pointed out that it was a geographically small country, but one that was great globally, thanks to its solidarity; while the head of the Cuban Diplomatic Mission thanked the authorities of the Government of Saint Lucia and reiterated his Government’s readiness to continue contributing to its social and educational development through the national expansion of the “Yes I can” program.

The event ended

emotionally with the awarding of certificates to graduates, which was received with jubilation and joy by the relatives of those present. For them, some of advanced age, it has been a great effort and taken much dedication to keep studying during these months, but they reiterated that it was worth it. A new stage begins for them in which they grow as human beings, and they will be of greater assistance to the community and to the country.

The Cuban literacy program “Yes, I Can” was first implemented on March 28th, 2001, when the Government of Cuba entrusted Leonela Relys Díaz's work to create a literacy booklet for adult persons, of no more than five pages combining letters and numbers. Leonela Relys, who participated in the historic literacy campaign in 1961 in Cuba, fulfilled this assignment in a month and immediately began the design of the television strategy. By 2002 the booklets and scripts of the televised classes were finalized. The program was conceived with international characteristics, especially

Latin American, prepared to be adapted to different social realities and languages and it was applied for the first time in Haiti.

This program is developed through a composite teaching method, in which numbers are used to facilitate the learning process of reading and writing; numbers are associated with letters and part of the known to reach the unknown.

Its main objective is the active insertion of the participants in the social, economic and political activities of the community of the country where they live. In addition to audiovisual resources, a facilitator is used who imparts knowledge and is the link between the audiovisual class and the participant. It also plays an essential role in relation to working with the affectionate side for the illiterate and controlling their learning process. It is aimed at those over 15 years old who never attended school or who only attended a few years and have forgotten what they learned.

It is governed by a principle identified with the method: "Yes

I can." This pursues a literacy of awareness and transformation, as well as an educator.

The results of this program have been highly positive and it is described as an economic method, which is very flexible, with no exclusions of any kind and capable of being adapted to any country or community.

Up to now, more than 5 million adults have become literate, due to the efforts of 28 countries in the world, highlighting the campaigns developed in Venezuela, Bolivia, Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Honduras, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Colombia, El Salvador, Uruguay, Guatemala and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

This program received the 2006 King Sejong Literacy Prize from UNESCO, awarded to the IPLAC (Latin American and Caribbean Pedagogical Institute of Cuba) for the promotion of the literacy system so successfully applied in the countries mentioned above using the Cuban program "Yes, I can".

SANDALS RESORTS INTERNATIONAL SWEEPS 2019 WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS

andals Resorts International (SRI) is proud to announce that the company has received four prestigious awards at the 26th annual World Travel Awards Grand Final Gala Ceremony that took place on November 28, 2019. Most notably, Sandals Resorts International was dubbed the World's Leading AllInclusive Company for the 24th consecutive year, solidifying the company’s position as an industry trailblazer in the allinclusive space.

“Our Sandals family is extremely humbled to have been recognized as the world’s leading all-inclusive company by the World Travel Awards once more,” said Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, Founder and Chairman of Sandals Resorts International.

“This award serves as an enormous testament to the decades of innovations the Sandals brand has introduced to the all-inclusive industry and

reaffirms that we will continue shattering expectations in the decades to come.”

With a total of four trophies, Sandals Resorts International rose above other highly acclaimed hotel brands throughout the world. The Caribbean resort company’s top honors included:

World's Leading AllInclusive Company 2019: Sandals Resorts International World's Leading All-Inclusive Family Resort Brand 2019: Beaches® Resorts World's Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2019: Sandals Grenada World's Leading Caribbean Attraction Company 2019: Island Routes Caribbean Adventures

Sandals Resorts International is incredibly honored that Beaches Resorts – its family-friendly all-inclusive brand – was named the World's Leading All-Inclusive Family Resort Brand for the 22nd consecutive year. With three

Sandals Grande Saint Lucia.

magnificent resorts spanning across Jamaica and Turks & Caicos, Beaches Resorts has redefined the family vacation experience by offering a Caribbean escape for everyone

– whether you’re a kid, tween, teen or adult, there’s a myriad of on-resort activities, 5-Star Global Gourmet™ dining options and expansive room categories to accommodate

groups of all ages and sizes.

Not to mention, Beaches reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing its autism-friendly resorts this year by becoming the first resort company in the

world to attain the Advanced Certified Autism Center (ACAC) designation by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) – truly becoming a leading family resort brand for everyone.

Named the World’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort, Sandals Grenada takes innovation beyond the realm of imagination with its private plunge pools, cascading waterfalls, unparalleled Love Nest Butler Suites® and 5-Star Global Gourmet™ dining at 10 different restaurants – right in the heart of Grenada's exclusive Pink Gin Beach. Sandals Resorts International is also thankful to have such a rewarding partnership with Island Routes Caribbean Adventures, the World's Leading Caribbean Attraction Company, to offer guests at each of its 18 resorts off-site experiences that truly immerse them in the local culture and beauty the islands have to offer.

18

www.stluciastar.com

december 07, 2019 THE STAR

THE STAR

december 07, 2019

local

www.stluciastar.com

19

The OECS Bar condemns attacks on the Judiciary

T

he OECS Bar Association notes with deep concern the continuing unrest and agitation in the Commonwealth of Dominica on the eve of the 6th of December 2019 General Elections.

We are particularly concerned about the recent attacks on Justice Bernie Stephenson, one of the two local judges, prior and subsequent to the hearing of a recent election matter. Apparently dissatisfied with her ruling, the judge has come under sustained and seemingly well-orchestrated attacks, threatening her own safety and personal security.

We roundly condemn the unfortunate and unwarranted attacks on Justice Stephenson and by extension on our judiciary.

We urge the authorities in

Dominica to take the necessary measures to ensure that proper systems are in place for the safety and security for Justice Stephenson and other Judicial Officers.

The OECS Bar will continue to promote and jealously safeguard the independence of our Judiciary, which represents our last bastion of justice. We urge parties to desist from any action that undermines the independence and authority of the Judiciary.

In the OECS we are proud of our democratic processes and regard for the rule of law. It is in that vein that we call on the people of Dominica, particularly our member lawyers and the local Bar Association, to remain

calm and to engage the legal process and to exhaust all legal measures, if necessary, to peacefully resolve the current impasse and avert any potential for violent confrontation.

Violence or the incitement of violence is not an option.

We call on all sides to exercise restraint and avoid any action that carries with it, the potential for violence.

Now more than ever, in such a highly charged atmosphere, the rule of law assumes greater importance. We remind parties that impulsive, emotional and partisan action today, may very well have adverse consequences long after elections. Let us do everything to preserve peace and promote the rule of law.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE NCPD

O

ur most valued members, persons with disabilities, caregivers, as well as all of you our well-wishers and supporters, I am most pleased, on behalf of the Board of The National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) to extend warmest greetings to you. As we celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) 2019 under the global theme: ‘Promoting the participation of persons with disabilities and their leadership: taking action on the 2030 Development Agenda,’ we have much to celebrate in our island nation regarding progress which has been made in disability affairs over the last few years.

On November 29th 2019 Prime Minister, The Honourable Allen Chastanet signed the Instrument of Accession of Saint Lucia to the UN Convention on The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The depositing of this document at UN Headquarters will officially mark Saint Lucia’s Ratification of the CRPD, an act that we have been advocating for over a number of years.

This is tremendous cause for celebration and will pave the way for greater promotion and upholding of the rights of PWDs on our island to be educated, employed, socially protected, given access to adequate healthcare and housing among many others. We will constantly engage policy makers in order to ensure these outcomes.

In addition to our general advocacy, regular programmes and annual summer camp for children with disabilities, we have achieved historic milestones through the support of partner agencies. Such partnerships have allowed us to open a modern, Prosthetic Leg Manufacture Centre, a wheelchair repair center and to undertake major wheelchair distribution projects which will be repeated early in 2020 where more Saint Lucians will benefit from receiving brand new wheelchairs at no cost.

On Tuesday December 10th (International Human Rights Day), there will be a walk of solidarity at 11:00 a.m. from the Waterfront to Constitution Park comprising

40 persons with disabilities, symbolic of our 40 years of independence as a Nation. They will be accompanied by our Parliamentarians. At the park, there will be an opportunity to view exhibits of the work of the NCPD and to purchase honey products from our Farmers With Disabilities Incorporated.

The Dunnottar School Band will also provide musical entertainment. This activity aims to boost awareness of the diversity of disability in our population and to encourage Saint Lucians to be more supportive of our work.

As we move into a new year of opportunity and exciting possibility, there is still much great work to be done and the best way is Together! We reaffirm our commitment to advocating vigorously for the greater good of persons with disabilities, who continue to face great challenges in everyday life and the NCPD wishes.

Happy International Day of Persons with Disabilities!

Training in Repair of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles

T

he Sir Arthur Lewis Community College through the Division of Technical Education and Management Studies has collaborated with the Department of Energy of the Ministry of Infrastructure Ports and Energy to deliver training to fifteen technicians from the Police and Fire Departments and from the Mechanical Engineering Department at the College. The training took place from Tuesday 3rd to Thursday 5th

December with the certification exam on the 6th of December, 2019 in the Auto Mechanics Workshop. Participants will also write for the IMI (Institute of Motor Industry) level 3 qualifications in Electric and Hybrid vehicles.

This training aligns itself with the sustainability pillar of the new College thrust and is expected to build the capacity of staff in this emerging area of motor vehicles and climate

change. It is expected that on successful completion the staff will be able to impart that knowledge to our current and future motor vehicle students.

The world of electric vehicles is opening up new opportunities for the automotive industry hence the need for such training.

The Closing ceremony and presentation of certificates took place on Friday December 6 at 10 a.m. at the campus of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College.

GOVERNMENT OF SAINT LUCIA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE CUSTOMS & EXCISE DEPARTMENT

NOTICE NO. 11 OF 2019 PROCEDURE FOR CLEARANCE OF CHRISTMAS BARREL ON 2019/2020 The Customs and Excise Department would like to inform the Public that with immediate effect persons coming to clear Barrels for the Christmas Season must comply with the following provisions:

1. Persons must present a valid ID (National ID, Passport, Driver’s License) to the interviewing Customs Officer along with documents for their Barrel.

2. If clearing on behalf of someone else, persons must present their valid ID, Letter of Authorization from the owner along with owner’s ID. 3. Customs Brokers also must present Letters of Authorization from the owner along with owner’s ID. The Public is also informed that Barrels will not be delivered if these guidelines are not met.

Your cooperation and understanding is solicited in that regard.

Anita Montoute (Mrs.) Comptroller of Customs (Ag.) November 25, 2019

20 local

december 07, 2019 THE STAR

www.stluciastar.com

Land Registry to Receive Dominicans head to polls amid protests and legal challenge Upgraded System for Records Management

D

ominicans head to the polls on Friday for a general election marred by protests and a corruption scandal uncovered by Al Jazeera.

The main candidates include incumbent Roosevelt Skerrit of the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) and Lennox Linton of the United Workers' Party (UWP).

Skerrit has led the Caribbean island, home to 75,000 people, since 2004, but a failure to implement reforms and an alleged corruption scandal have cast a shadow over the vote.

On Wednesday, UWP supporters set up roadblocks, stopping traffic to the airport and forcing people to walk to the airfield.

The protesters said Skerrit had not acted on a promise to implement reforms aimed at decreasing the ruling party's election advantage, local media reported.

Protesters also accused Skerrit's party of buying tickets for Dominicans living abroad in an attempt to increase votes in Skerrit's favour.

Last month, local media

quoted the prime minister as saying that he does not "help people in exchange for a vote. I help people because it is within me, and my heart, my conscience, to help those who help me."

In an attempt to stop the elections, a group called the Concerned Citizens' Movement (CCM) had asked the country's High Court to postpone the vote until after February 5, 2020, to allow for the promised reforms to take place.

The court, however, said on Tuesday it did not have the authority to hold off on the election and decided the vote had to continue.

CCM has said it would challenge the court's decision.

The call for reform was echoed by the US Ambassador to the Eastern Caribbean, Linda Taglialatela, who said in an op-ed in local media that "whatever government is in place after the elections, we hope that it will take action on these recommendations in consultation with civil society", referring to a joint report by several organisations calling for reform in the Caribbean island

nation.

Diplomatic passports for sale

The election also comes one week after the Al Jazeera investigation Diplomats for Sale showed a willingness by members of both main political parties to receive money in return for a political post, allegations they strongly deny.

Undercover filming by Al Jazeera shows how former Prime Minister Oliver Seraphin offered to broker a secret deal to hand out an ambassadorship in Asia for fees totalling $470,000.

The investigation also revealed that Skerrit allegedly took hundreds of thousands of dollars for his 2014 election campaign from an Iranian businessman named Alireza Monfared in exchange for an ambassadorship for Dominica to Malaysia.

Both Skerrit and Seraphin have denied the allegations of selling diplomatic passports in return for diplomatic posts.

T

he Ministry of Tourism, Information and Broadcasting, Culture and Creative Industries held a one day meeting with government stakeholders, and lawyers on Friday December 6 to present proposed plans and recommendations to support the upgrade of the Land Registry in Saint Lucia.

This activity is being undertaken in collaboration with the Land Registry of the Department of Physical Planning, and is expected to modernise the overall systems and processes for land administration. It will also bring about enhanced transparency, accountability and improved efficiency; and once implemented, will considerably decrease the lengthy manual Land Registration processes on the island. According to Tourism Ministry Officials, “this will provide not only a digital, but a transparent and readily available platform for swift access to all ---Al Jazeera land-related information”.

A consultant team from

the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine Campus is leading this initiative on behalf of the government.

The team has analysed the current processes and requirements, based on which they developed a detailed plan, along with recommendations to support this upgrade of Saint Lucia’s Land Registry.

The work to be undertaken will complement previous digitization activities, already ongoing at the Department of Physical Planning and is expected to aid government personnel and users of the Registry to better access, protect and speedily verify documents, while reducing the tedious methods currently used to register and recover documents at the Registry.

Speaking to consultants at the start of the assignment, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Physical Planning, Mr Duane Louisy, noted that ‘the modernisation of the land registry has been in planning for the last 10 years, but a lack of funding

has crippled the Department’s ability to realise the upgrades.

With an imminent deadline to digitize all of the registry’s records fast approaching, the Department is eager for the support”, which is made possible through the OECS Regional Tourism Competitiveness Project (ORTCP).

The improved system is expected to make available on-line access to the Registry’s records through various digital platforms; and at the same time, reduce the long lines at the Registry’s Office, for the ease of doing business for both government personnel and members of the public.

Over the long-term, this improved system will contribute to the establishment of a more robust land tenure system which will ultimately result in defining land regulated behaviour, land use controls as well as associated responsibilities and restraints.

This initiative is funded under the ORTCP, which is supported by the World Bank.

Closing off this decade the grandest way ever!!!

Let’s welcome 2020 in grand style with… the Wave’s End of Year Countdown,

The Top 94 Songs of 2019!!!

Live from Sandals Grande St Lucia Spa & Beach Resort!!

Predict the number 1 song of the year to win BIG!!

Send through your predictions at www.thewavestlucia.com .

Will it be Soca, Reggae, Dancehall or an international hit?

The first person to correctly predict the number one song of the year will win our GRAND PRIZE! Tuesday, December 31st at 6pm live from Sandals Grande St Lucia Spa & Beach Resort, the Wave’s End of Year Countdown, The Top 94 Songs of 2019!!!

THE STAR december 07, 2019

C

regional

www.stluciastar.com

21

Climate change forcing Caribbean children from homes, splitting families, UNICEF says

atastrophic tropical cyclones and hurricanes uprooted an estimated 761,000 children in the region between 2014 and 2018, which also was the hottest five-year period on record.

Caribbean children are among the most vulnerable to climate change and are being driven from their homes by drought, flooding and hurricanes, a new study by UNICEF says.

Between 2014 and 2018, the hottest five-year period on record, 3.4 million people living in the Caribbean were displaced by storms and flooding.

Of them, 741, 000 were children.

That number represents a six-fold increase, says the report’s author, Christopher Tidey, when compared to the previous five years when only 175,000 children out of 600,000 people were displaced by weather-related events.

“The primary cause of this dramatic increase in forced displacement was a series of catastrophic tropical cyclones or hurricanes that hit the region between 2016 and 2018 — including four Category 5 and two Category 4 storms.,” Tidey wrote in the report. “Some areas affected by Category 4 or 5 hurricanes have been left virtually uninhabitable.”

The report was released on Thursday as thousands of individuals, including scientists, government ministers and business leaders from more than 200 countries, continue to arrive in Madrid where the United Nations is holding its climate change conference, known as COP25.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who has made fighting climate change a top priority and traveled to St. Lucia to meet with Caribbean leaders on the matter, told reporters in Spain ahead of the conference that while the world has the scientific and technical know-how to stop global warming, it lacks the political will.

During the U.N. summit, UNICEF delegates will raise some of these issues and make the point that the climate change crisis globally is really a crisis of children’s rights.

“This is actually causing families to split, or to separate,” Tidey, the UNICEF report’s author, told the Miami Herald.

The Caribbean region, he said, “is almost uniquely vulnerable” to the effects of warming temperatures.

“It’s probably one of two regions in the world that is the most vulnerable to this type of climate-linked natural disaster. It’s very important that more attention is brought to the implications of climate change for the Caribbean sub-region specifically,” Tidey added. The other region is South Asia.

With nearly three-quarters of a million children being internally displaced over a fiveyear period, UNICEF is calling on governments to take a number of steps, including reducing carbon emissions and pollution, putting children at the heart of climate change strategies and response plans, and reducing inequities because children from poor communities are often hardest hit by extreme weather events.

“The international community must do a better job of mitigating the effects of climate change on children and vulnerable populations,” UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said in a statement.

“This means helping build up resiliency and adaptation strategies in at-risk communities so that they are better prepared to withstand and bounce back from severe weather events like hurricanes,” she said. “It also means putting systems in place to ensure that when children

are forcibly displaced by disasters, they have access to protection and the services they need.”

In 2017, more than a dozen Caribbean countries were impacted by Hurricanes Maria and Irma. In Dominica and on the island of Barbuda, children were especially affected as parents were forced to uproot and move to other nearby islands because homes were inhabitable and schools were either damaged or destroyed.

“What we’re seeing, for example, in Antigua and Barbuda, two years after the storm that basically devastated all of Barbuda, and everyone was evacuated to Antigua, most kids are not moving back to Barbuda,” Tidey said. “The infrastructure has not been rehabilitated and the schools really aren’t opened

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST SAINT LUCIA SAINT LUCIA HEALTH SYSTEM STRENGTHENING PROJECT (P166783) Credit No..: IDA63160 –LC Assignment Title: INTERNATIONAL PROCUREMENT CONSULTANT Reference No. 063/003C/CS/HSSP/01-19 Saint Lucia has received financing from the World Bank towards the Health System Strengthening Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services for engagement of an INTERNATIONAL PROCUREMENT CONSULTANT to provide short term adequate procurement expertise to the project, in accordance with the Loan Agreement and World Bank Procurement Regulation for IPF Borrowers, under the Health System Strengthening Project. The International Procurement Consultant will be responsible for providing quality procurement expertise in conducting all activities related to preparing, maintaining and updating the Procurement Plan, contract management records, data bases, Contract and Fixed Assets Registers and drafting of the relevant procurement documents for the Project in accordance with the regulations and guidelines on procurement and contracting outlined in the Operations Manual. The International Consultant is expected to provide procurement training to the Project Implementation Unit established within the Department of Health and Wellness and especially hands on training to the procurement analyst engaged under the Project. The International Procurement Consultant will be engaged on part-time basis (6 months) and is expected to commence the assignment on December 15, 2019. A performance evaluation after the first two months of services rendered will be done, The consulting services (“the Services”) include Undertaking the Procurement Process: a. Draft, review and/or assist the procurement analyst in the preparation

of the following documents:

i. Invitation to Quotes and Purchase Orders for procurement of

goods using shopping procedures.

ii. Bidding Documents and Request for Proposals

iii. Assist the Project Manager in the preparation of Terms of

Reference for Project implementation as required b. For contracts that are subject to prior review, submit procurement

documents through STEP to the World Bank for no-objection c. Prepare and publish General and Specific Procurement Notices and

seek advertising space from newspaper. d. Attend and record Minutes of Bid Opening. e. Prepare evaluation forms and brief evaluators on the applicable

evaluation methodology in advance of bid or proposal submission to ensure that the evaluators correctly undertake the evaluation methodology to be applied in the case of each procurement transaction. f. Assist with the evaluation and selection of consultants, contractors

and suppliers. Assist in Evaluations of contracts procured using all

selection methods as per procurement plan, in accordance with

World Bank Procurement Regulation for IPF Borrowers. g. Seek approval from the relevant authority (Permanent Secretary,

Departmental Tenders Board, and Central Tenders Board) for award of

all contracts h. Prepare letters to contractors regarding award of contract, discharge

of bid securities i. Prepare notification of award of letters to unsuccessful bidders. j. Ensure the timely submission of signed contracts to the World Bank,

Audit, Accountant General and the implementing agencies and to

confirm receipt k. Upload Procurement information via STEP system of the World Bank. l. Maintain a database of suppliers to facilitate procurement under

request for quotation procedures. m. Prepare of List of Contracts (Goods, Works and Consultant’s Services) procured under the Projects to be included into the Financial Statements.

2. Monitoring and Reporting a. Provide assistance to the procurement analyst, support the project

there for them to go to. In some cases, families are deciding that the opportunities for education are better in Antigua so they’re deciding to stay there.”

In September, Hurricane Dorian, the most powerful storm to hit the Bahamas, also drove children from their homes on the islands of Abaco and Grand

Bahama. The storm’s 185 mph sustained winds destroyed 45% of homes and left 69 persons confirmed dead, UNICEF said.

The cost of the storm’s damage, meanwhile, is estimated at $3.4 billion, according to the InterAmerican Development Bank.

---Miami Herald

manager and follow-up to project monitoring and stewardship –

including assistance with report reviews, briefings, assessments and

project summaries. b. Assist in the preparation of the Operational Manual for the various

Projects to serve as a guide for the project. c. Work with Financial Management team to ensure that the Procurement

Plan, Budget Estimates and Financial Statements are in agreement

(for both planned and actual) d. Liaise with Implementing team to gather information regarding

approved work plans for updating of the corresponding procurement plan. e. Obtain, integrate, and input information from Implementing entity of

physical progress of the various components to generate reports

regarding status of contracts as required by the World Bank and GOSL. f. Ensure that goods/services/works are procured in accordance with

the approved Procurement Plan, the Procurement Regulations of the

World Bank and the Financing Agreement for the project. g. Follow up with the contractor/suppliers/consultants for invoices for

works and services completed/in progress. This includes visiting

Project Sites to monitor progress of works and services. h. Verify and monitor deliverables against Contracts. i. Attend Project review meetings with Donor Agencies and

Implementing Agencies to discuss project status. j. Maintain and update Contracts and Fixed Assets Register for Project

assigned. Ensure labeling of all Fixed Assets procured. k. Participate in and contribute to Post Procurement Reviews and

annual Audits.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website; www.finance.gov.lc The Department of Health and Wellness now invites eligible Individual Consultants (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services; (Curriculum Vitae, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, clients’ references etc.).

Interested Consultants should have the following requisite minimum qualifications and professional experiences listed below for undertaking the assignment.

QUALIFICATION Minimum required education and experience Qualifications and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree in Procurement, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Engineering, Law or related field with 6 years of procurement-related working experience, preferable in World Bank financed projects.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016, revised November 2017 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultants Selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office 8:00 a.m-4:30 p.m. (0800 to 1630 hours).

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by December 10, 2019.

Project Coordination Unit Department of Economic Development, Transport and Civil Aviation Attn: Project Coordinator 2nd Floor, Finance Administrative Centre Pointe Seraphine Castries Saint Lucia Tel: 1-758-468-2413 E-mail: slupcu@gosl.gov.lc

22 regional

www.stluciastar.com

december 07, 2019 THE STAR

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ranked in the Top 100 for Quality of Life

E

very year since Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen divulged his theses that revolutionized development, UNDP publishes a ranking of the most prosperous and socially cohesive societies on the planet – a list that also evidences which nations have the poorest record in terms of Human Development.

Understanding that economic output doesn’t say it all, Sen probably found inspiration in Robert Kennedy’s speech at Kansas University in March 1968, when he said: “… the gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country, it measures everything in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.”

To assess the “health of our children, the quality of their

TH E

education or the joy of her play” Professor Sen and his colleague, Pakistan’s Finance Minister Mahbub ul Haq, developed for UNDP the Human Development Index, where one won’t be surprised to find Norway, Switzerland, Australia, Ireland or Germany on top – and Niger, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Chad and Burundi at the bottom.

The second-best category of high human development countries includes Barbados and most of the Eastern Caribbean States, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Ranking 99th of the world list, the multi-island State occupies a good position, just behind Jamaica and Tonga, the Dominican Republic and Saint Lucia, but ahead of Suriname, the Maldives or Dominica.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines runs a US$1.2Bn economy, in the same league as St. Kitts and Nevis or Grenada.

Thanks to a great control of inflation, the Caribbean Development Bank projected growth to the tune of 2% for 2019. The government disposes of an enviable 24% of GDP in tax

4

th

revenue, higher than what the Governments of Saint Lucia and Grenada can avail themselves of for public expenditure.

Foresight is placing in a contingency fund an addition to VAT and tourism tax revenue collection, saving for a rainy day and managing finance to de-risk disasters well-ahead of time.

In most OECS countries, excellent performance in the education sector is coupled with less positive health outcomes.

St Vincent and the Grenadines is the opposite: a public health champion of the Caribbean where education results leave room for improvement. 73 years of life expectancy trail behind Dominica (78) and Cuba (79), maternal mortality and

adolescent birth rates are too high, but St. Vincent and the Grenadines enjoys a quasiuniversal antenatal care and birth attendance by skilled personnel; a phenomenal almost universal immunization record on DPT and Measles; a ratio of 52 hospital beds per 10,000 inhabitants – the second-highest in the region after Barbados; low infant mortality and TB rates, owing to a 4.2% of GDP health expenditure.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines offers its children over 13 years of schooling, a good coverage overall, with only a 9% primary dropout, and remains on the high end with a 5.8% of GDP

education expenditure. Only 68% of schools have access to Internet – in a context of low connectivity, just above the half. This is surprising given the universal electricity access in rural areas.

The labour market figures show an 18% joblessness and 40% youth unemployment rate, but with a much better quality of employment in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (only 10% of jobs are “vulnerable”, as opposed to 30% in Saint Lucia).

At the other end of the productive life, old age coverage by pension is excellent, with 76% of the relevant age group being pension recipients – one of the highest in the Caribbean.

The Rule of Law figures are less favourable, with a high prison population and one of the highest homicide rates with St. Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago, tripling the relatively quiet Antigua and Barbuda, and Barbados.

In sum, being in the Top 100 of quality of life shows in Saint Vincent’s job quality, health record, pension coverage and economic performance – even if higher ranks of the high human development group

are well in reach if policies and budgets are invested in education and gender equality.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines punches above its weight and has now social excellence in sight. If one needed proof, the steady leadership of the country has been recognised as an actor for international peace and stability, by collecting 185 votes at the UN General Assembly to become the smallest country ever to serve on the Security Council. The experienced hand and negotiation skills of the Head of the Executive, and the smart operation by the Vincentian Diplomacy of the international halls are to be credited for this unparalleled success.

As the Sustainable Development Goals state: leave no one behind! And forward the country is going with intellectual clout and balanced ideas about its future, its place in the world and a possibilistic road map towards the economic integration of the Caribbean.

Caption: Being in the Top 100 shows in Saint Vincent’s job quality, health record, pension coverage and economic performance

ANN UAL

& Fashion Event

Saturday 7th December, 6pm Grand Pavilion, The Ramp on Rodney Bay

SEXY MODELS ROCK THE RUNWAY call for tickets 452-5111 / 484-1406

THE STAR

DECEMBER 07, 2019

HEALTH

www.stluciastar.com

23

KIM’S KORNER

The Young and the Restless P

ain is not just something experienced only by adults. Young children and adolescents often complain of pain, which initially can be dismissed as growing pains.

But children can also suffer from many of the conditions that affect adults. Although they may have slightly different names the symptoms are often the same: juvenile idiopathic arthritis, juvenile fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndromes and overuse injuries. So how do you know if it is just typical growing pains or something else?

Growing pains, aches in the thighs or calves, tend to occur after a very active day or during a growth spurt whereas other, more serious conditions may last more than a few days and be accompanied by swelling, pain in the joints and/or fever. Once you have determined it is not growing pains and have ruled out serious pathology, arthritis or fibromyalgia, what else could it be? The following are common problems, rather than chronic conditions, that afflict adolescents and can affect

L

everyday activities and limit participation in sports.

Hypermobility—Sometimes referred to as being doublejointed, this is increased range and flexibility at the joints, usually as a result of slack ligaments. When you’re young, being hypermobile can be something of a blessing and sometimes even a party trick (for adults too). Hypermobility can make things like doing the splits easy—making you the envy of your friends; or enable you to pull your fingers back almost to the knuckles— making them squirm. It is said that Houdini was hypermobile, making it possible for him to get into small spaces and even escape from a tank full of water while confined in a straitjacket.

But hypermobility has its downside, especially when taking part in sports. Being so flexible can also mean less stability; and less stability can lead to injury. At the first sign of hypermobility, seek advice on how to protect your joints and minimise the risk of injury.

Slipped capital Femoral

epiphysis—A condition that affects the hip of adolescents and is more common in boys than girls. The head of the femur slips backwards causing pain, stiffness and instability. It can occur during episodes of rapid growth or after a fall but it can happen for no apparent reason. The aim of treatment is to correct the deformity and this is done by surgery, after which physiotherapy can help to increase the range of movement at the hip and strength of the muscles.

Osgood-Schlatter (patella tendinopathy) disease—This is inflammation of the patella tendon. It is common during growth spurts and among youngsters who participate in sports that involve running and jumping. In most cases, rest and exercises that include stretching and strengthening are all that’s needed to resolve the problem. Surgery is very rarely recommended.

than males, possibly because females have wider hips, resulting in a greater angle where the bones meet at the knee joint. It can be caused by overuse—excessive running and jumping can put strain on the joint; falling directly onto the kneecap or muscle imbalances. The key to recovery is to ensure that the muscles of the lower legs are strong, and biomechanics are good, not only when participating in sports but also when performing everyday tasks.

Chondromalacia patellae (runner’s knee) This also affects the front of the knee but is caused by damage to the cartilage on the underside of the knee cap. The damage may be a result of excessive running and jumping, hence the name. Sometimes a few days’ rest can resolve the pain but if the problem is due to poor alignment of the patella, special exercises may be required to address muscle imbalances.

Patellafemoral Stress

Syndrome—This describes pain Sever’s Disease—This is pain in and around the kneecap. It at the back of the heel, at the tends to affect females more insertion of the Achilles tendon.

It differs from achilles tendonitis in that it describes inflammation at the growth plate of the heel. It is normally seen in children who perform repetitive movements or who are very active, but it is not uncommon for it to appear during a growth spurt. The key to recovery is rest and ice to reduce irritation and inflammation. To prevent recurrence it is important to decrease the stress on the tendon when walking and

running, by strengthening the muscles around the ankle, and to improve ankle flexibility.

So next time your child complains of pain, stop and think what’s causing it. It may be more than just growing pains. If in doubt, contact your healthcare provider or physiotherapist who can perform a full assessment and suggest what steps are needed for a pain-free and active child.

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

THE ART OF TEACHING YOGA - PART II

ast week I wrote about demonstration within the ‘Art of Teaching’. As we progress from demonstration we look at observation, handson adjustments, basic anatomy, Sanskrit pronunciation of poses, sequencing, yoga philosophy and pranayama.

Today we shall focus on observation.

The teacher must observe the students as they learn the asanas (poses), looking for difficulties they may be experiencing such as alignment, the breath and balance. The instructions given by the teacher should bring about an improvement in the students‘ performance, with clear guidance about the place from which to start the movement, the precise action (press, extend, revolve, lift) and the direction of the movement.

Instructions should be directed to everyone and not to just one student.

The teacher picks up

a great number of students have no real idea about their own bodies and what their bodies are capable of doing.

The teacher observes the students in order to learn their weaknesses and strengths. A student with a stiff body should never be forced to do more than they are capable of doing, just as a very flexible student should never be made to stretch beyond their threshold.

Reluctance in the student could be due to lack of understanding, or misunderstanding. A student

faulty actions and common mistakes that the whole group has performed and corrects that general mistake, demonstrating only the mistakes that have been observed in the students, and then shows how to correct them. If the students are not

grasping the instructions and show signs of confusion, then the teacher must demonstrate the mistake as well as the correction.

Since students learn by experience, they should be asked to do the asana more

than once. Initially repetition is more important than duration.

The teacher’s instructions should help the pupils to identify their arms, legs and each part in their bodies while doing the asana.

As teachers, we find that

must always be given courage. If the student feels weak in doing the asana, then the teacher should break it down, doing just the first step until they understand it and feel comfortable doing it.

The teacher must understand that all students will not have the same amount of energy. Some may hold the asana easily, and some forcefully. Some may need the wall for balance or support to gain stability in order to maintain the asana without stress. Respect must be given to the age of the student and the limitations of all students Jill Hagar is a certified instructor of Iyengar Yoga and a certified International Yoga Therapist. She holds regular Yoga classes at Harmony Suites in Rodney Bay.

For more information about classes please contact Jill by phone or WhatsApp on (758) 718 1297 or by email on yogastlucia@gmail.com

24 SPORTS

DECEMBER 07, 2019 THE STAR

www.stluciastar.com

Mango Bowl Regatta was no breeze

A scene from the eighth edition of the 2019 Mango Bowl Regatta.

won the event last year.

Following two days of competition, the top three finishers in the various events were: reeze-A-Way was a

Cruising Class: (1) Ting (St sailboat at the Mango Lucia), skipper Simon Handley; Bowl Regatta over the (2) Cricket (Antigua and weekend. While the name of the yacht implies smooth, easy Barbuda), skipper Sandy Mair; sailing, it was anything but that. (3) Papagayo (St Lucia), skipper Ben Thompson.

There was little wind beneath J24 Class: (1) Die Hard the sails of entries in this year’s (Grenada), skipper Robbie event, held on the waters of Yearwood; (2) Jabal (St Lucia), picturesque Reduit Beach. skipper Nick Forsberg; (3)

During the closing ceremony on Sunday afternoon Attitude renamed Scotty Boy (St Lucia), skipper Fredric Sweeney. at the St Lucia Yacht Club,

Racing Class: (1) Maison Regatta Director Lily Bergasse Satec (Martinique), skipper felt the weekend was a Jean Michel Figueres; (2) Open success, despite the light winds. “I am very happy that so the Barre (Martinique), skipper many of you are here,” she said. Lionel Baud; (3) Valentin Lindor (Martinique), skipper Marc “It has been a good weekend; Dubourg. very little wind but a beautiful

Surprise class results: (1) weekend.”

Aquanet Oiscines (Martinique),

The eight edition of the skipper Stanley Dormoy; (2) Mango Bowl Regatta attracted Helium (Martinique), skipper 22 entries from Martinique, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Franck Pennors; (3) Digilife Barbados and the host country. (Martinique), skipper Vianney Saintenoy.

Saint Lucia fared well but,

In memory of the late once again, their neighbour Martinique, who year after year Jonathan Everett, who was a member of the St Lucia Yacht come out in large numbers, Club and always assisting with dominated. Saint Lucia placed various regattas, a special first and third in the Cruising award was presented to honour Class. In the J24 Class, with him. It was presented to Sandy Fredric Sweeney at the helm, SaInt Lucia placed third, having Meir from Antigua.

By David R Pascal

B

Kimani Melius of the Emerging Players team that won the 2019 Super50 championship.

Laura Bawler from BodyHoliday (extreme right) with the crew of Die Hard from Grenada.

Despite less than ideal conditions for the Mango Bowl Regatta, Director Lily Bergasse had a lot to smile about.

West Indies Emerging Players are 2019 Super50 champions W est Indies Emerging Players are the 2019 Colonial Medical Insurance champions, after securing a commanding 205 run victory over Leeward Islands Hurricanes.

Led by a captain’s man of the match all-round performance by Yannic Cariah, who had tremendous assistance from his team mates, the Emerging Players’ triumph makes it the second year in a row that a development side heavily influenced by Coach Floyd Reifer has won the

competition, following the 2018 victory by Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) Marooners “Victory shows the future is bright for West Indies cricket,’’ said Coach Floyd Reifer to CWI media and the press. “It’s all [now] about putting these guys in a high performance programme to work on their skills where they can learn to be good professionals and athletes before becoming good cricketers. This is very crucial.”

He went on to say: “You can’t win anything with kids,” - the iconic sports folklore statement

from former legendary football commentator Alan Hansen, when addressing the title credentials of eventual 1995/96 English Premier League champions Manchester United.

The foundation that enabled the Emerging Players to become the latest sporting team of “kids” to win an elite sports competition was West Indies Under-19 duo Kimani Melius and Leonardo Julien. In blazing sunshine, the composure displayed by Julien (83) during his maiden List A half century and Melius (28) against the

Hurricanes new ball pair of Sheeno Berridge and Quinton Boatswin during the power play overs, set the perfect platform to start innings.

Although the Leewards were able to pull the innings back during the middle overs as the Emerging side slipped from 141/1 to 218/6, another duo of “kids”, in 21-yearold Dominic Drakes (38) and 20-year-old Kevin Sinclair (28), played decisive cameos to aid in posting what proved to be an unassailable match winning total.

THE STAR

sports

www.stluciastar.com

DECEMBER 07, 2019

25

Stars Arriving and Stars Aligning for the Saint Lucia Pole Vault Summit

ARC+ First Arrival arrival Y makes Landfall in Saint Lucia fantastic weather. After 50NM out we took a big advantage and then we hit a slow zone and everyone was catching up to us, but we managed in t just after 2:30pm the last two days to make it local time on Tuesday up. I am a bit surprised to be December 3, 2019 the first. This is the first time for Neel 47 trimaran Minimole us and it’s a fantastic dream.” crossed the ARC+ finish At one point it looked like Lind in Rodney Bay, claiming it was to be a photo finish line honours and leading for the first arrival to cross the arrival of the 2019 rally the ARC+ finish line, with an into Rodney Bay – the first eclectic collection of front of close to 300 boats sailing runners jostling to reach with the ARC this year. the rum punch first after The six crew of the the 2150NM crossing from performance cruiser, owned Mindelo.

by Italian businessman Aldo Split between the rhumb Fumagalli and skippered by line route, and ducking south Marco Corno, includes Golden into the steadier trades, the Globe Race veteran Philip triumphant trimaran had been Phelipon. They received a up against the big boys of rapturous welcome as they Sunbird, a CNB Bordeaux 60, reached the docks of IGY Stadtship 54 Aluaka featuring Rodney Bay Marina. fellow countrymen from Italy As their lines were on board and plucky Pogo 36 made fast on the dock, the Amarys with a competitive Events Saint Lucia team was crew on board the Frenchdelighted to provide the crew flagged pocket cruiser-racer. with a glass of ice-cold Saint The first arrival is a Lucian style rum punch as special moment as it officially the steel pan band struck up kicks off a month-long a special musical welcome. celebration in Rodney Bay.

Minimole’s elapsed time 71 yachts in the ARC+ fleet of 12 days, five hours, two and 191 on the traditional minutes and 42 seconds falls ARC route will receive a outside the 2018 ARC+ rally magnificent welcome, record, but it is a remarkable bringing ashore some 1,500 achievement for a yacht that sailors to enjoy the island was launched less than three paradise, greeted by friends months ago. and family.

The ARC+ fleet has An organised experienced good trade wind programme of tours and conditions since leaving social events, facilitated by Mindelo in Cape Verde, with World Cruising Club and the the final run towards Saint Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, Lucia seeing perfect easterly will provide a great taste of breezes of 15-18kts. what Saint Lucia has to offer, After stepping ashore, with the finale of the ARC Minimole skipper Marco being the final prize-giving Corno explained: “We had ceremony on Saturday 21 a fantastic trip with really December.

By World Cruising Club

A

outh from secondary schools around the country will have a chance to continue developing their pole vault skills with the top vaulters Saint Lucia has ever produced. Arriving back on the island this weekend are three individuals whose journeys began to intertwine a decade ago, and whose presence this week seeks to inspire and lead the next generation of pole vaulters.

Micky Ferdinand, a native of Desruisseaux and graduate of Micoud Secondary School, is returning from the Texas A&M University – Commerce, where he is on a full scholarship for high jump and pole vault.

After being introduced to the pole vault at a small school clinic in 2009, Ferdinand developed himself in the sport, winning the gold medal at the 2014 CARIFTA Games where he also began a transition into the high jump event. His mark of 2.15 metres in the high jump in 2017 set him on a course towards university, in August 2018.

Rick Valcin, a native of La Croix Maingot and graduate of the Gros Islet Secondary School, is returning from Dubuque, Iowa. He graduated from the University of Dubuque, after winning the 2014 NCAA Division III national championship in pole vault. Valcin was a silver medalist at the 2009 CARIFTA Games, hosted here in Saint Lucia. He later performed well

Jumps Center and Pole Vault Saint Lucia is hosting a Pole Vault Summit.

in the 2009 Castries Market Street Vault, which led to entry into Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kansas, a mere four weeks later.

Three-time Olympic qualifier Dominic Johnson is accompanied by his eldest daughter Isabella who is an 18-year-old senior in high school in Arizona. She has been vaulting for four years. The Saint Lucia Pole Vault Summit will allow her to interact and train alongside our local girls and provide an international experience through the sport.

The Saint Lucia Pole Vault Summit is the foundational

week of development for the sport on the island, combining a development clinic (Monday December 9), training sessions for our top national junior jumpers (Tuesday night December 10), the inaugural boys and girls interschools pole vault championships (Wednesday December 11), training sessions for our top national junior jumpers, and the National Day Street Vault (Friday December 13).

The launch of the event for all stakeholders, media members, athletes, coaches and interested member of the public will take place at the

Community Jumps Centre on Monday December 9 at 10:00am.

Key partners on the Saint Lucia Pole Vault Summit include the Mon Repos Athletics Academy, Saint Lucia Athletics Association, Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, Ministry of Education and sponsorship support from the National Lotteries Authority, Blue Waters Saint Lucia Ltd and Harbor Club.

Questions regarding the event may be directed to Andy Behl, Programme Director for the Mon Repos Athletics Academy, Jumps Center and Pole Vault Saint Lucia on 488 3318.

West Indies jump in Test Rankings J West Indies Captain Jason Holder.

(Photo by David R Pascal)

ason Holder’s plan to move the West Indies into Test cricket’s top five has already started to bear fruit. Following the comprehensive nine-wicket win over Afghanistan last week and Pakistan’s defeat to Australia on Monday, Holder’s team has leapfrogged the Pakistanis on the ICC Test match rankings table.

A check on the ICC website https://www.icc-cricket.com shows West Indies on 81 points – one ahead of Pakistan. Following last week’s win at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, Holder said the result had significance and called on his players to aim for the fourth or fifth spot. The tall all-rounder has maintained his position as the topranked all-rounder in Test cricket and now he wants to see his team move up to a top spot in the overall rankings.

Based on the way they have played in recent years, including their comprehensive win over England to regain the Wisden trophy, Holder is confident his team is good enough to finish in the top bracket of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship.

26

sports

Football Results and News

O

ne match was played in the Saint Lucia Football Association Island Cup, sponsored by the National Lotteries Authority, on Saturday November 30 at the Marchand Grounds when Roseau Valley defeated Canaries 1–0 with Curtis Edward scoring in the 22nd minute. The match between Dennery and Mabouya Valley, scheduled for the same day, had to be postponed.

The points standing in the competition is as follows: Gros Islet – 16 points ; Vieux Fort South – 13 points; Marchand – 12 points (one game remaining ); Mabouya Valley – 9 points ( two games remaining) Roseau Valley – 9 points (one game remaining ).

The Spider Cup, sponsored by the National Lotteries Authority and organised by the Gros Islet Football League, resumed following a short delay involving technical difficulties with the lighting.

Two matches were played on Sunday December 1 at the Gros Islet Playing Field. GMC United defeated Valley Soccer Academy 8-1 while Northern United got

DECEMBER 07, 2019 THE STAR

www.stluciastar.com

A Canaries player with a watchful eye on a Laborie Veterans forward.

the better of Veterans 3-1.

The Veterans In Sports Inc. 2019 Veterans Football competition, under the theme lStrong to the Finish’, continued kicking for a cure this past weekend. On Saturday November 30, three matches were played at the Philip Marcellin Grounds in Vieux Fort.

Soufriere Veterans, playing their first game of the competition, confined defending champions Micoud Veterans to their third consecutive defeat, winning 2–1. In the second

game, Lancers returned to their winning ways, defeating Labowee Connexions 4–0. Mon Repos Sharks, buoyed by their win last weekend, defeated Vieux Fort South 1–0.

Matches continued on Sunday December 1 at the same venue. In the first game, Prophet and Kings played to a goal-less draw with Congorians.

Canaries Veterans surprisingly defeated Laborie Veterans 3–1 while Central Vieux Fort and Vieux Fort North played to an exciting 2–2 draw.

Two matches were played in the Lisa Jawahir Community football competition at the Cul de Sac Playing Field on Saturday November 30. In the first game, Sarrot Scopions FC and CDC played to a 2–2 draw.

However, following the penalty shootout, Sarrot advanced to the next round, 5–4. Then, playing their first leg, Genaside defeated Obla 4–2.

Three matches were played over the weekend in the Desruisseaux Football League/ Saint Lucia Football Association nine aside football tournament.

On Saturday November 30 Green Monsters and Blanchard played to an exciting 1–1 draw. Jonah Grafton scored for Green Monsters in the 47th minute while Blanchard came through in the 67th minute with a Micky Wilfred goal. In the resultant penalty shootout, Green Monsters prevailed 5–4 to advance to the semi-final.

Two further matches were played on Sunday December 1.

El Ninos B defeated Lin Heart 1–0 with the goal scorer being Nathan Terrance in the 39th minute. In the second match Desruisseaux United beat Small Axe 1-0 with a goal by Luanger Willie in the 65th minute.

The tournament continues this weekend with the following games at La Ressource Playing Field: Saturday December 7: 4:00 pm, Vieux Fort North vs VSADC; 6:00 pm, Mon Repos Sharks vs Flow Lancers FC; 8:00 pm, Valley Legends vs Soufriere Veterans. Sunday December 8: 3:00 pm, Prophets and Kings vs Marchand Veterans; 5:00 pm, Congorians vs Choiseul Veterans; 7:00 pm, Vieux Fort South vs All BlacksDennery.

B

Sprint star Blake lashes out at IAAF chief

Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake.

(AFP Photo/Jewel Samad)

A

ce Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake has slammed world athletics Chief Sebastian Coe for taking away track and field disciplines, such as the 200 metres, from next year's Diamond League.

The International Association of Athletics Associations (IAAF) dropped the 200m, 3,000m steeplechase, triple jump and discus from its list of "core" disciplines at Diamond League meetings in 2020.

"I believe all the events are very important. This is people's careers, this is where they make their money," Blake said at a promotional event in Mumbai on Monday. "If he can take away the 200 and triple jump, I don't know if he is trying to build it or trying to kill athletics but that's a stupid move. He must enhance the sport, but he is killing it. It is just madness."

The athletics world body said its decision was based on online research in China, France, South Africa and the United

States and post-event surveys in Belgium, Britain and Switzerland.

It said the aim was to reduce the length of the Diamond League meetings to fit a 90-minute international broadcast window.

29-year-old Blake, who won 100m gold in the 2011 world championships, has had to settle with being the second fastest man behind countryman Usain Bolt in both 100m and 200m.

But the two-time Olympic sprint relay gold medalist said he was confident of taking more gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“I'm always the favourite, the second fastest man in the universe. Everyone has to look up to me," said Blake. "I think is going to be epic; this is the greatest show on earth and everyone is looking for that blue-carpet event, which is the 100m. If you take Bolt away from the picture, I will be the fastest man in the world. I was born in the wrong time. Nevertheless, I am happy with what I have achieved."

Ballon d'Or Winners

arcelona superstar attacker Lionel Messi won the 2019 Ballon d'Or during the 64th annual ceremony on Monday in Paris.

The award was presented by France Football, recognizing the best player in the world for all of 2019. Messi beat Liverpool star defender Virgil van Dijk and Juventus man Cristiano Ronaldo to take home the award, winning it for a record sixth time.

USWNT star Megan Rapinoe, who led her country to a World Cup title this summer, was named the winner of the 2019 women's Ballon d'Or. The win for Messi gives him his first Ballon d'Or since 2015. Messi

Lionel Messi, winer of the prestigious Ballon d’Or.

had 51 goals in 50 games for Barcelona last season and had five goals for Argentina in this calendar year. The 32-year-old scored a brilliant winner on Sunday as Barca won 1-0 at Atletico Madrid in La Liga action. Luka Modric won the award last year.

On the women's side, Rapinoe completed her extraordinary year with one more trophy. She won the Golden

Boot and Golden Ball at the 2019 Women's World Cup, scoring six goals in just five games at the tournament. Rapinoe scored three times from the penalty spot in the World Cup, including against the Netherlands in the final. Rapinoe, 34, was also named the FIFA Women's Player of the Year in 2019. She beat out England's Lucy Bronze and Alex Morgan, her American teammate, for the 2019 Ballon d'Or. Ada Hegerberg won the Ballon d'Or in 2018, the first year it was presented to women's players.

THE STAR

Labour leader makes Brexit offensive ahead of UK election showdown

CLASSIFIED 27

www.stluciastar.com

december 07, 2019

Selling a house?

Have an apartment to rent?

Want your car sold?

VEHICLE FOR SALE White 2006 Nissan Altima in good condition.

Lady driven.

Left hand drive Best offer!

ADVERTISE IT!!

Get great results with a STAR Classified Ad Call the advertising department Tel: 450-7827 or Email:

Call mobile: 720 5046 For more details

FOR RENT Furnished house for rent at Beausejour Phase 2.

3 bedroom, 2 bath, master bedroom, hot and cold water, cable, internet and parking.

info@stluciastar.com

Call: 518-6208

British opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn

B

ritish opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn went on the Brexit offensive on Friday, seeking to hit back at Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s main campaign message as they both prepared for a final TV showdown ahead of next week’s election.

Polls show Johnson’s Conservative Party is well ahead of Labour six days before Britons vote in an election which could finally resolve the impasse over Britain’s departure from the European Union, three years after a divisive referendum. The latest survey by Ipsos MORI on Friday showed Labour closing the gap although Johnson’s party remained 12 points clear and on course to win a majority in parliament. Brexit remained the biggest issue for voters, it found.

Johnson, who renegotiated a new divorce deal with the EU in October, has promised to “get Brexit done”, a slogan he has repeated constantly during campaigning in a bid to win over Labour supporters who

backed leaving the bloc, and those who are simply fed up of the political haggling over the issue. Britons voted by 52%-48% in 2016 for Brexit but parliament has failed to agree a way forward with Johnson calling the election having lost his majority. If Johnson wins, Britain will leave the EU by Jan. 31 and then seek to enact a trade agreement with the bloc by the end of 2020.

Corbyn went on the attack on the issue on Friday, calling Johnson’s promises a fraud and saying his Brexit deal would simply be the start of years of “painful negotiations and broken promises”. He also revealed a leaked government document which he said showed the divorce deal would lead to customs declarations and security checks between Britain and Northern Ireland, a direct contradiction to Johnson’s statements that it would not create any barriers with the British province and the mainland.

DAMAGING DEAL

The confidential Treasury

report said the impact of the deal would be higher prices and that 98% of Northern Irish exporters would struggle to bear the additional costs.

“There will be other secret reports like this one in every government department that reveal the disastrous impact of Johnson’s damaging deal,” Corbyn said. Johnson said the document was “complete nonsense”.

He has ridiculed the stance adopted by Corbyn, who has said a Labour government would strike another exit deal with the European Union to include a customs union, and then hold a second referendum on whether Britons wanted to accept it, with Corbyn himself vowing to remain neutral. “Have we sent out search parties to discover Jeremy Corbyn’s position on the EU?” Johnson said in a speech to supporters in southeast England. “If you want to get this thing done, if you want to the country to move forward, you’ve got to vote Conservative.”

JOB VACANCY East Winds a luxury boutique hotel situated on La Brelotte Bay, St Lucia. We pride ourselves on friendly and discreet service and a safe and secure environment for our guests and staff. We are looking to fill the following positions: Position (1):

Chief Security Officer

Requirements:

3 Years’ Experience People’s Management skills Strong leadership skills Communication Skills Computer literate Understand security protocols Rostering teams Ability to operate at a Senior Management Level Police Record References required

Positions (2):

Security Officer (Experience preferred)

Requirements:

Handwritten application letter Police Record Summary of your experience

Closing date:

December 16th, 2019

Interested candidates can apply along with your CV and required documents to recruitment@eastwinds.com or drop it off at the security booth by hand.

Do As We Say . . . Not As We Do! www.stluciastar.com

$2.00

Photo by Bill Mortley

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2019

S&S

LAYAWAY NOW AVAILABLE AT S&S THE PRICEBUSTERS

girl’s jewellery clay mold and play box craft sets animal sets $13.50

$16.25

Come and apply for your S & S Loyalty Card

Bois D Orange • Castries • Vieux Fort www.facebook.com/the.pricebusters

girl’s makeup sets $12

girl’s bead sets

$20

fairy doll sets

$9

frozen microphone sets $10

Also on special: boy’s rangers action figures $4, target pump sets $12.50, cricket bat and ball $16.50, firefighter tool sets $18, fire trucks $13, water guns $22, bowling sets $22, construction car $3.25, car sets $5.50, spiderman and iron man action figures $9.50, spiderman with bike $13.50, car set with launcher $13, avengers action figures $11.50, remote control bugatti $30, paw patrol character with bike $13

Printed and published by STAR Publishing Co. (1987) Ltd., Rodney Bay Industrial Estate, Massade, Gros Islet, P.O. Box 1146, Castries, St. Lucia, W.I., Tel: (758) 450-7827 Email: info@stluciastar.com Website: www.stluciastar.com