Pratt Murder Trial Opens!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 01, 2020

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Pratt Murder Trial Opens!

British couple Roger and Margaret Pratt had no idea when they set sail for paradise that what awaited them was hell!

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HOLD ‘EM JOE E

arly in the New Year my 2020 vision was tested by a bold headline on the cover-page of a Trinidad Sunday newspaper: “CLOUD OVER CAMILLE” with a picture of the former Minister of Planning, Camille Robinson-Regis. While many of the local commentators linked the headline to a $143,800 bank deposit with a questionable “source of funds” declaration—a serious matter (the ease of which I had referred to in Biblical terms as passing a Camille through the eye of a needle)—I was more interested in the cloud since it tickled both my fancy and memory.

However, my cloud sourcing, unlike others which deal with the internet and suchlike, was among the newspaper “comic strips” of the past. There, gesturing hypnotically like Mandrake, using my “X-ray” vision like Superman, and shouting "SHAZAM" like Captain Marvel, I found my cloud.

The only newspaper of my youth was the Trinidad Guardian and on a special page next to the daily horoscopes it featured a range of comics among which was the satirical Li’l Abner by Al Capp. It was there, in my melange of memories, I found the missing link. Joe Btfsplk was a really nice, well-meaning, guy who was also the world's worst jinx. Wherever he went he had a small, dark rain cloud hovering perpetually over his head and he brought misfortune to all those around him. In my favourite Joe Btfsplk story, he captured his cloud in a jar and then fell in love with a young lady. When her very angry ex-boyfriend showed up, Joe opened the jar, released his cloud to get rid of the boyfriend and then realised that the normal lifestyle wasn’t for him.

He resumed life with his head in his cloud, satisfied to be who he really was. Joe and his dark cloud, and Camille and her Trini version, opened the floodgates of memory and I rummaged through the past seeking other similarities.

Mutt and Jeff, reputedly the first daily comic strip, was an early favourite. Even though I was too young to question their living arrangements, I was old enough to laugh at their humour, initially at the racetrack and later trying a bunch of “get rich quick” notions. Through it all, Mutt’s wife, affectionately known as “M’love”, and

son Cicero provided some background entertainment.

Interestingly, Camille’s “dark cloud” is not the only political comic connection. Over the years, any two comic political figures, whether in the same party or political rivals, have been deemed “Mutt and Jeff”.

In fact, in Trinidad and most of the other islands, depending on the topical political issues, the prime minister is generally “Mutt” and the “Jeff” changes with the circumstances. Right now, many people are trying to find a scapegoat “Jeff” for the leak in the roof of the newly opened parliament, the “Red House”, renovated at a cost of $445 million. Instead of blaming Joe Btfsplk and his dark raincloud, one wit invented a Chinese construction manager aptly named “Lee Kin”.

But politics was never on my mind as I devoured the daily strips. While my mother and her female friends and family loved the soap-operas of that time—The Heart of Juliet Jones which featured a 30-year-old brunette and Rex Morgan M.D. about a small-town doctor—my strips of choice were Mandrake The Magician and The Phantom, both started by American writer and cartoonist Lee Falk.

Mandrake was the ideal fantasy for youngsters like me who loved to read and were hooked on adventure. It took us out of our poverty and humdrum reality to a world that would never be ours. For a relatively long time, we thought that Mandrake, his girlfriend Narda and Lothar, Prince of Seven Nations, his African sidekick, were real and lived in the US in a fabulous palace called Xanadu. We never doubted that Mandrake had the power to hypnotise everybody, including extra-terrestrials, and could also become invisible (long before Harry Potter), change his shape, levitate and teleport without all the gimmicks of Captain Kirk and the Enterprise. We all wished our fathers would give us hats, cloaks and wands like the ones Mandrake got from his father Theron but while I could shape a piece of a guava branch into a wand, and pretend my flimsy plastic raincoat or my towel was a cape, all my father had was an old brown Wilson hat that clearly was out of sync with the rest of the fantasy.

The Phantom was all adventure and, to my mind,

much better than any of the movies which followed the comic strip. It caught and captured my generation.

Christopher Walker was the 21st member of his family to become the Phantom. The initial Phantom’s father was killed during a pirate attack and his son swore an oath on his father’s skull to fight evil. This is how the story of The Ghost Who Walks started. His wife Diana, his horse Hero and his dog, Devil, were so much part of our lives that while I was too young to have a wife and too poor to have a horse, I named our dog "Devil". The Phantom had no superpowers and had to rely on his own physical and intellectual abilities to fight the forces of evil. This was a large part of his appeal. What made him different was that he was the first of the “super” heroes to wear the skin-tight costume and a mask. While he was very much like Tarzan, he was the precursor to Superman, Batman and Captain America, all of whom later became extremely popular with readers in Trinidad and globally, and more than seventy-five years later are still box-office hits in today’s cinemas.

Unfortunately, in the Caribbean it is impossible to forget the politics or, as much as we would like to, ignore the comedy and mismanagement that so often characterise our attempts at self-rule. In Trinidad, as it was in Jamaica recently, our new Police Commissioner is Dick Tracy and Sam Ketchum at the same time.

However, despite the two-way wrist radio, the Crimestoppers’ Textbook is not working and our villains are worse than Flattop Jones, killing at least 538 people last year. In the World Population Review, under “Crime Rate By Country” 2020, Venezuela heads the global list.

Trinidad and Tobago, sixth in the world with 73.15 murders per 100,000 population, tops the Caribbean. Obviously, the dark cloud is not restricted to Camille. It is clear that Joe Btfsplk is very much alive and kicking right here in TNT.

Tony Deyal was last seen asking which comic character best captures the politicians and politics of the Caribbean.

Mickey Mouse!!!

February 01, 2020 THE STAR

All They Want For Christmas Is A Working St. Jude!

Economic Development Minister Guy Joseph (left) and PS Claudius Emmanuel: In their update on St. Jude this week, December was identified as D-date!

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n his most recent New Year address, a smartly attired, bearded Prime Minister Allen Chastanet made this promise to the nation: “We will soon be able to put behind us the sad memories that have lingered since 2009, when the original structure was destroyed by fire.” Moreover, for their “patience in staying the course with their excellent service during the trying years,” he thanked the management and staff of St. Jude Hospital.

The prime minister also acknowledged the importance of healthcare, perhaps unnecessarily.

For several years now, citizens have complained to successive governments, asking them to address the issue. This September will mark eleven years since a fire destroyed the Vieux Fortbased St. Jude, forcing the authorities to house patients at the nearby George Odlum sports Stadium.

Last year, former prime minister Stephenson King —under whose tenure the reconstruction began— expressed disappointment that patients and care-givers continued to suffer the shortcomings of a building

that was never meant to serve as a hospital. King said it was “unpardonable” that an appropriate facility still had not been delivered. “We all must take blame for not completing the facility within the ten years,” said King, referencing different administrations.

On Monday, representatives of the Department of Economic Development met with reporters to outline plans for the year.

Permanent Secretary Claudius Emmanuel gave the assurance that the reconstruction of St. Jude headed the Department’s list of priorities.

Last year, work began on a new wing. Also last November, two buildings on the site were demolished, with Economic Development Minister Guy Joseph reporting that they were “structurally unsound”.

The government has also stated that the existing buildings were “not built according to hospital standards,” and that negotiations are ongoing that hopefully would result in their use as a medical university.

Meanwhile, the main contractor is the Taiwanesebased Overseas Engineering Company and the subcontractor, Fresh Start Construction Company.

“The hospital, when completed, will in fact be 90 beds,” said PS Emmanuel, “which is an increase from 68 beds before the fire. Currently the structural frame of the project is under construction and, as we speak, it’s about 40 per cent complete.”

The PS confirmed the project had DCA approval and that full designs and costings will be available by February.

He said: “We anticipate that

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

A “very ambitious December” was how an obviously cautious Minister Joseph described the timeline.

He said December is the hope for delivery date. However: “While this is the goal of the ministry, according to the contractors and the architect who designed the project, the minimum time will be 18-24 months. I also need to take into consideration whether the architects and the contractors will deliver all we expect on schedule.”

---Joshua St. Aimee

THE STAR

february 01, 2020

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february 01, 2020 THE STAR

Roger Pratt Murder Trial Opens Joshua St. Aimee

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he Nyerah Court on Tuesday saw the start of the British national Roger Pratt’s murder trial. Defendants Richie Kern, Jermonine Jones, Kervin Devaux and Fanis Joseph sat side-by-side, flanked by two police officers. Defence attorneys Sandy John, Alberton Richelieu, David Moyston and George Charlemagne sat nearby, with Justice Margaret PriceFindlay presiding. Fifteen jurors, inclusive of twelve females were also present.

On January 17, 2014, Roger and Margaret Pratt were docked in their yacht Magnetic Attraction, in Vieux Fort. Director of Public Prosecutions Daasrean Greene told the court the four accused had allegedly caused the death of Mr. Pratt. It is the jury’s job to determine beyond a reasonable doubt whether the accused are responsible.

The DPP’s first witness was Scott Davis, a non-national, resident in the United States.

Davis told the court he was in Saint Lucia on January 17, 2014 and with the intention to sail to Grenada, made a stop in Vieux Fort. He said that about 11 pm that day, he was on his vessel watching a movie when he heard loud screams.

He heard a mayday call from Magnetic Attraction and spoke to Mrs. Pratt, who said that her husband was missing. Davis said he paddled in his kayak to Magnetic Attraction, where he encountered a dishevelled and bloody Margaret Pratt.

He returned to his kayak and started searching for Roger Pratt, whom he thought at that time had fallen overboard but was not dead. Moments later, Davis testified, he discovered Pratt’s naked body, floating face down a few inches under the water. “I jumped in,” he said. “I swam to him. I rolled him over on his back, pulled his head out the water and yelled his name in his ear. I could not perform CPR in the water so I called for help.” Davis recalled that two other persons arrived in a dinghy from another vessel, pulled Pratt out of the water and began CPR. He returned to Magnetic Attraction, which was “a mess”. He noticed blood in the cockpit and on the floors.

Defence attorneys posed no

For six years, British national Margaret Pratt (pictured) has been pursuing justice in Saint Lucia for her murdered husband Roger.

questions to the witness.

Day two of the trial commenced on Wednesday, with Corporal Philip Taylor being summoned to the stand by the DPP. Taylor testified that he has responsibility for the physical examination, photographing, collecting and preserving crime scene exhibits. He recalled that on January 18, 2014 he boarded Magnetic Attraction to examine the scene of a reported homicide. He carried out a visual examination, documented areas of interest by taking photos, and collected exhibits, which were then sealed. The witness said that on January 20 he visited Victoria Hospital to continue investigations, and subsequently photographed Roger Pratt’s wife. Several photos of the crime scene were showed to jurors including “apparent” blood drops on the ship, a blue bandana, and a pistol grip found at the cabin entrance. Photos were also shown of Mrs. Pratt, with apparent injuries to her face, head and back. The witness was not cross-examined by the defence. The DPP indicated he would further question Taylor at a later stage of the case.

Margaret Pratt was the next witness on the stand. She spent most of the time reliving her husband’s death. The couple had arrived in Rodney Bay on December 31, 2013, having sailed from Martinique.

Planning to go on to Grenada, they arrived in Vieux Fort on January 16, 2014 and anchored there. On January 17 they made their way to the mainland via dinghy. As they landed on the dock, a man who identified himself to the witness as

“Jeremie” offered to keep an eye on the dinghy. Later the couple returned to the dinghy, gave Jeremie five dollars, and travelled back to their yacht.

At about 10 pm they went to bed. All of a sudden they were disturbed by movements on the deck, located above their head.

Margaret Pratt recalled that with her husband leading the way, they went to investigate.

The witness recalled hearing Roger say: “Go away, just go away.” She testified that she saw “three men on the stern”.

She remembered being grabbed in a headlock, pulled onto the right-hand seat of the cockpit and held down. “I couldn’t move,” she told the court. “At the same time, another man on the other side of the cockpit was punching my head, my face and my upper body. I saw my husband wrestling with another man on the stern. I was screaming and shouting. I couldn’t move and I was being beaten. As he was beating me, he kept saying, ‘Where’s the fucking money?’ I said, ‘There’s no fucking money.’”

Mrs. Pratt said she clawed at a bandana that her attacker was wearing over his nose and mouth. She attempted in vain to stop him from getting to the ship’s salon, but he was able to retrieve her laptop and a handbag. “At that point,” Pratt testified, “I was just interested in survival.”

Mrs. Pratt told the court that “all of a sudden,” someone said something in a language she did not understand, but the result was instantaneous: the beating stopped and the assailants left over the side of the boat. She could not recall how many of them. Noticing that her husband was not onboard, she made a mayday call to nearby ships. Three responded.

She told the court that she noticed a horseshoe buoy from their ship was in the water. A boat returned with her husband’s body and efforts were made to resuscitate him. She recalled holding her husband’s hand and saying, “Stay with us,” as they were transported by ambulance to St. Jude Hospital. At about midnight, as his body was being taken away, Margaret Pratt said farewell to her husband.

The trial continues on Monday.

THE STAR

FEBRUARY 01, 2020

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Arnold would’ve turned 18 on Thursday if police hadn’t shot him!

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HOSTS FORUM ON CASTRIES REDEVELOPMENT

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his week was an especially heart-rending time for the family of deceased Arnold Joseph. It is now over eight months since the 17-year-old was fatally shot by police in Castries. The fifth-form student of the Entrepot Secondary School would have turned 18 on Thursday. Joanna Joseph said her son always looked forward to his birthday. She recalled that on his 16th birthday, he chose to embrace his love for DJ-ing and requested that she have his stage name, Selector Jay, printed on some of his clothing.

She remembered him going to school dressed all in red.

Joanna, who is employed with a cruise ship company, couldn’t be with Arnold for his 17th. He spent the day with friends at the beach.

“He was looking forward to turning 18,” she said. “We planned to have either a big party or go on a boat ride with his pals.”

She recalled the times he’d call her to talk about his

Arnold Joseph was fatally shot on May 22, 2019 after police tried to stop a “suspicious vehicle” in the nation’s capital.

plans. “He would say, ‘Mommy, I’m doing this; oh mommy, I’ll wear that!’ He would send me a picture so I could see what he wore at a party or a function. I

miss those times.”

The impact of Arnold’s death on his little sister Vanya worries Joanna. This week, together with her father, Vanya

painted her brother’s tomb.

Joanna said that Vanya tends to hide her emotions, and she won’t open up — not even to counsellors. In August she visited Antigua with an aunt.

“She was feeling so bad that she was travelling and her brother could not be with her,” she said.

In Joanna’s telling, Arnold had set himself several goals, all of which were snatched away from him without explanation. He was looking forward to attending the Centre For Adolescent Renewal & Education to learn a trade. After this, he planned on enrolling at Sir Arthur Lewis Community College.

“It wasn’t all about music for him,” she said. “He loved theatre arts; he would have been a great actor. He loved horses; he wanted to be a jockey. Who knows how far this young man could have gone?

They took all of that away from us.”

---JSA

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ith the Government of Saint Lucia announcing its intention to beautify and improve the functionality of the City of Castries, three critical agencies involved, namely, the Castries City Council, the Department of Tourism and the National Integrated Planning and Programme Unit, will be meeting with members of the Chamber of Commerce to share their plans, and get feedback and input from the private sector.

On Monday February 3, 2020 at its Secretariat Office on the 1st floor of the Orange Park Commercial Centre in Bois D’Orange, Gros Islet from 2:30 pm, a forum on the redevelopment of the City of Castries will be held. The forum is aimed at ensuring that the business community possesses and operates with a comprehensive understanding of the overall and multi-faceted programme of development being contemplated.

This dialogue was focused

on January 7, 2020 when Chamber members had the opportunity to be apprised of plans for the upgrade of the Derek Walcott Square, due to commence by the end of January 2020. The forum will bring into view the additional initiatives by the different agencies slated for later in the year.

All three agencies, i.e., the Ministry of Tourism, the National Integrated Planning and Programme Unit of the Department of Finance and the Castries City Council, have confirmed their participation in the forum.

Members of the Chamber, property owners and other operators of business in the City are expected to attend and not miss the opportunity to be part of this informative forum.

For more information, contact the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture via telephone on 452 3165 or via email at info@stluciachamber.org,

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FEBRUARY 01, 2020

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FEBRUARY 01, 2020 THE STAR

PERMANENT SECRETARY SAYS DCA MAY NOT BE QUALIFIED TO MAKE CERTAIN ASSESSMENTS! As it stands, construction still has not recommenced on the project and the World Bank is reviewing the updated designs.

This week, providing an update for the progress of the Dennery Polyclinic construction was the economic development minister, Guy Joseph. “You would recall we had a sod-turning ceremony and I challenged the contractors to deliver the project in a timely manner. You also know that the project had to be discontinued after mere months into it.”

These issues with the polyclinic reminded Joseph of the challenges confronting Saint Lucia. “I came in as minister and found an approved plan for the Dennery Polyclinic. I asked: ‘Can we review what is there so we can be sure of what we’re doing?’ I was told that to do so would be considered political interference. It is a project funded by the World Bank and politicians don’t get involved.

The project went out to tender, contracts were awarded and all of the local agencies signed

“Constructing hospitals and healthcare facilities demand specialists,” he said. “If you consider those who qualified he history of the design to tender on the OKEU designs, and construction of the when it came to DCA approval, Dennery Polyclinic has we did not have the capacity been an abysmal read, to put locally to review internally and it lightly. Expectations were make a determination as to understandably high at its whether the design meets all sod-turning ceremony two the requirements of a hospital. years ago. But six months The consultants who designed later, government technocrats the hospital, signed off on an explained why the initial agreement to give a guarantee 18-month completion date had that their design met the to be reconsidered. requirement and that if there

Egbert Louis, the managing were any defects in their design, director of Engineering they would be accountable and Construction & Management held liable.”

Consulting, said: “One of the

Joseph revealed: “When critical issues that has gotten the designs for St Jude went us to this stage is that during to the DCA, we faced the same Economic Development Minister Guy Joseph the excavation of the foundation challenge. We are too small. (pictured) was candid this week about the for the buildings we recognized How many hospitals have limitations of government and local technical that there are two or three we built in this country to agencies in project implementation, which ravines that pass through the demonstrate our expertise in have contributed to the still suspended Dennery Polyclinic construction project. site. This of course meant that this field? We went through we would need to undertake off on it: Ministry of Health, many design flaws came to light the same process utilized for some sort of redesign of the OKEU. The design consultant Department of Economic that work on the project had to structure.” gave a letter or warranty on Planning, DCA. As soon as be stopped. We had to go back

Not much has changed. construction commenced, so to the drawing board—which is his design backed up by the what I had requested in the first British company that did the place, and now we are meeting architectural design. We must with the World Bank this week.” acknowledge our limitations Vacancy Notice as government, as well as our

Joseph added: “We need capacity as a country, and use to learn from what happens in INVESTMENT SERVICES OFFICER our country.” He suggested that the best expertise available so lessons from the construction of as not to keep repeating Invest Saint Lucia is seeking an Investment Services Officer to promote Saint Lucia as an investment destinathe OKEU and St Jude hospitals expensive mistakes.” tion and facilitate the investment process.

Permanent secretary at should have been applied to the the economic development SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES: Dennery Polyclinic project.

Dean Nestor

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Respond to queries from prospective investors, entrepreneurs or other businesses on matters pertaining to investment.

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department, Claudius Emmanuel, further explained: “Based on our information, the plans went to the DCA. Works proceeded along the lines of what was approved.

What we perhaps have seen is the technical deficiency that resides within the DCA because it requires a significant amount of technical oversight to be able to assess what is before you.

And at the DCA, you may not always have residing at that level the requisite capabilities to be able to assess. It may also have been a case of the level of review of the drawings before they actually got to the DCA. These may have fallen short as well.”

The PS’s statement on the country’s shortcomings in project implementation could not be clearer. He also confirmed that the project will recommence as soon as confirmed by the World Bank. We go back to his minister: despite the bad news on the Dennery Polyclinic, Joseph was positive about Saint Lucia’s economic outlook. “I am confident with the mediumterm strategy we are employing and all the plans being laid in the Ministry of Economic Development. Saint Lucia will be placed on a much better path to be able to attain the goals of a manageable debt to GDP and a sustainable development plan that will take us well into the future with a growing economy.”

Chamber Encounter: e-Government and Private Sector

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he Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture announces the first Encounter in its 2020 Chamber Encounter Series.

Using the Chamber Encounter platform affords members the opportunity to be updated on critical developments affecting business, while making inputs into the positions and perspectives of the organisation on these vital matters.

Moreover, in an intimate members-only forum, frank and pointed discussion and debate can ensue on economic and social issues of interest.

Commencing 5:30 pm on Tuesday February 18, 2020 at the Chamber’s Conference Room at Orange Park Commercial Centre in Bois D’

Orange Gros Islet, Mr. Marlon Narcisse, Acting Director of the Division of Public Sector Modernization, will present the Government’s e-Government Agenda that is expected to deliver improved and faster service to the business community and nation at large.

The Division’s drive to impact service quality and delivery to citizens is aligned with the objective of making it easier to do business in Saint Lucia, a core driver of the Chamber and private sector agenda.

Mr. Narcisse is expected to provide valuable information on the plans and work of his Division, status of the various ongoing initiatives, and—of significant interest to the Chamber and the wider

private sector—the progress on establishing the Port Community Single Window. This is a long-outstanding national initiative whose implementation in other countries has been shown to reduce costs, not just to businesses but consumers; increase government revenue; and reduce the time taken to move goods in and out of a country while strengthening overall service delivery to the citizenry.

Chamber members have been urged to register early for this interesting and powerful Encounter as it provides the ideal forum for information sharing and expressing concerns as well as making inputs into the development process.

THE STAR

FEBRUARY 01, 2020

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Public Consultation in the Legislative Process in Saint Lucia: A Historical Perspective

By Claudius Francis

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hen I was first approached by Honorable Andy Daniel, Speaker of the Saint Lucia House of Assembly, to present on the topic “Public Consultation in the Legislative Process in Saint Lucia – A Historical Perspective,” I accepted without hesitation.

Lest you are of the view that my prompt response was contingent upon any altruistic motive on my part, let me just as promptly disabuse your collective minds.

In truth, my quick response was actually due to the fact that bearing in mind what was asked of me, I knew my presentation would be a maximum of ninety seconds.

So let me, in the words of the late Forbes Burnham, be “pellucidly clear,” the sad reality we have little choice but to accept is this: whatever other accusation which can be levelled at successive Saint Lucian governments, no one can accuse them of ever having public consultation on Bills before, during or after they are brought to the Parliament. So, yes, we have historically had absolutely no public consultation on matters which are discussed in the country’s legislative chambers and which things may have the most negative of impacts on the society as a whole.

The truth is that the Bills are seen by parliamentarians who are not ministers, in some cases, a mere seventy-two hours prior to them debating it. Let me repeat this; in our Parliament, it is not unusual for Members to receive the Bills on a Friday with the Sitting of the House of Assembly set for the following Tuesday. So, in a system when the Members are themselves not consulted what hope is there for consultation with the public at large? Consider further that even in the absence of such consultation, on the Tuesday of the Sitting, the person in whose name the Bill stands then seeks to invoke the relevant Standing Order to suspend Standing Order 48 (2) to allow the Bill to go through all three stages at the same Sitting.

The session following this one deals with “The law-making process—opportunities for public engagement.” This will be chaired by the most capable Dr. Rosemarie Husbands who holds the distinction of being Saint Lucia’s first female Senate President and the first person, male or female, to have held the positions of Speaker of the House

Former president of the Saint Lucia Senate, and talk show host, Claudius Francis.

and Senate President. Whilst she will tell you what ought to happen in the law-making process, I, will tell you what does happen.

I promise her that I shall not trespass into her domain.

In a House debate some years ago, there was an amendment to the Banking Act and during the debate an opposition member pointed out that section cited in the amendment was incompatible with the section of the substantive Act that it sought to amend. To remedy this, it was agreed that debate on the Bill would be halted and adjourned to a subsequent Sitting. The Senate met the following week and passed the Bill without amendment. How, you might ask yourself, was it possible for the Senate to have passed without amendment a Bill which one week earlier the House had deemed incompatible with the parent Act. Simple. The substantive Act which the House had reviewed had itself already been amended and because of the limited time given to the House members they had been unable to have researched this.

The Senate, with the additional week, had sufficient time to study and research the amendment and realized the said amendment was in fact proper.

That debacle would have been avoided had the proper time frame being given to the House Members. Let us now consider how the face of our Parliament has changed and why, because of this, today, it is even more important that Bills be put out for public consultation prior to making their way into the Parliament’s chambers.

From Statehood to Independence to the mid-eighties,

our Parliament consisted of many lawyers, both in the upper and lower chambers. Those lawyers brought their own professional skills to the debate; their legal scholarship allowed them to be able to discover errors whether they were improper drafting or if they conflicted with existing legislation to whether the rights of individuals were being violated. Their knowledge of the law allowed for them to counter the deficiencies brought about by the lateness of their procurement of the Bills.

Over the next three decades the face of Parliament changed to the point where in the 2011 to 2016 Parliament the predominant profession was no longer lawyers, but instead teachers.Of the current 29 Parliamentarians—18 including the Speaker in the House and eleven in the Senate—only four are lawyers. And of that four, two are the respective Presiding Officers who are themselves unable to debate. So, in effect in the current configuration only two lawyers debate the Bills which are brought late and gives little time for analysis prior to the Sitting.

I am not here suggesting, not by a long stretch, that lawyers make better Parliamentarians than do other professions. Not at all. Still, we cannot ignore the reality that Bills are largely legal things and that often, more than mere commonsense is required to unearth legal errors. Take another more recent example when during the debate on a very sensitive amendment, very sound legal advice was proffered by one of the lawyer Parliamentarians only to have this disregarded by the laymen Parliamentarians. As fate would

have it, it took not the sound legal advice, but instead an unforeseen error in the other Chamber which in turn caused the defeat of the Bill. But can something as serious as law-making be left simply to those we have elected? I respond in the negative.

I go further and state that the authors of the Standing Orders themselves recognized that this ought not to be the case.

For why else would there be SO 48 (2) in the House and 49 (2) in the Senate which mandate intervals of 4 days and 5 days, respectively, between the first and second readings of a Bill? I can already hear the seasoned Parliamentarians saying that the same Standing Orders make provisions for the suspension of 48 (2) and 49 (2) to allow all three readings at the same Sitting. And I would respond that the abuse of this provision is as a direct lack of understanding on the one hand and the refusal of the Presiding Officer to stand up and be counted, on the other hand.

But that aspect is for another time and place.

The Standing Orders, 49 (3) to be precise, also state that all Bills need to be Gazetted, more proof, in my view at least, that the authors of the SO intended for some public knowledge of what was taking place in Parliament. I am fortified in my view by the fact that the Standing Orders states “Bill” and not “Act of Parliament”.

That distinction is critical.

There are many who when asked about Parliament simply reference the Senate and House of Assembly. That response is common even amongst Parliamentarians. But it is in error. I posit that for the proper answer to the question what is Parliament one must of

necessity refer to the Saint Lucia Constitution Order 1978. There, at section 23 (1) to be precise, the answer is clear, straightforward and unambiguous. And I quote: “There shall be a Parliament of Saint Lucia which shall consist of Her Majesty, a Senate and a House of Assembly.” Clearly, then for a Bill to become an Act of Parliament, it must of necessity find favour with not simply the Senate and the House of Assembly, but additionally, the signature of Her Majesty via her local representative, the Governor General.

So, if the said Standing Order, 49 (3), meant for the Act to be affixed to the Gazette it would have said so. It is my firm view that the very fact it referenced the Bill, suggests to me it wished for the Bill and not the completed Act be placed in the Gazette and by extension, in the public domain.

More proof then that public consultation was a primary focus of the framers of the Standing Orders and it is something they expected to be done.

Earlier, I commented that the next session would deal with what ought to be, regarding the law-making process, but in this session I want to briefly deal with what actually happens. Contrary to what should happen with the Clerk of Parliament being integrally involved from the very beginning, indeed as early as to quote SO 49 (1) “from the draft handed to him by the Member in charge of the Bill", it goes on to say that the Clerk shall “satisfy himself that (a) the Bill is divided into successive clauses numbered consecutively; (b) the Bill has in the margin a short summary of each clause; and (c) the provisions of the Bill do not go beyond its title”, that is not the

case.

What instead happens is the Clerk gets a ready-made document which in keeping with SO 49 (2) simply hands these over to the Members. I have already told you that oftentimes these do not arrive until as late as three days before the actual Sitting.

Whilst I have thus far found much fault with the Parliament, civil society organisations themselves do not come away unscathed for they have been most lax in demanding what the rules unambiguously state they are entitled to. In this connection it was most heartening to hear the recently elected President of the Bar Association declare her intention to ensure the Bar gets to view and possibly review, proposed legislation before it gets to the Parliament. Whilst she must be commended and supported, I issue just one caution and it is this. In a previous Parliament the Bills were sent to the Association and not a single comment was received by the Clerk.

To those NGOs which seek public consultation and circulation of Bills prior to debate in the Parliament I can do no better than quote my departed friend and Former Chief Justice of the OECS Supreme Courts, the Rt Hon Sir Vincent Floissac who, whilst addressing the Saint Lucia Media Workers Association, as it then was, on the law of defamation stated, and I quote: “The law in this regard, is your best friend.”

Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members, for your listening ear.

The preceding was delivered by the author at last week’s symposium on Enhancing Democracy Through Public and Civil Society Engagement in the Legislative Process.

Donation of Walcott Library to SALCC Library

S

ir Arthur Lewis Community College has been honoured with the gift of Sir Derek Walcott’s library.

Ms. Sigrid Nama, partner of the late Sir Derek Walcott, made the announcement at a short ceremony held at the Hunter J. François Library Reading Room at the College’s campus.

Ms. Nama said that she was pleased to honour Sir Derek’s wishes that his books on Caribbean literature and poetry be donated to the Library and that it was a “very fitting place since he rests in peace on the very campus”.

Her Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy, Chair of the National Nobel Laureate Committee, echoed those sentiments, adding that the collection of Sir Derek’s late brother, Roderick Walcott, was a stone’s throw away at the UWI Open Campus, also located at Morne Fortune.

The intention is to create a reading room named after Sir Derek Walcott where students and the public can study, research and read for pleasure. Chair of the Board of Governors of Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, Mr. John Calixte, accepted the symbolic handover of books to the College from Ms. Nama, pledging the College’s commitment to honour and carry on the Walcott name. He expressed his gratitude to Ms. Nama and Sir Derek’s family for what he described as a “most valuable donation". “We understand the value of the collection that has been entrusted in our care. We see this as an investment in our people and our country,” Calixte said.

The symbolic presentation took place on Friday, January 24, 2020 after the wreath-laying ceremony for the two Nobel laureates.

10 LOCAL

T

FEBRUARY 01, 2020 THE STAR

www.stluciastar.com

Can Police Arrest Without a Warrant?

his week an MBC report entitled “Police Operation Descends into Chaos” brought to light an arrest of a 19-year-old male resident of George Charles Boulevard, Marchand last Friday. A woman who described herself as the man’s big sister complained at the scene that the police had arrested her brother without a warrant and had refused to explain why. Also interviewed was Pearl Ramsey, mother of Chad Ramsey, who was killed last April.

She said the police not only have not caught the suspect, but more than that, he was not the man arrested on Friday.

“I will not be specific as to why the 19-year-old was brought in,” said ACP Wayne Charlery. “However, the officers were operating credibly and they apprehended the young man in relation to an ongoing investigation into a homicide.”

He further stated that normally the police require a warrant to conduct home searches, but officers are free to enter any public place to speak to, engage, or to pursue anybody with

Wayne Charlery (pictured) has defended his officers after the controversial arrest of a 19-year-old in Marchand last Friday.

reference to any crime.”

Of Friday’s arrest specifically, Charlery stated: “I cannot verify that the police officers entered the George Charles Boulevard premises to apprehend the young man in

question, but normally if you are going to enter a house to carry out any searches or to make an arrest you would require a warrant. However, if someone has committed a felony, then runs away, even into a home, the police

may enter to apprehend the felon.”

According to Saint Lucia’s Criminal Code: “A police officer may arrest without warrant anyone he or she, with reasonable cause, suspects to be in the act of committing or is about to commit an offence. Where a police officer with reasonable cause suspects that an offence has been committed he or she may arrest without warrant anyone whom he or she, with reasonable cause, suspects committed the offence. For the purposes of arresting a person under any power conferred by this section, a police officer may enter (if need be, by force) and search any place where that person is or where the police officer with reasonable cause, suspects him or her to be.”

Charlery confirmed the search is still on for Chad Ramsey’s killer and there is a warrant out for his arrest.

“We believe we have sufficient evidence to charge when we actually arrest him and therefore a warrant of arrest has been issued in the first instance for him. So this makes him a defendant in the case.”

-–Dean Nestor

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I

Peter and Company Distribution debuts Dewar’s 8-year-old Caribbean Smooth Scotch Whisky

P

eter and Company Distribution, Saint Lucia’s largest distributor of wines and spirits, is proud to be among the first of Dewar’s Caribbean Partners to launch Dewar’s 8-year-old Caribbean Smooth Scotch Whisky in the English-speaking Caribbean.

Dewar’s 8-year old Caribbean Smooth is the first in a line of innovative flavoured whiskies, finished in rum casks, to be launched under the Dewar’s label to match the changing palate and global trend towards flavoured whisky.

“Dewar’s 8-year-old Caribbean Smooth is a blend like no other in the market. It is unique because it is doubleaged.

"First, a blend of 40 single malts and grains are aged for up to eight years and then the aging process is finished for an additional six months in rum casks that originate from the Caribbean, which previously held Bacardi Rum. This process

adds even more depth of flavour and a distinctly smooth finish; hence the designation, Caribbean Smooth,” stated Michele Kalloo, CEO of Peter and Company Distribution.

Since its debut on January 15 at the company’s three PCD Wines and Spirits retail stores, located at Bridge Street, JQ Charles Mall and IGY Rodney Bay Marina, the company has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from both local and visiting whisky connoisseurs along with numerous requests from major hotels, bars and restaurants for this product.

The official launch will be staged in February to coincide with Saint Lucia’s Independence celebrations and will feature an exclusive Master Class to be hosted by Dewar’s international Brand Ambassador who will also appear at exclusive receptions at select locations throughout the island.

Private Entity lands 15-year Lease of Fish Marketing Corporation

t was during a sitting of parliament last April that agriculture minister Ezechiel Joseph addressed the future of the Saint Lucia Fish Marketing Corporation (SLFMC). He announced that government had decided to privatize the struggling entity, and to undertake a lease arrangement with Karen Fontenelle Peter, the president of the Chamber of Commerce. A new company, Lucian Blue Ocean Seafoods Inc., assumed control of the SLFMC's three facilities in Castries, Vieux Fort and Dennery.

In an interview with the STAR last June, then managing director Hilary Herman indicated the company was eyeing a minimum 10-year lease, sufficient time to regain invested capital of "a little over $700,000". On Monday Minister Joseph announced the approval by Cabinet of a 15-year lease agreement. Joseph stated that the lease is at a cost of $10,000 a month.

"I'm getting the vibes that fishermen are expressing satisfaction,” Joseph said. “They're being paid on time. It's not like in the past, when it would take five to six months before they are paid. That's an encouragement and of course we'll see how it goes from there."

On May 29 the Castries, Choiseul and Goodwill Fishermen’s Co-operatives raised concerns with reporters about the SLFMC's transition. Of major concern was the cessation of the purchase of fish from their fishers.

Herman explained to the STAR that in excess

Agriculture minister Ezechiel Joseph: With a private company now in charge, he is hopeful that fishermen will benefit.

of 20,000 lbs was bought, but it was necessary to halt purchasing, since they were not then certified and therefore were unable to sell in bulk to preferred customers (hotels, supermarkets and schools).

John Sutton is currently the acting managing director of Lucian Blue Ocean Sea Foods Inc. --JSA

THE STAR

INTERNATIONAL 11

www.stluciastar.com

FEBRUARY 01, 2020

A FAKE DEAL OF THE CENTURY

By Wayne Kublalsingh

O

n January 28, 2020, Donald Trump, to alarums, polite cheers and claps, and the ubiquitous glare of mobile screens, marched Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, to a podium in the East Room of the Whitehouse and released his keenly anticipated Deal of the Century. Throughout the entire episode, these two kept nudging and touching each other, sweet like that; and Netanyahu smiled like a Cheshire cat that had not only been given milk, but his cream.

The last time I saw Americans so happy, so full of bonhomie and cheer, was when George Bush Jr outlined his rationale for invading Iraq before the US Government.

Congress was packed. Boy, the seats could not grow warm.

Everyone kept jumping up like jack-in-the-boxes at every turn in the speech. And like the Iraq war, this speech will lead to

ash and death. It will lead to no peace. It will lead to more war.

Here are three reasons why: NOAH TALKING TO MOSES There were no Palestinians present. Noah was talking to Moses. The only three Arab state officials present, of the twenty-two members of the Arab League, were the ambassadors of Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, three satrap states of the US in the Middle East. The Deal of the Century is supposed to be a peace deal between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

The Palestinians, who from the beginning distrusted the deal, even as Trump moved the US Embassy into Jerusalem and recognized Israeli “right” to the Golan Heights, had called this deal a slap in the face. They had been told to wait. Wait and see, don’t be presumptuous. Now they waited. And this is what they saw.

Hours later the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the deal “a slap of

the century', saying, "By God we are going to return several slaps against the oppressors.” He called it “nonsense from beginning to end” and excoriated: “One thousand times, no no no to the slap of the century.” The imbalance was patent. The deal was Israel-centric. Abbas said it gave anything and everything to Israel: policy for Israel, sovereignty for Israel, occupation for Israel, control for Israel.

A NEW BANTUSTAN The deal gives Israel “undivided” control of Jerusalem, and a sliver of East Jerusalem to host a Palestinian capital. It gives them a permanent border on their “Eastern front”, and control of Golan, Samaria and Judea, ancient holy and historical sites. It gives them the settlements, insidious and hostile encroachments into Palestinian territory. It threatens to disarm HAMAS, the paramilitary wing of the

Palestinian cause and to deradicalize Gaza. It slices into Gaza. Abbas complained that the 1967 War had left Palestine with only 22 per cent of its territory, and this plan wants 40 per cent of this 22 per cent.

Donald Trump boasted that $US50 billion would be invested in Palestine should it accept the deal, and one million Palestinians would find employment. Netanyahu affirmed: “It takes enormous talent to reject $50 billion worth of investment. I know what that does to the economy.”

Abbas declared: “Our rights are not for sale. Jerusalem is not for sale.” The deal for him is a “conspiracy” to make Palestine into what the Balfour Declaration of 1917 had failed to do: build a Bantustan, a colonial enclave for the British Empire; in this case a JudeaChristian canton.

NO PALESTINIAN HISTORY The history of Palestine was absent. Palestinian heritage, hurt, feelings, fears were

nowhere part of the deal.

Trump spoke exuberantly about himself: “I was not elected to do small things or shy away from big problems.” He spoke of the deal as a “win-win” solution. He said it was an “obligation of humanity” to get this deal done, the most difficult deal in history. He gloated. He had assassinated “the world’s top terrorist”, the Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani; and had quashed the Iran nuclear deal. Netanyahu praised the deal for granting Israel “sovereignty where our prophets preached and kings ruled, places inscribed in Bible—historic and religious places, etched in the soul of Jewish people—a permanent part of the Jewish state”.

No one mentioned the Palestinian martyrs, heritage, history, soul. It was left to Abbas to inscribe this on the day’s proceedings: “Our martyrs in all our villages will not be betrayed, your blood will not be wasted."

He declared: “Not a single child in Palestine is going to accept

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“My life has been one of service and it is a great honour and privilege for me to serve the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and its founding Member States of Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in this capacity, as we work alongside the Kingdom of Morocco in the pursuit of mutually-beneficial economic and cultural development and foreign policy objectives in the spirit of South-South cooperation,” said Ambassador Queeley during the day’s auspicious ceremony.

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a state of Palestine without Jerusalem.” He said that whilst his nation would rely on the Arab League, the Organization of African Unity (of which he is the vice-president), and the UN for resolution, ultimately it was the struggle and initiative of the Palestinians that would count. The Palestinians were the ultimate vanguard. He vowed: “We are going to continue our uninterrupted struggle to protect our nation.”

In this deal, fake as fake could be, Trump has nothing to lose. He is facing re-election in November. When the plan falls through he will say to his constituents that he gave it his best shot, he kept his promise; it was the Palestinians who failed to accept peace.

Netanyahu, his political fate hanging on a string, has nothing to lose either; he desires to be seen as patriotic peacemaker for Israel’s general elections on March 2, 2020. The deal sought to prolong on our planet the well-established gospel: US and Jewish/Israeli exceptionalism.

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FEBRUARY 01, 2020 THE STAR

When Fake News Mas P

ointless pointing accusing fingers. The deed is done: A serious blow to the heart of good journalism.

In consequence the news business as we knew it until the early 1990s, when the Internet started coming into its own, has transmogrified into our worst Twilight Zone nightmare.

But hope must be kept alive: we must continue to believe the associated consequences are not irrevocable, more than might be said at this juncture about the “new strain of coronavirus” that the World Health Organization says has affected thousands in China, and which other not as familiar sources claim is Beijing’s clap-back to Trump trade policy, an accidental unleashing of that country’s latest WMD, and a host of other end-of-times disasters come true. How believable are the reports? The answer depends on the attitude of readers to certain writers in the establishment media.

Or on their affinity with the pseudonymous disseminators of information at once unverifiable and vile. Seconds after it happened, pictures of Kobe Bryant’s helicopter going down in flames were circulating the Internet, all of them later determined fake.

Understand me too quickly, if you must. The above is my introduction to the hitherto unexamined side of the ongoing Saint Lucia National Trust-Allen Chastanet brouhaha that in 2018 exploded into the already combustible Castries atmosphere, in the aftermath of a televised fish-market exchange between programmed Trust personnel on the one hand and on the other not highly regarded representatives of a private sector entity intent on establishing a dolphin park in the abruptly sacred vicinity of

Pigeon Point. Several hours before the assemblage, the Trust had issued a desperate appeal for new members—an SOS that may have guaranteed the advertised activity a full house, the day’s atmosphere considered. No big surprise that it ended chaotically, the loudest noise coming from stridulating newly baptized environmentalists in the audience.

Not long afterward a massive “people’s march in protest against the caging of mammals” got underway in Castries, fronted by the Trust, with ebullient prancing TV personnel providing carnivaltime color commentary, including interviews with suspiciously bug-eyed transuding placard bearers.

In strict accordance with the event’s publicized program, the marchers finally commingled in their message tees near the steps of the Castries market, long established as the Labour Party’s principal altar, waiting to hear from well-advertised highprofiled fellow “defenders of the people’s heritage.”

As if to underscore the apolitical nature of the day’s main attraction, the opposition party had set up a few yards from the market a shaded platform with chairs for such as Moses JnBaptiste, Philip J. Pierre, Kenny Anthony and other familiar faces, none especially famous for their demonstrated interest in environmental matters, some in mufti, others flashing election-time paraphernalia. Much of what spewed out of their strategically positioned amplifiers had been heard at countless far smaller SLP rallies, especially their harmonized assessment of the prime minister, Allen Chastanet. Curiously no one, not even Chastanet’s immediate

full house and at least one television crew in attendance.

He had notified the Trust well in advance that he would not be taking questions, conceivably because he wished to spare himself the indignity suffered by the earlier mentioned dolphin park entrepreneurs. It was no secret that the prime minister had previously expressed his disapproval of former MP Jeannine Compton-Antoine predecessor, recalled a budget as a replacement for the Trust presentation that included the prime minister Kenny Anthony’s director when he went on imminent retirement leave. The enthusiastic endorsement decision had not gone down of a proposed dolphin park well with the prime minister’s a few nautical miles from regular detractors, some of the contentious Pigeon Point whom were conspicuously at location. Neither the Cabinet his presentation.

Conclusion of 16 November

There were loud groans 2015 that reflects the and derisive laughter when government’s complicity with Sandals in the “development of the prime minister confirmed his disapproval of the Trust’s a dolphin recreational facility” choice—with the authority here. of Section 46 of the Saint

But the man who Lucia National Trust Rules, dominated the rally, who established in 1984. Before snatched the spotlight away taking his leave he said he from both Kenny Anthony expected his relationship and Philip J. Pierre had never with an organization like the been considered an apostle Trust would from time to time of the red order. The United be antagonistic but not in a Workers Party had famously personal sense. On the other sent him to Coventry shortly hand, he implied that the after Chastanet’s election as relationship should never be the organization’s leader. His prediction at the revisited rally, such as would prevent the government from delivering on that before Christmas Saint its promises to the people—on Lucia would have a new prime the basis of which his party minister, not to mention that had been elected. Before he would “lead the charge,” exiting the venue he said guaranteed Richard Frederick he’d be more than willing to would forever be associated entertain questions from a with the Trust’s “save the Trust delegation, but in a more dolphins” people’s march. Not conducive environment. In the the former leader of the Saint meantime he awaited other Lucia Labour Party, not his suggestions for the position of diffident successor Philip J. Trust director.

Pierre.

Earlier this month the

That finally Frederick’s government announced it had prophecy went the way of invited some influential Saint Kenny Anthony’s 4-lane Lucians to serve as goodwill highway hardly matters. Far ambassadors for their country, more interesting is this: Why among them decorated chef did Philip J. Pierre permit the expunged former UWP minister Nina Compton, Boo Hinkson turned verbose TV host—who in and Daren Sammy. Additionally, that the government had given 2006 Kenny Anthony famously them a deadline date by which had declared “the worst prospect facing politics in Saint to respond. (So that there is no misunderstanding: A Lucia”—to so easily outshine goodwill ambassador is usually him? No matter, Chastanet’s a celebrity, a professional, relationship with the National or a person with a powerful Trust continued to deteriorate. influence in a specific field

Shortly before Christmas like sports, arts, entertainment 2019 the prime minister and so on. Unlike the political addressed members with a

What’s the difference between a political party asked in September 2018 about a protest d when Richard Frederick stole the show from un including Kenny ambassador, the goodwill ambassador can be considered an official or unofficial representative of an entity to another entity. A goodwill ambassador usually promotes ideals and issues that are secular and apolitical.)

No sooner had Nina Compton received her invitation than she wrote back to say “this is very exciting news.

I will review.” But already the government’s detractors had been stoking the fires of dissention, strongly suggesting it would be a terrible betrayal should Nina accept anything from the government that had denied her sister a job for which she was ideally qualified.

Why had the government’s representative not held back her announcement until the candidates had agreed to be

goodwill ambassadors?, sang the devil’s chorus—as if there could be nothing more outrageous than to expect a Saint Lucian to jump at the opportunity to serve his or her country in the capacity of goodwill ambassador.

A second letter from Nina Compton to the government stated in part: “Please know I consider it an honour to have been selected to serve in this capacity. I have been raised in a family that believes that the social and economic development of our country is the responsibility of all members of the society and that we all can and should contribute to the progress of our country and her people in whatever way we can.”

She recalled that she was “first invited to serve as culinary ambassador in 2014,” when Kenny Anthony was prime minister. She was honored to serve then, she

THE STAR

FEBRUARY 01, 2020

COMMENT

www.stluciastar.com

13

asquerades as History

al party activity and a “people’s march?” That’s the question many rotest demonstration organized by the apolitical National Trust, from under the noses of attendant leading Labour Party personnel, g Kenny Anthony and Philip J. Pierre. wrote, but not now. Albeit with “great regret and sadness,” she was left no choice but to decline the latest invitation. Why? “Over the years our family has had to endure many challenges while in the service of Saint Lucia,” she explained, “and despite this we have never faltered in that service.

In recent times, however, members of my family have had to endure privately and, particularly of late, publicly and unveiled hostility and attacks on their integrity, honesty, ability and unprejudiced commitment to our country—and this from the highest levels of government. Please know that these disparaging and derogatory attacks, and the lengths that have been taken to denigrate, besmirch, and to deny members of my family their ability to also serve our country have brought a great deal of disappointment and have given

me cause to reflect.”

If I may be permitted a small digression. Nina’s well publicized letter reminded me of another that read in part: “Your simple act in the ballot box to vote for me is the greatest statement of your loyalty and support. I thank too the SLP family who over the years cast their overwhelming votes of confidence in my leadership. It could not have been easy in the face of lies, slander, and vicious innuendoes that my family and I have had to endure. Some will try to erase the history but ultimately history speaks too loud to ignore.” The preceding was posted on Facebook on 23 May 2018. The writer was Kenny Anthony, recalling his historic victory at the polls on 23 May 1997. So why does it today convey to my senses a

message altogether ominous?

If I read Nina Compton’s words correctly, the current prime minister, more specifically, Allen Chastanet, allegedly committed against the family of Sir John Compton such unpardonable acts as would deter her proudest sons and daughters from serving Helen. I have no quarrel with that. I know of no law that would penalize a citizen for turning down an invitation similar to that extended to Nina, for whatever reason, real or invented. But in their desperate need to score a much needed point or two, some have dared to tread where Nina chose, calculatedly, I think, not to go. Determined at whatever cost to make life difficult for the present prime minister, some predictably

have put in Nina’s letter words she never wrote. For instance, that she turned down the government’s invitation in specified retaliation to the prime minister’s disapproval of her sister’s appointment as director of the National Trust.

But if that is what Nina had in mind, who would blame her?

As we love to remind critics of our most egregious behavior, Nina is only human. And humans can be petty, whether named Allen Chastanet or Nina Compton. I have no bad words for her in her circumstances.

I choose instead to put myself in the prime ministerial boots of Allen Chastanet. What would I have done about Jeannine’s appointment?

Well, first I would doublecheck the authority afforded me by the rules governing the matter. I would consider the candidate’s political record, keeping in mind that only an incorrigible pyromaniac would throw gasoline at a lit candle in his own bedroom. The matter of Jeannine’s qualifications for the position would be of little concern to me. There is ample evidence of her talent, intellectual and otherwise.

Nothing on her record suggests she might have a criminal disposition.

Still I would ponder on the possible purpose of Section 46 of the Trust’s rules. Might its drafters have anticipated from the get-go that by its very nature the Trust would likely find itself in conflict with the government that created and sustains it at taxpayer expense? Did the drafters of Section 46 decide, conceivably after intense deliberations, that when Trust and government aspirations collide the final word should reside with the government, responsible as it is for work opportunities, the country’s overall development, security and so on? Who will say for certain that was not what the drafters had in mind when among the rules that govern the Trust they included Section 46?

I repeat: In the best interests of all concerned I, as Allen Chastanet, would seriously consider my relationship with Jeannine—personal and political—and its possible

impact on the development of the country I was elected to lead with a majority of five. As recently we heard, Jeannine and Allen have not exchanged friendly words or shared a handshake in years. You get the feeling from this that only a fool would invite them to the same Christmas party, or seat them side by side at a function to mark national unity.

Jeannine’s history with the incumbent party has nearly always been, to say the very least, controversial. It came to a head during her father’s last days, when a trusted MP surreptitiously revealed to a newsman in Saint Lucia what the Compton family considered private details of Sir John’s condition at a New York hospital. Unforgettable is the period when the Stephenson King government declared war against itself: the socalled Super 8 versus the rest. There was the matter of Rufus Bousquet’s dismissal from Sir John’s cabinet. Have we forgotten the grieving widow’s last words over her husband’s casket? They did not flatter the party he created.

As for Jeannine’s time as a UWP run-off candidate and MP, the riveting record is there to be read. More often than not, she echoed in parliament opposition views, to the extent they shamelessly applauded her contributions. Jeannine left no doubt that she and her family were against the erection of a monument in Sir John’s honor, if it meant credit would go to the King administration—of which she was a member.

In Chastanet’s size 14s all of the above would I consider, and much more, before deciding whether or not Jeannine amounted to a risk worth taking—at a time when the Trust appears more in step with the opposition party than with the government’s aspirations, at any rate, in the government’s eyes. An apolitical Trust would certainly have thought a few times before organizing against the day’s government a people’s march that included prominent politicians determined to remove the prime minister ahead of time. And if indeed the organization was caught by surprise, why then has it not

dissociated itself from some of the remarks by the campaigning politicians, almost none of them related to the environment?

Speaking of which, in Allen Chastanet’s position I would’ve kept to myself my reasons for giving the thumbs down to Jeannine—until I had no other choice but to reveal them, in which case I would’ve been at my diplomatic best. As Boris Johnson and his American counterpart would vouch, under all the holier than thou out of office pretensions, this is what the true face of politics looks like. It’s not pretty.

And just in case you’re thinking the current prime minister, by his demonstrated attitude to Jeannine Compton, set a precedent, think again, dear reader. As I say, he was not the first to take advantage of the Trust’s Section 46. But for more of that, read next Saturday’s STAR. A tiny teaser: How many recall the treatment meted out to Saint Lucia’s recently canonized Patron Saint of the Environment, Gabriel Coco Charles, that drove his family after his death to demand in writing that his name not be associated with the Trust? What drove Coco’s survivors to such lengths? What roles did Kenny Anthony and John Compton in their time play in that miserable tale?

Is Nina correct where she suggests in her letter that the current administration handed her family unforgiveable treatment? Was it Allen Chastanet that led an angry mob to their official residence after the prime minister’s wife and children had turned in for the night? Before the police rescued them in her husband’s absence, Mrs Compton told the day’s reporters, she feared she and her young children, including Nina and Jeannine, would be killed. We will also consider the Labour Party’s current relationship with John Compton, at any rate, with his ghost.

One more thing: I’ve always been of the view that how someone chooses to demonstrate love for country can never be up for debate. On the other hand, as Kenny Anthony earlier noted, rewriting history for political purpose is altogether another cup of coffee.

14 ENTERTAINMENT

www.stluciastar.com

FEBRUARY 01, 2020 THE STAR

Addressing the Pink Elephant at the Grammy Awards change, to sexual harassment.

So what was this year’s message and was it veiled and amaica, and indeed the sinister or deep and direct? rest of the Caribbean, is

Last Sunday’s Grammy toasting the success of Awards featured Lil Nas X in rising reggae star Koffee who a hot-pink Versace suit. The has been blazing a trail since artiste, who last year came 2019. Her accomplishments, out as gay, won two Grammys including tours, major venue for his cross-over hit Old Town appearances, an international Road. The Best Rap Album record deal and a coveted spot was won by Tyler the Creator, at tomorrow’s Super Bowl Halfdescribed by one writer as time Show, were recognised last having “transitioned from a Sunday when she was handed a bratty provocateur who hurled Grammy Award for Best Reggae gay slurs with reckless abandon Album for her four-song EP into a thoughtful confessionalist Rapture. who surprisingly and rather

Koffee is arguably the matter-of-factly raps about his perfect poster child for reggae. own attraction to men”.

At 19, she wears dreads and

However, the night’s big a playful smile, is tomboyish winner was another teen: in appearance and makes 18-year-old Billie Eilish. The Koffee shows off Grammy for Best Reggae Album. (Getty Images) palatable roots-rock reggae singer of I Wish You Were Gay music that sometimes segues swept the 2020 Grammys, capture the Grammy nod. the same award. And there with her, but can’t help thinking winning five awards, including into pop and tints of Afro-beat

It is easy to see why noseems to be no issue as to what the Grammy panel is sending and dancehall. Yes, along with Best New Artist and Song of the constitutes an album—whether out a veiled message. producers Teflon Zinc Fence and one, to my knowledge, has any Year. a five-song EP can win over a

Over the years the Walshy Fire (among others), she qualms about her taking home

With reggae’s international the golden Grammy. Easy to full body of ten or more songs. influence of politics on the show glory days possibly waning, makes great music. see, too, why there has been

There is nothing to be has become more obvious. The and nothing like the era when a

At the Grammys, Koffee no controversy, as in 2018, taken from the fact that Koffee self-advertising “biggest night ousted big-gun nominees like number of artistes were being when there was widespread has real talent and is spitting in music” has been consistently signed by the big labels like Julian Marley, Sly & Robbie, debate as to whether Chronixx unadulterated fire with her pontificating on various issues, Sony and Columbia, it appears Steel Pulse and Third World, should have won over Damian infectious beats. I join the rest from the right to vote, to the making her the youngest solo that Koffee is the new-found “Jr Gong” Marley who captured of her fans who are celebrating environment and climate reggae act and first female to Golden Child of the genre and

By Toni Nicholas

J

the new Queen of the Pack.

Can she follow the likes of Patra who soared to international stardom with her raunchy and provocative dancehall? Or even Diana King who drove Shy Guy onto the Billboard charts, selling more than five million copies of the song that in 1995 appeared in the movie Bad Boys?

King, some may recall, was the first Jamaican music artiste to have ever publicly come out as gay, in a bid to break a major taboo in Jamaican culture.

Last Sunday’s show was hosted by Alicia Keys. We may never know the direction her monologue would have taken but for the Kobe Bryant tragedy.

Keys opened the show with a tribute to the basketball superstar, accompanied by Boyz II Men. She also performed a parody of Someone You Loved, starting with this message: “We refuse the old systems/we want to be respected and safe in our diversity/we want to be shifting to realness and inclusivity/so tonight we want to celebrate the people that put themselves on the line and share their truthfulness.”

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• minimum A minimum of five years management management a a senior level with a proven record of of • A five (5) years experience at senior level with a proven record Automotive Iof ndustry e(5) xperience would be aexperience n asset. at successful sales and leadership. ales and leadership.

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THE STAR

www.stluciastar.com

FEBRUARY 01, 2020

ENTERTAINMENT

15

Calypso Legacy Independence Edition Back Again!

With Calypsonians such as (left to right) Ras Iley, Lady Leen, De Invader and Herb Black, nothing's gonna spoil your day if you turn up at the National Cultural Centre next Saturday evening.

L

egacy Calypso is back with another night of nostalgia, which is sure to have you singing and dancing the night away as the performers take you down memory lane.

On February 8, 2020 the biggest names in Looshan Kaiso will hit the stage of the National Cultural Centre to deliver their classics, amidst one of the most electrifying

atmospheres in Saint Lucian entertainment.

They include multiple calypso title holder and legendary Calypsonian De Invader. Joining him on stage are former kings De Ashanti, Educator and Herb Black as well as former Soufriere Calypso King Almon, who is taking to the stage for the first time after many years. Former Soca Monarch Alpha will also be joining the Legacy cast.

Coming in to celebrate this Independence treat with their Saint Lucian family, are two of the region’s best. Calypso Legacy Independence Edition presents, out of Barbados, Ras Iley who won the Road March in his homeland in 1986 with Spring Garden. Another of his stellar hits, Inez, is also a favourite with the old school party crowd.

Also joining this memorable journey will be Explainer of

Regional Company seeking

Procurement Manager PURPOSE OF THE POSITION To purchase goods and services for all Islands and Departments region wide. Ensures company obtains quality products for competitive prices in a timely fashion. Plays an integral role in ensuring Islands Managers and Department Heads stick to budgets and operates profitably.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES • Liaises with key company employees to determine their product and service needs • Monitors business trends and product availability to pay the best price for company goods and services without sacrificing quality or delivery times • Nurtures relationships with suppliers to negotiate the best prices for company • Identifies and researches potential new suppliers • Researches new products and services to meet company’s goals • Assesses total costs of company purchases • Develops and implements strategies for procuring, storing, and distributing goods or services and maintaining stock levels EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE • College Degree (4 years) in Business Management/Administration, Accounting, Marketing or related certifications • Minimum of 10 years of related work experience • Knowledge of Supply Management Software and Inventory Management • Detailed understanding of the fundamentals of Business • Knowledge of financial accounting and analysis.

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Deadline for receipt of applications is February 6th, 2020

Trinidad. Known for the immortal 1982 hit Lorraine, Explainer is expected to entertain with a number of his other smashes including Ras Mas, Miss Palmer, Wey Dey Say, Rasta Chick and Kindness.

Calypso Legacy Independence Edition 2020 will also pay a special tribute to Lady Leen (who rocked the stage last year) who is celebrating 30 years in Calypso.

Traditionally, Calypso Legacy offers a few surprises on the night and this year will be no different, so you don’t want to miss it!

The annual sold-out spectacle has thrilled thousands over the last few years and already the demand for tickets is very high.

Calypso Legacy Independence Edition unfolds Saturday, February 8, 2020 from

8 pm at the National Cultural Centre, with indoor seating and the exhilarating outdoor setting and engaging ambiance. It is an event not to be missed!

Tickets cost EC$60 advance early bird and EC$70 regular.

This event is powered by FLOW with support from Saint Lucia Independence Committee and sponsors KFC, SIXT and IBS Inc.

16 LOCAL

www.stluciastar.com

FEBRUARY 01, 2020 THE STAR

Is Pierre's Youf Economy really PYE in the Sky?

By Cephus Willie

O

ne would think, by the number of times the bastardized word “yoof” is spewed from the lips of Opposition leader Philip J. Pierre, that it is a new favourite flavour among Red Zoners. But then, perhaps not. What’s more likely is that someone bought the rumour that to win the next elections, all campaign efforts must concentrate on Saint Lucia’s young voters—“de youfs”!

That would explain why almost every picture of the SLP leader features him with kids. Someone ought to keep in mind that the youth, as defined by the United Nations, is inclusive of individuals up to the age of 35. Not just school children, such as the leader of the Opposition posed with following the last House meeting, with the look on his face suggesting an eel out of water.

Pierre’s pretend love affair with the “youf of de nation” is more evidence that something’s not well with him. Amnesia? Didn’t Pierre and his SLP headhunters recently accuse Prime Minister Allen Chastanet of being “pretentious” for posing with young people simply for likes on social media?

During an interview on a radio show hosted by an SLP hopeful, Pierre described his recently imagined “yoof economy” as a “revolutionary idea”. He added: “What you want is a designated part of the economy for the yoof; you want

T

advice coming from the yoof; what the yoof want; how the yoof want it implemented. So what we want to have is a designated ministry with special areas for the yoof: creative industries, music, technology, web design, sports, modelling . . . a dedicated budget, not part of another ministry’s budget; a ministry of the yoof economy.”

How revolutionary can you get? Didn’t Pierre’s predecessor invent a Creative Industry Ministry, under an over-zealous consultant (local, not foreign!) who squandered thousands of dollars on a Labour Day jaunt in New York in the name of de youf? Was that all about a youf economy?

Remarkably, try as he might, Pierre alone seems to understand how his youf economy is supposed to operate; well, Pierre and a Facebook character named Frank Charles, who may or may not be the notorious SLP hack we know so well for his insane contributions to radio discussions. (Speaking of which, a recent caller to a popular radio programme referred to Pierre’s Youf Economy as “PYE in the sky!")

Here is FB Frank’s take: “Youth economy is what the new leader of the Labour party, prime minister in waiting, is proposing to change Saint Lucia around. New direction and not that nonsense Chastanet is doing by giving away our monies to his FFF. Youth economy is where the Labour government should focus

On cruise ships, many young Saint Lucians are working as entertainers, DJs, sound engineers, chefs, bartenders and waitresses.

on, certifying tradesmen to sell to the outside world. [To foreigners?]

Youth economy where the Labour government should be focusing on sportsmen and sportswomen to attract major clubs all over the world. [More foreigners?] Youth economy" where the Labour government should focusing (sic) on the music industry, not just sponsoring one or two guys but helping them look at this as a business, and training young men and women from stage persons to the artist.”

With all of that wisdom under his belt, Frank would make a cool operator for Pierre’s Ministry of Youf Affairs.

As they would say, who knows, knows. But for those who don’t, let me dissect Frank’s missive, as if there is anything to it.

On the point of certification of tradesmen, there are countless opportunities for young persons to become certified, starting with full-time and part-time courses

Local Harvest of Taiwanese-variety Banana

o overcome global climate change and enhance the income of the banana industry, the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) and Banana Productivity Improvement Project (BPIP) introduced a new dwarf variety of Taiwanese banana, Tai-Chiao No. 2, in 2019, planted at six demonstration farms: Fond Estate, Union, Ranju Lands, Roseau, Troumasse and Woodlands.

Tai-Chiao No. 2 produced its first harvest in January 2020.

The Taiwan Technical Mission will compare Tai-Chiao No. 2 and the local banana variety on the fruit yield, quality and taste preferred by consumers. With this survey, TTM and BPIP hope to find a more suitable banana variety for farmers that will benefit the local banana industry.

The farmers used to propagate bananas through conventional planting material without replacing the new

seedlings for several years.

However, the banana plants keep growing taller and higher and it becomes more difficult for farmers to maintain the good practices of banana cultivation. It also becomes hard to control the plant disease and insect pressure in the banana field. Moreover, the banana trees are more easily damaged by strong winds and torrential rains. This traditional method would decrease the quantity of bananas required to export to the EU market.

The production specialist from TTM, Mr. Johnson Wu, who has worked in the Taiwan Banana Research Institute, says the acclimation process of Tai-Chiao No. 2 was a tough challenge. First, a total of 9,000 tissue culture seedlings from Taiwan had to be planted in Saint Lucia, with the survival rate being only 35 per cent. These then had to be transplanted to Union demonstration farm and

cultivated for another seven months.

Assistant technician Bo Ying Lin, Chih Min Yu and Rui Sian Jérémie Wang compared the morphological character of TaiChiao No. 2 and the local banana variety, which were grown in the same area. The result shows that Tai-Chiao No. 2 has a shorter and more consistent growth pattern due to the tissue culture seedling.

The height of Tai-Chiao No. 2 is significantly shorter than the local banana variety, and the stem perimeter of Tai-Chiao No. 2 is longer than the local variety. It means that Tai-Chiao No. 2 could be tolerant of high winds which would make it easier for farmers to maintain proper cultivation practices and easier to harvest.

Due to the traits of Tai-Chiao No. 2, this new banana variety would not only be an excellent option for climate change adaptation measures, but also improve the quality of outputs for farmers.

at Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. Their programmes have been expanded recently to include more creative sectors and the new principal, Dr. Keith Nurse, has written and advocated much on promoting youth and

the creative sector as a means of growing the economy.

There is also the National Skills Apprenticeship Programme, which has been an avenue to certify young persons in the hospitality and service industry. I am not here talking only of cooks and waitresses. The record shows a number of trained personnel have found employment at the island’s hotels—as front desk attendants, trainee supervisors and in other departments.

On cruise ships, many young Saint Lucians are working as entertainers, DJs, sound engineers, chefs, bartenders and waitresses.

In sports, the government continues to foster a robust elite athletes' programme and, with the opening of the National Sports

Academy, young people are being prepared for scholarship opportunities at overseas universities.

As for as the arts and music, the Chastanet government has in the last three years invested more money in training opportunities for musicians, singers, dancers, panists and the likes, through the CDF and Export Saint Lucia; the records are there.

Last year the government funded one of the largest contingents to participate in CARIFESTA in Trinidad and Tobago. Of course, it’s understandable why that’s not the kind of news Pierre and Frank would like to get around. But then more people tend to embrace happy words than doom and gloom. But we must end here this time around, for lack of space.

Invest Saint Lucia and itelbpo sign MOU A

s reported two weeks ago in STAR Businessweek, “the Caribbean’s largest homegrown BPO [itelbpo Smart Solutions] provider is opening the doors on a new facility in Saint Lucia this spring in a landmark investment that will provide hundreds of local jobs and further promote the island as a booming BPO hub.”

On Wednesday, itelbpo Founder and Chairman, Yoni Epstein signed an MOU with Invest Saint Lucia (ISL) to begin operations. Saint Lucia will be the fifth territory out of which the burgeoning company oeprates.

Present at the ceremony was a delighted Bradley Felix.

The Minister for Commerce, International Trade, Investment, Enterprise Development and Consumer Affairs was glad to welcome itelbpo to our shores.

“This is a company already known in Jamaica for its stellar corporate governance,” said the investment minister. “It pays some of the most competitive and dignified wages among its competitors, and it also provides employee benefits, incentives and opportunities for advancement within its organisation.”

Added Felix: “itelbpo is known for creating great workspaces which are needed with sedentary, repetitive jobs. Most of all, Invest Saint Lucia has brought on board an investment partner that seems to want to invest in the wider community as well as with the responsible corporate citizen.”

Invest Saint Lucia CEO Roderick Cherry enthusiastically

Left to right: Pinkley Francis, Serena Godfrey, Marie-Grace Walcott, Roderick Cherry, Bradley Felix, Yoni Epstein, Kieran Long, Duane Williams and Janecia Welds-Wainwright.

announced: "Invest Saint Lucia will be developing a 20,000 sq ft factory shell located in the Hewanorra Free Zone, which is set to open on April 1st, 2020.”

He explained that from very early on, Invest Saint Lucia took note of how lucrative the BPO industry is and has recognized that our market has some specific advantages “that would allow us to stake our claim and reap the rewards”.

“That is why Invest Saint Lucia has been regularly attending conferences, trade shows and expos focused on Information Technology Enabled Services,” explained the beaming CEO. “It was at one of these many events, in 2018, that we met itelbpo.”

Cherry gave a brief history of the partnership: “We invited

itelbpo on an extensive site visit to Saint Lucia and right away they were convinced that the place to set up their latest operations would be in the south of our island.

Nothing could make our team at Invest Saint Lucia happier. Why? Because southern Saint Lucia is part of our intensive, national development focus.”

Cherry concluded: “itelbpo is exactly the kind of investor we were waiting for.”

itelbpo Founder and Chairman, Yoni Epstein admitted that Saint Lucia may not have been in his purview originally, “but the Invest Saint Lucia team made it possible for us. We live by what is called our four Ys, which is quality, integrity, reliability and family. You in Saint Lucia have a big heart, a big family . . . and that is a big part of our organisation also.”

THE STAR FEBRUARY 01, 2020

REGIONAL

www.stluciastar.com

17

Antigua and Barbuda AC HOTEL KINGSTON ISLAND ROUTES closing borders to CARIBBEAN ADVENTURES AWARDED CARIBBEAN’S travellers from China TRIUMPHS AT WORLD LEADING NEW HOTEL BY

T

TRAVEL AWARDS

he Government of Antigua and Barbuda has decided to close its borders, effective immediately, to travellers from the People’s Republic of China. The decision has been taken in light of the declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) that the fast-spreading coronavirus, which has infected more than 8,200 people across the world, is a global health emergency.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne noted that “a global health emergency is also defined by the WHO as a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ and as ‘an extraordinary event’ that is ‘serious’.

“In this connection,” the Prime Minister said, “Antigua and Barbuda, as small island communities, has to mitigate against any threat to health of its citizens and residents.”

At the same time,

the Antigua and Barbuda leader joined the Emergency Committee of the WHO in praising the leadership and political commitment of the very highest levels of Chinese government “for taking very strong measures and comprehensive multi-sectoral approaches to prevent further spread of the virus”.

“The concern shown by China for the rest of the world is highly commendable,” Prime Minister Browne said.

He concluded, “My government will monitor developments related to the coronavirus and will continue to strengthen its capacity to respond to any eventuality related to this novel virus.

“We also wish to assure the families of Antigua and Barbuda students, now in China, that we will remain in contact with them and take every possible step to ensure their well-being.”

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sland Routes Caribbean Adventures, a lifestyle and destination management authority operating in twelve countries across the Caribbean, has been crowned the Caribbean’s Leading Adventure Tour Operator at the 27th annual World Travel Awards in Nassau, Bahamas.

Island Routes Caribbean Adventures has cupped this award eight times consecutively, further embedding the company’s position as the leader for unique, immersive and authentic island experiences.

The ceremony, held on January 20, 2020, was attended by a host of Caribbean leaders in the travel and tourism industry.

“I am extremely proud of this recognition once again of

Please be advised that the following retail outlet will be closed for business:

PCD Foodmart S&S Plaza,

Bois D’Orange Thursday, February 6th, 2020

All other Wet & Cold locations will be open to serve you.

We regret any inconvenience caused.

S&S Plaza, Bois D’Orange: Tel: 457-7089 Wet & Cold Express Mongiraud Street Tel: 457-7088 Wet & Cold Express Cadet Street Tel: 457-7189

Cul De Sac, Castries, St. Lucia Tel: 457- 7000 Fax: 457- 7059 Email:pcdcustomerservice@thegelgroup.com Website: www.peterandcompanydistribution.com

being named the Caribbean’s Leading Adventure Tour Operator 2020, as we continue to make our mark in this industry,” said Adam Stewart, CEO, Island Routes Caribbean Adventures.

“Island Routes is all about spotlighting the lifestyle of the Caribbean, and we will continue down our runway for growth as we set out to pioneer new ways to explore the wonders of the beautiful islands.”

The World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to celebrate achievements in all areas of the world’s travel and tourism industry. Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognized globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS

A

C Hotel® by Marriott Kingston, Jamaica’s first business lifestyle hotel, was named the Caribbean’s Leading New Hotel 2020, at the 27th annual World Travel Awards Caribbean Gala Ceremony held in Nassau, Bahamas.

AC Hotel Kingston opened its doors in June 2019 and was immediately recognized for revitalizing the city and creating a sought-after epicentre for the urban destination. In less than a year, the hotel has successfully capped this worldwide recognition, by revealing a modern European design, local art focus, and unique lifestyle space, which speaks volumes to Kingston as a whole.

The ceremony, held on January 20, 2020 at Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island, was attended by numerous Caribbean dignitaries and travel industry

elites in the field of travel and tourism.

“We are so honoured to take home this coveted award tonight, as it represents for us a significant industry milestone and acknowledges that we hit the mark with this new and unique hotel concept,” said Adam Stewart, CEO, AC Hotel Kingston. “We re-imagined Kingston with this project, and we were able to design something beautiful and deliver on a whole new level of sophistication, second to none.”

The World Travel Awards was established in 1993 for the purpose of celebrating achievements in all areas of the world’s travel and tourism industry. Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognized globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

Wet & Cold Express Cadet Street outlet will be closing at 12:00p.m. for stock taking on Saturday February 8th, 2020.

Wet & Cold Express Mongiraud Street will be open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm to serve you.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Wet & Cold Express Mongiraud Street Tel: 457-7088 Wet & Cold Express Cadet Street Tel: 457-7189

Cul De Sac, Castries, St. Lucia Tel: 457- 7000 Fax: 457- 7059 Email:pcdcustomerservice@thegelgroup.com Website: www.peterandcompanydistribution.com

18 HEALTH

www.stluciastar.com

THE FUNNIES!

FEBRUARY 01, 2020 THE STAR

Department of Health preparation for coronavirus

In response to the World Health Organization declaration of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China, the Department of Health and Wellness has activated its Coronavirus response plan.

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s the Department of Health and Wellness continues to monitor the international situation of the coronavirus, officials within the ministry are working closely with stakeholders to ensure preparedness and response to the threat of the coronavirus.

Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sharon Belmar-George spoke on the measures in place to ensure monitoring and coordinated response to a possible threat of the coronavirus.

“In terms of surveillance: active surveillance at our health risk areas, which the ports are very important links for that, both our air and sea ports. So this is one part of the time to absorb each pose, which preparation that we have in creates strength, flexibility and place. The other area that we endurance, along with balancing are strengthening is our health the systems of the body.

Often men come to class they have great results. Many because they have back, knee times, when the pain is gone, so or shoulder pain, along with are the men. several other issues. They find Men often say that yoga that if they continue the classes, is only for women or they don’t

Yoga for Men

or years men have been telling me that they would like to do yoga but they are too stiff, with no flexibility. This is a common misconception for everyone new to yoga. That is exactly the reason why they should do yoga—we do yoga to acquire flexibility.

But there is much more to yoga than just flexibility. We do yoga to help with balance, not just physical balance but also mental and spiritual balance. Yoga also reduces stress. It helps us to sleep better, reduces low back pain, promotes weight loss and creates an overall healthy lifestyle. It makes us more aware of the breath, which builds concentration, focus and better health.

Men would rather go to the gym and do weight training. Weight training will normally isolate and flex one muscle or group of muscles at a time. Yoga tones muscles all over.

Iyengar yoga increases

endurance because we hold the pose for a period of time. BKS Iyengar, my teacher, continually worked with the medical and scientific field to experiment with groups to measure that endurance and, with the tests, he found that holding a pose for 1.5 to 2 minutes gave the body

Men! Do you want a free yoga class?

Then read more!

care facilities in ensuring preparation at that level, and that includes the identification of a quarantine, a treatment area at the necessary facility, and it also include the training of all of our healthcare workers to ensure that any patient coming in, that they are able to detect and ask the necessary questions such as travel history and to be able to manage, in a safe manner, the management (sic) of such a patient and to reduce the impact on other persons.”

Dr. Belmar-George also spoke on the efforts to undertake sensitization sessions with the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) so as to enhance and manage the possibility of the coronavirus at the ports.

“Senior officials of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, we are meeting with the senior team at the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority in our discussion on the enhancement of the port health services. This is a very important part of our plan to strengthen our capacity to manage the coronavirus. So today we were able to present on the disease and its development so far on the international scene and also update them on the present plans of the Ministry of Health and discuss the different recommendations that we have for the ports to facilitate the prevention and early detection of cases that may come into our port.”

The Acting CMO reiterated that Saint Lucia has not registered any cases of the coronavirus.

want to go to a class where they are the only man in a class full of women. More than fifty per cent of my teachers are men who have been practising and teaching yoga for over 40 years. In the past it was only men who practised yoga.

What I would say to a man is: find a class that fits you and a teacher with whom you feel comfortable. Do your research and find out who is the most qualified teacher in

your area. The teacher who continues to do teacher training at least once a year, along with classes and workshops, is the teacher that you want so always ask the teacher who they study with, or who their teacher is. If they don’t have one, you should probably continue your search.

For every man who reads this article, come to Yoga St Lucia and your first class is free.

We do have men in our classes.

Come see what you have been missing!

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

THE STAR

T

FEBRUARY 01, 2020

Coronavirus declared Global Health Emergency by WHO

he new coronavirus has been declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization, as the outbreak continues to spread outside China. “The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The concern is that it could spread to countries with weaker health systems. Meanwhile, the US has told its citizens not to travel to China.

The state department issued a level four warning— having previously urged Americans to “reconsider” travel to China—and said any citizens in China “should consider departing using commercial means”. China has said it will send charter planes to bring back Hubei province residents who are overseas “as soon as possible”.

A foreign ministry spokesman said this was because of the “practical difficulties” Chinese citizens have faced abroad. Hubei is where the virus emerged. At

international

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What happens if this virus finds its way into a country that cannot cope? Many low- and middle-income countries simply lack the tools to spot or contain it. The fear is it could spread uncontrollably and that it may go unnoticed for some time.

Remember, this is a disease which emerged only last month and yet there are already almost 10,000 confirmed cases in China.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: “We must all

The 2014 Ebola outbreak act together now to limit further spread.” in West Africa—the largest least 213 people in the China “unprecedented response”. in human history—showed province have died from the He praised the “extraordinary how easily poorer countries virus, mostly in Hubei, with measures” Chinese authorities can be overwhelmed by almost 10,000 cases nationally. had taken, and said there was such outbreaks. And if novel

The WHO said there had no reason to limit trade or coronavirus gets a significant been 98 cases in 18 other travel to China. “Let me be clear, foothold in such places, countries, but no deaths. Most this declaration is not a vote then it would be incredibly international cases are in of no confidence in China,” he difficult to contain. We are not people who had been to Wuhan. said. at that stage yet; 99 per cent of However, in eight cases—in

But various countries have cases are in China and the WHO Germany, Japan, Vietnam and taken steps to close borders or is convinced the country can the United States—patients cancel flights, and companies control the outbreak there. were infected by people who like Google, Ikea, Starbucks and But declaring a global had travelled to China.

Tesla have closed their shops emergency allows the WHO

Speaking at a news or stopped operations. The US to support lower- and middleconference in Geneva, Dr Commerce Secretary, Wilbur income countries to strengthen Tedros described the virus as Ross, has said the outbreak their disease surveillance, and an “unprecedented outbreak” could “accelerate the return of prepare them for cases. that has been met with an jobs to North America”.

--BBC

19

Supreme Ruler Putin?

Kremlin non-committal on proposed new job description

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he Kremlin said on Wednesday that President Vladimir Putin had no view on a proposal that would see his job description change to Supreme Ruler from head of state after a government commission said it was considering the idea.

The title change is one of an array of possible alterations to the Russian constitution put forward by members of a government commission set up after Putin earlier this month said he wanted to change the Russian basic law. Putin, 67, proposed his own constitutional changes, which were widely seen as giving him scope to retain influence once his current presidential term expires in 2024, though he has said he does not favour the Soviet-era practice of having leaders for life who die in office.

The overhaul, which triggered a change in government, also cemented Putin’s control of the transition process and was seen by some as an attempt to reduce intra-clan infighting between now and 2024, while allowing

Putin to show he is responding to public discontent after years of belt-tightening. The State Duma, the Russian lower house of parliament, has already given its backing to his reforms in a preliminary vote. The government commission is considering further possible changes.

Other proposals include formally recognizing Russia’s status as a “victorious power” in World War Two and recognizing Orthodox Christianity as the country’s main religion, the Kommersant newspaper reported.

“Naturally some (of the proposals) will be eliminated, some will be accepted and from this the commission’s soughtafter result will appear,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Russia’s TASS news agency said Vladimir Zhironovsky, leader of the nationalist pro-Kremlin LDPR party, had suggested the president be known as the Supreme Leader many times in order to move away from job titles derived from foreign languages.

--Reuters

20 SPORTS

Crunch time for teams in the Veterans Football Tournament

By David R Pascal

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t’s do or die for teams in their quest to win the Plate Division of the Caribbean Alliance Gold Cup (CAGC) in this year’s Veterans in Sports Inc Football Tournament.

Over the weekend, following quarter-final play in the CAGC at the Philip Marcellin Grounds in Vieux Fort, Flow Lancers FC, All Blacks-Dennery, Marchand Veterans and Central Vieux Fort advanced to the semi-finals, being played this weekend at the same venue.

Last Saturday Flow Lancers FC defeated Soufriere Veterans 4-2. Lancers jumped ahead 2-0 with goals coming from Gabriel John in the sixth minute and Nigel Springer in the 30th. Soufriere got back in the game with a goal from Jerome Serville making it 2-1 at half-time.

Lancers took a 3-1 lead in the 63rd minute with Jonathan John getting on the score sheet.

Springer, with his second goal of the game, in the 75th minute, extended the lead to 4-1. A late goal by Dave Augustin of Soufriere Veterans made the final score 4-2.

In the second quarter-final, All Blacks-Dennery were up against Laborie Veterans and came away with a 1-0 victory.

Hendrick Collymore of All Blacks opened the scoring in the 31st minute and that’s how

FEBRUARY 01, 2020 THE STAR

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the first half, and eventually the game, ended.

The quarter-finals continued on Sunday with another double header. In the opening game, Marchand Veterans and Anse La Raye ended regulation time the way the game started: 0-0. Penalty kicks decided the outcome, with Marchand winning 4-2.

In the second quarter-final that evening, Central Vieux Fort delighted the home town crowd with a convincing 3-1 win over “We the North” Gros Islet.

Vieux Fort jumped ahead 2-0 with first half goals from David Charles in the seventh minute and Titus Elva in the ninth. The lads from the north got back in the game in the second half after Ian Charles scored in the 72nd minute. However, any thoughts of a comeback quickly diminished when Andy Jn Baptiste scored for Vieux Fort in the 78th minute.

CEO of Veterans in Sports Inc, Alvin Malaykhan was ecstatic with what took place this past weekend. His take: “It was a wonderful kick-off to the quarter-final stage of the main championship. We saw a great weekend of exciting football. Yesterday [Saturday] we saw Soufriere coming up against Flow Lancers FC in a really exciting encounter.

I think Flow is showing they are one of the favorites to win this tournament. They are very technically sound and got the better of Soufriere 4-2. Then

West Indies go down to New Zealand in U19 CWC Quarter-finals

A West Indies player experienced the agony of defeat following Wednesday’s ICC U19 Cricket World Cup quarter-final match against New Zealand. (Getty Images)

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espite an excellent innings of 99 by Kirk McKenzie and an incisive bowling spell by left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd, New went down to Central Vieux you had All Blacks of Dennery Zealand defeated West Indies Fort 3-1. It was just exciting coming up against Laborie in a last over thriller in the football over the weekend. The Veterans and winning 1-0. All ICC U19 World Cup Super Blacks look really organized and Philip Marcellin Grounds is well League Quarter-final played manicured so everything is everything.” on Wednesday in Benoni, looking sharp.”

Commenting on Sunday’s South Africa. West Indies will What can we expect over games he said: “We saw now play either South Africa the weekend? Malaykhan replied: or Bangladesh in the plate Marchand Veterans playing “It’s going to be a showdown the game with heavy hearts, championship Quarter-final. both for the Plate and the main following the death of Cassius Kristian Clarke starred championship. It is all about the with ball and then bat as New Glasgow. They played a very semi-finals; we’re going to see emotional game and got the Zealand reached the ICC U19 who will make it to the grand better of Anse La Raye on Cricket World Cup Semi-finals finals of both championships. penalty kicks 4-2. Gros Islet for the fourth time, with a remarkable come-from-behind two-wicket win over West Indies at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.

The junior Black Caps appeared to be headed out of the competition when they slumped to 153 for eight chasing 239. But Clarke struck an unbeaten 46 and shared in an unbroken 86-run ninth wicket partnership with Field (38 not out) that guided their side to a fine upset win with two balls to spare.

Their exploits came

against a West Indian team that had swept all before them, by winning their first three games to top a tough Group A. The 2016 winners could not get through their quarter-final tie, though, despite dominating for most of the game.

McKenzie’s 99 had earlier helped them post a competitive 238 all out in 47.5 overs, with the left-hander clubbing three sixes and 11 fours along the way, after his captain Kimani Melius had won the toss and opted to bat first.

Seamer Clarke was the pick of the bowlers for the New Zealanders but his efforts appeared to be scant consolation after being initially let down by his top order.

Ashmead Nedd was the key man for West Indies with the ball claiming three for 33, with two wickets each from Matthew Forde (two for 64) and Joshua James (two for 45), leaving their opposition looking dead and buried. However, Clarke and Field had other ideas, sharing in a matchwinning stand that put plucky New Zealand into the last four.

and brilliance he displayed on the court. He was also very generous with time and felt compelled to share his knowledge and love for the game, with future generations of players and, most importantly, his daughter.

It is truly a sad time for all

of us and, on behalf of the St Lucia Basketball Federation, we send our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Vanessa, and their family, the Lakers organisation, NBA and the families of the seven other people who lost their lives in this horrible tragedy.

The Marchand Veterans goalkeeper made a big save on a corner kick in Sunday’s game against Anse La Raye.

SLBF President’s Statement on the passing of Kobe Bryant

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aint Lucia Basketball, along with the global basketball and sporting fraternity, is devastated by the tragic passing of our brother Kobe Bryant, and his daughter Gianna.

A true global sporting Icon, Kobe was one of the most indomitable and remarkable players in the history of the game. Over his 20-year career, his legendary accomplishments include five NBA championships, 18 all-star selections, two Olympic gold medals, an MVP award, and a mind-numbing 81 point explosion against the Toronto Raptors in 2006 (the most points in the modern shot clock era).

Despite his tremendous

Laker great Kobe Bryant—gone but not forgotten.

basketball resume, he will be remembered best by the ability to inspire anyone to compete in basketball and life at the

President of the St Lucia Basketball Federation Leslie Collymore.

highest level . . . always, by what he coined the “mamba mentality”.

Over the last few

years Kobe had become an award-winning creative and philanthropist, showing the same energy, competiveness

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FEBRUARY 01, 2020

21

St Lucia Aquatics Federation Annual Awards Ceremony

Overall Female Swimmer of the Year Naima Hazell.

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t Lucia Aquatics Federation (SLAF) held its annual Awards Ceremony for the year 2019, this past Sunday under the theme, ‘Dig Deep . . . Dream Big’.

Hosting the ceremony were Jeannot Walters and Nickler Velinor-Paul, two dedicated swim parents of the Federation.

President of SLAF, Eddie Hazell delivered the first address confessing to swimmers that “in 2019 we as a nation, to include our Federation, your club, your coaches and parents, asked so much of you and you delivered. This is an Olympic year and most, if not everyone, is aware of the St Lucia Aquatic Federation’s calendar of activities for 2020. As a swimmer, it is frightening and exciting at the same time.”

He also expressed his delight by noting that the confidence bug has finally hit him: “I know my swimmers’ ability and potential, and if I have to judge them based on 2019, then I better start smiling now!”

In attendance was the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Youth Development and Sports, Benson Emile, who revealed great news. His confirmation of the construction of a well-deserved pool for training and competition, in time for hosting Carifta 2021 in Saint Lucia, was music to the ears of the audience.

President and founder

Overall Male Swimmer of the Year Antoine Destang.

Junior Male Swimmer of the Year Jayhan Odlum Smith.

of Valley Soccer Club, Daniel Francis, delivered the keynote address. His well-received message centred on love for oneself, staying focused, disciplined, having integrity and working together as a team.

The presentations recognized swimmers who participated in Carifta, CCCAN, Goodwill Swim Meet, OECS Swim Championship and FINA World Championship.

Most Improved Swimmer awards went to two of the most deserving swimmers from each club. The recipients were: Courtney Paul and Ethan Hazell (Lightning Aquatics); Tiffani Mathurin and Brice Barker (RHAC Swim Club); Kayla Inglis Maurice and Jashawn Yarde (RR Aquatics); Damari Maxwell and Therron Herelle (Seajays); Helen Kabiye and Leo Guilmore (Sharks); Davyier Ferdinand and David Jn Pierre (Southern Flying Fish).

The Stroke Awards went to swimmers who performed the best in specific strokes throughout the year. Trophies were awarded to: Jean Luc Zephir and Mikaili Charlemagne (Freestyle); Terrel Monplaisir and Mikaili Charlemagne (Backstroke); Terrel Monplaisir and Naima Hazel (Breaststroke); Jayhan Odlum Smith and Mikaili Charlemagne (Butterfly); Tristan Dorville and Mikaili Charlemagne (Individual Medley).

Age group awards were presented to the overall top

swimmers in the following groups: Eight and under Female, Helen Kabiye; Male, James Sylvester. Nine to 10 Female, Fayth Jeffery; Male, Antoine Destang. 11 to 12, Female, Caitlin Polius; Male, Tristan Dorville. 13 to 14 Female, Naima Hazell; Male, D Andre Blanchard. 15 to 17 Female, Mikaili Charlemagne; Male, Jayhan Odlum Smith. 18 and Over Female, Siona Huxley;

Male, Jean Luc Zephir.

Recognizing the remarkable contribution to the swimming community from David Peterkin, SLAF presented him with the Pat Charles Award.

The Technical Official of the Year Award went to Dr Diane Worrell.

Brian Charles from Seajays Swim Club was recognized as Coach of the Year. His colleague Peter James was charged with

Junior Female Swimmer of the Year Mikaili Charlemagne.

delivering the Coaches’ address.

Recipient for the second consecutive year, the award for Club Administrator of the Year went to Tessa Louis-Charles, while the Club of the Year Award went to Lightning Aquatics.

Towards the end of the evening the most prestigious awards were presented. The Overall Male Swimmer of the Year Award went to Antoine

Destang and the Overall Female Swimmer of the Year Award to Naima Hazell. Jayhan Odlum Smith walked away with the award for Junior Male Swimmer of the Year whilst Mikaili Charlemagne seized the Junior Female Swimmer of the Year Award. Congratulations!

The generous contribution of the media and sponsors did not go unnoticed as they too were acknowledged.

Women’s Rugby Team triumphant in Martinique

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he Saint Lucian women’s Rugby Team won the recently concluded Trophe de Atlantique held in Martinique on January 25. The Saint Lucian team won all six matches in which it competed. Following are the final results of games: Goodluck 12, St Lucia 14; Tiec 0, St Lucia 28; RCAS 0, St Lucia 22; Bruc 12, St Lucia 17; Goyave forfeit, St Lucia won; USR 7, St Lucia 21.

Saint Lucia’s Kamica President was awarded the tournament’s most prolific scorer with a total of 51 points.

The team consisted of the following players and officals: Chantel John (Captain), Electra

Marcelle, Winnie Rene, Shawnette St Juste, Valerie Farrel, Kamica President, Senetta Viger, Mylene Grunberg, Kera Dornelly, Daleanna Alcide, Megan Phillips, Kisha Edgar, Zhenya Allain (physiotherapist), Wayne Pantor (coach), Roger Butcher (manager).

Butcher, who is also President of the St Lucia Rugby Football Union (SLRFU), congratulated the team on its victory. He noted that this was the first tournament in the SLRFU 2020 calendar. The next international competition is on February 15, 2020 when the SLRFU will be hosting the Cobourg Saxons Rugby Club of Canada.

Kamica President, pictured at a local tournament, emerged as the Most Prolific Scorer in the tournament in Martinique.

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sports

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february 01, 2020 THE STAR

Tennis Association aced first-ever Awards David R Pascal

I

t was long time coming, but the St. Lucia Tennis Association (SLTA) more than made up for lost time by hosting, in splendid manner, its first-ever awards at the National Tennis Centre in Beausejour, Gros Islet on Saturday.

The awards night honoured past and present players— young and old, officials, parents, just about everyone in one way or another, who has contributed to the success of tennis. Support and the drive from the Tennis Association Parents’ Committee made this event a success, the main objective being to show appreciation and recognize all stakeholders in the Association.

In addition to SLTA President Stephen McNamara and the hard-working members of the Association under the guidance of Scyla Murray, special guests included Senator and President of the St Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC) Inc, Fortuna Belrose; SLOC Secretary General, Alfred Emmanuel; and Director of Youth and Sports, Patrick Mathurin. Dean White and Tracy Pilgrim-George were co-MCs. In his welcoming address, McNamara thanked everyone for “accepting SLTA invitation to share this moment of celebration and commemoration with us and the achievements of our players, coaches, sponsors and the many other officials who continue to make tennis in Saint Lucia what it is today”.

McNamara—in fact the entire SLTA—is forever grateful to the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Government of Saint Lucia who jointly made the tennis facility a reality in 2010. Said McNamara: “Today we can stand proud and boast of our own home and of the many talented players which it has produced . . . I would like them [the Embassy and Government] to know on an occasion like this—I think it is appropriate they should know— that their generosity will never be forgotten as long as tennis is played here in Saint Lucia.”

McNamara thanked the organising committee for a job well done in putting together their first (and certainly not last) awards, saying: “It would not have been possible without them. The awards was staged on an absolute shoe-string budget. In fact, it does not even have a shoe; it’s just a string! If I

It was a big night for tennis ace Vernon Lewis. He received the Coach of the Year Award and is the first to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Sportswoman of the Year Meggan William.

Sportsman of the Year Maxx William.

Junior Sportswoman of the Year Iyana Paul.

future.”

Unfortunately, not everyone, for one reason or another, could attend the ceremony to receive their award. In the case of the late Una Francis, she was not forgotten. In one of the more touching moments that evening, well-known Human Rights Activist, Mary Francis Human Rights paid tribute to her late sister Activist Mary Francis Una who passed away in proudly displayed the posthumous award 2018. She proudly accepted which she received on the posthumous award on Ricardo Francois behalf of her late sister received the Community her behalf. In an acceptance Una Francis.

Achievement Award. speech, Francis spoke of her Chelsea Jongue late sister in glowing terms and receiving a Sponsors that: “I know we have had our Academy, which was overlooked made sure the audience knew Recognition Award, on behalf of LUCELEC, challenges, but I think I can when it came to these awards. just how much she meant to the from the St Lucia Tennis safely say that over the recent He told the gathering: “I am sport.

Association President months there has been an ever- not sure what the issue is but

“Una Francis lived and Stephen McNamara. growing collaboration between I am saying to you as a tennis breathed tennis in the late the constituents of tennis. By fraternity, whatever the issues 70s and early 80s, as a result have to tell you the actual truth, that I mean the board and its are—if there are any issues, I of which she was awarded the string is not even a string; it tennis centre, the coaches and do not know—I am saying let’s Sportswoman of the Year in is probably a thread!” the Parents’ Association; and come together and the Ministry 1984. The significance of being

For all intents and the continued growth of this of Youth and Sports will be here is really because Una had a purposes, it was a good collaboration must redound to willing to help you, to ensure wish. Some of us, in preparation showing with few lapses. the benefit of the sport islandthat every single tennis-playing for death, unknowingly that The SLTA President assured wide.” institution comes under one probably death is approaching, everyone that next time around Mathurin, who was banner because I believe once we do perhaps write certain “it will be an improved awards the next speaker, began by we are able to do so, then we instructions. One of her ceremony”. apologizing for the absence of will see even more progress.” wishes was that she would

What does this SLTA Minister of Youth Development

Belrose reminisced about be remembered after she event mean to the players? and Sports, Edmund Estephane. her years in tennis, having was gone. Tonight this wish McNamara explained: “To the He congratulated the SLTA for played on the same national has been realized. I am sure players, the awards presents staging its first-ever awards, team with the likes of Jane where she is, she is very proud an opportunity for introspection saying: “It really gives me, as DuBoulay and veteran Vernon of being remembered,” said and an opportunity to evaluate the Director of Youth and Sports, Lewis who still dominates Francis. individual contribution into much pleasure being here this tennis here. Her speech centred One wish that remains one’s eventual success at a high evening, simply because this is on exercising freedom of choice, unfulfilled is her sister’s desire, level . . . We have endeavoured a dream that is becoming true self-awareness and personal with the help of the media, to to create a platform for the for us. As a ministry, we are desire to become involved, document what she entitled players to exploit and maximise always indicating that every and preparation. She told the ‘The Lawn Tennis Legends of their fullest potential, while single association should have players: “We have a golden Saint Lucia’, to highlight the we do everything in our power its awards. It is something that opportunity in tennis. You are contribution made to tennis to ensure that the institution we push for every year and I fortunate in that you have your here by Saint Lucians. Francis within which such opportunities am very pleased that the Tennis own centre for tennis. Not many would like nothing better than flourish, is strong and wellAssociation has decided to join sports are that lucky. So you to make her sister’s wish come organised.” the bandwagon.” have an opportunity to continue true and said it is important

It has not always been

Mathurin, however, to create impact, continue to for us to remember those who smooth sailing for the SLTA, expressed his concern when create impressions on young have gone ahead and made a and McNamara alluded to it came to InFlow Tiger Tennis lives about sports and their contribution.

Jane DuBoulay and her husband Dunstan, who were the driving force behind the highly successful Coca Cola Tennis Tournament, were recognized during the evening.

Jane received an appreciation plaque from SLTA President Stephen McNamara.

McNamara presented the posthumous award. The inscription on the plaque stated: “Thank you Una Francis.

In grateful recognition we remember a friend, tennis star, and icon whose legacy will be remembered by many generations to come.”

The winners per category are: Esteemed Award for Sporting Excellence, Ron Blanchard; Coach of the Year, Vernon Lewis; Academy of the Year, Acers Tennis Club; Sportsman of the Year, Maxx William; Sportswoman of the Year, Meggan William; Junior Sportsman of the Year, Jordan Hunte; Junior Sportswoman of the Year, Iyana Paul; Team of the Year, Jorja Mederick and Alysa Elliott.

Top high performance athletes per category and gender: Under-12 Boy, Jaidyn Mathew; Girl, Latoya Murray. Under-14 Boy, Arden Rosemond; Girl, Iyana Paul; Under-16 Boy, Maxx William; Girl, Alysa Elliott. Under-18 Boy, Maxx William; Girl, Aviona Edmund.

Media Award, David Pascal (Star Publishing Company).

Community Achievement Award, Ricardo Francois. Technical Official Award, Catherine Morille.

Posthumous Award, Una Francis.

Recognition of all Sponsors: Sagicor Life, DuBoulays Bottling Company Limited, Northwest Limited, National Lotteries Authority, Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, Ultramart Inc, Voyager St. Lucia, St Lucia Electricity Services Limited and The Oliver Gobat Sports Fund. Hall of Fame Induction: the first inductee into the Hall of Fame is Vernon Lewis.

THE STAR

february 01, 2020

www.stluciastar.com

classified

23

Monroe College

International Hospitality Training institute Monroe College International Hospitality Training Institute is seeking the services of knowledgeable, proactive trainer in the hospitality industry to facilitate a course in Front Office Services If you are excited about this industry, are willing to teach students and ready to join our teaching staff, please take note of the following: Education and Experience: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

At least 5 years previous experiences in delivery of professional hospitality courses to career-oriented students will be an asset.

Applicants must also possess suitable academic qualifications in the field of hospitality and should have reached senior level in their area of teaching interest. (Associate degree, Bachelors or Master’s degree would be an asset) Must have working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite skills, including Excel, with strong attention to detail, follow through and organizational skills.

Good communication skills Experience in teaching the above mentioned course would be an asset

If you: • Are a charismatic proactive individual with a passion to see your students succeed, • Take pride in imparting your knowledge and experience to willing learners, • Want to be part of our dynamic team and is willing to start working immediately Please send your resume under confidential cover to: Email: jjnbaptiste@monroecollege.edu or salexander@monroecollege.edu Telephone: 758 456 3200 for further information.

Deadline date for applications: February 7, 2020 Your application will be processed confidentially.

VACANCIES The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) is seeking applications from suitably qualified individuals to fill the following positions: CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER: Accountable for the accurate reporting of financial results and managing of Authority’s financial affairs, the CFO is responsible for the planning, coordinating and controlling the finance and accounting functions of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority.

SENIOR MANAGER, COLLECTIONS & COMPLIANCE: Under the direction of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), plans, organizes, directs and supervises the smooth management of the Accommodation Fee by instituting revenue administration, compliance and enforcement programs including developing and executing procedures and processes.

IT OPERATIONS & SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR: To manage the maintenance and administration of Authority’s computer systems; create and disable user accounts as well as install and configure hardware equipment. The incumbent is also responsible for the maintenance of a secure, reliable and efficient computer environment that permits users to perform their functions effectively.

REGISTRATION & DATA OFFICER: The incumbent must possess exemplary customer service skills, be talented in multi-tasking, come equipped with exceptional technical aptitude and approach assignments with a positive attitude. Duties include assisting the public with registration and queries, data entry, placing and fielding phone calls, answering non-routine questions, composing documents and collecting taxes and fees.

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER: In concert with the Public Relations Manager, the incumbent serves as an advocate for the organization, building and maintaining positive relationships with the main stakeholders of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority.

He/She will also activate the communication plan for the introduction of the Accommodation Fee. The Job Descriptions which provides details on the positions above are available at 758vacancies or by contacting information@stlucia.org.

Applications are invited from suitable qualified persons with full Curriculum Vitae and at least two references to be received no later than Monday 3rd February 2020 and submitted to applications@stlucia.org or P.O. Box 221, Castries, Saint Lucia.

Only suitable applicants will be acknowledged.

Company seeking

Regional Security Officer PURPOSE OF THE POSITION The Regional Security Officer (RSO) provides the vision and strategies necessary to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of Company Operations by communicating risk to Senior Management, creating and maintaining enforceable policies and supporting processes, and ensuring compliance with Policies and Procedures.

The RSO advises on the procurement of related products and provide training regarding security awareness. Additionally, the RSO ensures a Companywide systems are in place for incident response.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES Directs an ongoing, proactive risk assessment program for all new and existing systems and remains familiar with the Company’s goals and business processes so effective controls can be put in place for those areas presenting the greatest security risk.

Communicates risks and recommendations to mitigate risks to the Senior Management by communicating in non-technical, cost/benefit terms and in a format relevant to Senior Management so decisions can be made to ensure the security of all employees and assets.

Oversees all ongoing activities related to the development, implementation, and maintenance of the Company’s Security policies and procedures by ensuring these policies and procedures encompass the overall security of Business interest and assisting departments in local process and procedure development, ensuring they are not in conflict with the company’s policies.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS -Minimum BA, graduate degree preferred dealing in areas of intelligence, information technology, criminal justice, security, political risk, and finance/economics.

-Demonstrates the ability of being a self-starter and resourcefulness, with experience of operating in fast paced and dynamic operational settings.

-Demonstrates examples of innovation or continuous improvement in risk, intelligence or corporate security and investigative services area.

-Broad professional experience, including prior corporate work experience/travel or experience working as part of a regional diverse team is an advantage.

-Over 5 years experience in law enforcement.

-Excellent communication, negotiation and presentation skills.

-Self-motivated with the ability and maturity to make decisions in the absence of detailed instructions.

Please send applications:

Hrminfo66@gmail.com

Deadline for receipt of applications is February 6th, 2020

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT WANTED Saint Lucia Tourism Authority

P.O. Box 221St. Castries, St. Lucia Tel: 758 458-7101retailer for over 20 years, Harry Edwards Jewelers continues to be Lucia’s premier duty-free www.stlucia.org specializing in exclusive world-renowned luxury branded jewellery, watches, crystal, and accessories.

We are currently seeking someone to join our team who has a pleasant disposition and is well spoken, to assume the duty of clerical and administrative support. Candidates for this position should prioritize organization, be able to multitask, and meet deadlines.

Duties and Responsibilities: • Answer emails and main phone line • Update paperwork and staff files • Type up memos, letters and documents • Proofreading and editing • Prepare duty-free and duty-paid sales for customs • Management of staff incentives • Liaise with brand representatives and provide sales and inventory reports monthly • Fulfil additional tasks assigned by upper management • Assist with or fulfil tasks relayed by stores • Shop for supplies and dispense them to the stores as needed • Ensure the stores and office are maintained (electrical, carpentry, ac units etc) • Work on weekends and holidays should the need arrise.

• Continuously improve through feedback.

Requirements and Qualifications • Must be confident and well-spoken with excellent customer service and communication skills (verbal and written).

• Must have a positive attitude and be able to accept criticism.

• Must be a self-motivated, assertive individual.

• Must be proficient in Microsoft outlook, word and excel.

• Must possess strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently as well as with a team • Must have strong organizational skills and excellent time management.

Please submit your CV by January 31, 2020, to info@harryedwardsjewelers.com with the subject: ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT APPLICATION or mail to: Harry Edwards Jewelers Attn.: Hiring Manager P.O. Box 1889 Maurice Mason Avenue Sans Souci Castries LC04 101

www.stluciastar.com

$2.00

What was that again about a bird in the hand?

Photo by Sharefil Gaillard, Loop News

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 01, 2020

S&S

LAYAWAY NOW AVAILABLE AT S&S THE PRICEBUSTERS

20 BALLOONS

$5.25 Come and apply for your S & S Loyalty Card

BEACH BAGS

$25

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

SAINT LUCIA KEY CHAINS

$3.50

SHOT GLASSES

CURLING RIBBONS

$3.75

$4.25

CAR FLAGS

$8.00

Also on special: ST. LUCIA FLAG CUSHIONS $15, 10 BLUE CUPS $1.75, 10 YELLOW CUPS $1.75, BLUE TABLE COVERS $3.50, COFFEE MUGS WITH PITONS $7, 6OZ PAPER CUPS $6, 8OZ PAPER CUPS $8.25, FOIL ROAST PANS $5, 100 PACK PAPER NAPKINS $2.75, PAPER TOWELS $3.50, ALUMINUM FOILS $4.50, 6 INCH PAPER PLATES $8.25

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