FIRE!

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FIRE!

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 05, 2019

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‘I lost everything . . . even my dentures.

Both top and bottom.’

The Star (St.Lucia)

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2018 Person of the Year!

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

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JANUARY 05, 2019 THE STAR

Another Year, Another One-Note Dirge About The Police!

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iriam (name altered to protect identity) is resident in Britain.

She visits Saint Lucia often with her family. They own property here. Although their home has been broken into on several occasions, Miriam says they have felt fairly safe in Saint Lucia. But this year, during a traditional family Christmas visit, Miriam and her brother experienced what has become for so many permanent residents the worm in an otherwise perfect apple. It happened around 10 p.m. on 29 December 2018.

Walking home from Razmataz in Rodney Bay, Miriam and her brother were reportedly attacked by a man who attempted to rob them.

Miriam’s bag was snatched off her arm. Her brother tried to wrestle it from the robber’s grip.

In the process the bag landed a short distance from Big Chef Steakhouse, its contents scattered all over the road. Still their attacker did not give up.

He made an attempt to pick up the bag. He had some kind

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of air gun, as Miriam recalled.

He fired upon Miriam and her brother, causing them some “serious painful bruises”.

The sound of the gun attracted someone else’s attention. The would-be robber ran away and their rescuer handed his phone to Miriam so she could call the police.

She ended up being far more concerned about the reaction of our protectors of life and property than she was about the actual assault by a stranger in the heart of the island’s tourism capital.

The first time she called, the individual who answered hung up on her. Miriam called a second time and was told the police were trying to get some transportation. Fifteen minutes passed, without sight of an officer of the law, never mind the nearby Rodney Bay substation. At about 11 p.m. the police visited Miriam's house to take her statement.

“We came to find out later that this preliminary statement had actually been lost,” said Miriam to this reporter. “We

were advised to go to the Gros Islet Police Station the next day to make a written statement with a CID officer, but on arrival we were told no one was available to take down what we had to say.”

Miriam was advised to call later that day “to find out if it will be worth coming back” to make her statement. When she called she was directed to come to the station the following day.

“I got the impression that no one was particularly interested, and if I didn’t go back to the police station it wasn’t something that would have been followed up,” Miriam said.

Finally she met with an officer from the Criminal Investigations Department, but only because she insisted on not making an official statement in the lobby of the Gros Islet Police Station. “We waited for a CID officer to become available.

We made our statement in his office."

The process was extremely rushed, with the officer interrupting to take a phone call. In the presence of Miriam

and her brother, the officer said: “I'll be done in two minutes.”

Miriam told this reporter that the robber was not masked, that she gave his description to the police. She also contacted the owners of Big Chef Steakhouse and 1st National Bank, which have CCTV cameras that may have caught the incident. Both entities were helpful to Miriam and she relayed the information to the CID officer. “He said he would look into it.”

At press time Miriam had heard nothing more from the police. “I now am questioning if I even want to come back,” she said. “The disappointing response of the Saint Lucia Police Force suggests that if a very serious crime were to be committed, it would not be dealt with in any manner resembling professional.”

The Gros Islet Police Station directed me to call the police press office but my several attempts to speak with anyone have failed.

---Claudia Eleibox

Miriam and her brother were attacked by a wouldbe robber in Rodney Bay. But as horrid as was the experience, the siblings are far more concerned about the treatment meted out to them by those responsible for the protection of citizens and their property.

St Lucia Photographer Earns NGO Management Certification

enowned Saint Lucia photographer, Kirk Elliott, recently earned certification in NonGovernmental Organization Professional Management from the University of the West Indies Open Campus.

For the past four years Elliott has been mentoring the Fond Gens Libre Development Committee as it seeks to both develop and enhance the community’s tourism product.

Fond Gens Libre is a community at the base of Gros Piton comprising 109 residents living in 42 households.

Residents are reputed to be descendants of Saint Lucia’s freedom fighters who rejected slavery hundreds of years ago and, in the process, established this strategic stronghold.

Today many of these residents earn a living as tour guides accompanying hikers up the Gros Piton.

Gros Piton is the larger and taller of Saint Lucia’s iconic Pitons, which form part of the Piton Management Area (PMA).

The PMA was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in

2003 and added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in 2004.

Elliott has helped the community to establish an executive arm which was registered with the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Empowerment, Youth Development, Sports and Local Government as a community-based organisation in 2017. This paved the way for the community to receive a Planning Grant from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Environmental Fund’s (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) to assist with its sustainable community-based tourism initiative.

“Because NGO Management is outside my area of expertise, I jumped at the opportunity to pursue this course of study when Mr. Giles Romulus, Saint Lucia National Coordinator for UNDP circulated a request for applications to SGP grantees,” explained Elliott when asked how, as a photographer, he came to pursue this course.

A Fond Gens Libre Development Committee meeting. It will now directly benefit from Kirk Elliott’s new qualifications as he works with the committee.

The course introduced Elliott to the history of Caribbean NGOs as well as the unique challenges they face. The course, which was funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) was open to persons across the Caribbean working with NGOs.

The course entailed significant collaborative work, similar to what obtains

in Caribbean NGOs, and introduced Elliott to Caribbean NGO best practices as well as a cohort of NGO management professionals across the region.

Commenting on Elliott’s decision to hone his community mentoring skills Romulus opined: “To be successful today, you must be a perpetual learner, even after attaining your goals. If a person stops learning, they will stagnate and diminish in many

ways.”

When asked his thoughts on Elliott’s commitment to Fond Gens Libre, as evidenced by his undertaking this course, Fond Gens Libre Development Committee President, Francis Alexander expressed high praise for Elliott, stating: “Kirk, congratulations on your latest achievement. You are everything we could wish for in a mentor and you truly inspire us to be the very best we can be.”

Having recently received

the Baseline Studies Report coming out of the Planning Grant, the Fond Gens Libre Development Committee is currently working on capacity building and product development. Elliott looks forward to continuing his work with the community with a view to helping it develop its tourism product into an international benchmark of sustainable community-based tourism within a UNESCO World Heritage site.

THE STAR

JANUARY 05, 2019

LOCAL

www.stluciastar.com

Fire victim says he lost everything . . . even his plastic dentures, top and bottom!

Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Forty Recommendations— Money Laundering Offence destruction and as such is a signatory to both the Vienna and Palermo Conventions. Consequently, money laundering is a criminal offence in Saint ecommendation 3 of the Lucia, as is stated in the Money Laundering Financial Action Task Prevention Act. This Act Force’s (FATF) Forty Recommendations deals with gives clear guidelines of “Money Laundering Offence”. what constitutes the offence of money laundering. For This recommendation is example, any person, or exclusive to the offence body of persons who tries to of money laundering and conceal or transfer proceeds gives specific and detailed of criminal conduct, arranges guidelines of how countries with another individual or should treat this problem. individuals to retain the Recommendation proceeds of criminal conduct 3 requires countries to or acquires, possesses or make money laundering uses proceeds from criminal a criminal offence. This is conduct, engages in an based on the United Nations offence and can face fines Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and ranging from one million to two million dollars or Psychotropic Substances, 1988, popularly known as the imprisonment of five to fifteen years.

Vienna Convention, and the

Further, Saint Lucia United Nations Convention has adopted an 'all crimes' against Transnational approach to money Organized Crime, 2000, commonly called the Palermo laundering which means that any offence, whether Convention. summary or indictable,

Additionally, the crime is a predicate offence. In of money laundering should other words, all crimes are be applied to all serious predicate offences for money offences, capturing a wide laundering. We have adopted range of offences called the highest standard. predicate offences. These

During the 4th Round are offences that precede Mutual Evaluation Process, the act of laundering money, an examination will be done but they are invariably of the Money Laundering linked. For example, drug Prevention Act to ascertain trafficking in itself is not whether the Act is widemoney laundering, but ranging to cover the many the act of “washing” the proceeds of drug trafficking, facets of money laundering.

We will then be rated on whether by investing such our compliance to this funds, purchasing real Recommendation. estate or depositing these

As preparations funds to make them appear continue by the National Antilegitimate, is laundering.

Money Laundering Oversight This predicate offence of Committee (NAMLOC) for the drug trafficking is therefore evaluation, Saint Lucians are connected to the act of encouraged to familiarize money laundering. themselves with the Money

Saint Lucia sees the Laundering Prevention importance of the fight Act. This act is available against money laundering, online and provides clear terrorist financing and financing of the proliferation instructions to business and individuals. of weapons of mass

By The Attorney General’s Chambers and the National Anti-Money Laundering Oversight Committee

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A fire shortly after the New Year fireworks early Tuesday, all but wiped out the community of Rose Hill in Castries. Police are investigating the cause.

Joshua St. Aimee

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hile most Saint Lucians were preparing on Monday to usher in the New Year, an all too commonplace disaster struck residents in the community of Rose Hill, Castries. Initial reports suggest the fire started in a house shortly after midnight while the occupant was still at work, and quickly spread. Before long the flames had engulfed six other homes, mere feet from each other.

Scores of well-meaning citizens joined the fire service crew in their efforts to bring the fire under control. Alas, without success. It finally burned itself out at great expense to several families, most of them already in dire straits.

Sixty-five-year-old Omer St. Rose has lived in Rose Hill for thirty years. His family owned three of the seven houses quickly brought down by the voracious flames. He shared a two-storey house with his sister and brotherin-law; his nephew occupied another. The third had been only recently refurbished, soon to be advertised for rent.

On Tuesday afternoon, a still visibly shaken St. Rose recounted his experience. He

had been watching television for most of the evening and decided around 11.30 to turn in for the night. He woke up with a start, to banging noises from the floor above him; his relatives were trying to alert him to the danger.

"I got up and I saw a big light," said St. Rose. "Then I opened my front door and realized the house closest to mine was on fire. I had no choice but to get out as fast as I could. There was no time to save anything. I could not get back inside.”

A self-employed artist, St. Omer said everything he owned was swallowed up by the fire in a matter of minutes.

Close to tears, he explained: "The fire took all my tools, all my clothes, everything—even my dentures, both up and down.

All of that burn. All I saved were the clothes I had on: a tee shirt and boxers. Someone gave me some short pants to put on."

By his accounting, he lost $40,000 in a matter of minutes.

St. Rose claims that in times past his family had warned the owners of other structures to break them down.

"My brother used to always tell them, ‘Those old houses y’all have there, y’all should come and put them down.’ If one of them wasn't there my house wouldn't burn; my mother’s

house wouldn't burn."

He said his sister and her husband were forced to sleep at his brother's house in Carellie, Castries and will stay there until they decide their next move. All efforts to contact other victims proved futile.

St. Rose's daughter, Tassa Jean, visited the community from Piaye after receiving the heart-wrenching call from a relative. She is hopeful that if and when the houses are rebuilt, greater care will be taken. "I don't think they should build in the same manner as before,” she said.

“I know everybody's looking for their own little space, and for that reason they may not agree with me, but then there are lessons to be learned from the fire."

She added: "Everything is replaceable. I'm just happy there was no loss of life and that is what we need to be grateful for. I'm very thankful that everyone was able to leave this place physically unharmed."

LUCELEC workers were at the scene on Tuesday to cut off damaged electricity lines, and ensure it was safe to restore the power supply to other houses in the area. Also on hand was Pastor Richard Spencer of the Church of the

Nazarene, located in the nearby community of Entrepot. He said that following their Old Year's Night church service, members saw the flames and although none of the affected persons were associated with his church, members nevertheless stood ready to provide support.

"I'm here to do an assessment and then go back to my board and see how we can respond as a church to this tragedy that has struck this community," said Pastor Spencer. The support he had in mind included the provision of meals, goods, financial assistance, counselling services, and repair teams.

The prime minister’s Senior Communications officer Nicole McDonald on Thursday said that the government stands ready to assist the families as much as possible, and that the Department of Social Services has begun assessing the situation.

McDonald says that the absence of a distress fund does not mean in any way that government will not assist Saint Lucians in emergency situations.

Deputy Fire Chief George Victorin said on Thursday that investigations are ongoing into the cause of the fire and it may be “two to three weeks” before anything useful is known!

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04 COMMENT

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JANAURY 05, 2019 THE STAR

A MESSAGE RETOLD “Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they do not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.” Matthew: c13 v13 St. James version.

Throughout their campaigns they promised better Peter Josie days but their obvious lack of talent prevented delivery.

They secretly depend on the Chastanet family to deliver the n a November 2014 article, better days by creating jobs I suggested the St. Lucia and caring for the especially Labour Party had good needy, even as they plot to reason to love and admire sabotage the efforts of the Allen Chastanet. I deemed it government. Meanwhile they expedient that my message depend for survival on handouts be repeated and expanded from dubious sources. The to include disgruntled others details of their not so secret with no party affiliation. Such arrangements will one day persons see the leader of spill from their own mouths the UWP as their barrier to as, typically, they turn on one the national treasury. They another. are therefore determined to In the meantime, Saint discredit the prime minister, Lucia should ponder the in the hope the electorate following facts: Allen Chastanet will believe their lies. In their voluntarily gave up his United desperate bid for government States citizenship when he they accuse the PM of being a decided to run for political non-politician, incoherent and office. He faithfully served without university degrees. under Prime Minister Compton These ‘smart’ men ought to who appointed him Senator be told that a non-politician and Minister of Tourism. Allen who understands business and Chastanet supported the management is exactly what government of Prime Minister Saint Lucia needs for economy Stephenson King, following the recovery and growth. passing of Sir John Compton.

These lost wannabe We note here that Chastanet megalomaniacs who imagine has never asked anyone to vote themselves more important for him because he needed than the electorate will say and politics to make him rich and do anything to get rid of Allen important. He certainly does not Chastanet. They are afraid of need politics to complete his confronting him in free and persona or to make him a man. fair elections, so they try and How many of his opponents in muddy the political waters the SLP or in pseudo-political with a vote of no confidence organisations can say that? in the prime minister. They How many politicians can are also determined to steal confidently bare their soul to the good name and legacy of public viewing? How many are former UWP leader Sir John prepared to put country before Compton, aided and abetted by self? failed former UWPs. Those who The SLP ought also once plotted Sir John’s demise to cherish and admire Allen now flatter and pander to the Chastanet for his conservatism Compton family that secretly and willingness to dialogue. they despise. They hypocritically Such open conservatism is unveil a stone monument in commonsense and rare in Sir John’s memory but the those new to politics, especially people see them for what they in a post-colonial society. are: hypocrites, imitators and He appears to have no need imposters. They serve further to to show off or to pretend he turn young citizens away from is what he is not, which is politics. more than can be said about

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some of his more vociferous opponents. He makes no secret of his conviction that economic growth comes mostly from private sector investments and that to create jobs and expand the tax base, government must encourage the private sector. Chastanet has promised to encourage private sector investment even as his government embarks on public-sector infrastructure development.

On closer observation, one is persuaded that Allen Chastanet is no radical; neither does he pretend to be. He is more in the mould of former Prime Ministers Allen Lewis and Allan Louisy. He certainly is no George Odlum. Or, I dare to say, Peter Josie or George Charles. Neither is he another John Compton, for that matter.

Had Chastanet inherited more of his mother’s Irish blood, who is to say he would not by this time have reacted as the Irish tend to in the face of threats to himself and his family? Those who find reason to complain about his skin tone should instead sing hallelujah. Allen is more like Papa Chas, a most amiable conservative Creole multimillionaire.

Politicians rise to power by promising to make life better for their people. They beg for the people’s trust. Too bad some of them make promises they know they will never deliver.

Such politicians should keep in mind that disaffection with a ruling regime can fuel anger and discontent and help usher a new leader into office with his truckload of promises. At the moment, Prime Minister Allen Chastanet is proving he can deliver on his election promises despite the impediments placed in his way by mindless saboteurs who know the consequences of spitting at the sky. I say in support of Allen Chastanet: Forward ever, backward never!

The author holds a dim view of the leader of the opposition Philip Pierre’s (pictured) pending vote of no confidence in the prime minister, and offers every good reason why Allen Chastanet supporters should be wary of the SLP’s history!

THE STAR

JANUARY 05, 2019

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06 LOCAL

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Michael Chastanet says nepotism played no part in Knighthood

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST SAINT LUCIA SAINT LUCIA HEALTH SYSTEM STRENGTHENING PROJECT Credit No.: Preparation Advance No: V2110-LC Assignment Title: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST Reference No. 001/CS/HSSP/18 The Government of Saint Lucia (GOSL) has received financing from the World Bank toward the Health System Strengthening Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services for engagement of a Financial Management Specialist to maintain the financial management system for the Project.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include Budgeting and Planning • Supporting the Project Team in preparing annual work plan for the project • Prepare project’s annual cash flow plan on the basis of the work plan and related procurement plan Expenditure/Payment Processing • Updating the financial management system for the project, utilizing standard accounting procedures and ensuring that the chart of accounts including revenues and expenditures posted are consistent with Project components and Procurement Plans which will ensure full documentation and recording of sources and uses of funds.

• Ensuring compliance with the internal control framework (Operations Manual and the Bank’s Fiduciary guidelines etc.) and GoSL’s rules and procedures when processing payments.

• Applying pre-audit checks on all payments before payment from designated accounts including budget availability, sanction of competent authority and compliance with applicable financial rules and regulations.

Monitoring • Monitoring the posting of journals and statement of expenditures to determine the accuracy of expenditures and revenues on GOSL Integrated Financial Accounting System (SmartStream) on a quarterly basis • Making presentations on the financial status of Projects to Budget, the World Bank, Project Team and Department of Health and Wellness.

Financial Reporting • Prepare quarterly Interim (unaudited) Financial Reports for assigned projects by the 30th day following the end of the quarter • Preparation of Annual Financial Statements for assigned project by the 30th day following the end of the financial year • Prepare quarterly reports on performance of work assigned The consultancy is full time and substantially will be performed on site at the Department of Health and Wellness.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website; www.govt.lc/consultancy or can be obtained at the address given below The Department of Health and Wellness now invites eligible Individual Consultants (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services; (Curriculum Vitae, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, clients’ references etc.). Interested Consultants should have the following requisite minimum qualifications and professional experiences listed below for undertaking the assignment.

QUALIFICATION Minimum required education and experience Academic: - Level 2 ACCA or Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.

Professional Experience: - Knowledge of Government Accounting Integrated Financial Management System - Knowledge and ability to use Accounting Software including Quick Books.

Experience: - At least five years working experience in financial management, accounting The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016, revised November 2017 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

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

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office 8:00 a.m-4:30 p.m.

(0800 to 1630 hours). or by mail, or by e-mail) by January 8, 2019.

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

JANUARY 05, 2019 THE STAR

M

r. Michael Chastanet has been awarded a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2019 New Year’s Honours List with the title of Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG). The award comes in recognition of his “outstanding achievements and contributions to business, commerce, tourism and national development”.

This award is Mr. Chastanet’s third. In 2001 he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE), and in 2010 Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (CMG).

In a sit-down with the STAR this week, the 83-yearold revisited his early years in business, working to support his family, with no thoughts of the Queen and national awards.

He said during our short interview that when he was first informed of the possibility of receiving a knighthood, his initial reaction was: “I’ve already been decorated, not just once but twice. At my age, and with almost everything being made into a nasty political issue, why encourage more of that by accepting the offer of a knighthood? It took some time before I agreed.”

The Order of Saint Lucia, the local awards system, was established in 1980. It consists

Michael Chastanet with his CMG award in 2010.

He had earlier been awarded the OBE in 2001.

of seven awards and includes the title of Knight Commander. So why was Michael Chastanet awarded the UK’s title of KCMG but not the version established in the time of Prime Minister Kenny Anthony? Michael Chastanet had no explanation.

---Joshua St. Aimee

NWU COMMENTS ON MOVE BY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE A

press release issued yesterday by the National Workers Union states that the NWU understands the concern of the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture that “many employers are now faced with litigation from employees”.

The NWU was referring to part of a statement issued January 3 by the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce about

the high incidence of claims by employees against employers (mentioned on page 14).

The NWU added, “We understand the Chamber’s concerns, but this should come as no surprise. While the Chamber is now resorting to holding educational forums to apprise some of its members of provisions of the Labour Act, employers must also be equipped to refuse bad advice often given them. In today’s

world, the master and servant trend has gone out of the window long time ago.”

Additionally: “It must be clearly understood that the future and success of any company’s operations hinge on the execution of sound and correct industrial relations practices, hard work, a consistent level of productivity and a positive relationship between management and its employees.”

THE STAR

www.stluciastar.com

JANUARY 05, 2019

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08 LOCAL

JANUARY 05, 2019 THE STAR

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Tourism: The Way Forward

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ended an earlier column with these words: “This discussion may also be a good way to start the New Year (2019), instead of wasting time with nonsensical matters that have no bearing on jobs and social services.” This was in reference to my view that the people of Saint Lucia must pursue a cost/benefit analysis of the tourism industry calculated over the past twenty years or so, as we approach 40 years of independence. The recent statement by someone who ought to know, offering reasons for the closure of a fairly well-established hotel in the Reduit Beach area of Gros Islet, prompted my reaction to the issue of concessions to the tourism industry, including tax holidays and other important government incentives.

I begin with the back story. As a young parliamentarian who had emerged from the progressive grouping of the early 1970s known as the St. Lucia Forum, my views on tourism had been

gleaned from several in-depth discussions among the wellread and intelligent members of the group. We believed then, and I still hold the view today, that the local tourism industry should be structured, promoted and supported by the government of Saint Lucia so that hotel ownership, ground transportation, international advertising, food and drink supplies are owned and managed mainly by the people.

In other words, our vision was the construction of a tourism industry wherein the people of Saint Lucia, from every strata of the society, would own a stake in the industry from top to bottom.

It is important to recall that the St. Lucia Forum had also agreed there ought to be established at least two or three large international hotels on the island that would promote Saint Lucia as an important international player/ destination, giving it name recognition, even as it laid emphasis on local, mom-and-

pop cottage tourism industry.

With name recognition, we believed there would be increasing flows into the economy from every aspect of the industry, including food production. Having made that determination, we were (and I am today) still convinced that the tourism industry must be modelled so that the Saint Lucia product is unique and sought after. To his credit, Prime Minister John Compton reduced the room count to ten that qualified for government incentives. That number was later reduced to six rooms.

Today, Air BnB uses the room services of any person with a middle class home and one available room that meets its standard for short-term letting/ renting. It bears repeating that we must undertake a cleareyed, in-depth and professional cost/benefit analysis in the local tourism industry. This may be the best gift we give ourselves as we mark 40 years of independence. The downside of the Forum cottage tourism idea

today, is that with Air BnB the business organisers pocket the profits that should have gone to local house/room ownership.

As we continue to map the road ahead for the immediate improvement of Hewanorra airport, and the design and construction of a major four-lane highway between Hewanorra and Gros Islet (including to Soufriere and Castries), it is as good a time as any to renew our vision of the entire tourism industry and the increasing role the people of Saint Lucia must play in this fast-growing and important industry. If we have learnt anything from the mistakes of the past and from those of

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other developing countries, it is that we must constantly monitor and measure the plans and programmes to achieve our stated goals. As we look forward to 2019 and beyond, we need to continue engaging men and women of proven knowledge and experience to shoulder the work of building a more solid economic and social future. This may therefore be the best time to review in as simple and constructive a manner as possible the inner workings of the tourism industry, and how that may be improved to spread more benefits in the Saint Lucia economy.

Any new thrust must be

aimed to deliberately put in the hands of Saint Lucians the control of the commanding heights of the national economy.

In other words, we need to take time right now to examine in-depth what we have given up for the development of tourism on the island. How our tax incentives have justified our investments in tourism is an urgent question after 40 years of political independence.

The availability of lower paid jobs alone within the industry will not cut it. It’s time to point to more top management appointments such as chefs and accountants in the larger hotels on the island.

---Peter Josie

BIG RESPONSE TO UPCOMING BUJU BANTON CONCERT IN BARBADOS

ickets for the April 27, 2019 Buju Banton concert in Barbados have been selling like “hot cakes”, show promoter Al Gilkes, Director of Fas7Star, has revealed. While holding the details of the concert, dubbed Long Walk to Freedom, close to his chest, Gilkes told members of the media that the upcoming show slated for Kensington Oval has not only attracted local support but worldwide interest.

He said that Barbados’ tourism sector was in line for a major boost with a large number of fans from the region and beyond expected to attend the show.

“Before there was any mention that Buju was coming to Barbados, people were calling and asking when were tickets going on sale. So we decided to jump the gun. We released the flyer, it was mainly on social media and we put tickets on sale online and they started disappearing like the traditional hot cakes. The first day we sold over 300 tickets, which was unbelievable.

“Despite the fact that we knew the appeal that Buju has now, it was something unprecedented that four months plus before a show, on the first day, just online, you could sell over 300 tickets. So then we decided to open the box offices locally and the same thing happened. People just responded. It looks like based on this preliminary response and the urge to get tickets, we will have a monster show on our hands,” Gilkes said.

Gilkes noted that despite the fact that Banton is expected to perform in Trinidad the week before, he believes Barbados will draw the crowd. “I believe even Trinidadians would prefer to come to Barbados and see the show here in peace and comfort,” he said.

“It would be a major foreign exchange boost for Barbados. Our regular reggae shows and Hennessy Artistry bring in people from all over the world. A hundred here, ten here, we bring people from Australia and Japan, the United States and other parts of the region. But this [Buju Banton show] has an appeal beyond anything that we have ever staged. The only thing that I believe would have matched this in appeal would have been Rihanna in Barbados.

“At that time, Rihanna was already being seen all over the world. Coming to Barbados to see Rihanna was an opportunity to get away to a tropical island for a vacation or a weekend as opposed to coming to see a person that you might not see in your country, that you have been waiting to see for all of these years in any country. It isn’t that he is going to be here a year after

Buju Banton’s Long Walk to Freedom tour performance in Barbados is predicted to attract reggae fans in droves.

(Credit: Echo Location Talent Agency)

he is back on the market, but within months. In fact, he is in Jamaica first, then he goes to Bahamas, then Trinidad then Barbados, so we are going to be the fourth show that he is doing,” Gilkes added.

The promoter said that more information on the concert would be released in the near future.

Buju Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, was released from McRae Correctional Centre in Georgia on December 8 after serving a near 10-year conviction for conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine.

Since his return, he announced that his Long Walk to Freedom tour begins on March 16, 2019 in his homeland.

--Barbados Today

THE STAR

JANUARY 05, 2019

09

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St Lucia police “had death list” and “staged a dozen killings”

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olice in the former British colony of St Lucia have been accused of keeping "death lists" and carrying out extrajudicial killings of suspected criminals in an attempt to make the Caribbean island more attractive to tourists.

According to an independent report officers from the Royal St Lucia Police Force "staged" a dozen shootings and reported them as murders by unknown assailants, planting weapons at the scene.

Prime Minister Kenny Anthony delivered a televised address in which he said the findings of the report, which has not been published, were "extremely damning."

The shootings took place in 2010 and 2011 during a security drive called Operation Restore Confidence which was aimed at reducing violent crime and boosting tourism.

St Lucia's economy is heavily reliant on tourism with 70,000 Britons a year visiting, according to the Foreign Office.

At the time of Operation Restore Confidence the St Lucia government issued a public warning to criminals that "there will be no hiding place for anyone."

Five of the dozen men shot dead were killed in a single operation in Vieux Fort.

In August 2013, after rumours of unlawful killings came to light, the United States suspended all assistance it was giving to the island's police force.

The US State Department said there were "credible allegations of gross human rights violations" and the independent investigators from the Jamaica Constabulary Force were then called in.

They have described officers operating in "an environment of impunity and permissiveness designed to achieve the desired results," with senior commanders showing "willful blindness." A computer system used by senior officers was said to have been "deliberately tampered with."

Mr Anthony said: "The report confirms that 'the blacklist or death lists' referenced by the media, human rights organisations, victims' families and citizens alike did exist.

"More alarmingly, the investigators report that all the shootings reviewed were 'fake encounters' staged by the police to legitimise their actions. The weapons supposedly found on the scene of the alleged extrajudicial killings were from sources other than the victims."

Cameron Laure, president of St Lucia's Police Welfare Association said: "I don't even

know how to react at this point."

The Jamaican investigators recommended that all police officers involved in the shootings be prosecuted.

Decisions will be made by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Anthony said. All new police recruits will receive training in human rights law.

Mr Anthony added: "We cannot continue in a situation where we are viewed as a pariah state by our partners in the fight against crime and lawlessness."

In 2012 local inquests concluded that six of the shootings were justified but the US indicated it did not have confidence in the outcomes of the hearings. Relatives of the victims have insisted they were murdered.

Mr Anthony, who was not in office at the time of the shootings, said the new report would not be published because it could compromise investigations that are still taking place, and to protect witnesses.

He added: "The vast majority of the men and women in our police force are decent, dedicated and committed police officers."

(See centre pages) First published 9 March 2015 ---The Telegraph

JANUARY 05, 2019 THE STAR

SLBWA hails UN Affirmation of World Braille Day

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he United Nations General Assembly has adopted the World Blind Union's Resolution affirming World Braille Day, celebrated every January 4, to raise awareness of the importance of Braille to converting the written word to tactile form, for the benefit of blind and partially sighted persons worldwide.

Members and partners of the World Blind Union, including the Saint Lucia Blind Welfare Association (SLBWA), have reacted with excitement upon receiving the news.

Executive Director of SLBWA, Anthony Avril, has described the news of the UN affirmation as one that is received with joyful celebration by people living with blindness and vision impairment in Saint Lucia and the Caribbean.

Avril said, “The UN action

provides a significant boost to the WBU’s lead struggle to ensure availability, accessibility and affordability of Braille reading and writing to citizens of the world. There is no doubt that for us living with blindness, Braille is the panacea, inspite of important assistive technology.

"To date, it is the only medium which provides direct physical contact with the written word. Indeed, Braille is very essential, particularly for children in the formative years.

To this end, the Caribbean Council for the Blind (CCB) and SLBWA call on Caribbean governments and ministries of education, to equip Special Educational Needs teachers with Braille Literacy teaching skills, to empower children in their remit”.

World Blind Union

President, Dr. Fred Schroeder noted: “This is a wonderful achievement especially because Braille is the means of literacy for blind people. Literacy is the foundation of education and the foundation of full integration of employment.”

Moreover, the CCB and SLBWA applaud the World Blind Union for relentlessly championing the cause of the blind. “To its credit,” says Mr. Avril, “the latest UN action is among several seminal achievements, which also include the UN Treaty of Marrakesh.”

World Braille Day commemorates the birthday of Louis Braille. He was born in 1809 in France, becoming blind after a childhood accident.

When he was just 15 years old, he created the system known today as Braille.

Quite Obviously There’s Something Wrong With This Picture!

SLASPA Committed to Enforcing Release of Imported Vehicles Procedure

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he Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority as of Monday, January 7, 2019 will like to advise all vehicle importers to adhere to the following process for the release of imported vehicles from the facility.

Importers or owners must present importation documents, pay the required duties, and provide proof of registration of vehicles, including stickers

and license plates and proof of insurance. This is in keeping with the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Section10, which states, “All vehicles and trailers must be registered before it is permitted to use on the road.”

The call for enforcement of these processes follows the prevailing challenge with vehicle owners who fail to comply with the correct procedures.

Chief of Ports Police at SLASPA, Mr. Kennedy Francis says, “SLASPA encourages persons to adhere to this process to ensure seamless operations when transacting related business with SLASPA.”

As of the effective date, imported vehicles will not exit the port without the necessary clearances from SLASPA and the Customs and Excise Department.

H

aving disposed of a most sumptuous Christmas dinner, the STAR’s editorial department on the evening of December 29 settled down in the incomparable atmosphere of Big Chef to relive some of the more memorable happenings at home and abroad. From left to right: Lashawn Lambert, Lera Celestin, Rick Wayne, Dean Nestor (recently joined) and Joshua St. Aimee. The gent in the back is Danicius Phillipe. Unfortunately, an emergency called away our most pulchritudinous member, Claudia Eleibox before Bill Mortley took the picture!

THE STAR

JANUARY 05, 2019

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CMO Director Zuiderdam Makes Inaugural Retires, New Chief Onboard Call at Port Castries

New Caribbean Meterological Organization director, Arlene Laing (left), with the immediate past director, Tyrone Sutherland.

T SLTA executive welcomed the captain and crew of Zuiderdam, part of the Holland-America cruiseline, to Saint Lucia.

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n Sunday, December 30, 2018 Saint Lucia welcomed the inaugural call of the Zuiderdam at Port Castries. The Zuiderdam is the first of the Holland America Line Vista-class ships, which started sailing some seventeen years ago.

Officials of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA), along with representatives of the Ministry of Tourism, the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA), and Cox and Company Limited, greeted the arrival of the vessel with an exchange of plaques and pleasantries onboard.

SLTA Senior Marketing Manager, Ms. Jackie Mathurin welcomed the captain and his crew with a champagne toast and pointed to recent upgrades at Port Castries for allowing the vessel to berth here.

“We’re so happy to have [the Zuiderdam] here on our island,” said Ms. Mathurin.

“We’re happy that with the

improvements [to the port] you can come, and we look forward to having a longer relationship with you, hopefully in 2019,” she added.

Captain of the Zuiderdam, Bart Vaartjes was excited to explore a new port in the Caribbean and is looking forward to returning to Saint Lucia. “When we were planning this port we were looking at where we were going to put our gangways and, coming alongside, we found three beautiful dolphins and an extension to the pier which was really good to see,” Captain Vaartjes raved.

The Zuiderdam is 936 feet long with a capacity of 1,964 guests and fitted with modern amenities and a “spectacular art and antique collection”.

Marketing and Customer Experience Executive at SLASPA, Marva Greenidge thanked Captain Vaartjes for referencing the improvements to the port. “We are happy that you appreciate the ease of

seamless manoeuvering into our port and we hope that as the year comes to an end you remember Saint Lucia as one of the best ports of call,” Ms. Greenidge stated.

Usually, the Zuiderdam sails to Europe or to the Panama Canal region from Port Everglades in Florida. However, slightly different cruises are always scheduled around the holiday season.

Saint Lucia welcomed a record-breaking 800,000 cruise passengers to its shores for 2018. Last weekend, the Castries harbour was abuzz with five ships in port on Friday and another three mega cruise vessels berthed there on Saturday.

In addition to the Zuiderdam, Port Castries also welcomed inaugural calls of MSC Preziosa, Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Escape in 2018.

he CARICOM Secretariat announced the retirement at the end of November 2018 of Mr Tyrone Sutherland, long-serving Coordinating Director of the Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO).

The CMO, established in 1973 with headquarters in Port of Spain, Trinidad, is one of the oldest Caribbean institutions.

A member organization of CARICOM, the CMO coordinates the joint activities of the Meteorological and Hydrometeorological Services of 16 English-speaking countries in the region. The CMO's training arm and its climate, research, and instrument centre is the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), located in Barbados.

Mr Sutherland completes a 50-year long international career in meteorology that started in his native Saint Lucia back in 1968. He was one of two early meteorologists that led the development of the Saint Lucia Meteorological Service, which he headed until early 1982. He then spent the next 10 years as a Meteorologist and Severe Storms Specialist with the Meteorological Service of Canada.

In 1992, he joined the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the specialized United Nations agency located in Geneva, Switzerland, which coordinates global activities in meteorology, hydrology and related

geophysical sciences. He worked there as a Scientific Officer in its Tropical Cyclone Programme, then as the Executive Assistant to the Secretary-General of that organization.

After resigning from WMO to take up this Caribbean post at CMO in 1999, he represented the Caribbean in WMO affairs and was elected by WMO as a member of its Executive Council, a position he retained until his retirement, becoming one of the longest-serving members of that council in the world. During that period, he served two successive terms as a Vice-President of the WMO, the second Caribbean representative to do so!

In the Caribbean, Mr Sutherland will be remembered for leading the modernization of the Caribbean weather radar network that provides radar coverage of the region from Belize to Guyana.

Under his leadership, the CMO has worked very closely with all the countries in North America, Central America and the Caribbean in ensuring that the region is served by a modern warning system for tropical storms, hurricanes and other severe weather.

Mr Sutherland has been succeeded by Dr. Arlene Laing from Jamaica. Dr Laing was selected by the Caribbean Meteorological Council, which is the ministerial-level governing body of the CMO, after an intensive international search. Dr. Laing has been a

weather forecaster, a research scientist, a university professor, and a trainer in operational weather forecasting. She earned a bachelor’s degree in meteorology from the University of the West Indies, and then completed a master’s degree and doctoral degree in meteorology from Pennsylvania State University in the United States.

Prior to joining the CMO, she was a scientific analyst at US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She also served as a project facilitator at the Weather Prediction Center of the US National Weather Service and spent several years as a researcher at the US National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).

She is the lead author of “Introduction to Tropical Meteorology”, a peer-reviewed online textbook, and co-author of the award-winning book, “Meteorology of Tropical West Africa: The Forecasters' Handbook”.

Both Mr Sutherland and Dr Laing agree that the CMO has provided unity of purpose for its Member countries in meteorology and related sciences. The organs of the CMO will continue to provide scientific advice and guidance to the Caribbean in an era when severe weather, climate variability, and climate change issues are expected to be among the major challenges facing the region in the foreseeable future.

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JANUARY 05, 2019 THE STAR

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STAR Pe the Yea

Additionally: “The report confirms that the ‘black list or death lists’ referenced by the media, human rights organizations, victims' families long time ago he had learned from close observation how addictive was praise and and citizens alike did exist . . . All the shootings reviewed were fake the countless consequences attached encounters staged by the police to to the addiction. It was next to impossible to know for certain when the words that fell out of legitimize their actions . . . Weapons supposedly found at the scene of the a man’s mouth proceeded from his heart. And alleged extra-judicial killings were even then, who could tell by looking at a man’s face when his heart was pure and when it was, from sources other than the victims.

The investigators say that the weapons well, pure evil? were planted on the scene of the

Yes, so even as a young boy he had acquired the wisdom to trust first of all his own shootings.”

As if already he had not instincts, to operate at all times by the book and “transgressed the province of the to be always accountable for his decisions. It two other arms” earlier mentioned, will come as no surprise, then, that some who the leader of the Executive said: claim to know him well describe him in terms altogether contradictory. A small sample: naïve; “The report has also recommended that some senior police officers be calculating; humble; secretly ambitious; a bit held accountable for their actions or loose in the head; stubborn; unpredictable. for their failure to take appropriate

Then again, there is the idiom “you can’t judge a book by its binding,” that first appeared action when the alleged killings in a 1944 edition of the African journal American occurred.” The investigators had also concluded that what operated . . .

Speech, and was modified in 1946 by Lester “was an environment of impunity and Fuller and Edwin Rolfe in Murder in the Glass permissiveness designed to achieve Room to “you can never tell a book by its the desired results.” cover!”

Perhaps most shocking of the

Those who prefer to wrestle with Scripture widely disseminated revelations may wish to consider the Apostle John’s “do was this: “Willful blindness existed not judge by appearances, but judge with the in respect of the Commissioner of right judgment.” The question remains: Who determines the right judgment? Under our legal Police and particular members of his leadership and management team.” system the determination is made by a judge (All the above emphases mine.) and a jury comprising peers of the accused Not long afterward the Public after meticulous analysis of the evidence before Service Commission took the a court. But as George Orwell reminds: “All unprecedented step of announcing the animals are equal but some animals are more police commissioner had been invited equal than others.” via two letters to “resign in the public

Were it not so, no elected representative interest.” of the people could on the one hand shout

Never before had the out loud to the world that “our Constitution constitutional rights of a citizen of enshrines three separate arms of the State— Saint Lucia, with or without a criminal the Executive, the Legislative and the Judicial. history, been so callously trampled I will not allow the Executive which I lead to underfoot. And certainly not by an transgress the province of the other two arms.

I intend to fully continue respecting that sacred official who had sworn on the Bible to defend the Constitution and the separation,” and on the other declare, with rights it bestows on all citizens. Even reference to a matter yet to come before a suspects were to be deemed “innocent properly constituted tribunal: “I can report that until proven guilty.” the findings of the investigators are extremely

The nation fully expected the damning. I will state some of these findings fingered police chief to stand up in tonight to bring home to you the extreme defense of not only his own rights gravity of this matter. The findings relate not but also on behalf of others not only to those officers who were involved in the nearly as well placed to speak up operations but additionally, members of the High Command who may have been involved in for themselves. Alas, not a word not a word not a word! There was much covering up this matter.”

Rick Wayne

A

When the former Prime Minister Kenny Anthony (right) initiated the IMPACS investigation in January of 2012, he knew (as he stated in 2015) it would result in “deep wounds.”

Acting Police Commissioner Vernon Francois (above) was confirmed in his position by the same Kenny Anthony administration on 1 May 2012. He suffered his own 911 three years later when he resigned under pressure!

THE STAR

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JANUARY 05, 2019

Person of ar 2018 speculation about what he was up to, why he had disappeared as if from the face of the earth. And yes, many of the officers who had looked up to him in earlier times abruptly started reconsidering, if only mutedly, their earlier assessment of their former chief—especially after it was bruited about that he had accepted a golden handshake from the same government that had so brutalized his reputation and by extension the good name of every straight member of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.

And then there he was on TV, larger than life, more relaxed than he’d appeared in a long, long time, seemingly without a care in the world. He had written a book pointedly entitled Restored Confidence, an obvious play on Operation Restore Confidence—a police initiative launched on 30 May 2010, in the time of the Stephenson King administration. The book’s subtitle: “My Journey in the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.” The front cover featured a headshot of the author in ceremonial tunic taken in the sunny outdoors, his eyes and most of the left side of his face effectively obliterated by the shadow of his official head gear. In much clearer view are his epaulet depicting the Queen’s crown, and the silver badge that is the nation’s Coat of Arms pinned to his cap. Outstanding is his smile, as inscrutable as the eyes of a Buckingham Palace Guardsman on duty.

Released in August 2018, the book was favorably reviewed at home and abroad by professionals as well as by regular readers. As for our normally garrulous politicians, it was as if Restored Confidence had never been written. There was palpable silence even from the man whose name is the first mentioned in the book, and appears in the second paragraph of its preface on page 4: “Following former Prime Minister Kenny Anthony’s inflammatory address to the nation concerning the Jamaican investigation into local police operations in 2011, I had some decisions to make. My instinct was to stick around and fight to protect my character and integrity. I considered ventilating the matter in the courts. I had no doubt truth was on my side. Throughout my career I had operated above board and knew I had always acted professionally. I knew too that I had spent my life fighting oppressive and nefarious behaviour with respect to human rights and human dignity at the forefront of

my every interaction. I could also have taken to the media in defense of my character. I did not envisage any difficulty defending my actions before, during and after Operation Restore Confidence.

“I decided on none of the above courses of action. I took no one to court; I did not jump up in defense of my character; I granted no interviews. I quietly returned to life as a private citizen and whereas I wished my former colleagues only the best, I had no desire to get involved in their situation. I determined the best way to relate my story was not in the form of an autobiography, as I had contemplated, and chose instead to encapsulate my journey in the police force in this book carefully entitled Restored Confidence.

“Another motivation for writing Restored Confidence was to challenge the irresponsible and altogether bogus address delivered by the then Prime Minister Kenny Anthony on 8 March 2015. My response to various aspects of the address is intended to lay out the truth of the events of 2011. I have also utilized the occasion to advance the political reasons behind the United States government’s imposition of the Leahy Sanctions, in the process sacrificing the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.”

To date—that is to say, over six years since the sanctions were imposed—there has been no visible progress with regard to “a credible judicial resolution” of the socalled extra-judicial killings allegedly by members of the RSLPF. Many are of the view that the IMPACS report is for several reasons unprosecutable. But the vast majority of Saint Lucians believe officials immobilized, as much by fear for their own safety and the safety of their loved ones, as by what a serious prosecution might uncover. After all, the IMPACS report, according to then Prime Minister Kenny Anthony, says local crime “is facilitated by members of the force, politicians and certain businessmen.”

The murder last November of the wife of a police officer has been linked to the IMPACS report!

Meanwhile, one man has shown the courage to take the bull by the horns. By the publication of his book he has demonstrated his readiness to confront in the open whatever dragons have taken refuge in “the system” they control. Especially in this hour of Jamal Khashoggi, we at the STAR can think of none more deserving of our Person of the Year award than Vernon Francois!

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Looking back on 2018:

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST SAINT LUCIA SAINT LUCIA HEALTH SYSTEM STRENGTHENING PROJECT Credit No.: Preparation Advance No: V2110-LC Assignment Title: Procurement Specialist Reference No. 002/CS/HSSP/18 The Government of Saint Lucia (GOSL) has received financing from the World Bank toward the Health System Strengthening Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services for engagement of a Procurement Specialist to manage and oversee procurement activities for the implementation of the Saint Lucia Health Systems Strengthening Project.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include Procurement Planning • Assist in the preparation and update of the Operational Manual for the Projects to serve as a reference guide for project implementation.

• Work with the Financial Management team in developing and updating the Procurement Plan.

• Work with Financial Management team to ensure budgetary allocations are made for all items to be procured as per the Procurement Plan.

• Update and Maintain the Procurement in the approved form (STEP) agreed to with the Bank • Review procurement documents (TOR, Contracts etc) prior to uploading unto STEP Bidding Process • Oversee, draft, coordinate, review and/or assist in the preparation of the following documents: Request for Bids and Purchase Orders for procurement of goods Solicitation documents including Bidding Documents and Request for Proposals Terms of Reference for Project implementation as required Contract Documents.

Request no-objection of procurement documents • Attend meetings of the Departmental Tenders Board, Central Tenders Board and record the proceedings for the purposes of preparing procurement reports • Coordinate the evaluation and selection of consultants, contractors and suppliers and prepare the necessary reports for approval • Ensure the Timely preparation of advertisement notices, general procurement notices, specific procurement notices, Request for expressions of Interest and Invitation for Bids for advertising for UNDB Online, St Lucia Gazette, local newspapers and circulation in the region • Prepare and oversee the preparation letters to contractors regarding award of contract, discharge of bid securities.

• Prepare and oversee the preparation of the notification of award of letters to unsuccessful bidders • Oversee the timely submission of signed contracts to the World Bank, Audit, Accountant General and the implementing agencies and to confirm receipt by the Procurement officers.

Monitoring and Evaluation • Monitor Project objectives.

• Use STEP to monitor and control procurement activities • Ensure that goods/services/works are procured in accordance with the approved Procurement Plans.

Maintain and update the Procurement Plan Work with Financial Management team to ensure that the Procurement Plan, Budget Estimates and Financial Statements are in agreement (for both planned and actual).

• Verify and monitor deliverables against all Approved Contract.

• Oversee the preparation of list of contracts (Goods, Works and Consultant’s Services) procured to be included into the Financial Statements Reporting • Prepare the Procurement Reports, including integrating and inputting information from different sources to generate status of contracts.

• Provide quarterly procurement reports • Provide explanation for any procurement activity not undertaken in accordance with the Procurement Plan.

• Provide guidance regarding the maintenance of Project records.

• Ensure accurate filing of Project related correspondence.

• Supervision of Procurement & Contract Management team assigned to the project • Maintain and update the Contract Registers and Fixed Assets Register The consultancy is full time and substantially will be performed on site at the Department of Health and Wellness.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website; www. govt.lc/consultancy or can be obtained at the address given below The Department of Health and Wellness now invites eligible Individual Consultants (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services; (Curriculum Vitae, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, clients’ references etc.). Interested Consultants should have the following requisite minimum qualifications and professional experiences listed below for undertaking the assignment.

QUALIFICATION Minimum required education and experience Academic: - Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Law, Business Administration, Engineering or related field.

Professional Experience: - At least 5 years of related working experience, of which at least three years must be at the managerial level The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016, revised November 2017 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

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

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office 8:00 a.m-4:30 p.m. (0800 to 1630 hours). or by mail, or by e-mail) by January 8, 2019.

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

JANUARY 05, 2019 THE STAR

It’s a crime how crime was treated in St. Lucia!

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ver the course of 2018 there were many stories that sent shockwaves throughout the island. For the purposes of this article, we have chosen to provide update on four.

Between March 9 and 12, four adults died in what would become known as the “Coolie Town rum incident” after allegedly ingesting methanol.

There have been no related arrests, even after ACP for Crime Wayne Charlery said: "The investigations into the Coolie Town deaths have been completed, and the file has gone to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice on the way forward."

Customs officers on September 6-7 held a sick-out in protest against the proposed Border Control Agency. Civil Service Association general secretary Claude Paul expressed his membership’s concern about the new entity becoming a statutory body. On September 13 the government revoked the Cabinet Conclusion that established the entity and said a team would be appointed to hold discussions with stakeholders. The team was to engage stakeholders and submit a detailed report

Spilling over into 2019 are several unresolved crimes, including the suspicious Coolie Town deaths and the shooting of a police officer’s wife, Kimberly (pictured) in October!

to Cabinet in December. On Thursday this week Claude Paul told the STAR the CSA had not yet heard anything from the government. The prime minister’s senior Communications Officer, Nicole McDonald, said discussions with the customs officers are still ongoing.

On September 9 the High Court ruled in favour of the Saint

Lucia National Trust by granting an injunction order against the demolition of the old Bridge Street prison. One month later, the Trust and the government reached an agreement and the injunction was discharged. In a joint press release on October 24 they announced that a new process would begin with a joint site visit, and that further consultations would take place.

This week the Trust informed the STAR that the site visit had not taken place but the two parties have been in dialogue.

Mother of two, 42-year-old Kimberly Williams-De Leon, was shot dead at her home on the evening of October 30. At a press briefing on December 10 the police announced that an analysis of samples from the crime scene had been completed by a forensic lab in St. Kitts-Nevis. The results now need to be collected so that investigations can continue.

This week, the police said arrangements for the collection were ongoing. Although a person of interest was named soon after the shooting, there have been no arrests in connection with the death of Kimberly.

---JSA

Know Your Labour Code

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he Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce opens the new year with a strengthened agenda of information sharing.

The agency, whose focus is the primary interest of its members and working to build the competitiveness of members through targeted training, will host a series of training workshop throughout the year, beginning with the informative “Know Your Labour Code” seminar.

The full-day event will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kreole Conference Room, Coco Palm Resorts on Thursday, January 31, 2019. It will be facilitated by Mrs Cheryl Goddard-Dorville, a well-known legal practioneer with GoddardDorville Legal, who has extensive experience in Labour Relations.

Since the enactment of the Labour Act in 2006 with amendments in 2013, there has been a high incidence of claims by employees against employers. The cost and implications of such litigation are obvious and in that context and in response to specific requests from members, the Chamber is happy to host a one-day workshop on the Code, with particular focus on Termination of Employment and Disciplinary Procedures.

Understand and become knowledgeable about employer responsibilities and rights and the critical rules enshrined in the 2006 Labour Code to overcome concerns and address issues not readily understood without the support of legal counsel.

Sit in on a thorough

lecture and practical sessions which will address the following topics: - Valid Reason for Dismissal - Constructive Dismissal - Warnings & Termination for Misconduct - Unsatisfactory

Performance - Natural Justice

Safeguards and much more.

For more details, contact the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce. Interested members and business professionals are asked to express interest to the secretariat as soon as possible, given that the available spaces in this workshop are limited.

For NWU comments about claims by employees, please see page 6.

THE STAR

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JANUARY 05, 2019

INTERNATIONAL 15

China threatens to use military force against Taiwan and “all necessary means” to end its independence

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aiwan's unification with the mainland is “inevitable”, President Xi Jinping said Wednesday, warning against any efforts to promote the island's independence and saying China would not renounce the option of using military force to bring it into the fold. China still sees democratic Taiwan as part of its territory to be reunified, despite the two sides being ruled separately since the end of a civil war on the mainland in 1949.

“China must and will be united . . . which is an inevitable requirement for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese people in the new era,” Xi said in a speech commemorating the 40th anniversary of a message sent to Taiwan in 1979, in which Beijing called for unification and an end to military confrontation.

“We make no promise to give up the use of military force and reserve the option of taking all necessary means” against Taiwanese separatist activities and “outside forces” that interfere with reunification, he said. In his speech, Xi described unification under a “one country, two systems” approach that would “safeguard the interests and well-being of Taiwanese compatriots”.

Taiwan considers itself a sovereign state, with its own currency, political and judicial systems, but has never declared formal independence from the mainland. Relations have been strained for the past two years since the election of President Tsai Ing-wen, who has refused to acknowledge Beijing's stance that the island is part of “one China”.

On Tuesday, Tsai warned Beijing that Taiwan's people would never give up the kind of freedoms unseen on the authoritarian mainland. Beijing “must respect the insistence of 23 million people for freedom and democracy” and “must use peaceful and equal terms to handle our differences”, she said.

Though Xi's speech takes a strong stance against Taiwanese separatists and pushes for reunification, it is aimed mostly at domestic audiences, analysts say. “It's rather empty and doesn't have any new points except that cross-strait unification would not affect the interests of other

Public Notice January 3rd, 2019

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has called on Beijing to respect “freedom and democracy”.

countries,” said Fan Shih-ping, political analyst at National Taiwan Normal University, adding that Xi's words may also be intended for the US, which views Taiwan as part of its Indo-Pacific strategy.

In 2018 the US sent multiple ships through the Taiwan Strait—which China considers its territory but the US and others see as international waters open to all—infuriating Beijing.

Washington also remains Taipei's most powerful unofficial ally and its main arms supplier despite switching diplomatic recognition to Beijing in 1979.

Xi's speech is likely to be “very poorly received” by the US, said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a professor at Hong Kong Baptist University, who studies Chinese foreign policy.

To accommodate differences in Taiwan's political system and civil society, China has proposed adopting the “one country, two systems” policy, which was implemented in Hong Kong after the British handed the city back to China in 1997.

But some say the erosion of civil liberties in Hong Kong sets a negative precedent for Taiwan. "They (China) are gobbling up Hong Kong, not just politically but culturally and economically too,” Claudia Mo, a pro-democracy Hong Kong lawmaker, told AFP. “It's so obvious that they're trying to assimilate Hong Kong into wider mainland China in every way.

How would any Taiwanese think that's going to work for them?”

Others believed Taiwanese

could slowly come on board.

“People's heart won't change in one day, but I think 'one country, two systems' is a way to do it. The unification might take one, two, or even three more generations to achieve,” said a 55-year-old construction worker in Hong Kong who gave his surname as Lam.

Last October, tens of thousands of Taiwan independence campaigners took to the streets in the first large-scale protest, calling for an outright independence vote since the island first became a democracy more than 20 years ago.

But some in Taiwan say worsening relations with Beijing have harmed business, as cuts to pensions and a reduction in public holidays compound frustrations over a stagnant economy where salaries have not kept up with the rise in cost of living. Last year, Taiwan's ruling party suffered a massive defeat in mid-term polls, causing Tsai to resign as leader of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, while the main opposition Kuomintang, which oversaw an unprecedented thaw with Beijing before Tsai took office in 2016, made gains.

Beijing has adopted a multi-pronged approach to diminish Taiwan's presence on the international stage in recent years, including blocking it from global forums and poaching its dwindling number of official diplomatic allies.

---Mail Online

Castries, St. Lucia, Crowley Logistic, Inc. and Crowley Caribbean Logistics, LLC wishes to inform the general public that Cargo Solutions International Limited has been appointed as its local agent, effective January 1st, 2019.

Therefore, all consignees whose cargo is scheduled to arrive in St. Lucia after January 1st are to visit the office of Cargo Solutions International Limited for the delivery of their shipments. The office is located at the following address: Unit #12, Colony House (next to North West Ltd) John Compton Highway Castries Telephone number: 4506070 or 4506072 Crowley, a full service international shipping and logistics company is pleased to partner with Cargo Solutions International to offer a full array of services to the average citizen as well as the entire business community of this island. We are ever mindful of your growing needs for professional shipping solutions, comprehensive logistics services, timely delivery and safe handling of your shipments from anywhere in the world. Collectively, we will aim to meet and even surpass all of your demands. We also take this opportunity to thank you our valued customers for your continuous confidence in our services and your support over the years. Be assured of our overall commitment in further improving our services to you through our new local partner.

We sincerely appreciate your business.

16 LOCAL

www.stluciastar.com

THE FUNNIES!

JANUARY 05, 2019 THE STAR

An Adult Perspective of Assou Square Claudia Eleibox

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The Rural Unknown Reflections of a Country Girl

In Saint Lucia, where you’re from can easily dictate who you are.

E

arly on in life, I’ll admit that I often hid where I was from.

Either ashamed of the fact that someone might pipe up and say, “Masiay, you living behind God’s back!” or from the simple fact that I would be immediately struck off the list, as being

incapable of achieving more than what surrounded me. It was only years later that I realized the longer I hid away from the area I called home—Fond Assau, Babonneau to be exact—I would be living a lie. After all, it was what led me to the belief that

without a focus on the problems that occurred after the collapse of bananas, rural degradation and the widening inequality gap between rural and urban communities would only grow.

You see I saw the bad, the good and the ugly of the “banana

es, we will never go back to the days when children received a 50 cents spending allowance and returned home with stomachs filled with apples and sodas, and their arms full of toys. That was just about fifty years ago, I am assured, when Columbus Square was flooded with toddler excitement. I, for one, miss very much the Assou Square I knew as a child, and I am in my twenties.

Of course I was always acccompanied by my parents.

And that might well be the reason I felt so vulnerable as I made the rounds on my own at the most recent Assou Square.

The almost daily reports of crime at high noon have not helped.

Almost every step tangled me with some young man with a baseball cap, a glass of alcohol and a silly pickup line. There was comfort in seeing police officers all around. I think I even saw the police commissioner in the distance.

Still Assou Square remains no place for children or lone females. As I wandered around with professional intent (I mean as a reporter!) among the milling hundreds I was especially carefully when I took out my cellphone and camera.

With icky body odour mixed with the smell of alcohol fresh and stale, I remembered the special delights of Assou Square past.

Now it seemed only the nonstop imbibers of alcohol mattered.

I lost count of the number of stumbling men.

A long time ago my big brother made me listen to Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen), a speech on Baz Luhrmann’s 1988 music album.

One line that always stuck with me goes: “You too will get old, and when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable.” I’m not yet old but the prices at Assou Square were certainly no fantasy; they were anything but reasonable!

I got the green cotton candy I came for, after forking out three coins for a barely there serving.

I also wanted a tiara, but all the options were just plain too ugly and similar, not nearly flashy enough for the price demanded.

All around me little children were crying. Who knows whether the odours were too much for their lungs or whether their mothers

could not afford to feed them at the square?

There was a crowded bouncy castle that looked quite dangerous. I saw the smallest toys amazingly priced at $15.

The especially lucky kids would get just one, most would return home empty-handed, despite that their main reason for going to Assou Square was, as was mine in another time, “to get a lotta toys”. Some of the disappointed may have travelled on an overheated bus all the way from Dennery.

Imagine what that can do to a kid!

No need to get into the wild gyrations by adults on all fours in the middle of the road.

The videos are all over social media.The mayor of Castries promised last year a less raunchy Assou Square in 2018.

The aforementioned videos will help him decide if he delivered on his promise.

days”. I remember when Fond Assau was an idyllic rural area that was safe to raise children.

Families knew each other and not to sound clichéd but you could actually walk to a neighbour and ask for some sugar or flour.

With the decline, a phenomenon which I like to call “urban flight” took place.

Persons who had spent decades in farming were either emigrating to the US or UK or moving away to urban areas, and the persons moving in were completely unattached to farming and weren’t your typical friendly neighbours. Soon enough, loud music was being played after 11pm on a weekday and stories of choppings or shootings became somewhat of the norm.

I always wondered what made my community fall into such a dark place. The answer was simple; Babonneau was close

enough to urban areas but, with the rise in violence, there was a reciprocal decline in real estate value, making it a cheaper option than apartments in Castries or Gros Islet. Nevertheless, decades later “urban flight” has become the norm; the only difference now is that the populations moving away are younger and younger. But can you really blame them?

There are two hurdles you are confronted with when being from a rural area. Firstly, the very mention of being from certain areas can easily squelch opportunities for success; secondly, there are limited employment opportunities in rural areas, forcing many to move closer to their jobs.

Even when the most recognized talents such as Daren Sammy, Dame Pearlette and Levern Spencer have come from

rural areas, rural to many does not equate with success, which is shocking because if more than half of the Saint Lucian population resides in rural areas, what are we really saying to our people?

Flashing lights and tasty food is what Assou Square is all about, but more adult entertainment may have taken over.

---Keithlin Caroo Helen’s Daughters Helen's Daughters is a Saint Lucian non-profit with a special focus on rural women’s economic development through improved market access, adaptive agricultural techniques, and capacity-building. It was formed in 2016 in a winning proposal for UN Women’s Empower Women Champions for Change Program. To learn more about the initiative, visit: Facebook: helensdaughters.slu, Instagram: helensdaughters.slu, Website: helensdaughters.org

THE STAR

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JANUARY 05, 2019

A NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE FROM PATRICIA AFFONSO-DASS, PRESIDENT, CARIBBEAN HOTEL AND TOURISM ASSOCIATION

s we look back over 2018 and look forward to the New Year, I am reminded of the C.S. Lewis quote: “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”

Our region’s rich tourism past and our many successes have served us well, providing a sound foundation for the future.

Looking ahead, I have a real sense of optimism about our opportunities if we learn from the past, stay clearly focused on the future and appreciate the critical importance of reinventing and improving our businesses, our processes and our people. We must be nimble, adaptable and innovative in this era of constant change.

This past year reminded us of how resilient our people and our industry are, as a number of the region’s destinations and hotels bounced back from unparalleled destruction in 2017, rebuilding smarter, better and sometimes bigger.

We got a peek into the future as over 5,000 new hotel rooms came online regionally in 2018 with over 25,000 more in the construction and planning stages. Existing hotels continue to invest in refurbishments and introducing new services and amenities. We witnessed an unprecedented surge in new airlift into the region, presenting more opportunities to entice travellers to our shores. Investor and government confidence in Caribbean tourism’s future was further buoyed as hundreds of millions of dollars were spent on upgraded and expanded airport facilities.

Our glass is half full. Are we pouring or drinking? How do we continually adapt in an era of accelerated change when technology, competition, consumer expectations, economic and political uncertainty and climate change challenge us? These are all external factors over which we have little sway. Or do we?

The “abundance of opportunity” lies within ourselves. Through our companies, destination DMOs, National Hotel and Tourism Associations, and regional

stakeholder groups like CHTA and the Caribbean Tourism Organization, owners, operators, government partners, and individuals have an even greater capacity to positively and collectively impact tourism’s future and our bottom lines.

How willing are we to “give back” in order to “get back”?

Are we as individuals and companies taking “ownership” in our industry by being engaged and supportive beyond the day-to-day challenges of operating our businesses?

It is amazing what can be achieved through a commitment to cooperation, collaboration, open communication and mutual respect—we have all of the necessary elements in our communities, businesses, governments and destinations to excel and to lead as the world’s most desirable tourism region.

Let us in 2019 commit to recognizing and developing talent wherever we see it; to critically assessing our processes in both the public and private sectors to make sure that they facilitate more than restrict; to using all means possible to inform and educate our people about the value and importance of tourism to our region and the critical role that they play in its success; and most importantly, to doing whatever we can to engender a greater sense of pride and care in our people, our environment and our region as a whole. There is great power in the collective. As tourism stakeholders, let’s work to better harness this.

I’m so grateful to be surrounded by a corps of volunteers regionally and locally in Barbados who lead by example, contributing their time, expertise and financial resources to address the many challenges which our industry faces. You’ve taken “ownership” and indeed, you’ve exemplified through your actions that CHTA and your local NHTA are “My CHTA” and “My NHTA”. Thank you to all of our great volunteers and supporters!

It’s this spirit of giving that helps to remove barriers

REGIONAL

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Patricia Affonso-Dass (pictured) highlights Caribbean tourism’s resilience as she makes her New Year address.

to business development; advocates for policies which stimulate rather than suppress our industry’s growth and development; supports investments in our people through groups like the CHTA Education Foundation (please make your room donation now to The New York Times Travel Show auction fundraiser if you haven’t already); and supports local and regional marketing and public relations efforts to protect and enhance the local and Caribbean brands. These are matters which affect each of us and which we have a moral and business responsibility to support.

I can only imagine what the present and future would be like if not for the work of our industry’s institutions like CHTA. This is what gives me confidence in knowing that indeed there are “far, far better things ahead”.

I look forward to seeing everyone at Caribbean Travel Marketplace and related events later this January in Montego Bay. I encourage you to register for Marketplace today if you’ve not already done so.

Best wishes for a fun and prosperous 2019!

17

DOMINICA TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF GEOTHERMAL PLANT IN 2019

T

he Dominica Government says it intends to start construction of a geothermal energy power plant by the third quarter of 2019.

Energy Minister Ian Douglas said that the plant to be constructed in the Roseau Valley, on the outskirts of the capital, will be a major boost for the island that is attempting to become the world’s first climate resilient country.

“The government has seen tremendous progress being made in the geothermal development programme. This is one of the pillars on which we intend to achieve the goal of being the first climate resilient country in the world,” Douglas said on the state-owned DBS radio on Wednesday.

“We thank all our international partners who have helped us in this quest to date.

We are now in the position to begin the construction of the power plant by the third quarter

of 2019,” he said.

Douglas told radio listeners that with the commissioning of the plant “we will be in a position to benefit clean, reliable, low-cost renewable and high-quality energy supply in the future which will benefit all sectors of productive activity in Dominica”.

In September, Douglas told legislators that local consumers could, hopefully, begin benefitting from geothermal energy to power their homes “in a short time”.

He said that the geothermal programme is proceeding “on track”, and that a local company has already been established to ensure the continued success of the project.

Earlier this year, the World Bank announced that it would be providing more than US$17 million towards the development of a geothermal plant for Dominica.

18 LOCAL

JANUARY 05, 2019 THE STAR

www.stluciastar.com

After startling Saint Lucians with the Soleil Summer Festival in 2017, the Events Company of Saint Lucia reported increased participation at the 2018 festivals.

The Msgr. Patrick Anthony Folk Research Centre went up in flames, together with its collection of local history and artifacts, on March 26, 2018.

2018 IN PHOTOS

A former leader of the opposition and a prominent member of the United Workers Party, Arsene James, died on July 29 aged 73 years old. Both government and opposition came to bid him farewell.

Samuel Walland (left) and Matthew Carter participated in a medical internship programme in Saint Lucia but the UK gentlemen will always be remembered for their lifesaving efforts during a May 29 Castries shooting.

Saint Lucian Botham Jean’s family buried him after a televised and highly promoted funeral following his death by gunshot on September 6 in Texas.

His attacker, Amber Guyger, awaits trial.

Nick Elibox died in a car crash on February 4, soon after similar deaths of Zhané Williams, Zina Anthony, Bradley Cyril and Brandon St. Omer, all from the same age group.

Verve St Lucia’s most popular party, Vice, exhausted its life span in 2018. The event left stories of under-age drinking, alleged rapes, bad policing and poor environmental practices.

The death of Kimberly Williams-De Leon on October 30 brought about intense public opinions following a badly handled police press conference on the investigation.

Gandolph St. Clair (left, with Dame Pearlette Louisy) died on February 11. A Saint Lucian writer, playwright, singer, composer and director, he left his mark with his work.

Sir Neville Cenac stepped into his role as Governor General of Saint Lucia but not without plenty of cynicism and political jabs for his past.

Two children were found using this boat as their bedroom, with their father. Media caught wind of it and the story dug deeper and deeper into this country’s poor parenting, and lack of resources in the human services department.

THE STAR

JANUARY 05, 2019

HEALTH

www.stluciastar.com

What Type of Dementia Can a Stroke Cause?

19

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST SAINT LUCIA SAINT LUCIA HEALTH SYSTEM STRENGTHENING PROJECT Credit No..: Preparation Advance No: V2110-LC Assignment Title: PROJECT MANAGER Reference No. 003/CS/HSSP/18 Saint Lucia has received financing from the World Bank towards the Health System Strengthening Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services for engagement of a Project Manager to provide overall and day to day management of the project activities to be implemented and to provide the necessary supervision of staff, consultants and others engaged under the Health System Strengthening Project and ensure full compliance of all parties to their contractual commitments. The services are full time and will be based the based in the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) to be established within the Department of Health and Wellness with frequent site visits to health facilities to support project understanding and implementation.

The aftereffects of strokes are plentiful including brain damage, and can cause irreversible dementia.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include

After repeated damage to small blood vessels in the brain, symptoms of VaD can be that the person doesn’t pay ascular dementia (VaD), attention to functioning the left more formally known side of their body. You can tell as vascular cognitive the person to stand up straight, impairment or vascular they will respond “I am,” while neurocognitive disorder, is leaning to the left. They also another condition describing tend to drag their left foot and impairment with reasoning, stumble. Or, you can give them judgment, memory, planning a plate of food and they will eat and other problems with the process of thinking. It is caused only food on the right side and by an interruption in blood flow ask for more food. If you turn the plate around, they will then to the brain. This may happen be able to see the food. after a stroke that has blocked

Unlike Alzheimer’s with an or narrowed blood supply average lifespan from 8 to 12 carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain. When this happens, years, VaD has a life span of 3 the cells are injured in the area to 30 years. Depending on how many stokes or TIAs, a person’s of attack. It is important to decline is based on where the note that not all strokes cause blood flow interruption is. A dementia. person can have a few in a row,

The old term for a stroke level out for a while and then was “multi-infarct dementia” have a blowout type of stroke and an older term was and a bigger decline will occur. “hardening of the arteries”.

Each person with VaD is unique.

There is evidence that shows

While Alzheimer’s affects that a person can have VaD more women than men, VaD without blowouts caused by major strokes. In the beginning, affects more men. There is no cure. However, it is highly tiny blood vessels that are encouraged to reduce risk damaged can sometimes be factors such as getting your undetected by brain imaging, blood pressure under control or until there are multiple tiny managing your diabetes. If you strokes that are damaged in smoke, then quit; keep stress at one area. a minimum and exercise.

Multiple strokes or mini

VaD is the second largest strokes, known as transient ischemic attack (TIA), increases dementia type globally. In some countries, such as Cuba and risk to developing VaD. TIAs Japan, the rate is higher than are temporary blockage of Alzheimer’s. blood supply to a brain part causing sudden symptoms Questions about dementia like a stroke that can typically resolve in 20 minutes to three Q: Can a person have both days. Symptoms may include Vascular and Alzheimer drooling, slurred speech, dementia? If so what is the difficulty in talking, one side of difference? the body weaker, sleeping and seizure-like behaviour. It is also A: Yes, a person can have both and it is known as mixed believed that mini strokes may dementia. lead to a major stroke.

By Regina Posvar

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Alzheimer’s: First symptoms always involve memory struggles. It’s a neurodegenerative disease with a slow progressive decline, gradually affecting word search, vision, motor skills, thinking and processing of information received, leading to the inability to communicate. It eventually affects breathing and heart regulation.

Vascular dementia: First symptoms are usually a language struggle, emotional irregularity and depression.

It is acondition caused by interruption of blood flow in the brain. The rate of decline depends on the damage to tiny blood vessels.

Mixed Dementia: First symptoms can vary depending on what came first. The progression of Alzheimer’s can be accelerated by vascular pathology or be slowed down by its prevention according to UCLA Health. What you may see is a gradual decline with steps in-between.

Regina Posvar is president of the Saint Lucia Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association and has been a licensed nurse for 25 years.

SLADA is supported by volunteers and donations and aims to bring awareness and support by providing awareness public workshops, family support, memory screenings, the Memory Café, counselling and family training for coping skills and communication with persons living with dementia.

Preparation of annual plan of activities and ensuring its implementation.

Coordination and assignment of responsibility amongst team members and ensure timely reporting and preparation of project documentation as needed particularly with respect to World Bank Project reporting requirements and requests for No Objection and approvals from the respective tenders’ board.

Providing overall oversight and guidance to the project team including personnel assigned to the Project during implementation of the Project to ensure the successful and effective attainment of the Project Development Objectives and Key Performance Indicators established for the Project.

Providing advice and regularly reporting to the Permanent Secretary on project implementation activities, program plans and recommend project implementation strategies.

Ensuring Project Implementation Unit’s conformity with the tenets of the Project Operational Manual.

Coordinating effectively with Team of the Project Implementation Unit and the Accountant at the Department of Health and Wellness and Financial Management Specialist to develop annual and quarterly work plans.

Reporting and monitoring of project performance The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website; www. govt.lc/consultancy or can be obtained at the address given below.

The Department of Health and Wellness now invites eligible Individual Consultants (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services; (Curriculum Vitae, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, clients’ references etc.).

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

QUALIFICATION Minimum required education and experience Academic: - Master’s Degree in Health Administration and Management/Social Projects, Public Health or related area.

Professional Experience: - Have proven knowledge and understanding of project planning, coordination and implementation and good analytical capacity - Proven ability to promote and contribute to a collaborative team environment, build trust among colleagues, work effectively even with senior officials and effectively deal with conflicts.

Experience: - Minimum five (5) years of project management experience with International Funding preferably in projects financed by the World Bank or other international donors/partners.

- Knowledge and experience in National Health Policies, programmes and dynamics of the Institutional functioning of the Department of Health and Wellness.

- Knowledge and experience of ICT-based Office applications and tools (word processing, spreadsheets, and data processing, PowerPoint).

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

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

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

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by January 8, 2019.

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

20 HEALTH

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JANUARY 05, 2019 THE STAR

KIM’S KORNER

Food for Thought E

ating disorders are a serious problem that are often misunderstood or may even go unnoticed, but they can have dire consequences.

They can be a response to a traumatic event but sometimes there is no obvious underlying cause or trigger.

An eating disorder is more than somebody being picky with their food and may manifest as binge eating, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa; each having its own unique symptoms.

Binge eating—episodes of over-eating—affects both males and females and is more than an occasional day of over-indulgence; it is often described as eating habits being out of control. Eating

can even continue when full—people often eat until it becomes painful. In many cases binge eating is triggered by stress, anxiety, depression and even boredom. This can become a cycle because often binge eating leads to feelings of guilt and shame and these negative emotions can start the cycle of overeating all over again. Although some people hide their eating habits, it does not tend to involve other risky behaviours like purging, excessive exercise or fasting so there is a possibility of weight gain. The risks of this weight gain can lead to other health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease. Remember, binge eating is not the only reason for being overweight; your diet,

lack of exercise or maybe an underlying health condition may be responsible.

Diagnosis is often difficult and tends to focus on analysing eating patterns and weight gain fluctuations. Once binge eating has been confirmed, treatment may involve a combination of therapy (that looks at changing eating behaviours) and advice on nutrition. If depression is a factor, doctors may prescribe anti-depressants to lift the mood and break the cycle.

Anorexia nervosa—the fear of gaining weight—is more common in girls and young females but can also affect males. It is common amongst models, athletes and people in the spotlight but can affect anyone and may be triggered

Philippines President Jokes about Sex Assault during Speech

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures while speaking during a late-night news conference at the presidential palace in Manila, Philippines.

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hilippines President Rodrigo Duterte, who has earned a reputation for incendiary rhetoric, drew widespread condemnation on Saturday after saying that he sexually abused his housemaid

when he was a teenager— despite his office later claiming it was a joke, The New York Times reported. Duterte, 73, recounted the supposed incident during a speech to local officials, saying he first

confessed the act to a Catholic priest.

Duterte said he entered his housemaid’s bedroom, “lifted the blanket,” and “tried to touch what was inside the panties” but left the room after she woke up. The episode was included in Duterte’s speech which was largely devoted to criticizing the Catholic church for its own sexual abuses. But Duterte’s comments were condemned as “symptomatic” of Philippine’s “entrenched sexism and patriarchal culture.”

“The Maniac in Malacanang has proved that he had no qualms violating the rights of women,” Joms Salvador, the secretary general of Gabriela, a women’s rights group, told The Times.

Duterte spokesman Salvador Panelo merely wrote off the president’s comments as a “laughable anecdote to dramatize.”

---Fox News

Eating disorders range from over-eating to continuous purging after meals, but how will you recognise if someone you know suffers from such an illness?

by a traumatic or life-changing event. It is more than excessive dieting; there may be an obsession with exercising or seeking methods known for causing weight loss such as taking diuretics (medication to increase water output of the body) and laxatives (to increase bowel movements).

People with anorexia nervosa may develop an unhealthy fixation on food, analysing the nutritional content, counting calories obsessively and may even weigh portions while actually eating very little.

Despite being painfully thin, a person with anorexia nervosa may see themselves as fat and their weight loss may spiral out of control in the quest to have the perfect body. Symptoms often include brittle nails and hair, a sallow/yellowish complexion, a fine layer of hair all over the body, sensitivity to changes in temperature (especially cold), slow reactions and tiredness and, quite often for women, their periods will stop. As well as symptoms of depression and anxiety, it also has long-term consequences leading to anaemia, thinning bones, heart damage and, in extreme cases, organ failure.

Diagnosis is made, after ruling out any other factors, bodyweight dropping below 85% of what is considered normal or if there is an obsession about gaining weight. The key to treatment is to first address any health problems related to low weight and then therapy

that focuses on reaching a healthy weight, treating any underlying psychological issues, changing thought patterns and behaviours that may lead to a relapse and education about food and nutrition. As well as therapy and education a doctor may also prescribe medication to treat any mood issues and depression that may slow down recovery.

Bulimia nervosa This tends to follow a pattern of binge eating followed by purging.

It affects both males and females at any age but is more common in teenagers and young adults, and research has shown that around 85% of sufferers are female. Again, it can be triggered by stress or a traumatic life event, but even social pressure to be perfect can lead to bulimia. The cycle tends to start with over-eating followed by purging the food that has just been eaten either by vomiting, or taking a laxative to force a bowel movement; there may also be a tendency to exercise excessively. The

outward signs are harder to recognise, as people tend to be close to normal weight but may have a distorted body image.

The cycle of bingeing and the need to vomit or take laxatives can lead to various symptoms and long-term health problems, such as a chronic sore throat, damage to tooth enamel, heartburn, constipation and digestive problems, dehydration, irregular periods and a change to the body’s electrolytes (that can cause heart problems).

Diagnosis often relies on the person being honest with their doctor and treatment is a combination of education and counselling about nutrition and managing stress alongside medication to treat the emotional causes.

If you or anyone you know suffers from an eating disorder, it is important to contact a medical professional who can help on the road to recovery.

So next time, before you judge somebody for being too skinny or overweight, stop and consider the consequences of your words.

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

THE STAR

REGIONAL

www.stluciastar.com

JANAURY 05, 2019

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New Year’s Message from Incoming Chairman of CARICOM Dr. Timothy Harris, St. Kitts and Nevis PM new school curriculum with particular emphasis on Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).

It is imperative that the young CARICOM citizens are adequately prepared both for the global environment and for playing their part in helping the Region’s thrust towards sustainable development.

2019 therefore promises

Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris of St Kitts and Nevis (pictured) rings in 2019 by discussing CARICOM’s plans for trade, sustainable development, non-communicable diseaeses and this year’s CARIFESTA.

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s the Caribbean Community enters this New Year 2019, it is with a renewed vigour and determination to maintain the momentum with which we ended 2018. This is the final year of our first five-year Strategic Plan and preparations have already begun for the second plan, which will build on the accomplishments of its predecessor.

There is no doubt that the CARICOM Single Market and Economy is the lynchpin of our efforts at sustainable growth and development and in the coming year we will be looking to further advance its implementation from what has been achieved in 2018. When we gather in St Kitts and Nevis in February for the Thirtieth Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference we will conduct a special session on Air and Maritime Transportation to focus on this critical aspect of integration as a whole and the CSME in particular. An efficient and affordable transportation system would be a tremendous stimulus to trade and intraregional tourism thereby strengthening two critical aspects of integration.

At the core of our thrust for growth and development is a well-educated and healthy workforce. Our Community’s commitment to battle against the ravages caused by chronic non-communicable diseases is unrelenting. Our Ministers of Health have agreed on a programme called Caribbean Moves which seeks to create a culture of regular physical activity and healthy eating through exciting, fun and supportive programmes where people live, work, study and play. It is a whole society approach that we must embrace to tackle this continuing threat to our greatest resource—our people.

At a high-level meeting at the United Nations we once again brought to the attention of the international community, the threat that chronic NCDs is posing to our sustainable development.

Let us make 2019 the year that made the difference in combatting chronic noncommunicable diseases in our Community. We will also be making strides in implementing our Human Resource Development Strategy 2030 as we move to draft the

to be a year full of action for CARICOM. It is a year in which I look forward to us all being part of the celebration at CARIFESTA XIV which will be held during the period 16-25 August 2019, in Trinidad and Tobago, under the theme “The Tangible and Intangible – Connect, Share, Invest”. It is a celebration and promotion of our culture. It will bring

together song, dance, visual arts and other cultural expressions.

It is always an event to cherish and I have no doubt that the festival will once again live up to its billing as the premier cultural exposition in the region.

As I assume the chair of the Community for the next six months, I would like to acknowledge the sterling leadership of my predecessor

in the position, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica. He has set a standard which, with the help of my colleague Heads of Government, the Secretariat and the regional Institutions I will strive to match.

May we all have a Happy, Healthy and Productive New Year.

Saint Lucia Tourism Authority Celebrates Inaugural Call of Le Champlain

Le Champlain is just one of several cruise ships which made their first visit to Saint Lucia.

T

he Saint Lucia Tourism Authority is ecstatic over increased cruise calls to Port Castries over the holiday season.

From mid-December, the Castries Harbour has been abuzz, welcoming up to five ships per day. On Wednesday January 2, 2019 Le Champlain made its maiden voyage to Saint Lucia. The vessel is the second ship of the Explorersclass of cruise ships operated

by Ponant.

Le Champlain docked in Soufriere where passengers were greeted with the warm morning sun and the view of the UNESCO World Heritage Site—the Pitons. The vessel sailed up the west coast of the island to dock in Rodney Bay just about 3:00 p.m., giving passengers a comprehensive view of the island’s northern tourism hub.

Le Champlain departed its home port in Fort-de-France, Martinique on December 28,

2018 with calls to Grenada and the Grenadine Islands, Saint Lucia and Guadeloupe, and culminated its voyage yesterday in Fort-de-France.

The vessel, named after Samuel de Champlain, “The Father of New France”, offers a refined small-ship cruising experience, with a maximum capacity of 184 passengers.

The visit by Le Champlain is part of the bustling 2018/2019 cruise season when Saint Lucia is projected to

realize increased numbers of cruise passengers compared to the record-setting 2017/2018 figures. The vessel is slated to make additional calls into Saint Lucia during its 2019/2020 cruise schedule.

The destination also welcomed inaugural calls of MSC Preziosa, Zuiderdam (see page 11), Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Escape in 2018 and is looking forward to a bustling cruise season in 2019.

22 INTERNATIONAL

www.stluciastar.com

JANUARY 05, 2019 THE STAR

Gambia's Times Square New journalists, free Year's Eve ball drop celebrated from dictator, journalists and work to win trust press freedom

J

ournalists in Gambia have launched a self-regulatory body they hope will offer legitimacy, and far more freedom, to media emerging from a dictatorship that ruled the tiny West African nation for more than two decades.

During the 22 years of former President Yahya Jammeh's rule, journalists were regularly abducted, tortured and killed. The new government has vowed new freedoms after he fled into exile in early 2017 following a surprise election defeat.

Outdated sedition laws are still on the books, however, and the public is urged to bring any complaints about journalists to the new Media Council of The Gambia instead of to the courts.

There is a need to promote higher professional standards, said Saikou Jammeh, the secretary-general of the Gambia Press Union, which oversees the new body. He is not related to the former president. "We also set it up to keep the government far away from any attempts to regulate the media," he said.

"It's not their business and it shouldn't be their business."

The new media council represents a significant step for press freedom, he said.

Under the former regime, many journalists "had to switch on survival mode and they would not publish anything that would get them in trouble," Jammeh said. "The relationship of the media and the public was characterized by paranoia and mistrust."

He said a free press has blossomed since the election win of President Adama Barrow in December 2016, with new television stations opening and online newspapers returning from exile to fearlessly publish investigations and criticism of alleged government mismanagement.

The Gambia Press Union's

president, Sheriff Bojang Jr., spoke of headlines that he said would have been "suicidal during (Yahya) Jammeh's time," but said the greatest change could be heard on radio talk shows, "where on a daily basis people are blasting the regime."

The new government has promised support.

"We will work with you in this difficult journey," Gambia's information minister, Ebrima Sillah, recently told journalists, vowing the government would do what it takes for media to "continue to operate without restrictions."

At least 30 journalists have returned to the country after more than 100 fled the previous regime, according to Reporters Without Borders, although it said a couple have faced violence upon their return from supporters of the previous government.

"We are in a truly new era for the press in the Gambia," Arnaud Froger, head of the group's Africa desk, told The Associated Press. "Things have moved very quickly since the new administration took power."

As of 2018, Gambia ranks 122 on the group's annual World Press Index of media freedom violations in 180 countries. In 2017, it ranked 143rd and in 2016, when Jammeh was in power, it was 145th.

"Gambia is the country that has shown the largest progression" this year, Froger said.

Despite the optimism and expectations of wider freedoms, a legal battle continues over old media laws that human rights defenders call "draconian."

The Supreme Court in May called old laws against criminal defamation and libel unconstitutional, but parts of the criminal code on sedition remain.

A sedition law that protects

the president from media criticism but permits criticism of the government is "a paradox in a democracy," Saikou Jammeh with the press union said.

Other experts said the government, which has pledged to work with journalists, still needs to do more.

"It's also about the courts being able to enforce that media law and it's also about getting to educate the people in the country to understand the role the media plays in the democracy," said John Mukum Mbaku, a researcher at the Brookings Institution's Africa Growth Initiative.

As Gambian journalists assembled for the launch of their new council, memories of past violence hung in the air. The council launched amid events marking the anniversary of the 2004 killing of Deyda Hydara, a veteran newspaper editor who was gunned down by what the Yahya Jammeh regime called "unknown assailants."

Days before his death, Hydara pledged to take legal action to stop attempts to regulate the media through a governmentestablished media council, which could have imprisoned journalists for nearly two decades or levied heavy fines.

"This council is a continuation of his legacy," Saikou Jammeh said.

He said he hoped to reestablish trust with a skeptical public unaccustomed to accurate reporting.

"You cannot claim to be a legitimate representative of the public if they do not trust you," he said. "That relationship is now being built, and the public is getting more and more involved with the press.

That's the biggest qualitative difference between then and now. It is really quite amazing."

---Associated Press

O

rganisers of the Times Square ball drop, New York City’s traditional New Year’s ceremony, have invited a group of journalists to press the ceremonial button. Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance, said in a statement it was “fitting to celebrate free press and free speech as we reflect on where we’ve been during the past year and what it is we value most as a society”.

Among the group will be Karen Attiah, who as global opinions editor of the Washington Post oversaw the work of Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi writer resident in the US who was murdered and dismembered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October. The death of Khashoggi has been perhaps the highestprofile incident in a year of worrying developments for press freedom around the world. Attiah has become a prominent voice in attempts to hold to account Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, accused of responsibility for the murder, and his allies in Trump’s White House.

The group of journalists onstage as midnight approaches will be accompanied by Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, a group which has had a busy year under an onslaught of criticism from Donald Trump. Among institutions regularly derided by the president as “fake news”, the New York Times will be represented by deputy managing editor Rebecca Blumenstein, CNN will send anchor Alisyn Camerota

A test run of the Times Square New Year’s Eve ball drop is performed on 30 December, 2018.

and NBC will send Lester Holt, the anchor who famously interviewed the president about his firing of FBI director James Comey, an event at the heart of the Mueller investigation into Russian election interference and links between Trump and Moscow.

In September, CNN was among targets of explosive devices allegedly sent in the mail by a fervent Trump supporter. The Times Square celebrations will feature the usual celebrities and singers, with Snoop Dogg, Sting and Christina Aguilera booked to do their spangly thing.

Forecasters have predicted a more comfortable evening than last year, which was one of the coldest on record. This time, rain will be possible as the

gathered throng sees Bebe Rexha sing Imagine, by John Lennon, before the traditional New Year countdown.

Jeff Straus, president of Countdown Entertainment, which produces the Times Square show, said: “As the ball drops, the special guests will lead the 60-second countdown to 2019 joined by millions of revellers with a message of unity and harmony for the new year.

“We thank the news organisations and the journalists for helping us celebrate journalism and press freedom around the world.”

First published December 31, 2018 ---The Guardian

THE STAR

JANUARY 05, 2019

FOR RENT:

For Sale

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AMENITIES INCLUDE: SECURE & GATED FACILITY, AIR CONDITIONED BEDROOMS, AMPLE PARKING, WATER & GROUND MAINTENANCE.

One 125cc Scooter & One 125cc 5 speed Motorcycle $4200.00 EC each

JOB OPPORTUNITY

Human Resources Administrative Assistant Position Overview A prestigious company is seeking a pro-active, energetic HR Administrative Assistant.

The ideal candidate will be responsible for the efficient operations of the HR office by providing administrative support to the Human Resources department. He/she will be essential in managing the office’s administrative tasks in order to provide just-in-time assistance and support to all members of the organization.

The responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following: • • • • • • • • •

classified 23

www.stluciastar.com

Performs customer service functions by answering employee requests and questions.

Assist with the recruitment and on-boarding process as requested.

Assist in the execution of new-hire orientation.

Verifies employee documentation and maintains employee records.

Prepare routine reports as requested by Management Maintains Human Resource Information system (HRIS) records and compiles reports from database.

Assist in processing of employee separations.

Assist HR Manager with various research projects and/or special projects.

Performs benefits administration to include claims resolution and change reporting.

Competencies/Skills: • An Associate’s Degree in HR or Business Administration or equivalent qualification and/or at least 2 years of related experience. OR A bachelor’s degree in HR or Business Administration and/or 1-year general work experience.

• Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems. (HR Experience would be and Asset • Knowledge of computers and relevant software applications (Microsoft Office Suite).

• Knowledge of customer service principles and practices.

• Must be resourceful and proactive in dealing with issues that may arise.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Professional personal presentation.

• Highly service-oriented.

• Key attention to detail.

• Great initiative.

• Reliable.

• People person – friendly, vibrant and energetic.

• Good stress tolerance.

• Ability to organize, multitask, and prioritize.

Please email resume and cover letter to slcrecruitement@gmail.com by January 9th 2019.

Only suitable candidates will be contacted for an interview.

BEAUSEJOUR Gardens Drive

CALL:

720-4545/720-0333/720-2986

Online Classifieds Get maximum exposure for your dollar.

Place your classified ads in the STAR Newspaper and on our website: www.stluciastar.com Call the STAR at 450-7827 and ask for our sales department

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584-8722 PROPERTY FOR SALE Property for sale in Soufriere 2600 Sq ft.

4-Bedroom, 1 bath, laundry/ utility extension. Great location close proximity to all available amenities.

Potential for commercial use Serious buyers/ enquirers only Call:

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in memoriam

I think of you all the time, Emotions still running on high.

It’s been eight years, Since you went into the sky.

A lot has changed in my lives since then, But with me you still remain.

My own personal beacon of hope, Guiding me through this game.

My memories of you will never fade, The good, the bad, I treasure them all.

Wherever I go, there you are, Standing by me, though not very tall.

And when I go to sleep tonight, My eyes will flood with tears.

But I know you’ll visit me in my dreams, And protect me from my fears.

For today is only another day, No different from the rest.

You’ll still be here with me tomorrow, My Dad, you are the best.

Andrew Felix Baptiste

21st February, 1959 - 5th January, 2011 Miss you Dad - your son Bradley Dilton Baptiste

SATURDAY, JANUARY 05, 2019

www.stluciastar.com

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