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The Star (St.Lucia)

SATURDAY, JUly 14, 2018

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What’s Worse Than The Serial Rapists Among Us? Three years ago the former Prime Minister Kenny Anthony acknowledged publicly that there were two or three serial rapists among us. He never identified them!

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A-M u s i n g s Musings are thoughts, the thoughtful kind. For the purpose of these articles, a-musings are thoughts that might amuse, entertain and even enlighten.

Trade Wars

By Michael Walker

hen one nation imposes tariffs on imports from another country, and this country retaliates with similar or greater forms of protectionism, then the tit-for-tat measures that follow can easily escalate into a trade war that results in a reduction in foreign trade which is detrimental to both parties. A trade war usually starts when a nation attempts to protect a domestic industry, create jobs or redress an imbalance in trade. Although such measures may work in the short run, in the long run, a trade war actually costs jobs and depresses economic growth for all countries involved. Significantly, trade war tariffs always increase the prices of all imported goods and all goods that use imported raw materials. Prices go up and consumers suffer. On March 8, 2018, Trump, the semiliterate president of the United States who still has not mastered the differences between ‘there, they’re and their’ in his Tweets, announced a 25% tariff on steel imports and a 10% tariff on aluminum imports from just about all the countries that exported to the USA, stating “Trade wars are good, and easy to win,” something that trading partners and markets around the world disagreed with. Stock markets became even more volatile. Trump apparently believes the tariffs would protect the 147,000 workers in the US steel and aluminum industries. But he ignores the fact that they could hurt the 6.5 million workers in industries that need steel. Tariffs will also raise costs for steel users, like automakers, who will be obliged to pass those increased costs onto consumers. Trump has cited a threat to the national security of the United States. Japan's trade minister said, "I believe there is absolutely no impact on America's national security from imports of steel and aluminum from Japan, which is an allied nation." The same applies to Canada and the 27, or is it 28, nations of the European Union, all of which are staunch allies of the USA. Despite his large size, Trump acts a small child, forever changing his mind despite his own private belief that he never backs down, something that he apparently needs, to

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bolster his own self-image of being a strong leader. The Trump-in-diapers blimp that will fly over London during his upcoming visit should show the world what the Brits think of him. And now, not surprisingly, more and more evidence is emerging that Trump has been a Russian stooge, if not worse, for the past 30 years. Unable to get loans from domestic American banks, Trump’s organisation has received vast amounts of money from Russia for decades, saving him from the repercussions of his several financial failures. The party he leads, perhaps owns is the better word, is no longer the party of fiscal responsibility; the Republican Party has become the party to lead the country into bankruptcy. First published in 1958, ‘The Ugly American’ was the title of the multi-millioncopy bestseller that coined the phrase for tragic American blunders abroad. It became the rallying cry for all who opposed America’s high-handed imperialistic global behaviour. In the episode that lends the book its title, the ‘ugly American’ Homer Atkins is a plain and plain-spoken man who has been sent by the US government to advise the Southeast Asian country of Sarkhan on engineering projects. When Atkins finds badly misplaced priorities and bluntly challenges the entrenched interests, he lays bare a foreign policy gone dangerously wrong. On June 23, 1959 Senator John F. Kennedy, soon to be President Kennedy, took out a full-page advertisement in The New York Times. The ad wasn’t to express his Vietnam War policy, nor was it to announce his intention to run for president. Instead, it was to promote this book. He sent a copy to each of his fellow senators. ‘The Ugly American’ became a runaway global bestseller for its slashing exposé of American arrogance, incompetence and corruption in Southeast Asia. In linked stories and vignettes, the book uses gripping storytelling to draw a devastating picture of how the United States was losing the struggle with Communism in Asia. It later became a movie. It took decades for the world to forget or rather forgive the Ugly Americanism of an era that Donald Trump wishes to revive. Rather than making America great again, this Russian stooge is hellbent on making America, in the eyes of the world, Ugly again.

Courts Introduces Same Day Delivery and Installation

nicomer (Saint Lucia) Limited, trading as Courts, Courts Optical, Ready Cash, Shopcourts.com and Radio Shack, continues its quest to offer consumers an improved and more efficient level of service. The business is known for its wide range of top quality, fashionable furniture, appliances, electronics and eyewear backed by affordable and flexible Ready Finance payment plans. Over the years the business has evolved in its product offering, as well as the service offered to consumers, and many initiatives, including a robust brand diversification strategy, have supported the growth of the business. One recently launched initiative is the company’s

“Same Day Delivery & Same Day Installation” of products. The Courts OECS Managing Director—Mr. Vincent Gordon—that the move to offer consumers this added benefit has everything to do with recognizing what consumers expect in today’s world of ‘real time’ service. He went on to explain that the company saw it fit to put its resources behind ensuring that customers receive their items within the same day of having made their purchase if they shopped on ShopCourts. com or at any of the five retail outlets throughout Saint Lucia. He further explained that if a customer also chose to purchase the company’s installation/assembly service,

then that service as well would be made available to the consumer on the same day of the purchase, shortly after the items were delivered to the customer. “We’re very proud to offer a level of service that is unmatched in Saint Lucia and one that definitely cannot be enjoyed if products are purchased from other online retailers. We believe that today’s customer expects and deserves this level of efficiency,” Mr. Gordon concluded. Courts is proud to present this added value facility to customers and has boldly promised to continue looking for exceptional ways to offer even better service to all its customers.

SLHTA Mourns Nereus ‘Cosol’ Francis’ Passing

HE Saint Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association has extended heartfelt condolences to the family of Nereus Francis who passed away tragically this week. The membership and staff of the Association were saddened by the death of Mr. Francis for whom there was much affection throughout the tourism and hospitality industry. Mr. Francis, who was affectionately known as ‘Cosol’, was the proprietor of Cosol St. Lucia Tours, one of Saint Lucia’s best known touring service companies. It offered sight-seeing excursions to hotel guests and cruiseship passengers. “On behalf of the Saint Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association, I wish to extend our deepest sympthies to Mr. Francis’ family,” said SLHTA CEO, Roderick Cherry. “His death came as quite a shock to us. All of us mourn the passing of a man who was loved and admired by many for his kindness and generosity and his warm personality. He was an excellent tour operator and very popular with his clients who held him in high esteem. Mr. Francis’ death is a great loss to the tourism industry. We know that this is a difficult time for his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.”

KITTENS AND PUPPIES IN NEED OF GOOD HOMES

Can you give these cute little ones a good home?

he Saint Lucia Animal Protection Society (SLAPS), which this month celebrates 20 years of existence, has some beautiful, friendly animals in its care. The organisation seeks to place them in loving, caring homes. If you can welcome a puppy or kitten into your residence, and treat them as a member of the family, please contact SLAPS: tel. (758) 45-SLAPS (457 5277), kitten enquiries: (758) 384 9696, Facebook: Slaps St Lucia, email: stluciaanimals@gmail.com

THE STAR

Security Checks at Government Buildings Prove Not All of Us are Created Equal T here must be scores of instances when the regular citizen flouted protocol at functions attended by the governor general. I remember one national awards ceremony when students walked from the back of the auditorium and crossed over in front of then GG Dame Pearlette Louisy, en route to the stage via the centre staircase. The young innocents had no idea they’d done anything out of order until the audience started grumbling aloud and a ministry official materialized out of nowhere to re-route the embarrassed students. Judging by online comments, and from listening to young people, it is obvious very few of us realize the governor general is the most powerful

person in the land. A browse through our Criminal Code reveals that the GG cannot be charged with certain offences. Also that the penalty for threatening the life of the GG is imprisonment for life. I was surprised to learn from a police officer that the governor general is not to be security-checked. Neither individuals appointed to their office by the GG. I must admit, I have not yet verified what the officer had assured me is the case. Nevertheless there was a bit of a moment this week when security personnel attempted to check the senate president on her way to the prime minister’s office. Perhaps someone forgot to mention to the security that some of us are more equal than others. In the instance the

senate president was heard to say: “I don’t see why I need to be checked.” But it ended well when a representative of the prime minister’s office intervened. The senate prez was allowed to carry on, unchecked! I have been unable to lay hands on the official list of individuals that are free to come and go without security checks. However, I do recall a certain minister taking serious umbrage at Hewanorra Airport after he was subjected to a security examination. I promise to continue prospecting for the official document that says, when it comes to certain individuals playing certain roles, security personnel must keep their distance! Senate Prez is entitled to lotsa of privilege, ---Claudia Eleibox but who cares anymore?

More Winners in Flow Hottest Summer! E

ight more mobile, TV and internet customers have become winners in Flow Saint Lucia's Hottest Summer Ever promotion. The eight have won cash and Carnival costumes just by subscribing to Saint Lucia and the Caribbean's leading telecommunications service provider, Platinum Sponsor for Saint Lucia Carnival 2018. Lea Thomas, Jalanne Francois, Denzel Dubois, Archar Esnard and Mervinia John will all be hitting the road for Saint Lucia Carnival 2018, just because they subscribed to 4G LTE mobile data plans! They will get costumes in the island's top bands for Carnival Monday and Tuesday—Red Unlimited, Fuzion Mas and Legends. In addition to their winnings, they, like every prepaid

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Denzel Dubois will be jumping in Saint Luica Carnival with platinum sponsor, Flow.

mobile customer, are enjoying automatic double data on the island’s fastest, most reliable,

most affordable mobile data network. Flow operates Saint Lucia's first and only high-

speed 4G LTE mobile data network, enabling revellers (and spectators) to share more for Carnival. Users such as Andrew Harmon, Lance Evans and Yvette Clifford have also won $250 cash each, for which they qualified simply by paying their mobile, cable TV and internet service bills in full and on time. To activate a mobile plan, prepaid customers can dial *129# and get twice the data on Saint Lucia’s first 4G LTE network. As Saint Lucia Carnival approaches its climax, members of the Flow family can look forward to still more winning, with tickets and VIP passes to events as well as movie tickets, smartphones and free service. The promotion runs until the end of August.

Global Travel Magazine gives Top Marks to Jade Mountain & Anse Chastanet

Nestled near the Pitons, Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet resorts continue to keep the bar high.

ade Mountain resort is the number one hotel in Saint Lucia, according to readers of the influential Travel + Leisure (T+L) magazine, which also placed its sister hotel Anse Chastanet in the top five on the island. According to the magazine's 2018 World's Best Awards, the renowned resorts took the first and third places, respectively, on this island and second and sixth spots, respectively, in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas category. Additionally, Jade Mountain was ranked among the Top 100 Hotels in the World. Respected travel editor Jacqueline Gifford explained that every year for the World's Best Awards survey T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe—to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels are rated on their facilities, location, service, food and overall value. This year's list spans 12 countries and territories, including St. Barts, Aruba, the Bahamas, Bermuda and Anguilla. "But Saint Lucia took home the most winning hotels," she explained, five to be exact, including honeymoon mainstays Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet Resort, whose

open-air rooms wowed visitors. "The service, private beach, and views were incredible," remarked one honeymooner of Jade Mountain, which sits higher up on the hill from Anse Chastanet. "We hope to go back for our 10th anniversary." "We would like to extend special thanks to Travel + Leisure's readers who have once again recognized that small, luxury, sustainability and top Saint Lucian service make a formidable combination," said Karolin Troubetzkoy, the resorts' executive director, who recently recognized her own team for their consistent pursuit of excellence in the hospitality industry. Troubetzkoy congratulated Saint Lucian hotels Ladera Resort, Cap Maison and Marigot Bay Resort & Marina for making the Top 25 list as well as Frangipani Beach Resort in Anguilla for taking the top spot in the region. Jade Mountain was named number 56 in the world while Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan, in Indonesia ranked in first place. The results of the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2018 are featured at www.travelandleisure.com/ worlds-best and in the August issue of Travel + Leisure magazine.

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JUly 14, 2018 THE STAR

Molly not about to Give Up on Son’s ‘Suspicious Death’ Keryn Nelson

ew stories recently published in this newspaper have attracted as much public concern as Molly’s, featured on the front page of last Saturday’s STAR. Several readers hinted at their own bad experiences with medical practitioners they accused of negligence. Molly had her own share of empathisers. “What many of them said was they were surprised the whole matter of my baby’s death was still unresolved,” she said. “Some of them at the time were telling me not to give up, things would turn out fine. Now they know how wrong they were.” The story also inspired many online comments, again from people who had been misdiagnosed themselves, or had relatives who had received

shoddy medical attention here. One poster claimed: “Junior doctors are left on their own; unsupervised. This is very wrong. Patients are not lab rats.” When invited to comment on the reactions to Molly’s story, Victoria Hospital and Ministry of Health personnel said they could not, on the ground that the matter was still pending before a court. While she did not wish to address Molly’s case directly, Dr. Alisha Eugene, the medical director at Victoria Hospital, provided clarification of the term “junior doctors”, saying that only qualified medical professionals operate at VH. “Sometimes there may be interns looking on during a delivery; that’s how they learn,” said Dr. Eugene. “Then again, senior house officers who are qualified and registered are often referred to as ‘junior doctors’.” Additionally: “You may

also have a situation where a woman in labour comes in who has had more than one baby. If she has no problems, if she’s okay, midwives will deliver her latest. In such cases there is no need for a physician.” At her last meeting in January with the health minister and other key members of the health sector, Molly was promised a second DNA analysis. She says she was told that the director at the forensic laboratory would contact her but, to date, Molly has not received the call. Her own efforts to reach the director had all proved futile. On Wednesday, with her newborn son, Gifted, sleeping on her chest, Molly told this reporter: “They would have been brothers. Sometimes I miss Gabriel a lot. You may see me with a smile on my face at times but no one knows what I am feeling inside. I need to know where my baby is and what happened to him.”

Molly has kept a full account of everything relating to what she considers “the suspicious death” of her newborn son some three years ago. She insists on justice for her family, regardless of what that might take.

Bolstering Disaster Preparedness in the Caribbean

n July 10 and 11, the United States William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies co-hosted a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response Seminar with U.S. Southern Command and the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) at the Hilton Barbados. The event brought together participants from 18 Caribbean and South American countries, as well as British, Canadian, Dutch and French partners. The seminar provided an opportunity to consolidate lessons learned from the 2017 hurricane season and to prepare Caribbean, partner nations, and U.S.

humanitarian assistance forces, for the 2018 hurricane season. Opening remarks were provided by Ms. Gayle FrancisVaughn, Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Home Affairs, and Mr. Ronald Jackson, CDEMA Executive Director. During the seminar panels and round-table discussions, participants gained an understanding of partner nation procedures, capacities, and gaps in humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts. The forum also provided an opportunity to strengthen regional harmonization for mitigation, management and co-ordinated response to natural disasters. Last year’s hurricane season highlighted the need for an

international approach to disaster preparedness and response. This seminar served to further forge and strengthen relationships that will ultimately help achieve this approach that will be critical to future response efforts. During the closing remarks, Ambassador Taglialatela expressed her gratitude for the work that’s been done over the past year to synchronize the collective lessons learned in the region and to improve disaster preparedness. She stated that her hope is “we identify strategies to bolster our areas for improvement, and further build on existing friendships, so that when we are faced with a disaster, we know how and where to turn for support”.

Ambassador Taglialatela delivering closing remarks at the seminar in Barbados.

THE STAR

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Healthcare for all has for GETTING TO KNOW YOU too long been only a dream! By Michael Walker

Barre de l’Isle.

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

Peter Josie

ave you wondered, since the most recent televised address by the prime minister and two of his Cabinet colleagues, what a national survey on healthcare might reveal? Would it be supportive of the government’s plans for healthcare reform? Or would it be as critical as the opposition on the subject, starting only after June 6, 2016? Previously, there were no factual reports on the reconstruction of St. Jude Hospital; neither was it known when the OK-EU Hospital would be fully operational. We were fed half-truths after untruths by politicians who lost their compass and their honour while still in office. Information regarding the OK-EU and St. Jude hospitals was shrouded in mystery. The silence was deafening. No one cared to tell us at the time that people were dying because of sub-standard hospitals. Indeed, no one seemed to care, least of all our health professionals. The rest of us chose to see no evil, speak no evil and hear no evil. No jackass brayed. Not even the lead ones! Two years ago, every doctor and nurse worth their salt knew that the OK-EU Hospital was far from functioning as intended. There was even less hope for the completion and re-opening of St. Jude. Our professionals chose to behave like dumb driven cattle. Not a word, not

a word, not a word was heard from them. I submit that the reason for such dumbness is that culture is more deeprooted (and influential) than education. A doctor saying, “Oh shit!” during an operation speaks volumes about his or her competence. Some did only what they were paid to do. And that did not include questioning the epitome of arrogance and ignorance that fate had imposed upon our Christian society. To add insult to injury, the best brains never thought it prudent and in the national interest to comment on the refusal of the former government to concede defeat following the 2016 elections, as popularly anticipated. There were no congratulatory messages from the fallen mighty leader and his team of losers. It was a hard-fought election campaign that resulted in a change widely prayed for. No party campaigns harder and longer, and more emotionally, than the SLP. Its last campaign threatened vengeance and war. Still, protocol and common decency demanded a nod from the vanquished. No such luck! People who have been exposed to higher levels of education owe it to the less fortunate to fearlessly and impartially comment on matters of state. Such conduct is to be expected of civilized people, whether involved in party politics or not. The political bar needs to be raised by those with the tools to do so. These advantages ought to be focused on lifting the standard of

living and healthcare. Partisan politics, prostituting via the media, should be left to the unschooled. We have focused so much attention on the politics of St. Jude and the OK-EU hospitals that we have forgotten that the most important aspect of healthcare is a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle works out cheaper than medicine or hospital charges. The media regularly remind us of this. Unfortunately, reading is not a national pastime, which may explain why a healthy lifestyle is not as emotionally charged as the political hot buttons that are St. Jude and the OK-EU. A healthy lifestyle includes what we choose to eat and drink, how often we exercise, how much sleep we get, whether we smoke or not, and so on. A friend whose opinion I respect once suggested we eat foods that are also our medicine. Yes, I know, it was put badly. But, he was on point. We ought to eat foods, not because they may be tasty but because they promote good health. By this yardstick, all sugary substances are off the table; so, too, certain carbonated drinks and over-milled, sweet and salty foods. Health-conscious people know the value of planned exercise routines. A brisk walk on a cool morning or evening, a bicycle ride, a daily swim in the sea or pool will do wonders for the way we look and feel; even simple deep breathing and calisthenics at home, when

regularly practiced, can make an appreciable difference to one’s health. Do we still need to be reminded that smoking is a killer? As is alcohol? Health insurance is vital. Making insurance available to people who could not otherwise afford it is equal to throwing a non-swimmer a lifebelt in the midst of a sea storm. The prime minister’s promise to do so has, with good reason, given his political enemies cause for pause. As we discuss St. Jude, OK-EU and the Soufriere hospitals we should not forget Victoria Hospital. Citizens need to be reminded when it will be converted into the vision described by the government. No government can abrogate its responsibility towards Victoria Hospital. We recall that health minister Romanus Lansiquot was the first who walked with his Friends of Victoria. Years ago the late minister had raised over a million dollars for renovating the old hospital; his efforts must be continued by those who have followed him. A motion should be moved in parliament to rename the remodeled hospital in memory of “Lansie”. Finally, the idea of a Caribbean-wide insurance policy to facilitate universal healthcare in Saint Lucia is an excellent one. Let those with other ideas table them, and please inform the nation when a decision on national health insurance will be announced. Healthcare for all is too important to remain the preserve of the lucky few.

2. The height of the first bend is a. 1,545 feet above the sea. b. 2,545 feet above the sea. c. 545 feet above the sea. 3. Initially the road runs from a. east to west. b. west to east. c. north to south. 4. Roads that sharply turn back on themselves are called a. wiggly curves. b. safety pins. c. hairpin bends. 5. This road runs downhill to a. Bexon. b. Thomazo. c. Grande Ravine. 6. The community at the top of the scene is part of a. Thomazo. b. Grande Riviere. c. Dennery. 7. The traffic is a. quite light. b. congested. c. quite heavy. 8. V___V___V indicates a. telephone lines. b. electric power lines. c. water pipes. 9. The summit of the Barre de l’Isle is a. on the same level as this part of the road. b. above this part of the road. c. far below this part of the road. 10. The three buildings to the left of the lower bend probably lack a. Lucelec power. b. Solar power. c. Wind energy. Answers: 1 a, 2 c, 3 c, 4 c, 5 c, 6 a, 7 a, 8 b, 9 b, 10 a.

It’s about time that the affairs of hospitals are no longer shrouded in mystery.

1. This is an aerial view of the a. eastern slope of the Barre de l’Isle. b. western slope of the Barre de l’Isle c. summit of the Barre de l’Isle.

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UNITED SAINT LUCIANS TO CELEBRATE THE BIG 40

he year 1979 marked Saint Lucia’s independence from hundreds of bloodied colonial years and will be celebrated for the fortieth time come February 2019. Celebrations are predicted to be grand. The President of the Senate of Saint Lucia, Ms Jeannine Giraudy-McIntyre, announced on Monday, in her capacity as chairperson of the 40th Anniversary Independence Planning Committee, that the planning process has officially begun. She said: “I’m excited to let you know that a secretariat will be set up at the CDF within the next couple of weeks and we will be working very closely with all the various ministries to present a very robust and exciting agenda for 2019.” The committee’s mandate is to oversee all planning and to encourage the public to engage in the upcoming jubilee. She underscored that the main focus for the committee is to decentralize celebrations and ensure that every nook and cranny is in on the action. As of now, 40th Independence Anniversary celebrations are

government, we’re now looking at how does the nation move forward. So we’re talking about a futuristic theme and that, we will reveal in a few days.” A decision on the logo is dependent on the country’s participation. The planning committee has opened an opportunity for local graphic designers to submit their ideas

The usually “stiff” Independence Youth Rally is set to be extravagant on February 22, 2019.

forecasted to begin on National Day, December 13, 2018 and end on the same date in 2019. Giraudy-McIntyre explained: “We say the celebration will take place in February but we would like anything going forward, for example, rum-food festival, jazz and so on, all to have an Independence theme to keep the whole celebration continuing for about a year.” The annual Independence Rally on February 22 is expected to be “less stiff” and

next year “emphasis will be on excitement, fun, participation by the youth”. The 40th Anniversary Independence Planning Committee has had just one inaugural meeting so far, so the theme, logo and budget have not been revealed. However, Giraudy-McIntyre promises to keep the country adequately updated as plans develop. “We’re still flushing out the theme,” said the chairperson. “Since we’re a nation grounded in our past of democracy, self-

for the next independence anniversary’s logo. “This is a call for all graphic artists to come forward and participate in the logo competition that we are holding. We’re hoping to have that wrapped up within a month and you can communicate with us right now by phone at 717 7297,” encouraged Giraudy-McIntyre.

As for an imaginably lofty budget for an entire year of celebrations, Giraudy-McIntyre says that not even an estimate can be divulged yet because of the premature stage of planning. “That’s why I didn’t mention it,” she said, “but we will be giving updates every few weeks.” ---CE

ANNUAL MEETING OF REGIONAL CARDIOLOGISTS TO BE HELD IN St. Lucia

his week over 100 cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and allied cardiovascular professionals will gather in Saint Lucia for the 33rd Annual Caribbean Cardiology Conference which will be held July 18 - 21. Attendees will include professionals from all across the Caribbean representing the region’s Dutch, English, French, and Spanish-speaking territories as well as visiting faculty from South America and the United States. The Conference theme, “Meeting the Challenges of Cardiac Care in an EverChanging Caribbean”, reflects the Caribbean Cardiac Society’s commitment to harnessing the most cutting-edge advances in cardiovascular science and medicine to benefit patients in the region. Conference faculty will include President of the American College of Cardiology, Dr. Michael Valentine; Minister of Health of the Bahamas, Dr. Duane Sands; Cardiac Surgeon, Dr. Cedric Sheffield; and the International Ambassador of the American College of Physicians. The meeting will explore the full spectrum of cardiovascular care including interventional cardiology, clinical cardiology, cardiac imaging and the epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases. Conference Chairman, Dr. Martin Didier said he was proud to be hosting the meeting in Saint Lucia and lauded the programme’s focus on improving care for all patients, pointing to a panel discussion on the need to have co-ordinated national strategic

Doctor Martin Didier delivering remarks and proud that this event will be held in Saint Lucia.

plans for the management of Acute Myocardial Infarctions (heart attacks) given that the required therapies are not yet universally available. He went on to say that recently tabled data showed the mortality for Acute Myocardial Infarction in Barbados at an alarming 37% and, although the research data is lacking, the clinical data suggests that acute heart attacks are on the increase throughout the Caribbean. Dr. Didier proposed: “A comprehensive Regional Strategic Plan for the management of Acute Myocardial Infarctions would bring us in line with developed countries which have seen their mortality from Acute MI decrease from 35-40% in the early 1970s to 8% today.”

Dr. Richard Ishmael, CCS President, added that the meeting is “an outstanding opportunity for our colleagues to engage each other and learn about the latest cardiovascular research, advanced treatments and how we can leverage these here in the region”. The conference will be officially opened on Wednesday July 18 and will include an Electrocardiogram Course, Expert Round Table for Interventional Cardiologists, and a special session on the Management of Hypertension. The Caribbean Cardiology Conference is held in a different Caribbean territory each year and will include the Charles Denbow Clinical Case Competition for young physicians doing post-graduate training.

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No Business as Usual this Carnival into a band, abusive language, threatening and disorderly behaviour and refusing to leave the band after being requested to do so by an authorized person. The fine for not adhering to this law is $1,000, or imprisonment for one year, or both. Monchery noted that the law governing behaviour at carnival time is not new, it’s just that it has seldom been

Joshua St. Aimee

s is usual at this time of year, thousands of jumping Saint Lucians will hit the streets for carnival on Monday and Tuesday. And, as usual, the main public concern will be crime management. At this week’s pre-Cabinet press briefing Police Commissioner Severin Monchery addressed the issue. So far for July, other districts, like Vieux Fort and Roseau Valley, have held their own installments of carnival. Monchery took the opportunity to commend his officers for their efforts at maintaining, so far, a semblance of order at these carnival events. As the party now moves to the capital, the police commissioner implored the public to conduct themselves in keeping with the law: “We need to ensure that we control our tempers, manage our anger and change our attitudes. This is the time for us to unite and have a good time; not to hurt one

Police Commissioner Severin Monchery (pictured) is insisting on a crime-free Carnival 2018!

another.” He continued, “More than 140 officers will see to it that carnival is effectively policed so, if you believe someone has infringed your rights, rather than taking matters into your own hands, I urge that you at least speak to a police officer and

make a report.” Monchery cautioned the public that this year’s festivities would not be business as usual. The practice of infiltrating bands will not be tolerated this year. He cited the Criminal Code of Saint Lucia, and the law that prohibits unlawful entry

implemented. This year, said the commissioner, things will be different. Time will tell if he actually follows the lead set by Mayor Peterson Francis who warned that individuals who urinate in the street would pay the price. The commissioner also had special words for organisers of so-called mass events. He expressed concern that they have grown

accustomed to advertising their promotions before their applications have been processed, clarifying that this is contrary to law. One particular event that caught his attention advertised a 3 a.m. start and a 9 a.m. finish. “This activity will not take place,” emphasised the commissioner, confirming that the police will not permit events to continue past two o’ clock in the morning.

Salvation Army says Thanks

hen the Salvation Army’s Pre-School graduating Class of 2018 took to the podium on Thursday July 5, representatives of CIBC FirstCaribbean were invited to share the stage with them. The organisation took the opportunity to recognise the bank’s years of unbroken support. The award for “outstanding contribution” to the organisation and, in particular, to the Salvation Army Child Care Centre, was presented to the bank’s Branch Manager for Saint Lucia, Mrs. Smerna Pompelis. With an annual intake of 70 children, the Salvation Army makes daycare and early childhood education accessible for three-month to five-yearold children of economically depressed families. Last year the bank’s contribution of $67,500 facilitated the upgrading of the Salvation Army pre-school and daycare programmes. The upgrading also enabled the facility to meet Ministry of Education mandated benchmarks for the early childhood learning environment. These addressed issues like air flow and quality, improved lighting, bathroom retro-fitting and modernisation, classroom layout and furnishings, and play spaces. For the last four years CIBC FirstCaribbean has been corporate champion of the Salvation Army’s annual Christmas Kettle Appeal, mobilising corporate support for the drive and using its banking halls as donation collection points. Last month the Salvation

Graduating students from the Salvation Army Pre-School leave room for future students to benefit from CIBC’s prolific support.

Army Pre-School was one of two beneficiaries of the Sandals’ Foundation’s Island Vibes initiative, which CIBC FirstCaribbean supported, as bronze sponsor, to the tune of $6,792.25. In presenting the plaque of recognition, Captain Derrick Mitchell described the relationship between the two organisations as empowering and assuring. “The bank’s ready support lessened the load involved in both funding and administering the programmes which make such a difference in the lives of many, like the Christmas Kettle Appeal and Food and Toy Drives, for example. CIBC FirstCaribbean has contributed significantly to the sustainability of our organisation’s major projects,” Captain Mitchell said, adding that the bank “is a friend indeed to our clients with their various areas of needs”. In addition to the pre-school and daycare programmes, the organisation’s annual outreach activities include a daily meal feeding

programme for the disadvantaged, monthly delivery of food baskets and parcels to the needy, a thrift shop which makes recycled clothing, furniture and household items available to needy families, emergency disaster services and outreach to housebound, disadvantaged elderly, sick and shut-in persons. Recently CIBC First Caribbean also facilitated a presentation on financial literacy for the Salvation Army’s Women’s Home League Camp, a grouping which develops the potential of women to positively influence family, friends and community, and equips them for personal growth, supporting them on issues which affect particularly women and their families. The Salvation Army has been operating in Saint Lucia since 1902. Currently there are approximately 70 children enrolled in the two programmes. The Saint Lucia Chapter of the Salvation Army was established in 1972, and has, for the past 45 years been delivering on its mission to exemplify Christian love through social support.

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july 14, 2018

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The King of Soca includes St. Lucia in His Kingdom

oca music has been an integral part of Caribbean culture since it began to sprout from the roots of calypso centuries ago. From its mid-70s incarnation in Trinidad, soca has spread from island to island, soaking up all that is good in the region, and more. It feels as though this genre of music has been around since the beginning of time and, in a certain way, it has; living through each influence that has come together to create what is now alive in Saint Lucia. No longer is soca only Trinidad’s music genre, but more of a uniform that cloaks the Caribbean. And now, soca’s events are starting to follow the melodies, as the Soca International Awards (ISA) comes to Saint Lucia for the first time since its inception in New York City in 2003. Colin Jackman, CEO of Soca International Awards, says that this is a record-breaking

‘Transcend’, soca is expanding and developing faster and further than ever before. According to the King of it all, Saint Lucia now has a crucial role in the development. “I think soca music is now going to become the sound of the Caribbean,” says King of Soca, Machel Montano. “And I say that each island is playing its part to further develop soca music or further develop the sound of the Caribbean.” Montano cites a specific initiative that he recognizes as a big improvement to cultivate the soca industry in the country. “In most recent times, in Dennery

Machel Montano teaching the crowd a thing or two about wining.

year for the ISA as it had over two million votes from the public to choose the award winners. This could very well be indicative of soca’s international growth over the years as the

soca community has found its way into sub-cultures and communities in the Caribbean and, specifically, Saint Lucia. With events such as Carnival's ‘Colour Me Red’, ‘ESCAPE’ and

WATER AND SEWERAGE COMPANY INC. (WASCO)

Expression of Interest Rehabilitation of the Access Road to the John Compton Dam (JCD) Submissions are invited from suitable qualified persons for the Rehabilitation of the Access Road to the John Compton Dam (JCD). Deadline date for the receipt for Expression of Interest (EOI) is no later 12:00 Noon on 20th July, 2018. Interested persons are requested to visit the Government of Saint Lucia Website and the National Printing Corporation (NPC) Website for a detailed description of the Expression of Interest (EOI).

Segment, I see it coming out of Saint Lucia,” he says. The Soca Kingdom press conference on Monday at Harbor Club kicked off a threeday soca stint for Saint Lucians. On Tuesday night at Sandals Grande (see coverage on page 13 of this issue), the ISA held its 15th annual award ceremony. The following night Montano performed at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground to open up a series of shows around the Caribbean that are a part of the Soca Kingdom tour. A few local performers took home some awards, further instating

Saint Lucia into the top ranks of fostering the art of soca. Pim Pim Riddim by Team Foxx won Soca Compilation Rhythm of the Year, DJ Levi Chin won International Soca DJ of the Year and Mighty and Subance won Soca Music Video of the Year (male) for their controversial Bad in Bum Bum song. According to Montano, this falls in line with what he thinks this week is all about. “Now it’s more about paying tribute to the works that the Lucians have been doing, playing their role and their part in taking soca music further,” says Montano.

What A Relief For Babonneau

fter years without a consistent supply of clean drinking water, residents of Babonneau are finally getting relief. On Thursday July 12 the Water and Sewage Company Inc. officially launched the Hill 20 ten-inch pipe and the upgrade of the Hill 20 treatment plant. More water is now being pumped from the plant, to the delight of residents in all areas of Babonneau. Work on the project began last July at a cost of $1.7 million. Four contractors worked on the project: Ned Samuel, Andrew Simon, Roy Melius and Steve Eugene, all Babonneau residents. WASCO chairman, Mr. Francis Denbow, said that completion of this project is already providing increased capacity for the major communities. He took obvious pride in declaring completion of the undertaking “with no cost overruns”. Denbow thanked residents for their patience and apologized for the hardships they had endured. A teacher at the La Guerre Primary School for eight years was thankful. She said: “Often our tanks would go dry and it would take maybe a whole day to get WASCO to give us some water.” That situation, she said, caused problems, as parents would often forget to give their children drinking water and teachers would end up having to buy it for them.

L-R: WASCO chairman Francis Denbow, Babonneau MP Ezechiel Joseph, WASCO GM, Edmund Regis at the ceremonial opening, Thursday.

“This was the situation until last week,” the teacher said. “From Thursday we’ve not had any problems. In fact we had to close our tanks because they were overflowing!” A man who has lived in Boguis for the last fifty years said: “Sometimes we used to get water about once a month or every other week. Sometimes two-three months we didn’t get water here." He had no other choice but to collect water from another district. “But for nine days now we’ve had water nonstop Present at Thursday's event was Babonneau MP Ezechiel Jospeh, also

agriculture minister. He said he was happy that, despite some unavoidable delays, the project was now operational. He gave his assurance that, as the minister with responsibility for WASCO, he was determined to do all over the island what he had done for Babonneau. He cited projects “in the pipeline”: the second phase of the Dennery-North water redevelopment project, at a cost of US$8.5 million; Bouton will receive a 50 thousand gallon water storage tank and, in Vieux Fort, a water redevelopment project valued at ECS65 million will begin in the first quarter of 2019. ---- Joshua St. Aimee

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The Jackass Is Not Only Stupid But Stubborn To A Fault R

ecently this newspaper published an item I wrote about those who pretended to be hurt by the UWP leader’s use of the word “jackass” from his party’s platform in William Peter Boulevard. Let me be clear: I am still of the opinion that the best rebuttal for one who levels the word "jackass" at another is that it takes one to know another. The other handy push back is, “Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never harm me.” And then there’s this from mothers whose children were hurt by someone calling them that other word for donkey: “Don’t worry, he’s a bigger jackass.” I return to the alleged offensive word recalling that almost from the moment he showed an interest in public office there were persons who opposed Allen Chastanet for reasons that had nothing to do with politics. They first intimated that he was an American citizen, born outside Saint Lucia, and therefore ineligible to participate in the politics of Saint Lucia. They tried to portray him as an idiot; a non-academic. In other words, a jackass. In the period leading up to the conventions of the UWP prior to 2016, certain elements within the opposition SLP canvassed against Allen Chastanet in an attempt to influence the UWP to reject him as leader. The UWP delegates denied the SLP their wish. They voted overwhelmingly for Chastanet as political leader—on three separate occasions. Interestingly, those in the SLP who most feared Chastanet, for whatever reasons, have not given up their pointless stone throwing. Those who were asleep during the creation of the St. Jude Hospital fiasco threw the first stone. They then threw stones at his family, especially his father who owned shares in a local supermarket chain. When these attacks failed they turned to health insurance and the opening of the OKEU hospital. The same group threw stones at the DSH proposals for Vieux Fort. Of late the hue and cry

of stone throwers is to free-up the herb. These stone throwers hope to defeat Chastanet by whatever means, including unthinkable insurrection. Sour grapes? As a person who loves politics above everything else, save for my children and grandchildren, I am enjoying the fact that some jackass (who knows himself) is now out to prove that Allen Chastanet is a clueless leader. They fear using the word "jackass" as it may draw too much attention to themselves. How does a failed jackass suddenly become an expert economist and a nation builder? Answer: By suggesting to Prime Minister Chastanet that he should re-impose the value added tax (VAT) to its former burdensome-self of fifteen per cent and that he uses the “new” two and onehalf per cent additional income to pay for health insurance. It reminded me of the devil’s attempt to persuade Jesus to do his bidding. Who knew the devil was so boldfaced? Have we forgotten that one of the reasons Allen Chastanet and his party were elected to office 11-6 was that he promised to reduce the VAT soon after taking office, with a view to doing away with it altogether in the long term? Meanwhile, the leader of the SLP, who, prior to 2011, described VAT as “oppressive, anti-worker and anti-poor,” was finding every reason to retain and even increase the tax. The people spoke; they wished to get the VAT load off their backs. I could not resist the temptation to follow-up on such advice with my own bit of wisdom. I wish to remind the prime minister that I was one of his staunchest supporters long before he was elected leader of the UWP. He did not ask for my support. I offered it free of charge because I love my country and thought then (and still do) that he would be the best leader to take Saint Lucia from the dumps where the misleaders in the SLP had brought it. I am a senior citizen of Saint Lucia who has served his country as a minister of the government and as a Senator

and an agronomist in the Ministry of Agriculture. I repeat here what I have previously said to both Mr. Ubaldus Raymond, Minister in the Ministry of Finance and to the prime minister himself on separate occasions. I have also written and made my views known on the question of the VAT and its reduction. The next move which the government should (must?) make on the value added tax if it is sincere about helping the working people of Saint Lucia is to lower the VAT rate to 10%. I also say that, at some point later, they should seek to lower VAT still further. I say no more on the subject until provoked. There are, of course, some jackasses from the same opposition stables who want Chastanet to step down for the good of the UWP. Perhaps they wish to have a leader they believe they can walk over at will. Again I imagine Satan tempting Jesus! That particular suggestion does not merit more than mere mention to say that, had it originated from a genuine national concern, the UWP brethren would have been offered a choice of at least three aspiring leaders from their party, from which to choose the one who would defeat their opponents at the next polls. I would support the replacement of Allen Chastanet if it became obvious that he had lost his zeal and

determination to lead the UWP to victory at the next general elections. And my suggestion for his replacement would be someone who could lead the UWP to another electoral victory over the SLP. When last I checked, this island was still a democracy. The UWP leader and the government are elected by a majority. If in 2025 or ’26 Chastanet decides to retire from politics he may still have a say in who replaces him. In the meantime, it may be best for the smart-men and savants on the other side to rebuild their party after their avaricious friends almost destroyed it. Remember, the SLP turned VAT against the poor and now they wish to fill unsuspecting heads with smoke (the herb), to fool them again. In closing, I promise to add my voice and examine the pros and cons of freeing the herb in a future article. In the meantime I venture to say that if there had not been a change of government in Saint Lucia in 2016, the rate of VAT would have risen to 18% and no jackass would have been allowed to bray. The Chastanet haters would have put their tails between their hind legs, kept their mouths shut and moved on. We ought never to forget that some folks leave university as qualified jackasses! ---Peter Josie

When campaigning for office Allen Chastanet promised the electorate he would, soon after taking office, reduce the 15 per cent VAT imposed by the Kenny Anthony Administration. His opponent promised to retain it and, in consequence, lost the election to the UWP.

FETE NATIONALE FOR BASTILLE DAY

n Saturday 14th July, France celebrates its National Day which is also known in English as “Bastille Day”. This commemorates the taking over of the Bastille, by Parisians who revolted on 14th July, 1789 and the Feast of the Federation of 14th July, 1790 which was in celebration of the first anniversary of the revolution. Both events paved the way to French democracy characterized by its motto “Liberty, Equality and Fraternity”.

A reception is taking place this afternoon at the official residence of His Excellency the French Ambassador where government officials, the diplomatic corps, private citizens including the French community, and other invited guests, will join in the celebration. Long live Saint Lucia! Vivre la France! And long live Franco-Saint Lucian friendship!

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Soca artists deserve better than current ISA The International Soca Awards was an embarrassment to soca music

aybe it was the hype. Maybe it was the luxurious Sandals Grande venue. Or maybe it’s the fact that the ISA is the only supposed notable award ceremony for soca artists; I had formed the impression the award for soca music was, in the Caribbean, the equivalent of a Grammy. I couldn’t have been more misinformed. It was as if a fat donkey in a suit had sat on an apple pie and then handed it to you two hours later, saying: “Here’s your pie.” For starters there was the planned red carpet event, scheduled for 5 p.m. on Tuesday outside the resort’s William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom. It never materialized. But no one, certainly not CEO Colin Jackman (who simply shrugged as he told an inquisitive reporter, “We were just running late,”—as if already that were not painfully obvious) told us. The area was deserted, save for some tourists on their way to another room— for a different event. At about 7 p.m. I spoke with a member of the DBS broadcasting crew. He said he had set up his equipment for the red carpet ceremony downstairs, only to have to tear it all down to relocate upstairs. We walked together to the Palladium room, where the actual award show was to be held. We entered the designated area expecting to see people mingling, enjoying drinks and an MC nervously pacing backstage. In fact the only people we encountered were Sandals employees. Attendees trailed in behind me as I examined their facial expressions, trying to decide who, among the guests and the employees, appeared more confused and embarrassed. The answer? Every face registered displeasure. A literal red carpet was rolled out at the front door walkway for the artists to walk on. It looked like it had been fished out of a KFC storage

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room. Some people took selfies against the Sandals backdrop, then took their seats where they waited for another 90 minutes for the start of the night’s programme. I positioned myself in a seat up front from which I planned to shoot some good pictures. I was quickly kicked out of that spot by an ISA member. But then an hour or so later a man was inviting everyone to please come forward, since only about a quarter of the seats were occupied. Let him suffer, I said to myself, and stayed put. Another man came to the microphone to plead with the audience not to fall asleep or leave. “Just give us ten more minutes, please.” He said he was not the night’s master of ceremonies but, throughout the first half of the show, he outspoke the official MC. All of this was most upsetting for everyone involved so I figured I’d get myself a drink to help me settle down. But, it was not an open bar and there was no food. So we all just continued to sit there. The award show started just before 9 p.m. with a beautiful rendition of the national anthem played on the steel drums. After that it was all downhill. There was no co-ordination. I seriously do not think anyone present had the slightest idea what was going on. The not-quiteMC was getting lectured by the CEO while he was on the microphone. Over and over he stopped to cross-check what he was saying. The actual MC disappeared for a while and people had to fill in. It felt like they were calling up random people to reluctantly present the awards. Six of the first seven award winners were not there so other folks stood in for them. One performer was so frustrated about the sound level that he actually interrupted his performance to flash the DJ a look set to kill. Periodically, I would look

over at Nailah Blackman, who had a breakout year in the industry in 2017. Her body language said it all. I started to think beyond the fact that this event was a joke and actually started to feel bad for the soca artists. They deserved way more. Everyone looked fantastic; they were smiling and socializing and ready to have a good night until the slow drag wore them down. These artists give so much to Caribbean culture. They are constantly creating music for people who love nothing better than partying to the sound of soca. A few try to be role models for kids; some keep visitors happy; they are almost the entire pop-culture scene in the Caribbean and they take tremendous pride in all they achieve. They deserve an award show that symbolizes appreciation of them and what they do. I can’t speak on other ISA shows staged elsewhere. But this one was unacceptable. It was no kind of Grammylike event. Not even close. So stop with the swag. Don’t book the Sandals Grande resort just to say ISA is at Sandals; don’t talk about a red carpet ceremony if there is no adequate red carpet; do not hold a press conference with no conference and don’t set up an entire ballroom of seats unless you know they will all be filled. I want the ISA to challenge itself and bring more. This isn’t supposed to be about hating on the awards. The symbolism behind the awards is great and there should absolutely be an award ceremony for these wonderful artists. These awards are 15 years in the running—long enough for organisers to have got it right by now. ISA has the potential to be an integral part of the soca and Caribbean community. This, then, is a call to action. On to next year! ---David Venn

LOCAL

CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF AUCTION

The Public is hereby notified that under the provisions of Section 134, Subsection (2) of the Customs (Control and Management) Act, Cap 15.05 of the Law of St. Lucia, dated 31st December 2008, the following will be put for Public Auction at the General Post Office on July 21st 2018 at 10:30 a.m. Please see attached list:

ITEMS

MARKS & NUMBERS

ITEMS

MARKS & NUMBERS

BACK SUPPORTS NM NORBERT COX, USED POPCORN MACHINE BERTHIA ROBERTS HIGH INTENSITY BLUB DOMINIQUE RIVERS, CASTRIES CHILDREN CLOTHING NATI GVITIA BULBS (2 BOXES) JAMAL FERANCISE CAMERA LENS (CANON) RICHARD MANGAL BALL DRESS DAMIEN YACHTS SPARES THE MOORINGS, MARIGOT BAY O’DONOHOE, RBAY HAND BLOWER GAMMA INVESTMENTS, CURLING IRON JANNAH THEODORE, RBAY GD/LANDS CHILDREN CLOTHING (NEW) GERVIN AUGUSTE, FOOTBALL BOOTS ROHAN SALTIBUS, VFORT CICERON LAPTOP USED (HP) LINNETTE FISHING SUPPLIES (HOOKS, LINES ETC) PETER HUNTE,. MONERVILLE CAR PART MATHEW SANDALS SILVER SOLDERING ROD GUSTAVE PETER, STANISLAUS VFORT CB RADIO PETER STANISLAUS UNIVERSAL PORTABLE CHARGES ANNE CARON, TOY MERVIA DUPIGNY, DENNERY SOUFRIERE WIRELESS ROUTER ANDWEENA LEONCE, CAKE BOXES PETER AUGUSTIN, GPO CASTRIES EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE DEBRA HILL, VFORT HEADSET ALLISON DELMEDE. RALPH LAUREN POLO SHIRTS NM CASTRIES CAR PART RONTGEN CHARLES MEN’S SHIRTS PIERRE LOUIS NAVARRO,CASTRIES USED WOMEN CLOTHING GILORY CHARLES PLASTIC BOTTLES COVERS JADE MOUNTAINS USED CLOTHING SHARON ANDERSON RHINESTONES SHIRLEY LOUIS TOOL (ELECTRICIAN TOOL SET) TALI ALEXANDER R/BAY BED NET NM KINDLE PJ LAWSON, CASUSED XBOX 360 DESIREE TRIES MC LAUREN, CASTRIES MIS ARTICLES DAPHNE LARCHER MOTORCYCLE BRAKES NM HEAT TRANSFERS NM AIR FRESHENERS LLANA CASMIR , BLUETOOTH HEADSET TREVOR G/ISLET ALEXANDER, VFORT CRAFT SUPPLIES (TEXTILE) PHILIPE MARIN ALTERNATOR BELT SEAN FULLER, TABLE FAN (BLIZZARD) SUE DYSON, GROS ISLET CASTRIES CRAFT RIBBONS NM CANVAS (ARTIST) SABRINA ROMULUS, ASSTD CLOTHING ALVIN VOLNEY, GPO VIDE BOUTEILLE AIRBRUSH KIT ANGELICA MEN’S CLOTHING HENRY JOSEPH CHARLEMAGNE FISHING KIT ALI BREEN WIRE TRACKER RECEIVER (TESTER) BABY BOTTLES KATANIA ELIBOX, RANDOLPH G/ISLET MAXWELL, G/ISLET STEEL TOE SHOES DONNAVAN ROUTER RODGER KERR JOHNSON,CASTRIES BLUETOOTH HEADSET SIMON CONNOLLY, WAIST TRIMMER NM LE SPORT TOY NEOMI GILLARD, NURSE CLOCKS DANIELA ETIENNE, CASTRIES THE MORNE CLOTHING (BOYS HOODIE) LOOKS MONEY, FLOOD LIGHTS LINUS CAZUBON, CASTRIES BEAUSEJOUR CAR PART HANSON NARCISSE, OLYMPUS CAMERA AJ LTD, P/SERAPHINE CASTRIES PHONE ACCESSORIES NM CAR PART ALLISTER WOMEN CLOTHING “ MOUNSEY,BELLEVUE WOMEN CLOTHING “ CELLPHONE (BLU) INGRID BRUNO, MEN’S CLOTHING “ LA PANSE MEN’S CLOTHING “ STRAW FANS ERNIE GEORGE, ASSTD CHILDREN CLOTHING “ SOUFRIERE ASSTD SHOES ” PLASTIC KITCHENWARE CAPITAL HILL REST, MIS ARTICLES N/M CASTRIES MIS ARTICLES N/M DOOR BELL FW GARDINER MIS ARTICLES N/M BIBLES (2 BOXES) N/M MEN’S CLOTHING RAYMOND SERVILLE ASSTD BOOKS N/M FOOTBALL TSHIRTS TITUS POLEON, ASSTD BOOKS N/M G/ISLET ASSTD BOOKS N/M SOLAR CHARGER CONTROL (ELECTRIC) ASSTD BOOKS N/M NICHOLAS ALFRED N/M FISHING REEL CHARLES RAWLINS, ASSTD BOOKS ASSTD BOOKS N/M VFORT N/M SNEAKERS CARLENE CHARLES, ASSTD BOOKS ASSTD BOOKS N/M VFORT ASSTD BOOKS N/M GATE PART (TRANSMITTER BOARD) ASSTD BOOKS N/M PETER ALBERTINI, ASSTD BOOKS N/M G/ISLET RECORDED CDS N/M WELDING SUPPLIES (WIRE, MACHINE ETC)

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Internet Tro Deadlier Tha O

ver the last several weeks, in the United States and in Britain, a disturbing number of celebrities have reportedly taken their own lives just when it seemed they had everything going for them. Just three weeks ago in the UK, Sophie Gradon hanged herself at her parents’ home in Newcastle. In 2016 she had been on the highly successful sex-oriented reality-TV show Love Island. It has now emerged that she had depression-related issues at the time she joined the show. The popularity she gained as part of the cast seemed to be, if only for a time, just what the doctor ordered. According to people close to her, Sophie could not handle the relative obscurity that followed her departure from Love Island. The passing of a very close friend only made things worse. Four days following her funeral last week, her boyfriend Aaron also committed suicide. According to UK press reports, he had tried to take his own life four years earlier. Moreover, that Internet trolls had contributed to both suicides. Throughout Sophie’s stint on Love Island, they had made her life a living hell, calling her ugly and useless and immoral. The trolls were relentless, even when the young woman was no longer on the show. Instagram messages from her boyfriend signaled his own demise. In the hours before he hanged himself the young boxer from Northumberland was taking on bullying Instagram trolls, one of whom accused him of desperately courting attention

and seeking to cash in on his association with his deceased girlfriend. In one instance, Aaron fired back: “It’s scumbags like you who drive people to suicide.” He also posted this message just days before his death, obviously referencing his departed 32-year-old girlfriend: “I will never stop loving you and my heart will be yours until the day I join you. I will see you very soon, my angel.” In TV interviews she gave after leaving Love Island, and on social media, Sophia described having “sold my soul to reality TV” and the terrible anguish afterwards, exacerbated by online abuse. Citing her torment, she told one reporter: “The harsh reality is it can end with a person taking their own life.” According to one mental health expert and contributor to a popular UK magazine: “Contestants on talent and reality shows sometimes seem naïve and mentally vulnerable, especially when it comes to coping with instant fame.” There was Susan Boyle who, despite having learning disabilities, appeared on “Britain’s Got Talent” in 2009 and became an overnight singing star. What is not generally known is that just days after winning the BGT final she suffered a breakdown and was admitted to a psychiatric clinic. As far as is known, no suicide in Saint Lucia has been attributed to the rigors associated with being a Carnival Queen Pageant contender. Or with being a contestant in a bitch-bites-bitch Miss World or Miss Universe event. But it

can’t be easy jumping from behind a Massy check-out counter or some government department desk onto a lit-up stage somewhere in Europe, the United States, China or Japan. Imagine face-offs with far more experienced contestants who’ve been preparing all their lives for an event, most of them generously sponsored by worldfamous names in the fields of cosmetics, swimwear, women’s footwear, dentistry and formal wear. That is what awaits our candidates, some with just one pageant under their belts, never having stood—let alone performed—before an audience of more than 300 people, mainly friends and relatives. Miss St Lucia-World is expected by the folks at home to exude movie-star selfconfidence while competing overseas, no matter that in her Gregory Lorde creation she feels more like Cinderella at the moment that fabled clock struck midnight. Imagine yourself in high-jumper Levern Spencer’s shoes as she starts the run she hopes will end with her soaring with the grace of an egret over the bar. She knows millions of foreign eyes are upon her but what she actually feels is the heat emanating from the relative few eyeballs on the faraway rock that is her homeland. Regardless of how well she may have performed on her previous two or three outings, all of that will be instantly forgotten should she fail to rise to the particular occasion—for whatever unavoidable reason.

These Queen Show finalists may be all smiles but they alo Yes, so consider the killing stress our star high-jumper must endure before and during every meet. Picture yourself as Levern Spencer, a Carnival Queen contestant or a Miss World fantasist fallen short of the local expectation. Imagine the social media comments from know-alls who know not that they know shit! Perhaps now you begin to understand why so many desperate young people, all of them permanent Internet residents, eventually decide there is only one way out of their troll-besieged world. We can only conjecture about the shocking suicides

reported right here in Saint Lucia, without official comment. Do we have any idea how a vulnerable young woman or man might feel after their sicko former BFF has threatened to share with the whole wide world what was meant to be between two individuals who cared about each other? Blackmail, whether merely threatened or carried out, is among the most dangerous of serial killers. Of course, not all victims of blackmail and character assassination—chief among the assassins being the earlier cited anonymous Internet trolls—

commit suicide. Some simply become other than they had been before the trolls took their lives away from them. Some inexplicably turn on themselves and on innocent others. Some become withdrawn, hateful, having taken permanent residence under an impenetrable cloud of depression . . . with only one way out. I am reminded of a recent Whatsapp exchange with a man I’ve never met. We’ve been texting each other for over a year now, usually about what he refers to as “affairs of state.” I hesitate to call him a friend, even though by today’s standards he qualifies. For me, friendship demands one face-to-

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rolls By Far han Boloms!

they alone know the rigors of pageant preparations, and the effects after the curtains have come down! face encounter, at the very least. In our last convo he expressed touching sadness over what he considered “more evidence that the local malaway will never amount to anything in this country, regardless of which party is in office. He has to leave Saint Lucia to get somewhere.” His tale of woe went something like this: A CXE student in Trinidad had done well at math and the appreciative authorities over there had made “a real big thing of that.” Meanwhile, in Saint Lucia there was this young girl from Saltibus who had scored 100% in math. “I understand she was not the

only one on the island to score as high,” said my Whatsapp friend via VN (voice note), “but why didn’t the Saint Lucia government say something about her achievement? Is it because she comes from a rural community?” I had no useful response to his final question. Not that it mattered. He’d already manufactured his own. “If she was from some school in Castries,” he went on, “you’d have heard all about it. She would’ve been on TV, they would have everything nice to say about her and her school.” I couldn’t argue with that

but I had a question of my own: “Why would it matter to the government which school produced the year’s best math student? I imagine the government would brag about the quality of education it provides, regardless.” His response: “Lol. That’s true.” He had another question: “I was told that for a cricketer to make it to the West Indies side he must first attend the cricket academy in the north of the island. This kind of discrimination is what’s holding back our country.” My response: “Have you

verified that story about the cricketers?” He had not, he admitted, “but now that you mention it I will check,” “Good idea,” I said. He returned to his starting point: “I know the parents of the young Saltibus student. I know them well. They are nice hardworking people. Just because they come from a rural area . . .” “You’re doing it again,” I pointed out, “getting all emotional about things you’ve not bothered to verify. Is it just possible there are workers at the education ministry who can’t be bothered to carry out instructions? What’s stopping

the parents from publicizing their daughter’s achievement? They can call the TV stations, they can call a reporter. Have they done that?” “Lol. You have a point there, true. I will ask them.” I pounced again, this time with vicious intent: “Are you telling me you know them well, that you are concerned about their daughter but you’ve not bothered even to find out whether the Saltibus couple want the publicity you say their child has been denied?” His reaction: “Lool. You have a point there, true. What more can I say?”

Half an hour later he texted again: “You know, if I was the prime minister of this country, first thing I would do is borrow the money to pay the public servants off and send all of them home, even if I bankrupt the country.” I didn’t have the heart to tell him Saint Lucia had long been, and will remain bankrupt for the foreseeable future. Instead, I responded with a oneword text message: “Lol.” There you have it folks, the anatomy of fake news. It could’ve been worse, however. My Whatsapp, er, correspondent, might’ve called Newsspin. Or What Makes Me Sad. Or that other show famous for helping the helpless. Next thing you know, some organization would be babbling all over the airwaves about race and victimization and nepotism and meetings with the prime minister canceled at the last minute. In the melee the doubtless proud parents of a Saltibus math whizz would, willingly or otherwise, be undergoing a red or yellow makeover. The Fakebookers, armed to the teeth with mindless memes and clips egregiously edited, would soon be putting new faces on the pretend issue. For the trolls, it would be open season on the presumed most vulnerable at the education and sports ministries, special attention reserved for Allen Chastanet. Before you know it, the whole mess would’ve metamorphosed into altogether unsubstantiated stories about who slept with whom, on how many occasions, under whose house . . . Was there ever a more exciting time for snakes in the bush? By the way, a troll is defined as “a mythical, cave-dwelling being depicted in folklore as either a giant or a dwarf, typically having a very ugly appearance.” These being the days of miracles and wonder, it is conceivable that trolls now inhabit their caves only when there’s nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. At any rate, so I read on the Internet!

16 LOCAL

july 14, 2018 THE STAR

www.stluciastar.com

Part Choice, part Circumstance: Bexon Residents' eternal Dispute with Mother Nature, Themselves and Government wet bellybuttons. For one Bexon resident, the height of the water reaches far past his bellybutton as he points to a spot on his exon residents have door frame, level with his chest. the profoundly unlucky Francis John has lived in circumstance of living in Bexon for over eight decades. one of the most flood-prone At 84 years of age, he still areas in all of Saint Lucia and, judging by the volume of memes lives in the same region he’s been nestled in his whole life. floating around the internet, A rising water level is more maybe even the Caribbean. It’s precarious for him because become cliché, almost, to talk he is in a wheelchair, with two about Bexon’s dysphoria and amputated legs. Little floods bring it up in the conversation happen often at his house but, of things that need to be fixed between Francis and his helper, in Saint Lucia. Statements Mary Alphonse, they are able to such as “Bexon always vacuum and push the water out floods" or "Bexon is known for flooding" or "That’s just Bexon” when it’s not too threatening. When it does get serious, they normalize a detrimental and have to salvage whatever they frustrating disaster that occurs can and bunk at their friend’s more often than is generally house until the water level realized. Having a leaky roof is decreases. “There is nothing unsettling; imagine that leak we can do to protect ourselves,” expanding throughout your entire home, letting in water up he says. This situation, by no to your bellybutton. No one likes means, is an outlier. In Bexon, By David Venn

building houses on stilts is a necessity to protect against water damage. Francis says that in the 80 years he has been living in the region, nothing sustainable has ever been done by any government and the problem is worsening. “Everything that the government tries, it doesn’t work for the people,” he says. The present administration cannot take complete blame. Says Nicole McDonald, the prime minister’s Senior Communications Officer, the budget for the project was available to the previous administration, yet it sat idle with no plan and no further instructions or details to solve the problem. She says that it is completely unacceptable and that there are no excuses for the procrastination. That is why the Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project was

With a proper drainage plan, building houses on stilts will become an exterior design trend rather than a necessity for protection.

introduced in February of this year. The DVRP is a national project set out to do exactly what is exhibited in the title: reduce disaster vulnerability. It is a comprehensive plan that specifies solutions to major components, that will further divide and narrow into subcategories. The components are made to create a fullcircle solution to this national dilemma. The first focuses on risk reduction and adaptation measures; for example, rerouting or rehabilitating preexisting pipelines and drainage systems. Component two is about assessing and applying climate risk information. This is for better understanding what we face as an Atlantic island, and the probably inherent crises that come with that. Component three is about financing climate adaptation, which is for available loans and funding. Component four pertains to emergency response, and component five is essentially about enforcing this plan and making sure it carries on to completion. On February 20, the consultancy group hired by the DVRP signed the contract and, with that, meetings were underway. Cheryl Mathurin, project manager for the DVRP, says they are currently entering the second phase of the project, and are waiting for the consultancy firm to get back to the community on the solutions. If the community believes the solutions can be applied

practically, the project will move forward come late August/early September. According to Bexon residents, this is exactly the process that for years they have needed. After all, they are the ones actually living the misery, and they have a flurry of potential solutions. Some say that the river needs to be widened and cleaned, others that it needs to be completely re-routed from the top of the mountain that the rain rolls down, and government should clean out the whole river, not just in certain areas. The residents complain that there is “no vision, no-one to supervise works being done". The DVRP is aiming to change that. Says Mathurin: “We are trying as much as possible to get community involvement and community participation, based on the problems they experience.” Well, residents like Francis have lots of ideas, but obviously cannot complete the work. “To be honest, sir,” he said, “I am not an engineer.” Which is fine, because Lester Arnold is an engineer, and he is leading the group of appropriately qualified personnel that will formulate the solutions for the area. Arnold says enforcing fluctuations in the river with retainer walls to help manoeuvre water out of the region efficiently is a possible solution. In addition, they are looking to expand the capacities of existing drainage structures. He says the present drains are inadequate. But this is just the

beginning, and only part of the solution. Arnold explains that there is an area in the budget for tools and training, so that residents can learn to maintain the community and drains. Mathurin says that, in relation to Bexon, the DVRP wants small-sized contractors to carry out the work and for engineers to help train the community on better waste management practices. For example, how to properly discharge water from rooftops. The idea of training the community is needed. Even community members realize they need to take better care of their drainage system. One Saint Lucian who works in the area says she recalls seeing refrigerators and stoves in the river bank. Francis also says it’s not only circumstance, but that a lot of the problems are caused by the residents carelessly maintaining their community. For the success of the DVRP, everyone involved has to be committed. The consultants will have to provide proper and sustainable solutions for the mass flooding and the residents will have to manage what will be created. The next meetings have been scheduled for August. So, for every Bexon resident who has ever lost a couch, treasured picture, a favourite pair of shoes or way more in a flood, this is the time to attend meetings. Make your voice heard and solve the problems that have plagued the region from as far back as the octogenarian Francis can remember.

THE STAR

july 14, 2018

www.stluciastar.com

LOCAL

If you remove the 'd' from drum, what do you have?

he first inaugural Antigua and Barbuda International Folk Dance and Music Festival was held in Antigua & Barbuda from June 25 to July 2, 2018. It is not the first time Antigua & Barbuda has taken the lead in the arts, or even in celebrating folk dance. Although, with the looming threat of civil unrest in Barbuda, this festival saw many victories, as challenges did not thwart the plans of the department of culture. The Senator within the Ministry of Sports, Culture and National Festivals in Antigua and Barbuda, honourable Daryll Mathew confessed, “I appreciate the art; I am not artistic.” The minister lent a diligent ear to the proposal of a regional dance theatre company, arising from this first inaugural rencontre, clarifying and fortifying the need for a higher quality product for the tourism sector as well. The candour and vision of the ministry was further emphasized by the permanent secretary within the Antigua, Barbuda Ministry of Sports, Culture and Festival events Mrs. Sarah Stuart-Joseph and Ms Sandra Joseph. The PS made it her duty to attend every event relating to the festival, remarking on the areas for improvement, but lauding the excellence, artistry and professionalism of the technical and artistic displays. Richard Ambrose of Saint Lucia came up for high note in his use of projected video and his dramaturgy in dance at that meeting. The direction of culture is a serious affair in Antigua & Barbuda. The Director of Culture, Mr. Vaughn Walter M.B.E., himself an avid theatre enthusiast, not only staged a play, but orchestrated that the co-ordination of the festival and amenities met with unparalleled support for the dance festival. His unexpected appearance at the opening ceremony (having moments before, arrived from a Carifesta 2021 planning meeting) lent words of strength, support and an almost battle cry signalling the glory and urgency of arts development within the region. He reassured his subordinates of his commitment to serve the arts: ” I have a heart for culture.” But it is essentially Mr. Roy Gilbert Laudat, Director of Events within the cultural division, who convinced the overseas tutors to come to Antigua & Barbuda for this inaugural festival. Mr. Laudat’s years of experience, knowledge and work in the arts has taken him all over the world and, though it is a daunting task, he has not waivered in motivating his staff, countrymen, young artistes and others in the region, helping them realize that there is much to gain in ‘perfecting one’s craft’. His invitations extended as far south as Trinidad and Tobago, and as far north as Toronto, Canada. The intoxication of the dance, the music, the drum whet the entire festival. But one lasting impression will be that of the choreography earthed by Dr. Ian Douglas and a band of dancers. Local dancers of Antigua, Barbuda and tutors including Karen Brookes of Passion de danse and Tavia Hunte of Shiva dance academy, along with Thyanna Sebastien of Elite dancers and some young dancers who participated in the workshop, presented a life-like story. Look out Caribbean because the ‘Ethnic Folk Arts ensemble’ strips bare, removing the ‘d’, extracting the rum, the essence of Caribbean aesthetics, laying it bare, challenging the audience through sophisticated tableaux and contemporary vocabulary set in traditional musings. Their next stop is Saint Lucia.

Left to right: Allison Trunzer, Dr. Ian Douglas, Senator Daryll Mathew, Gilbert Laudat, and Richard Ambrose who participated in the first International Folk Dance and Music Festival.

Department of Health & Wellness Public Health Board

LIST OF EATING ESTABLISHMENTS AND BAKERIES LICENSED from January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018 UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACT CHAPTER 11.01 (Revised 2001). Name of Establishment Location

Name of Establishment Location

Aggie’s Place Bella Rosa, Gros Islet Agnellus Alfred Snackette Union, Castries Alize Inn Mongiraud, Gros Islet Andrea’s Catering Service Corinth, Gros Islet Anse Chastanet Hotel Anse Chastanet, Soufriere Artisal Pastry and Catering Services Union Terrace, Castries Auberge Seraphine Vigie, Castries Banana Countree Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Baron Foods Clubhouse St. Jude’s Highway, Vieux Fort Bay Gardens Beach Resort Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Bay Gardens Hotel Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Bay Gardens Inn Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Bel Jou Hotel La Pansee, Castries Big Chef Steakhouse Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Blue Monkey Café Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Bottle & Spoon Rodney Bay Marina, Gros Islet Bonne Baguette Café Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Boucan by Hotel Chocolat Rabot Estate, Soufriere Brenda Edwin Restaurant and Bar Fond Assau, Babonneau Calabash Cove Resort and Spa Bonaire Estate, Marisule, Gros Islet Cap Maison Cap Estate, Gros Islet Clear Sky Snackette & Bar Beanfield, Vieux Fort Coco Resorts Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa Beanfield, Vieux Fort Coconutz Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Compton’s Entertainment Centre Morne Du Don, Castries Country Breeze Creole Restaurant & Bar Rabot Estate, Soufriere Cream N Bean Bois D’Orange, Gros Islet Creative Catering The Morne, Castries Dee’s Cuisine Laborie Highway, Vieux Fort Déjà Vu Restaurant & Cocktail Bar Bay Street, Soufriere Delirius Ltd. Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Domino’s Pizza William Peter Boulevard, Castries Domino’s Pizza Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Domino’s Pizza Caribbean Cinemas, Choc Estate, Castries Dr. Freezers Ice cream Parlour & Fast Foods Baywalk Mall, Rodney Bay, Gros Islet East Winds Resort Ltd. Labrelotte Bay, Marisule, Gros Islet Eugenie’s Delight Vigie Beach Facility, Castries Falcon Holdings- Rituals Coffee House George FL Charles Airport, Castries Falcon Holdings- Rituals Coffee House Caribbean Cinemas, Choc Bay, Castries Falcon Holdings- Rituals Diner Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Falcon Holdings- Rituals Sushi Rodney Bay Marina, Gros Islet Fantastic Cuisine Bar and Grill Marisule, Gros Islet Fedo’s New Venture New Development, Soufriere Fish Lovers Takeaway Marchand Road, Castries Flamingo Restaurant William Peter Boulevard, Castries Fox Groove Mon Repos, Micoud Gaiety Parlour William Peter Boulevard, Castries Georgiana Restaurant and Lounge Grand Riviere, Gros Islet Goddard Catering Island Deli Landside Hewannora International Airport, Beanfield, Vieux Fort Goddard Catering Island Deli Departure Hewannora International Airport,

Beanfield, Vieux Fort Good Eats Ltd (Subway) Jeremie Street, Castries Good Eats Ltd (Subway) Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Good Fortune/Guang Zhou Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Gordon’s Refreshment House Babonneau Harbor Club Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Hedwig’s Place Jn. Baptiste Street, Castries Indian Chef Restaurant Gablewoods South, La Tourney, Vieux Fort Island Breeze Bar & Grill Beanfield, Vieux Fort Iyanola Executive Lounge Hewannora International Airport, Beanfield, Vieux Fort Jade Mountain Anse Chastanet, Soufriere JJ’s Paradise Marigot, Castries June’s Catering Service Bois D’Orange, Gros Islet Keebees Sports Bar and Restaurant Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Key Largo Rodney Heights, Gros Islet Kings Sports Bar #11 St. Louis Street, Castries Ladera Resort Rabot Estate, Soufriere La Monique Restaurant Marigot, Castries Leone Place Fond Assau, Babonneau Lyd’s Bistro Mongiraud, Gros Islet Marie’s Local Cuisine Diamond Estate, Soufriere Martha’s Tables Malgretoute, Soufriere Masala Bay Marigot Bay, Castries Monica Richard Snackette Massade, Gros Islet Monte’s Restaurant & Bar Vendor’s Arcade Neira’s Kitchen Limited Citrus Grove, Laborie New Ocean Louisville, Vieux Fort New Town Restaurant #33 Jeremie Street, Castries Nini’s Restaurant Vide Boutielle, Castries Nuwiture Cork Grande Riviere, Gros Islet Nyaim’s Restaurant and Bar William Peter Boulevard, Castries Orlando’s Restaurant Fond Benier, Soufriere Palm Haven Hotel Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Palton’s Place Savannes Bay, Vieux Fort Papillon by Rex Resorts Reduit Beach Avenue, Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Patties Plus Babonneau Pink Papaya Restaurant & Lounge Baywalk Mall, Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Pizza Lova Choc, Castries PJ’s Restaurant Up The Line, Micoud Plass Mouvma Restaurant & Bar Carellie, Castries Phoenix Garden Blue Coral Mall, Castries Phoenix Garden Chausee Road, Castries Prudee’s House of Roti Massade, Gros Islet Real Foods Inc. Kentucky Fried Chicken Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Real Foods Inc. Kentucky Fried Chicken Micoud Street, Castries Real Foods Inc. Kentucky Fried Chicken Choc Estate, Castries Real Foods Inc. Kentucky Fried Chicken New Dock Road, Vieux Fort Regal Foods #13 Bridge Street, Castries Regal Foods #42 Micoud Street, Castries Rendezvous Hotel Malabar Beach, Castries Roadside Munchies Bonne Terre, Gros Islet Roti on Wheels Bonne Terre, Gros Islet Roti Palace Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Royal Palm Grill and Bar Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Royal St. Lucia Resort and Spa Reduit Beach, Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Sun Restaurant Chisel Street, Castries Sandals Golf & Country Club Cap Estate, Gros Islet

Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa and Beach Resort Pigeon Island Causeway, Gros Islet Sandals Halcyon Choc Bay, Castries Sandals Regency Golf Resort and Spa at La Toc La Toc Road, Castries Sea Town Brazil Street, Castries Serenity by Coconut Bay Beanfield, Vieux Fort Soufriere Hotwire Rides Morne Coubrail Estate, Soufriere Spice of India Baywalk Mall, Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Spinnakers Restaurant Reduit Beach, Rodney Bay, Gros Islet St. James Club Morgan Bay Choc Bay, Castries Stonefield Resort (Mango Tree Restaurant) Stonefield Estate, Soufriere Stony Hill La Feuille, Monchy, Gros Islet Sue Ben Restaurant & Bar Commercial Street, Vieux Fort Tapas on the Bay Rodney Bay, Gros Islet The Back Stage Pass #73 Brazil Street, Castries The Beacon Restaurant Colombette, Soufriere The Body Holiday St. Lucia Cap Estate, Gros Islet The Landings Resort and Spa Pigeon Island Causeway, Gros Islet The Pelican Clarke Street, Vieux-Fort The Reef Restaurant & Bar Sandy Beach, Beanfield Vieux-Fort Theresa Duncan Snackette Massade, Gros Islet The White House Restaurant & Bar Corner of Maryann and Coral Street, Castries Ti Café Snackette Pointe Seraphine, Castries Ti Kaye Resort & Spa Anse Cochon, Anse La Raye Ti Tak #32 Bridge Street, Soufriere Treasure Bay Casino Restaurant Baywalk Mall, Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Triangle Pub Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Villa Des Piton Lower La Haut Road, Soufriere Whispers Inc. Fond Benier, Soufriere Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort Labrelotte Bay, Marisule, Gros Islet Wingz n Tingz Seagrape Avenue, Rodney Bay, Gros Islet

Bakeries & Bakery Outlets Cadasse Bros Enterprises Ltd. Cadasse Bros Enterprises Ltd. Cadasse Bros Enterprises Ltd. Cadasse Bros Enterprises Ltd. Cadasse Bros Enterprises Ltd. Creole Bakery El Elyon V&S Bakery Everfresh Bakery Ideal Bakery Ideal Bakery Ideal Bakery Ideal Bakery Juliana’s Place Kasion’s Bakery Monrose Bakery Morne Bakery St. Lucia Ltd.

Marchand, Castries Corner of Mongiraud and Brazil Streets, Castries Corner of Maryann and Chisel Streets, Castries Darling Road, Castries Chausee Road, Castries Massade, Gros Islet Cedar Heights, Vieux-Fort New Dock Road, Vieux Fort Waterworks Road, Castries Darling Road, Castries #4 Coral Street, Castries #42 Brazil Street, Castries Caye Manje, Monchy, Gros Islet Black Bay, Vieux Fort #6 Coral Street, Castries Morne Fortune, Castries

18 ENTERTAINMENT

july 14, 2018 THE STAR

www.stluciastar.com

Kiddies

carnival

Colourful wings and vibrant waistline!

Cute kids and eye-popping costumes, Could we ask for more?

I know, my wheels are fancy.

Quite possibly, the biggest backback we've ever seen.

We can dance too, even if we're kids! A little help goes a long way!

I'm not too litle to get in on the action.

She's letting the music take control!

Horizontal, vertical or polka dots, we have it all !

2 0 1 8

Farewell, until next Kiddies Carnival!

THE STAR

july 14, 2018

www.stluciastar.com

entertainment 19

Cricket Stadium tranforms into a Soca Kingdom for a Night S

omeone once told me he knew only two Soca dancing needs to be an Olympic sport. people who disliked soca music and he gave them as wide a berth as he could. He reasoned: there had to be something very wrong about a person who did not enjoy a good melody and a call from a soca singer to loosen up and enjoy life, if only for a few minutes! Hundreds came out on Wednesday night to do just that at the Daren Sammy Cricket Stadium, attracted by the Dennery Segment and soca kings Machel Montano and Superblue. Three things I’ve now learned: people love a good DJ but when they’ve been promised a live performance they’ll settle for nothing less. Two and a half hours into the event on Wednesday the fans were still being bombarded by DJs appealing to “single and independent ladies” to put their hands up. Meanwhile the ladies, with clenched fists aloft, were impatiently demanding that the show get underway. Eventually Dennery Segment delivered their extremely high-energy cypher. One by one they burst onto the stage: Miigos & Mata, Blackboy, Ezra d'Fun Machine, Kisha, Big Sea, Mighty & Surbance, Dennery Segment(DS) artists line up for a bow after the first ever DS cypher. among others, to estatic cheers. The second thing I learned, judging by crowd reviews: cyphers— APPLY NOW FOR SEPTEMBER 2018 INTAKE which give artists the opportunity to perform a few prepared lines—work well for rappers. But for Dennery Segment lovers, it was the whole thing or nothing. No halfway measures for them; no titillation sans climax! Another DJ break followed and, though his reggae, dancehall and soca fusion was welcomed, No. 1 in the UK for Value-added after an hour or so the crowd let it be known that (The Guardian, 2017) they really had turned out mainly for the show’s Top 10 UK University headliner: “We want Machel! We want Machel!” (Graduate Employability) The star opened his set with a solo rendition of the song that had inspired the event's title, “Soca Kingdom”. The moment he hit the stage, BSc Nursing Studies all sins were forgiven. Not for nothing is Machel “Monk” Montano considered the soca artist of the (Top-up) generation. The man makes the energizer bunny • Final year completion seem like he needs a picker-upper. With carefully degree for registered nurses. choreographed moves, crowd engagement and Minimum 12 months. great vocals, Machel gave the fans what they • ENU is the largest provider needed—and more. of healthcare education in The third thing I learned on Wednesday night: Scotland. the soca king knows exactly where the ladies’ Over 2,000 students on ENU • Machel Montano (left) welcomed Motto on stage for a quick Trini-Lucian buttons are and, boy oh boy, no one knows better programmes across the soca combo. how to press those buttons. In no time at all, Caribbean. the ladies were trying to claw their way to the • US$500 bursary for stage, evidently determined to shake what their September intake. mamas gave them alongside the soca magnet. • US$4,800 (less bursary) The particular pleasure went to Motto, Teddyson payable on a modular basis. John and Ricky T who, to the crowd's delight, all joined Machel on stage. The night was topped off Edinburgh Napier University 100% FLEXIBLE by another rendition of Soca Kingdom, this time Online programmes are featuring Superblue himself. No doubt, despite 100% ONLINE endorsed by the gripes throughout the night, the crowd left pumped St Lucia Department 100% RELEVANT of Education for the upcoming carnival parades. ---Keryn Nelson Regional Office: 27499 Riverview Center Blvd., Suite 223,

www.seidegrees.com

Soca Kingdom crowd at the height of their enjoyment.

Bonita Springs, Florida 34134, USA • Tel +1 239 444 4399 • Fax +1 239 444 4398 • info@SEIdegrees.com

20 local

Curtailing Human Trafficking before it becomes a Major Issue

n an effort to reinforce precaution, the Ministry of Home Affairs has taken on the task of briefing the public on the telltale signs of human trafficking. On Monday the delegation invited participants from the Department of Labour, Office of the Attorney General, National Youth Council, Family Court, Uptown Girls' Garden Centre and members of the Prevention of Human Trafficking Office Task Force, among others, to its Consultation Workshop for Developing Standard Operating Procedures on Human Trafficking. The acting Home Affairs permanent secretary Elizabeth Bailey later told the STAR: “Through this workshop, people will learn how to identify possible signs of human trafficking in their designated departments and how they should act in instances that seem suspicious.” According to Bailey, potential victims are often first sighted at the airport or on the street. She said the Home Affairs department is working on establishing an emergency

july 14, 2018 THE STAR

www.stluciastar.com

Coco Palm Receives BA Holidays Award

oco Palm is delighted to announce that it has received from British Airways Holidays recognition for Customer Service Excellence for 2017. BA Holidays is committed to providing high quality holidays. In 2017 it began working with Reevoo, an independent and impartial third-party company, to collect reviews from its customers. Reviews are only collected from genuine British Airways Holidays customers. Customers are asked to score hotels based on location, service, cleanliness, Manning the dissemination of information for the Home Affairs office's seventh and sleep quality, as well as workshop was Ms. Ofelia Da Silve, a TIP Expert and IOM consultant. giving an overall quality score. Of the 12,000+ hotels that BA Trafficking in Persons mandate.” Holidays works with worldwide, hotline dedicated to reporting and fulfill some of Saint Internationally, tier suspected cases of human Lucia's mandates as a tier two it awarded 350 Customer rankings, which go from one trafficking—something they member of the International Excellence Awards. hope to implement in the Organization for Migration. This to three, with three being the “Coco Palm has been best, are used to determine near future. In the meantime, workshop, in particular, was recognised by British Airways a country’s full compliance Saint Lucians are advised to funded by the United States Holidays customers for contact 911 to relay any related Embassy. The other workshops with anti-human trafficking providing a high-quality recommendations. Saint Lucia information they have. The have been joint-funded by the customer experience. We are is currently at tier two. police will handle it from there. government of Saint Lucia and delighted to let you know that The latest Consultation Claudia Mon Louis, the International Organization you are one of our 350 highest Workshop concluded on also of Home Affairs, added: for Migration (IOM). We also rated hotels in the world for “This week's is the seventh have had support from the ACP- Tuesday evening. 2017. Overall score for Coco installment in a series of EU Migration Action in terms Palm: 9 out of 10,” said Claire --- Keryn Nelson Bentley, Managing Director of workshops to build awareness of co-funding and meeting our

Coco Palm's General Manger Jean St Rose proudly dispays the Customer Excellence Award.

British Airways Holidays. General Manager, Mr Jean St Rose, proudly received the honours on behalf of the Coco Palm team saying, “It is our team work, hard work and dedication which makes me proud to receive such recognition from BAH”. St Rose went on to say, “This means all the more knowing Coco Palm, competing on a global scale, was recognised for their customer service to our valued guests.”

THE STAR

health 21

www.stluciastar.com

july 14, 2018

KIM’S KORNER

Tennis Anyone?

or tennis fans everywhere, Wimbledon is an important date in their calendar. For many, the very idea of Wimbledon conjures up visions of strawberries and cream. For a relative few, however, what will come to mind is the problem medically known as lateral epicondylitis, commonly referred to as tennis elbow. By whatever name, it defines inflammation of the tendons on the outside aspect of the elbow, caused by over-use and repetitive movements. Tennis is not the only cause though. In fact, only about 5% of tennis players will experience symptoms and usually only those that play more than three times a week, and for longer than 30 minutes’ duration. Any repetitive activity that uses the same action can cause LE; for example: electricians, mechanics, gardeners, painters and carpenters often complain of the same symptoms. The

most common symptoms are weak grip, pain or burning felt on the outside of the arm, sometimes radiating up to the shoulder or down to the wrist. Pain is usually worsened by shaking hands, holding a racket, turning a screwdriver or wrench or any gripping movement There are four known stages and it is usually not until a person reaches the fourth stage that they seek help: • Stage 1 – Slight pain a few hours after the aggravating activity. • Stage 2 – Pain immediately after the aggravating activity. • Stage 3 – Pain during the aggravating activity, which increases in intensity after the activity. • Stage 4 – Constant pain which limits all activity. The management of LE depends on the stage and severity of symptoms. The first treatment protocol should always be PRICE:

PROTECTION: The best way to protect the muscles and joints, reduce pain and speed up healing in LE is to use a brace. In most cases a simple tennis elbow strap will give relief from symptoms and allow pain-free movement. The strap should be placed just below the area of pain. It acts to reduce the tension on the muscles, allowing more function whilst the injured area is recovering. REST: Avoid any movement that reproduces your pain. It does not mean stop moving completely. Quite often, total immobilisation can cause more disability. If you are able to move without worsening your symptoms, then keep moving. Wearing a brace may help but try to avoid extreme movements, overbending or stretching. ICE: As soon as you are able to, use ice. Ice can help to reduce

pain and swelling. After the initial injury it is recommended to use ice for 20 minutes ever 2-3 hours. COMPRESSION: Wearing an elastic bandage can help reduce swelling and also provide support. ELEVATION: If you find your elbow is swelling up, rest with you arm supported higher than your shoulder. This will assist the body’s circulation, reducing the amount of fluid accumulating at the point of injury.

can follow to help prevent the problem: • Avoid repetitive movements. • Take regular breaks. • Where it is not possible to avoid risks, minimise the effects where possible or wear a brace. • When using tools, use ones with a wider handle, whether it is a tennis racket or a hammer. You can also add padding around the handle to

If your symptoms do not resolve, physiotherapy can help but in some cases an injection may be needed or, in extreme cases, surgery. Whether you have suffered from tennis elbow before or just want to minimise the risk of developing this painful condition, there are steps you

absorb the shock. • When playing tennis, try to use a two-handed back hand. • Do strengthening and stretching exercises on a regular basis. There are other conditions that have similar symptoms so it is recommended that you seek advice from your doctor or physiotherapist to rule out any other cause or serious pathology.

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

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THE FUNNIES!

Pinehill Funwalk 2018 – Going Beyond the Fun

Sponsors and Organisers of the 2018 Pinehill Funwalk at the launch of the event.

Cartoon by: Clovis Brown for the Jamaica Obverver.

Entrepot Secondary School Represented at Junior Achievement Global Youth Forum

ive Excellers team members of the Entrepot Secondary School, accompanied by Junior Achievement (JA) Teacher Advisor Ms. Jancel Mater, left Saint Lucia on Thursday July 5 for Mexico to participate in the Junior Achievement Global Youth Forum (JA GYF). The Saint Lucian team joined approximately 500 participants representing 43 different countries at the Hotel Hacienda Cocoyoc, Morelos, Mexico for one week of world-class keynote speakers, alumni panels, entrepreneurship workshops, business competitions, recreational activities, team-building activities and more. The inaugural JA GYF, organised by the Junior Achievement Worldwide in collaboration with JA Mexico, marked the beginning of an 18-month-long JA Centennial celebration that not only inspired participants but also empowered and prepared them for their future careers and endeavours. Additional activities and training for teachers, chaperones, JA staff, board

The five Entrepot Junior Achievers and their teacher Ms. Jancel Mater at a Scotiabank tour in Mexico.

members and other non-student attendees kept all participants engaged. The Entrepot Secondary School emerged winners of the 2nd Annual JA-Scotia Bank Innovation Camp Challenge with its Bank Your Selfie promotion and received an all-expensespaid trip to the GYF. The Excellers toured Scotia Bank, Mexico and met with senior management executives. They showcased Saint

Lucia’s culture and history through song, dance, wearing the national dress and proudly displaying the Saint Lucian flag whenever and wherever the opportunity presented itself. The forum concluded with a gala dinner and talent show competition on Thursday July 12. The board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce and JA congratulate Excellers on their achievements.

he Pinehill Funwalk is back for yet another year. The 19th edition of the much anticipated “Funwalk”, which is the largest participatory sporting event on the island, will take place on Sunday August 12 at 6 a.m. As has been the mandate of the Pinehill Funwalk, participants are being encouraged to participate as part of their statement for healthier lifestyles. And, once again, organisers of the Pinehill Funwalk are embracing their social responsibility by contributing proceeds from the walk to two deserving charitable organisations. During the launch for the walk, which was held on Friday July 6 at Peter & Company Distribution, Cul De Sac, Greg Mathurin, Senior Sales and Marketing Manager advanced that the Pinehill Funwalk has helped persons to see walking as contributing positively to better health. “We are aware that it is the carnival season and, ahead of this, revellers were going to the gym and walking, all in preparation for carnival Monday and Tuesday. I have no doubt that this focus on fitness will continue, as persons also prepare, once again, for this year’s Pinehill Funwalk as they have been doing over the years,” Mathurin said. Adopting heathier lifestyles, particularly at a young age, is key to building a healthier nation, Mathurin said, adding that PCD was happy to be playing its part in instilling this. Addressing this year’s

Pinehill Funwalk, Krystal Francois, Pinehill Brand Manager, emphasized the need to encourage all Saint Lucians to lead a healthy, active lifestyle. “Peter & Company Distribution, formal organiser of the Pinehill Funwalk, has, year after year, delivered a high quality event with a strong positive message which has led to a loyal movement of ‘Pinehill Funwalkers’, all walking for health, fitness, fun and charity,” Francois explained. “We are indeed happy that the event has been embraced by Saint Lucians from all over the island and of all ages, and PCD takes pride in what is now the biggest participatory sporting event with over 5,000 participants,” she said. Ms. Francois continued: “The charity element remains and, as such, a contribution will be made to the World Paediatric Project and the St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association. By participating in the Pinehill Funwalk 2018, you are directly impacting the lives of Saint Lucians who are in need.” Speaking at the launch, Rodney Maxius expressed his profound gratitude on behalf of the St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association. Maxius, who is the immediate past president of the association stated, “We are thankful that Peter & Company Distribution, through the Pinehill Funwalk, has seen it fitting to make us one of the recipients this year, especially since our public appeal for assistance, in light of the financial constraints that the association has been encountering.”

The theme for this year’s Pinehill Funwalk is “Let Us Create Healthy Habits” and the colour is orange, highlighting Pinehill’s number one seller, Pinehill Orange juice 100% unsweetened, which speaks to a healthier choice. On the day of the walk, participants are encouraged to assemble at the Sab Playing Field in Vigie from 6 a.m. for warm-up exercises ahead of the walk which is expected to start at 6:30 a.m. From there, walkers will proceed along the John Compton Highway up to Gros Islet, turning off onto Pigeon Island. At the finish point, participants will be treated to a light breakfast and greeted by a health, wellness and fitness fair with various partners including health associations, nutritionists, local spas and gyms. The prize-giving will also be featured, as well as lots of surprises promised by the organisers. The support of sponsors in making the event a reality has been key over the years with Radio Caribbean International remaining one of the longstanding corporate sponsors who also include Flow and Blue Waters. Platinum sponsors are Grace, Farmers Choice and Swiss; gold sponsors: Diquez, Scotia Bank, Seven Seas, Choice TV, Abbott Nutrition and Lucelec; silver sponsors: St. Lucia Sports Online, Wet & Cold Express, Wavemaker Productions, Artisals Pastry, Dutch lady and Colgate.

THE STAR

Sandals Graduates a New Generation of Industry Leaders

the company. Already upon graduation, those who have shown the greatest aptitude for learning have been rewarded with employment. Leran Regis just completed his training at Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort and is one such graduate who has been hired as a Store Keeper at Cost Control. In presenting his testimonial during the graduation ceremony, even as he impressed the crowd with his dry wit and comic relief, he had this to say: “We made the impossible possible. This has been an incredible journey and we have made it.” Kasia Lionel, who completed her training at Sandals Regency La Toc Golf Resort and Spa, also shared some pearls of wisdom with the graduating class: “Education and training is life itself.” Guest Speaker for the event, Khadijah Preville, Diamond Team Member 2017— Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort, announced that before she joined the industry, she wanted to be a civil engineer. Today

she is a proud front office agent because she put in the work. She said her “efforts did not go by unnoticed and today’s struggle is tomorrow’s strength”. Finally, in his address to the graduands, Mr. Winston Anderson, Managing Director Sandals Resorts Saint Lucia, said, “A graduation is a time of pride.” In acknowledging that the young people before him were all “energetic, strong and confident and full of enthusiasm, pride and passion, he used the euphemism, “A Journey of 1,000 miles starts with a single step.” Mr. Anderson inspired them to “be the best that you can be, using the work experience to get to the next level, whatever that would be”. He stressed on the “importance of having the right attitude”, and the calm he felt knowing that “the industry is in good hands”. The final cohort for the HTP 2018 starts this September.

Protocol Amending Treaty Establishing ECTEL signed by Prime Ministers

he Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) announces the signing of the Protocol Amending the Treaty Establishing the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) by Prime Minister Allen Chastanet of Saint Lucia and Prime Minister Keith Mitchell of Grenada during CARICOM’s 39th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government held in Montego Bay, Jamaica. This Protocol modifies the Treaty to address the myriad of changes which have occurred in the telecommunications industry since the signing of the Treaty establishing ECTEL on 4th May 2000 at St. George’s, Grenada. Some of the notable changes include convergence between services, networks and technologies in the telecommunications sector. This Protocol also acts as a prerequisite for the promulgation of the Electronic Communications Bill and a new

Cohort 3, the 2018 Graduating Class of Sandals Hospitality Training Programme.

third cohort of young Saint Lucians has just graduated, with Sandals certificates, from the exclusive Sandals executed Hospitality Training Programme (HTP) which is run every ten weeks, on a quarterly basis, annually. This programme is geared to young people from all walks of life, with aspirations of becoming anything from general managers and supervisors to wait staff, and some who just aspire to finding a full-time job. Completing the programme means that these young people now have more skills, including on-the-job training and experience, that will put them next in line for any job that they are qualified for, across all sectors of the industry, whether in or out of Sandals Resorts. A priority for the Sandals Human Resource Team is to track all of these students who have completed this level of training and short-list them for available positions within

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Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister Allen Chastanet (bottom left) signing an amended treaty for ECTEL during a CARICOM meeting in Jamaica. Andrew Millet, Acting Managing Director of ECTEL (bottom right) looks on.

suite of Regulations paving the way for ECTEL to address the many issues facing the telecommunications market today, such as; quality of service, consumer protection, and more affordable access to retail and wholesale

telecommunications services. The Protocol will now be presented to the Prime Ministers of the other ECTEL Member States of Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines for consideration and signature.

Uni-V St. Lucia Limited The Worldwide Representative for Sandals and Beaches Resorts is seeking dynamic, vibrant, self motivated and sales driven individuals to join our St. Lucia team:

LUXURY VACATION SPECIALIST Candidates must have a minimum two years general work experience as well as experience working in a high volume customer service environment. • • • • • •

Minimum five (5) CXC passes including Mathematics and English Language. Excellent written and oral communications skills. Sound knowledge of various computer applications. Must possess ability to multi-task. A strong record of achieving results and meeting targets within sales environment Must be solution oriented and highly skilled at problem solving.

General Skills needed for the positions include: • Self-Driven • Can work with limited supervision • Has been employed for at least one year prior (needs to have work experienceevidence of work ethic development) • Reliable • Willing to work within commission structure • Ability to work flexible hours, weekends and holidays. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package. Deadline for applications is Friday 20th July, 2018 E-mail resumes to The Call Centre Manager hr.slu@uvi.sandals.com.

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Saint Lucia records Increase in Visitor Arrivals across all Sectors

aint Lucia continues to see a positive growth trend in tourism arrivals in 2018. The latest figures released by the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority at a press briefing at the SLTA Head Office show that visitor arrivals for the year-to-date are up by 10.1%. The destination experienced increases in all sectors, with yachting arrivals up an incredible 31.9%, cruise arrivals up 10.6% and stay-over arrivals up 5.2% compared to the same period last year. The increases have been spurred by greater confidence in the Saint Lucia product and economy by industry partners who have invested heavily in new or improved services offerings. There has been an uptick in the American Airlines service out of Charlotte, which offered three more flights in May this year than it did in the corresponding period in 2017; while Delta augmented its service by growing its aircraft carrying capacity

from a 160-seater aircraft to a 180-seater, as well as increasing the frequency of its service from four times a week in 2017 to a daily flight service in 2018. Addressing the assembled media on July 11, 2018, Tourism Minister, Hon. Dominic Fedee said, “The October 2018 to April 2019 winter period looks set to be even better than previous years with American Airlines expanding its airlift into Saint Lucia by seven additional flights weekly. That translates to over thirty-five thousand new seats over a five-month period. This is confirmation that the new marketing strategy has worked and continues to work in getting the message out to more people that Saint Lucia is truly magnificent.” The 31.9% increase in cruise arrivals stemmed from the expansion of the berth at Pointe Seraphine to accommodate freedom class cruise vessels. For the month of May 2018

the island recorded 32,277 stay-over arrivals—the largest number ever for a month of May. It also represented a 3% increase over last year’s figure, which was also a record. There are also encouraging signs for the summer months as the implementation of the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association’s holiday guarantee allows visitors to book their vacations without having to worry about disruptions in their holidays due to adverse weather. The holiday guarantee programme has been welcomed by travel agencies and tour operators who can now offer their clients an additional layer of security for their vacations, in the event of a hurricane. The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority is forging ahead with efforts to position Saint Lucia as the experiential destination of choice for romance, adventure, dive, health and wellness, family and culinary, while increasing visibility, especially in the major source markets.

Office of the Mayor Supports Carnival 2018

s the island gets ready to host the biggest cultural showpiece, Saint Lucia Carnival 2018, Mayor of Castries, His Worship Peterson D. Francis has pledged support through a proposed partnership with the Events Company of St. Lucia. The proposed partnership will see collaboration between the two entities to host Carnival Monarchs at Saturday City Night on July 21, 2018. The partnership will also see an increase in City Police patrols during the parades, and the city being brightly outfitted ahead of the festival. Mayor Francis says his support for arts and culture is aimed at ensuring that our carnival receives the due

recognition it merits since our music now penetrates the ear of the world. “It is not only providing an avenue to showcase Saint Lucia`s multiculturalism, but creating the right environment for masqueraders and members of the public to feel the vibe. The spotlight of the global entertainment industry is now on the island and we need to make our presence felt more than ever,’’ said Mayor Francis. “The three million dollar investment into the industry is ideal, in addition to the hard work, energy and vibrancy which Culture Minister Hon. Fortuna Belrose brings to the table. However, more support is necessary from corporate Saint

Lucia to grow the festival. We need to create a carnival brand that is unique and a cut above the rest,’’ the mayor added. Speaking to the collaboration, Mr. Thomas Leonce, CEO of Events Company of St. Lucia lauded Mayor Francis and his office for their support. He said, “What the mayor has done shows a great level of support for culture, which builds the elements of an outstanding product. This alliance will give life to the carnival atmosphere and we thank him immensely”. Mayor Francis gave his commitment that his office will continue to stand firm in supporting the development of arts and culture.

SLBWA Receives Donations 100 Women Who Care made a donation of $10,100 to the St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association (SLBWA) on Wednesday July 11, 2018. 100 Women Who Care is a group of women who hope to provide for those with the greatest need in Saint Lucia. The group meets four times a year for a one-hour meeting, and each member donates EC$100 to a charity that the group selects. This combined donation makes a real impact, without time-consuming fundraising events and planning. Moved by the plight of the SLBWA, the association was unanimously voted as the charity of choice at the last meeting. The SLBWA was extremely grateful to have been selected as the recipient. The donation will be used to directly impact the lives of the blind and visually impaired section of Saint Lucian society.

L-R: Denise Godin accepting a cheque from Berthia Parle, Mary Popo and Trudy O. Glasgow on behalf of 100 Women Who Care.

The cheque was presented by Trudy O. Glasgow, Berthia Parle and Mary Popo of 100 Women Who Care.

Baron Foods Wins Gold!

by July 31, 2018 to:

he Saint Lucia Manufacturers Association would like to recognize and congratulate SMA membercompany Baron Foods and Mr. Ronald Ramjattan for their victory at the International Superior Taste Award in Brussels, Belgium. Last month, Baron Foods took home the gold medal which was awarded by the International Taste and Quality Institute (iTQi) in recognition of the company’s outstanding pasta sauce. On the iTQi Sensory Evaluation Graph, the product’s visual appeal ranked the highest followed by the taste and texture. The pasta sauce is one out of the eleven products which makes up the Baron Gourmet Collection and was launched in October 2011. This convenient

gourmet collection has been well received by consumers, especially within the “meals in minutes” food category. CEO Mr. Ronald Ramjattan said, “We are particularly proud of the innovative thinking that led to these products being developed and the ease of use that accompanies each product. “Being a result-oriented company with a strong customer base, we have gone from being a local company with roots in Saint Lucia to a regional company with a full agro-processing plant in the islands of Grenada and Trinidad & Tobago. We came with a vision of providing innovative and quality products to our customers, whilst building a true Caribbean brand.” The iTQi Superior Taste Award is the only international

certificate for taste endorsed by experts—Michelin-starred chefs and sommeliers. Above all, it is a guarantee of buying a product recognized for its gustative qualities; while for producers, it is a valuable and efficient communication tool to differentiate their products, uplift their brand images and attract new clients. Baron Foods has been an active and longstanding member of Saint Lucia Manufacturers Association and a leader in the island’s indigenous manufacturing sector. As one of Saint Lucia’s larger manufacturing companies, Baron Foods has always placed emphasis on providing mentorship and training to the industry’s younger entrepreneurs and manufacturers.

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JUly 14, 2018

Bringing CE-Intelligence REVISED BEXON SOLID WASTE COLLECTION METHODOLOGY to the Caribbean

he Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export), in collaboration with the European Union, officially launched its market intelligence portal, known as CE-Intelligence. At the media launch held on Tuesday July 10, 2018, Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton outlined the importance of the CE-Intelligence portal for private sector firms looking to grow their businesses through exporting to new markets. “Trade, business intelligence and market research are key for the successful entry into export markets” explained CokeHamilton. The portal will enable firms to “develop their own customised reports to learn more about market entry requirements in any given country, important trade data, and key business contacts,” informed Coke Hamilton. Head of Cooperation at the delegation of the European Union to Barbados, Eastern Caribbean States, OECS and CARICOM/CARIFORUM, Mr. Luis Maia, highlighted that

market intelligence is an indispensable commodity in today’s technology-driven environment. Further, the portal will complement the EU’s Trade Helpdesk to enhance the business opportunities of those looking to penetrate the EU markets. “For no longer can business persons operate successful businesses, without adequate knowledge of market requirements,” Maia explained to the attending private sector. The CE-Intelligence portal was conceptualized to assist firms to be more strategic in their market entry plans as it provides an easily accessible platform for the region’s Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) and Business Support Organisations (BSOs) to access accurate and high-quality data free of charge, which reduces the cost, time and effort required to make strategic business decisions. Charging that a cultural fear of the unknown was often a reason for businesses not venturing in to export, Minister Sandra Husbands of Barbados congratulated the agency for providing a much-needed tool that will make it easier for firms

to explore export markets and benefit from the economies of scale that are synonymous with larger markets. Moreover, Husbands called on entrepreneurs to make it second nature to include export as part of their business plans in view of the small market typical of small islands. The CE-Intelligence portal provides information for its users in the areas of trade and business intelligence; access to finance with a listing of financial institutions and opportunities across the region; step by step export guides including a series of videos that explain the key elements of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA); foreign direct investment and a section on food safety providing information on the market entry requirements of key markets such as the EU, the USA, and Canada. It is hoped that with the introduction of the CE-Intelligence portal, the true potential of regional brands is unlocked with the use of highquality information to aid in decision-making.

he community of Bexon received a major change in the garbage collection methodology. The change which took effect from Thursday, July 12, 2018 was undertaken in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Health, Castries South East Constituency Council, Fleet Garbage Removal and Residents of Bexon. Most communal/garbage collection points along the Bexon Highway are discontinued. At these locations there are now NO DUMPING signs. The improved solid waste collection system provides a kerbside collection service to the affected areas. Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority (SLSWMA) encourages residents to play their role by adhering to the solid waste collection schedules set for the community. Regular collection service continues only on Mondays and Thursdays. All Saturday collections have been discontinued. Bulk waste collection service for unwanted household appliances, furniture, small household machines and fittings will be provided on the first Wednesday of every month. The Authority urges all residents to contact its office at telephone numbers 453-2208 or 450-7070 or message via WhatsApp at 724-5544 for further assistance.

SLSWMA urges Bexon residents to heed ‘NO DUMPING’ signs and use provided alternatives.

CCJ RESTORES CONVICTION AND SENTENCE BUT CRITICISES PROCEDURAL FLAWS IN BELIZE CASE

he Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Tuesday ordered that a conviction and sentence of 5 years for causing dangerous harm imposed on Mr. Gilbert Henry be restored but noted that, as Mr. Henry had already served his time, he would not be imprisoned or face any other sanction. Mr. Henry’s previous conviction had been quashed by Belize’s Court of Appeal in a written judgment delivered on 16 June 2017, reversing an oral judgment it had given earlier in this case. In 2008, Mr. Gilbert Henry was charged with attempted murder after he was accused of stabbing Mr. Ellis Taibo. His trial began almost 4 years later. The jury deliberated before returning with a verdict of not guilty of attempted murder but guilty of causing dangerous harm. Mr. Henry challenged his conviction and sentence before the Court of Appeal of Belize, arguing that substantial delays

in the trial and appellate processes were in breach of his constitutional right to a fair trial within a reasonable time, among other issues. On 22 March 2017, the Court of Appeal delivered an oral judgment dismissing the appeal and affirming Mr. Henry’s conviction and sentence. The court later delivered a written judgment on 16 June 2017 which made no mention of the earlier oral judgment. The CCJ determined: firstly, an oral decision or order made by a judge is normally binding from the moment it is delivered and parties are entitled to rely upon it. Secondly, the court retains a right to vary its earlier decision until the order of the court is recorded or otherwise perfected. The CCJ cautioned that it should only be amended in exceptional circumstances, adding that the court should invite submissions from the affected parties and should refer to the earlier decision,

and explain its reasons for varying or overturning it, in the subsequent decision. Lastly, the court had no further authority once its order had been recorded. The Court did not accept the Director of Public Prosecution’s (DPP) argument that the Court of Appeal could not reverse the judgment before an order is issued. However, in the present case, the CCJ found that the Court of Appeal had wrongly exercised this jurisdiction. The Court of Appeal should have explained the reason for its reversal of the written decision and there was also no indication that consideration was given to inviting submissions from the parties. The CCJ felt that these amounted to significant procedural lapses by the court. The appeal was allowed The full judgment of the Court, and a judgment summary, are available on the Court’s website at www.ccj.org.

Short term Consultancy with Caribbean Aqua-Terrestrial Solutions Position of

Experienced Videographer The purpose of this short term consultancy is to produce a high impact quality video documentary on beach and shoreline erosion in St Lucia. All eligible individuals and/or firms are invited to apply. To obtain the TOR for the above position, kindly send an email request to the following address: karibik2@giz.de titled “Request for TOR to produce high impact video documentary”. The deadline for receipt of all applications and complete set of annexes is Tuesday July 24th , 2018th at 4 pm.

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Come build your career with Unicomer Group! A dynamic and fast paced retail organization spanning 24 countries, with over 1000 stores and 16000 talented and engaged retail professionals across Latin America, the Caribbean and USA. Unicomer Group is the owner of established brands within the Caribbean including Courts, Ready Finance, Radio Shack, Courts Optical, and Lucky Dollar.

Credit Director THE POSITION We are seeking a qualified, experienced individual to fill the position of Credit Director – Unicomer OECS. Reporting to the Managing Director, the individual will have responsibility for managing the Company’s credit portfolio to ensure its growth and health in all 6 operations of the OECS (St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and St. Kitts) as well as leading the credit team to maximize and deliver results in line with the Company’s strategic focus and targets and in keeping with best in class practices. The individual will also have direct operational responsibility for the St.Lucia Credit Portfolio and team. The role is based in St.Lucia. THE CREDIT DIRECTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR: • Liaise as appropriate with the Regional Credit Director to develop and implement a robust credit strategy for each of the OECS countries and the overall OECS market • Manage the credit portfolio and portfolio growth. Identify and successfully implement strategies for improving the credit granting products. Support, facilitate and track relevant new Product Development based on business imperatives. Sustain incremental income streams as related to the credit business • Rigorously look for and lead the collaborative process to capitalize on opportunities for credit granting solutions which will ensure that the company retains its competitive advantage in consumer finance across all markets in the OECS region • Develop, implement, monitor, and manage credit granting, bad debt and credit collection and early arrears policies and processes to meet the strategic needs / goals of the business • Lead the process of compliance, and act as Chief Compliance Officer for the six islands of the OECS, within the ambit of existing and emerging legislations. Put in place systems and controls to ensure compliance with applicable laws and the internal policies of the regulated entity by its employees, agents, and other contractors. Ensure that compliance risk is understood and properly managed, and that compliance systems are part of business operations THE CANDIDATE – MINIMUM REQUIREMENT • Graduate Degree in Business Administration, Finance or Accounting • Minimum 5 years experience within a large Consumer Credit Management environment • Direct or transferrable experience in managing a consumer finance portfolio at a senior level in a medium to large retail or financial enterprise. • Have knowledge of Credit Management including Credit Granting and Debt Collections Management • Well rounded knowledge of financial management principles, financial controls and risk management; and able to analyze and interpret financial data and portfolio performance data and align appropriate actions and deliver desired outcomes • An articulate, confident business leader able to negotiate and represent the organization externally, and the department internally • Strong problem-solving skills; demonstrating the capability to formulate and drive improvement and growth strategies. • Demonstrated strength in people leadership WHY SHOULD YOU APPLY? • We pride ourselves on providing the foundation for exciting, long-term careers – a home where your previous retail and customer service expertise will be truly valued and you will be given the opportunity to thrive! • We provide a competitive total rewards package. INTERESTED? Join us! Come be a part of a team that works together to provide customers with amazing service!

APPLICANTS ARE REQUESTED TO SUBMIT THEIR RESUMES BY JULY 20TH, 2018 TO: Human Resources Email: hr.unicomerlc@gmail.com

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Some Doctors Need More Than Their Heads Examined! By Cephas Willie

orget about the two or three who believe that operating a doctor’s clinic in Saint Lucia licenses them to pretend they are what they never were. The majority of Saint Lucians will openly admit the only local doctors who have been speaking out for better healthcare in Saint Lucia are named King and Bird. The pair have never been famous for engaging in any bullying tactics with any government, but have spoken out loud about what governments owe the people: better education and affordable healthcare chief among them. Through their various entities like Rise Saint Lucia Inc. they have also sought to empower Saint Lucians so they might make meaningful and tangible contributions to our country. Their pronouncements have not always received popular support but they never retaliated in ways that left the public wondering whether they had changed from being doctors to regular yard fowl politicians. Their track record as activists is well documented. Dr. Alphonsus St. Rose, the current leading honcho at the St. Lucia Medical & Dental Association, is a totally different sack of dasheen. Listen to him and you are likely to believe he is an election candidate looking to lead a party in desperate need. Little about him suggests a compassionate individual with a good doctor’s bedside manner. Take for example his recent rants after a scheduled meeting with the nation’s prime minister had to be postponed. I have been able to lay my hands on the correspondence between the SLMDA and the office of the prime minister and here the facts: on June 6, 2018 (what is it about June 6 and Allen Chastanet?) the Cabinet Secretary Ben Emmanuel, acting on directives of his prime minister, wrote to the SLMDA in response to a requested meeting. The letter read in part: “I am directed by the Honourable Prime Minister to acknowledge receipt of

your letter dated May 23, 2018 outlining the views of the SLMDA on the status of healthcare in Saint Lucia.” The letter went on to point out that the prime minister was out of state and had agreed to “facilitate a meeting with your membership on Friday June 22, 2018 at 10: 30 am”. On June 11, the executive director of the SLMDA, Deborah Martial, replied to the prime minister, on the stated instructions of SLMDA president Alphonsus St. Rose. The letter stated: “SLMDA is always available and willing to engage Government on mutually respectful, responsible and constructive grounds in seeking out the best solution to this healthcare crisis for the greater good of all of our Saint Lucian citizens. To this end we do confirm our availability to meet with you on June 22.” n essence Dr. St. Rose was agreeing to a meeting of the SLMDA “membership” and the prime minister. How disingenuous of the SLMDA president to say the PM demonstrated a lack of respect when he cancelled the meeting upon discovering only St. Rose and his executive would be present. After all, he had met with the group before, twice, if memory serves. It also is disingenuous of the president, as I see it, to say it’s not possible for the SLMDA’s general membership to meet en masse with the PM, given the demand for their services. The SLMDA went on to issue a long missive clothed as a press release. Dr. St Rose promised the media that he would not take things lying down. The media, by the way, had been summoned by a political activist of the Saint Lucia Labour Party and Dr. St Rose. If Dr. St. Rose and his crew really want to come across as a genuine organisation whose main cause in life is to care for the people’s health, they must guard against coming across as amateur politicians. And yes, there’s a difference between being an activist for a cause, say, like Dr. King, and a regular garden variety politician

on the prowl. There can be no denying our country has long been neglected when it comes to healthcare, for reasons including some beyond the control of this and previous administrations. Meanwhile, the leading members of the SLMDA, who have grown rich from ministering or appearing to minister to the sick and dying, might consider some other options. For starters they can pull off those stale SLMDA PSAs now airing and really begin to creatively educate the public on health issues. The SLMDA can offer free clinics, particularly during periods of certain outbreaks and epidemics, and can also give support to empowering citizens with taking on doctors for malpractice. It would also be nice to see a medical board that holds miscreant doctors accountable for their sometimes deadly mistakes. For some time now there has been a public outcry because some opticians withhold patients' prescriptions. There is also charging patients to have their health test results read to them. This, after they pay through their teeth for the tests. The SLMDA might also do well to investigate what appears to be a small ring of doctors and medical personnel strongarming promoters, as per the NEMO mas ground guidelines, into using their services. These fees, I am told, are sometimes much higher than what some doctors make in a day. Please SLMDA, could you consider these and look beyond the politics of the current situation, which I do admit is also deserving of immediate attention? However, the health crisis we now face did not start with St. Jude or OKEU and will not end with two or three brand new facilities. The Saint Lucian public must begin to take off their glasses, rose-coloured and yellowed, and see things for what they really are. What we are now experiencing in the name of affordable health care is a far cry from what any genuine doctor would order!

THE STAR

Sex addiction IS a mental-health disorder, declares World Health Organization

he World Health Organization (WHO) has declared sex addiction is a mental-health disorder. Known as compulsive sexual behaviour disorder, it is defined as an inability to control intense sexual urges leading to people neglecting their health despite often deriving no pleasure from being intimate, according to a report issued by the WHO. Patients must suffer from the disorder for at least six months, and experience substantial distress as a result of their addiction, before being diagnosed, the report adds. It is unclear if this move will lead to sex addiction treatment being provided on the NHS, which does not currently consider it to be a condition. Comedian Russell Brand has been to rehab for sex addiction saying being active between the sheets gives him “a breathing space, when you're outside of yourself and your own head”. This comes after the WHO also declared compulsive videogame playing a disorder. According to Dr Valerie Voon, from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, between two and

four per cent of people in the UK suffer from sex addiction. Three-to-six per cent are thought to have the condition in the US. She told The Sun: “It is a behaviour that tends to be hidden as it's shameful and often sex addicts don't come forward. Adding this to the WHO list is an excellent step for patients as it allows them to recognise that they are suffering with a problem. It takes it out of the shadows and they are able to seek help for it.” Dr Voon believes sex addiction may one day be treated on the NHS alongside conditions like depression and anxiety. This comes after Dr Shekhar Saxena, director of WHO's department for mental health, said the body listed gaming as an addiction based on scientific evidence, as well as “the need and the demand for treatment in many parts of the world”. According to Dr Joan Harvey, from the British Psychological Society, only a minority of gamers suffer from the disorder, warning that the new condition might cause

unnecessary concern among parents. She said: “People need to understand this doesn't mean every child who spends hours in their room playing games is an addict, otherwise medics are going to be flooded with requests for help.” Others welcome WHO's classification, saying it is critical to identify video game addicts quickly due to them usually being teenagers or young adults who do not typically seek help themselves. Dr Henrietta BowdenJones, a spokeswoman for behavioral addictions at Britain's Royal College of Psychiatrists, added: “We come across parents who are distraught, not only because they're seeing their child drop out of school, but because they're seeing an entire family structure fall apart.” The updated classification is scheduled to be presented to all WHO member states at their annual assembly in May 2019. It is aimed the new classifications will come into effect in 2022, to allow countries time to plan and prepare medics.

The verdict marked the sixth-largest award related to product defects in U.S. history, Bloomberg reported. Six of the 22 plaintiffs in the trial have died from ovarian cancer. Johnson & Johnson called the verdict the result of an unfair process that allowed the women to sue the company in Missouri despite most of them not living in the state, and said it would appeal, as it has in previous cases that found for women who sued the company. "Johnson & Johnson remains confident that its products do not contain asbestos and do not cause ovarian cancer and intends to pursue all available appellate remedies," spokeswoman Carol Goodrich said. She said the case was overwhelmed with “prejudice” because each plaintiff was awarded the same $25 million “irrespective of their individual facts,” according to Bloomberg. “The multiple errors present in this trial were worse

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Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay nearly $4.7B to 22 plaintiffs in talcum powder lawsuit St. Louis jury awarded nearly $4.7 billion in total damages to 22 women and their families Thursday in the first case against Johnson & Johnson that focused on asbestos in talcum powder. Their lawsuit claimed the asbestos in the product contributed to the women’s ovarian cancer. One of the plaintiffs, Gail Ingham, 73, of O'Fallon, Mo., told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that she was diagnosed with stage-3 ovarian cancer in 1985 and underwent chemotherapy treatments, surgeries and drug treatments for a year before being declared cancer-free. Ingham, who used baby powder for decades, said she joined the lawsuit because women who use baby powder "need to know what's in there. They need to know what's going on." The jury announced the $4.14 billion award in punitive damages shortly after awarding $550 million in compensatory damages after a six-week trial in St. Louis Circuit Court.

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than those in the prior trials which have been reversed," Goodrich said, adding that every verdict against the company in the particular court that has gone through the appeals process has been reversed. Mark Lanier, lead counsel for the plaintiffs, said in a statement that Johnson & Johnson had covered up evidence of asbestos in its products for more than 40 years. Asbestos fibers and talc particles were found in the ovarian tissues of many of the women, the plaintiffs' lawyers said. Medical experts also testified during the trial that asbestos, a known carcinogen, is intermingled with mineral talc, which is the primary ingredient in Johnson & Johnson's Baby Powder and Shower to Shower products. The company has been sued by more than 9,000 women who claim its talcum powder contributed to their ovarian cancer. ---FOX News

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