IMPACS Stalled: PWA Blames DPP!

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IMPACS STALLED:

PWA BLAMES DPP!

PICTURED: Director of Public Prosecutions, Daarsrean Greene Issue 28

| 27 July,

2019

THE STASRSWEEK BUSINE IN THIS EDITION

JULY 27, 2019

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THE STAR K BUSINESSWEE

in the The New Era Dominica China and hip Relations ship year the relation Over the past ca and the People’s between Domini (hereafter “China”) Republic of China chapter. has begun a new Pages 2 & 6

under the nt of Dominica, signed an the governme Roosevelt Skerrit, t with In October 2018 Prime Minister leadership of economic and technical agreemen tive and EC$120 million of China through its representa Kun. nt the governme Dominica His Excellency Lu to Ambassador

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Pages 3 & 7

of Cairo, The iconic city — a MENA capital of Egypt a remarkable nation writing in 2019. new growth story (Source: Pixabay)

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

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JUly 27, 2019

Another Visiting Dignitary Endorses PPP Arrangements

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen (centre) with Prime Minister Allen Chastanet (left) and Guy Joseph, Minister for Economic Development at the St. Jude reconstruction sod-turning ceremony last week.

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n May last year the Saint Lucia Medical and Dental Association (SLMDA) made abundantly clear its opposition to the use of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model to fund local health facilities: “We will continue to be vigilant and vocal, and advocate No to PPP/joint ventures at the OKEU and SJH.” Strongly supporting this position was the opposition SLP, which has since described the Chastanet administration’s deliberations with Health City Cayman Islands Group as “conniving with foreign interests to hand over our OKEU to private interests for profit.” In case you’re wondering, that little snippet came from the Opposition Leader Philip J Pierre at a press conference in February this year.

On the other hand, the ROC President Tsai Ing-wen, during her visit to the St. Jude site, had this to say: “Since

taking office, Prime Minister Allen Chastanet has pushed hard for improvements to St. Jude Hospital. Through the combined efforts of both our governments and Public Private Partnership, we can finally begin to realise the dreams that the people of Saint Lucia have looked forward to for such a long time.”

This is not dissimilar to what was expressed by former EU ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Mikael Barford who, in his February 21, 2016 OKEU naming ceremony address, advised: “Public Private Partnerships and service level agreements have proven successful in other countries to open up the healthcare market and make it attractive also for insurance companies and for tourists.”

While the focus tends to be on his words about the PPP, what he stated about the “economic viability” and “sustainability” of the OKEU,

is just as noteworthy. “The EU is currently supporting the government to develop strategies and policies for the sustainable financing of the health sector and I know the issue of economic viability of this hospital is foremost in the minds of bureaucrats and lay persons alike.”

Before encouraging the then government “to be creative in its approach to income generation of the hospital”, Barford explained further that “The health sector is often viewed as a burden on a given country as it requires too much from the government’s treasury, while contributing little to the fund.

However, the quality of the facility, equipment and staff of the Owen King EU Hospital holds enormous potential for the hospital to earn considerable income and to be self-sustaining.” Now where have I heard that repeated?

---Dean Nestor

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Pastors object to ‘Devilish’ LGBTQ Pride Celebration Joshua St. Aimee

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he pillar of society is crumbling and dying and we’re afraid of that,” said the Reverend Lazarus Eugene at a press conference this week, also attended by Bishop Thomas Eristhee of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies. “We’re scared for our society!” Their target is a planned LGBTQ Pride Celebration to be held August 23-26.

The PAWI representatives strongly objected to the fourday event that will include a fashion show, a panel discussion aimed at young people on “The Meaning of Pride Beyond Sexual Orientation” plus a Family Day and Health Fair that will

include health talks, screenings, speeches and performances.

According to the organisers, the activities are aimed at educating and sensitizing the general public, as well as nurturing the dignity of non-heterosexual and genderconforming people on-island.

Bishop Eristhee asserted that he and his colleagues have no problem with the LGBTQ community. What concerned them was their lifestyle.

Rev. Eugene considered the LGBTQ lifestyle a deception by the devil. “They are trying to re-educate our children and it will affect us in the long term,” he said “The pillar of the community, society and family will be destroyed. That’s what they are trying to do.” Eugene denounced LGBTQ activity as “anti-Christ, contrary to God’s laws and an abomination.”

Bishop Thomas Eristhee says followers of the LGBTQ movement are headed down the wrong path.

Said Bishop Eristhee: “God never made a gay man or a lesbian woman. God never created anybody wrongly, and there is no such thing as a gay gene. We all were born sinners, so there will be a tendency towards certain areas.” He offered as examples lying, stealing and fornication.”

But while the two PAWI leaders object to the LGBTQ event, Archbishop Robert Rivas of the Roman Catholic church is of a different opinion.

In a televised interview earlier this month, Rivas said his church was not opposed to the LGBTQ community’s plans.

Invited to comment, Eristhee said: “In my opinion it was very unfortunate, I don’t think he was speaking for the Catholic church because I know priests and many persons in that church that speak quite

differently. I wonder at times why he basically said it’s okay, let the people do their thing. But it might be because of the Catholic church’s own difficulties with this lifestyle.”

Bishop Eristhee announced plans to host two rallies a few days before the Pride Celebration, the first on August 17 at the Victory Pentecostal Church in Vieux Fort, the second on August 19 at the Odsan Pentecostal Church. Medical Professor Wayne West and attorney Philippa Davies of Jamaica will be among the speakers.

Eristhee encouraged those who plan on attending the Pride Celebration to come to the rallies. “We’re going to do it in the north and south, so that everybody can come. It’s not just for church people, it’s for everybody,” he said.

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Martinus Francois on PWA Blames DPP for Deputy Speaker brouhaha: IMPACS Impasse and ‘They can run but ill effects on police they can’t hide!’

morale and efficiency! T Dean Nestor

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n its 2016 Public Statement on St. Lucia IMPACS, the U.S. Embassy in Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and the OECS, lauded the Government of Saint Lucia for “inviting CARICOM’s Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) to conduct an investigation into allegations that members of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force committed extra-judicial killings from 2010 to 2011”.

The embassy regretted, however, that “progress on pursuing justice in these killings halted after the report’s issuance in March 2015.

Despite the significance of the IMPACS report for human rights, national security concerns, and Saint Lucia’s international reputation, the Government of Saint Lucia has made no meaningful progress towards criminal prosecution in 10 months.”

The U.S. sentiments have been echoed by Police Welfare Association President Travis Chicot. In a STAR exclusive, Chicot lays the blame on the shoulders of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Daarsrean Greene.

After comparing the DPP to a farmer who has been hired to plant bananas but opts instead to produce onions, the PWA president stated: “I see the DPP as being very ambitious. But

P

Travis Chicot (pictured) challenges the DPP to grow bananas instead of onions in the IMPACS matter.

the DPP needs to come out and tell us what’s happening with IMPACS. As we’ve said before, if he has evidence regarding any of the killings, he should prosecute. Let the courts decide the veracity of the evidence.”

Chicot’s statement echoes the words of the EU and the U.S. State Department in the time of Prime Minister Kenny Anthony.

Chicot noted: “Eight years going into nine years is a long time. Both the victims and the

accused have been hurt by what was widely circulated. This delay has caused the country, and the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, much suffering. We have not been able to acquire training from some of the best sources within the U.S. and that has greatly affected us. This hard to swallow, bitter pill has also dampened our spirits. We need to hear from the DPP what he can or cannot do. In any case a resolution is long overdue.”

$500 Bursary Assistance Cheque Collection

arents and guardians of all students who wrote the 2019 Common Entrance Examination are asked to note that collection of cheques for the $500 Bursary Assistance will be conducted during the period July 30 to August 7, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily at the schools. Parents are requested to bring along a valid form of identification to collect the cheque. Distribution starts with District 7 at Piaye Secondary School and District 8 at Soufriere Primary School on Tuesday, July 30. Visit the Ministry of Education’s website for remaining dates and schools.

he constitutional challenge brought by attorney Martinus Francois over parliament’s failure to elect a deputy House speaker following the 2016 general elections this week took another step backward. The motion originally named attorney general Stephen Julien and Speaker Andy Daniel. On 13 February the AG’s counsel, Mr. Dexter Theodore, successfully applied for the removal of the AG as a party in the case, on the basis that under Section 36 of the Constitution it is parliament, not the government’s executive branch, that is obligated to elect a deputy Speaker.

Francois had no other choice but to refile his case, this time naming only Speaker Daniel. Francois came up against another road block on Thursday, with Justice Agnes Actie ruling that Francois had served court papers on a secretary at the parliament office and not on the Speaker himself. Francois could not cite law in support of his assertion that Mr. Daniel’s secretary was authorized to accept court documents on his behalf. The case was adjourned to 31 October.

Afterward a visibly agitated Mr. Francois spoke to the STAR. “The Speaker was properly served via his secretary,” he said. “I don’t know if they expected me to barge into the Speaker’s office and serve him the documents.

As far as I know, if you serve on the party’s secretary, it’s good service. But now they’re saying no, I have to serve the man personally, which is new to me.”

He added: “Throughout my years of practice I never knew

Another boo-boo! Attorney Martinus Francois (pictured) confronted another roadblock in his quest to force the election of a deputy House speaker. He is pictured leaving the High Court on Thursday.

you had to serve somebody personally. They’re looking for all kinds of excuses but this matter must come to a head.

They can run but they cannot hide.”

Francois argues that the failure of the House to elect a deputy Speaker is a breach and violation, and is seeking a declaration as to the meaning, interpretation and construction of Section 36 (1) of the Constitution. He is also seeking a mandatory order to adjourn future proceedings of the House until a deputy Speaker has been elected.

Section 36 (1) of the Constitution reads in part: “If the office of deputy Speaker falls vacant at any time before the next dissolution of Parliament, the House shall, as soon as

convenient, elect another member of the House to that office.” The Constitution also states that the deputy Speaker cannot be a member of Cabinet or a parliamentary secretary.

All eleven parliamentarians on the government’s side are Cabinet members. Opposition Leader Pierre has said on the record that “it will not be in our party’s best interests” to nominate a candidate on the opposition side. As for the leader of government, he has told inquiring reporters he is “focused on more important matters”.

Meanwhile Francois is seeking a mandatory order that the House close shop until the final determination of the case.

---Joshua St. Aimee

Homicide in Castries

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n Thursday July 25, 2019 about 9:30pm officers attached to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force responded to a report of a stabbing on Manoel Street, Castries.

The deceased, Paul Albert of Malgretoute, Micoud was allegedly involved in a dispute with another male, resulting in him Albert sustaining multiple stab wounds about his body. He was conveyed to Victoria Hospital, via ambulance, and was pronounced dead by a medical practitioner.

The suspect in this matter is currently not in police custody.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Criminal Investigation Department on 456 3770 or the Crime Hotline on 45-CRIME (452 7463).

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Carnival Has Never Been Family Entertainment Dean Nestor

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aint Lucia Carnival 2019, deemed a huge success by the government and most other commentators, has been criticized by the usual sectors. The last cited group described this year’s Parade of the Bands as indecent, over the top, a phenomenon of recent vintage. Some have claimed the demonstrated revelry is alien to the morals and values that once guided our carnival.

Earlier this week, Senator Fortuna Belrose observed that participants in carnival “need to understand that there are certain criteria pertaining to self-respect and personal behaviour associated with the festival”. She referenced the children who form part of the street audience and reminded adults of their responsibility toward them.

“We cannot be seen having sex on the streets of Castries during the parades,” she said. “We need to have some self-esteem and class within ourselves to know that there’s a behaviour for behind the scenes and not in front of every Tom, Dick and Harry.”

But just what are the established standards of carnival? Putting aside the fact that carnival has its roots in Saturnalia and Bacchanalia, feasts named after the eponymous pagan patrons, a quick look at the early days of the sanitised version to which critics wish to return would easily demonstrate that there never was a carnival that did not feature what most of the then population

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did not consider unacceptable behaviour.

The mythical gods depicted were associated with “over the top behaviour”, just as now.

One of the earliest conceptions of modernday carnival was the Venetian masquerade or carnevale, described as “a space where people could enjoy fleeting liberty from social, sexual and psychological constraints” (Masquerade and Identities edited by Efrat Tseëlon 2001). Standards? This is supported by other sources.

In Explore the Origin of the Venetian Mask, an illustration of the typical carnival in the Venetian Republic is provided: “The immense amount of travellers coming through the city meant that sexual promiscuity was commonplace and acceptable . . . Women’s clothing became more revealing; homosexuality, while publicly condemned, was embraced by the populace. Even the nuns and monks of the clergy, bejewelled and dressed in the latest imported creations, wore masks and engaged in the same acts as the majority of their fellow citizens.”

Again I ask, what standards? During the July 18 edition of Rick Wayne’s TALK, the host referenced the Feast of Fools, which the French clergyman John Gerson (1363-1429) described as “a detestable mockery made of the service of the Lord and of the sacraments where many things are impudently and execrably done. . .” Done by whom? The “ecclesiastics (churchmen/priests) either on the day of the Innocents or on the day of the Circumcision or on the Epiphany of the Lord, or during Carnival, throughout the churches of France . . .”

And what exactly was done at the Feasts of Fools during Carnival as well as on other occasions? The University of Paris Letter against the Feast of Fools provides a hint: “What intelligent Christian, I ask, would not call wicked those priests and clerks seen masked in monstrous visages at the time of divine office, dancing in the choir

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Carnival has always been an excuse to behave badly, from way back in Medieval times, and involving the most religious of communities.

dressed as women . . . and running and leaping through the church not blushing at their own nakedness; then driving through the town and theatres in shabby carts and carriages and rousing the laughter of their companions and bystanders in infamous performances with indecent gestures and unchaste and scurrilous verses?” The author added: “There are many other abominations of which I am ashamed to remember, and

which I shudder with horror to recite.”

This all occurred, not in the 1980s and 1990s but during the 15th and 16th centuries and even before, in “Catholic/ Christian” Europe, as part of the “Christianised” and sanitized version of carnival. As the saying goes, there’s nothing new under the sun.

In short, carnival has always been an excuse for egregious bad behaviour. As

for those who would clothe in “culture” raiments, let them be reminded that culture is not automatically decent by universal measure. Some downright evil practices involving animals have been going on forever. As Tourism Minister Dominic Fedee put it recently: “I think that those people who were offended by what they felt was too much nudity had a choice. They did not have to attend.”

Events Saint Lucia Appoints New CEO

he Events Company of Saint Lucia is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs Lorraine Sidonie as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

A former Commercial Director for Courts Unicomer OECS, Mrs Sidonie brings to the organisation over twenty years of experience covering a wide range of portfolios and skills, having been responsible for sales strategies and business plans across the OECS

Her experience over the years covers several successes including doubling sales and market share for Courts retail businesses throughout the OECS, the launching of Unicomer (Saint Lucia) Call Centre to address customer service shortcomings and event initiatives such as the OECS Unicomer Reading Competiton.

Commenting on her appointment, Chairperson of Events Saint Lucia, Agnes Francis, stated, “Out of over 20 suitable applicants and several interviews, Mrs

Sidonie presented the best combination of skills, experience and capabilities required for the position including strategic planning, financial management, marketing, event planning and management, managing staff and experience working with corporate boards.

“Not only does Sidonie have the required technical competence to do the job, her humane nature, coupled with her interpersonal skills (key ingredients for leading an internal team and external stakeholders to deliver a high standard of production), placed her above all candidates.

Producing events of the magnitude of Events Saint

Lucia’s mandate, requires a thorough understanding of planning, managing and evaluating events, long and gruelling hours, attention to detail and, most of all, building morale and motivating teams.

The board of Events Saint Lucia feels confident that she is best placed to do so.”

The Board of Directors also wishes to thank the former CEO, Mr Thomas Leonce, for successfully executing the yeoman task of birthing the organisation and creating its successes to date. His stewardship and hard work are greatly appreciated by the Board and have laid a solid foundation for the continuance of this very important mandate,

that of Events Saint Lucia.

When asked about her appointment as CEO of ECSL, Mrs. Sidonie stated, “I am thrilled to have this opportunity to serve the Saint Lucian public, to use my many years of training and skills to help develop the Events Saint Lucia brand and its portfolio, to create products that will far exceed the expectation of our various publics.”

She continued,“I am even more excited about working with the dedicated team at ECSL which I have inherited. I thank the Board of Directors of Events Saint Lucia for affording me this opportunity and I look forward to their continued support.”

Mrs. Sidonie commenced active duty on Monday, July 22.

THE STAR

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JUly 27, 2019

The Sobering Side of the Virgin Atlantic Saga

By Ulrick W Price

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o one would deny the service provided by Virgin Atlantic over the last twenty years full appreciation. In that period Saint Lucia’s tourism industry has both matured and grown significantly. Currently, Saint Lucia is served by at least nine airlines with a daily average of 1,300 arrivals and departures.

With the room stock likely to increase by some fifteen hundred rooms in the next two years, this represents a significant number.

As with other industries, however, business patterns change on a regular basis, a significant example in Saint Lucia being the game-changing birth of the Royalton Group which provides a charter service of three hundred seats per week to and from the United Kingdom, at special rates. Needless to say, this puts pressure on both Virgin Atlantic and British Airways.

Virgin Atlantic has three flights here per week, shared with Trinidad and Grenada, but provides just 7% of the total visitor arrivals to Saint Lucia annually. BA, in the meantime, has seven flights weekly from the UK, also shared with Trinidad and Grenada.

The government has long recognized the need for an increase in the nation’s room stock, so as to keep the tourism industry vibrant. On the other hand, airlines must accept that they have the responsibility to fine-tune their operations, remain competitive and not rely on MRGs (Margin Rate Guarantees) once their bottom line starts wavering.

Keep in mind that the oldest and not the most fuel efficient aircrafts are used in the region, while airfares are significantly higher than other competitive routes (business class airfare from Saint Lucia to London and back is EC$12,000).

It speaks volumes that, after twenty-one years of serving Saint

Lucia, Virgin Atlantic provides only 7% of our total arrivals, and has not been able to regularize its costings and visitor arrivals, despite the fact that Saint Lucia contributes EC$750,000 annually towards its marketing programme!

Finally, it should be noted that in 2006, when BWIA sold its Heathrow slots to British Airways, no arrangements were made by the SLP administration to fill the void. It was the then Minister of Tourism (Senator Allen Chastanet) who immediately flew to the UK and met with the BA authorities to maintain at least one flight per week to Saint Lucia.

Today, BA has seven flights per week from London and seven flights a week to and from Trinidad which is huge.

Any shortfall from Virgin will be quickly adjusted with additional BA flights, if necessary. This does not mean that Virgin Atlantic will not be missed, but life must go on, despite what changes take place.

STATEMENT BY HONOURABLE DOMINIC FEDEE, MINISTER OF TOURISM, INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING, CULTURE AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

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ver the past months, the Government of Saint Lucia has been in talks with Virgin Atlantic as it relates to the airline’s flights to our destination.

During those talks, Virgin indicated to local tourism officials that in order to continue operating its existing five flights weekly in the winter months, and three in the off-season summer months, it would require EC$20 million or USD7.5 million over three years.

Two other options were presented to us which would mean a significant reduction in Virgin Atlantic flights to our shores and did not present the best return on a potential investment.

It is our strong belief that agreeing to Virgin Atlantic’s demands for a multimillion dollar subsidy, would have opened the door for other airlines to also ask for subsidy.

In fact, upon hearing the news that Virgin Atlantic has

requested subsidies from four Caribbean governments, namely Grenada, Tobago, Antigua and Saint Lucia, other airlines have been in talks with respective governments.

While the Government of Saint Lucia appreciates the need for governments to share the financial risk on new flights until the maturing of the route, Virgin’s request goes against our principle, having been in Saint Lucia for 21 years.

Saint Lucia presently supports Virgin Atlantic flights with marketing agreements annually but presently has no subsidy arrangements with any airline in any other tourism market. Virgin Atlantic represents seven per cent of total arrivals.

To proactively address any fallout that may arise from the cancellation of the Virgin Atlantic flights, the Government of Saint Lucia has been in very fruitful

discussions with other carriers and has received very good feedback from at least one other airline to increase capacity from the UK market in the very near future.

In the year to May 2019, Saint Lucia has recorded an 18% growth from the UK market over the same period last year. We anticipate even further growth with our restructured marketing thrust to maximize more of our marketing spend on Brand Saint Lucia. From all indications, the demand in the UK market for Saint Lucia among Caribbean destinations is second only to Barbados and continues to be one of the most aspirational Caribbean destinations for UK travellers.

We will continue to dialogue with Virgin Atlantic to arrive at a possible mutually beneficial relationship sometime in the future.

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GINet to Benefit more Communities T

he 2010 Population and Housing Census states that 43.3% of Saint Lucia’s population had access to the Internet. In areas like Gros Islet and Castries City, the percentage of people with access was 57.2% and 41% respectively. In Choiseul 25% of the community had access and, in Soufriere, it was 27.9%. In 2015 the day’s administration began working with the Government of China (Taiwan) to develop the Government Islandwide Network Project (GINet). The project’s aim is to develop local, wireless network areas in public areas throughout the island.

Last January phase 1 of the project was rolled out. The Taiwanese contributed US$3.28m and Saint Lucia US$720,000.

Under Phase 1, a total of 70 wireless access points were installed in Castries, Canaries, Dennery North, Micoud North and Vieux Fort South.

Last Thursday Phase 2 was officially launched at Constitution Park in Castries. From this phase, Anse La Raye, Micoud South, Choiseul, Gros Islet, Castries South East and Babonneau will benefit.

with the rest of the world.”

The president confirmed that Taiwan is more than willing to share its technology and experiences with Saint Lucia and will “continue to expand GINet’s coverage across the entire island, and work with you, to foster Saint Lucia’s digital development”.

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet announced that the programme has the potential to enhance the Internet penetration rate on the island. He says that it brings technology to the rural areas, where residents for years have complained about being left out in aspects of national development. “GINet bridges that divide and ensures that all our people will now be on an equal footing as far as internet accessibility is concerned,” he said.

The PM confirmed the project’s potential for growth and

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet (pictured) promises that the GINet project will narrow the urban-rural digital divide.

“In the digital age, network infrastructure is key to economic development, competitive strength in the global market and improved quality of life,” said the visiting Taiwanese president

Financial Action Task Force Recommendation 25: Transparency and Beneficial Ownership of Legal Arrangements

Tsai Ing-wen last week. “This project is not only helping travellers connect more easily, it is also helping bridge Saint Lucia’s urban-rural digital divide and connecting Saint Lucians

Request for for Proposals Request Proposals

By the Attorney General’s

Roots & &Soul 2019 Roots SoulFestival Festival 2019 EventsCompany Company of St. invites reputable organizations to submit TheThe Events St.Lucia LuciaInc. Inc. invites reputable organizations to submit proposals for the provision of the following services for proposals for the provision of the following services for Roots & Soul Festival 2019, Roots & Soul Festival 2019, which forms part of the Saint Lucia Summer Festival. which forms part of the Saint Lucia Summer Festival.

• Bar Management

Mobile Containerized Washrooms Bar Management • Catering Services – Artiste, Production, VIP, Media Photography Catering Services – Artiste, Production, VIP, • Concert Production Media Plumbing • Customs Brokerage Concert Production Road Side Cleaning Services Customs Brokerage • Event Décor & Lighting Event Security Event Décor & Lighting • Ground Transportation VIP Shuttle Services Ground Transportation• Temporary Electrical Installation Temporary Structures – Tents & Stage Temporary Electrical Installation Venue Cleaning • Mobile Containerized Washrooms

• Photography • Plumbing • Road Side Cleaning Services Please contact Events Company of St. Lucia Inc. for detailed guidelines and • Event Security submission details for any of the above-mentioned services.

• VIP Shuttle Services • TemporaryTel. Structures – Tents & Stage # (758) 458-6076 • Venue Cleaning nd The deadline for receipt of proposals is Friday, August 2 , 2019

Please contact Events Company of St. Lucia Inc. for detailed guidelines and submission details for any of the above-mentioned services.

Tel. # (758) 458-6076 The deadline for receipt of proposals is Friday, August 2nd, 2019

the enhancement of the country’s economic future. He said it fitted well into the government’s plan to decentralize development. He invited the nation to see GINet as a tool for education and research, sharing vital information, and for communication.

“Let us use the web to expose others to the goods and services we have in our communities,” he added. "Let’s use it to promote our arts and culture and to expand opportunities for our entrepreneurs. Let us use the internet wisely and responsibly.”

Chastanet said these are exciting times, especially for students and young people. He declared that in this technologydependent world, Saint Lucians will not be left behind, thanks in great part to the generosity of Taiwan.

---JSA

Chambers and the National Anti-Money Laundering Oversight Committee (NAMLOC)

I

n this week’s article the focus is on the transparency and beneficial ownership of legal arrangements which is covered in Recommendation 25, of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Forty Recommendations.

This is a continuation from last week’s article which covered the transparency of legal persons.

This recommendation requires a country to implement measures which will prevent the misuse of legal arrangements, specifically trusts, for money laundering and terrorist financing. It is mandated that accurate and adequate information on the beneficial ownership of a trust should be accessible to competent authorities in a timely manner.

A trust is a legal relationship which is created whilst someone is living, or upon death, in which property is held

by one party, called a trustee, for the benefit of another party, referred to as the beneficiary.

Trusts may be created in wills and define how property is to be handled by the beneficiary(ies).

A trustee may be a professional, such as a lawyer, or a trust company.

Competent authorities should be able to access information on the settlor (the actual person who transfers the ownership of their assets), the trustee and the beneficiaries.

Additionally, when transactions are to be carried out by lawyers or trust companies on behalf of their clients, financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs) are required to conduct customer due diligence; as such they should have access to beneficial ownership and control information, in order to have a clear understanding of the ownership and control structure before establishing a business relationship.

It is therefore incumbent upon professional trustees to maintain information on the identity of the settlors,

beneficiaries or class of beneficiaries and trustees for a minimum of five years, even after their involvement with the trust ends. This information should be current and updated within a reasonable time after any changes have been made.

For legal arrangements other than trusts, countries are mandated to take similar measures to achieve similar levels of transparency.

This recommendation will be assessed by the five (5) assessors from the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), who will seek to determine the effectiveness of the legislative framework which Saint Lucia has in place to cover legal arrangements. From their assessment, they will assign a rating to the recommendation.

One of five (5) ratings can be achieved, namely: not-applicable (NA), non-compliant (NC), partially compliant (PC), largely compliant (LC) or complaint (C).

The FATF Forty Recommendations are available on the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force’s website at www.cfatf-gafic.org.

THE STAR

PRESIDENT TSAI ING-WEN VISITS SAINT LUCIA Peter Josie

S

ince achieving political independence, Saint Lucia’s diplomatic relations have been firmly established with countries of her choosing, save for Taiwan and China.

At Independence, left-leaning politicians tended to favour Communist China (Beijing) whereas the right-leaning ones tended to favour relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan).

The main political parties on the island never declared themselves Socialist or Conservative, Left or Right. These labels were attached for convenience.

In the last twenty years or so, Saint Lucia, along with her nearest neighbour to the south, St. Vincent, has maintained diplomatic relations with Taiwan and both countries have been visited by various Taiwanese heads. The preference of Taiwan is its practice of universal adult suffrage whereby it periodically chooses a president and legislature from contesting candidates. Another reason for choosing Taiwan over Beijing is the similarity in size between Saint Lucia and Taiwan. In addition, Taiwan has pursued a development path which Saint Lucia wishes to emulate.

The hostile sabre rattling by communist China, which claims Taiwan as its possession, is anathema to most Saint Lucians who emerged from decades of colonial dominance forty years ago. Taiwan has steadfastly rejected such a claim and has worked hard to develop her economy. In addition, Saint Lucia is unwilling to welcome the excess labour from China.

In copying Taiwan’s economic success, political leaders and students of economic development would do well to study her methods more closely.

It should not escape alert students of politics that the prescription for the economic miracle in Taiwan was written by no less a person than Saint Lucia’s Sir Arthur Lewis, Nobel laureate in Economics.

In times past, I stood aside and listened to the criticisms regarding the reconstruction of

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Saint Lucia Roots & Soul Festival Grounded and Growing O

President Tsai’s visit was a reminder of all the good things Saint Lucia could be.

St. Jude Hospital, after the fire of 2009. The government of Taiwan has assisted with funds for its reconstruction. Politicians, would-be politicians, and assorted political hacks were anxious to blame each other for the delay in reconstruction. To this day, work on the rebuilding project is not completed. Yet some failed politicians and contractors are still around making mischief, when they ought to be behind bars. Perhaps I see things others refuse to see.

Even so, I never imagined that Prime Minister Chastanet would be accused of spending Taiwan’s hospital funds recklessly. Had he followed the example of Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, St. Jude hospital would have been completed, the crooks would be in prison, and not a dog would bark.

It pains me that no one has appeared before a court of law to answer charges connected to the waste and corruption at St. Jude. It pains me that no one took the time to mention the economic loss of the productive capacity of sick people at a hospital. Not once did the need for the quick rehabilitation of St. Jude Hospital turn on returning the sick to sound health and productivity.

The political mud-slinging was so intense that lost economic potential of hospitalized patients and the stagnation of young sporting talent (the stadium became a substitute hospital) was the result. No one bothered to

remind the public that"a healthy nation is a wealthy nation”. Our pretenders remember Sir Arthur Lewis once a year, when it’s time to massage their egos.

Those with greater knowledge of Sir Arthur than his more popular sayings should not be surprised at the following: “Enlightenment should be learnt not from the powerful and the highly educated, but from the humble, and that the answers to big problems, in development as elsewhere, should not be sought mainly from intellectuals in universities, but rather from those who possess wisdom rather than intelligence—the gift of relating to the mass of people and in particular the downtrodden and the oppressed."

Lewis also said that he tried to pass on to his students that economics concerns life more than numbers. A mathematician might add that maths is about logical thinking, not only about numbers. Can a student who is weak in English be expected to correctly interpret a maths problem that requires logical thinking? And can we now see the broken cycle of sequential thinking between English, Economics, Mathematics and the inability of some of our leaders to correctly identify national socio/ economic problems and their solutions?

These random thoughts were underpinned by the fact that the recent visit by the

president of Taiwan was the first by a female Head of State.

At the banquet in her honour I witnessed the careful planning that went into her visit. This was also obvious in the images of welcome on television. Any contretemps Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition experienced before or during that visit must be seen as misguided politics. The time Madam President spent speaking with the leader of the opposition at the banquet was telling. Mr. Pierre was the first person to be introduced that evening to President Tsai as she strolled with the prime minister among the seated guests. I smiled in admiration of the good manners and better politics on display. And I thought: Class is class! From Minister Sarah Flood-Beaubrun’s welcome remarks I failed to detect any insincerity, nor did I witness a facial expression that betrayed a lack of honest friendship and love for Taiwan and its President. Some may not regard Sarah as a great orator; some may even question her faith in Roman Catholicism. However, her words never left any doubt about her sincerity.

If I learned anything on the recalled evening, it was from His Excellency the Governor General who observed that we in Saint Lucia could learn to save on gas and electricity bills by chopping our foods smaller when cooking, as the Taiwanese do. I intend to discover for myself the value of His Excellency’s cooking tip.

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n Friday, January 25, 2019 the Events Company of Saint Lucia launched the Saint Lucia Summer Festival at Harbor Club in Rodney Bay. As the event producers announced their plans for the series of festivals scheduled for this year's events calendar, great applause was heard for the Saint Lucia Roots & Soul Festival line-up.

For Events Saint Lucia, there was no doubt that the policy of disentangling the musical genres of the former Saint Lucia Jazz Festival into several singular festivals was beginning to be understood.

The Roots & Soul Festival is the element of the former Saint Lucia Jazz Festival that has the greatest appeal among the Saint Lucian audience. Three years into its production, Events Saint Lucia is happy to report that the festival is grounded and growing.

Commenting on the festival, chairperson Agnes Francis stated, “Over the months of preparation, and as the festival gets nearer, Events Saint Lucia is excited about the level of interest and enthusiasm being displayed for the Saint Lucia Roots & Soul Festival, giving us every reason to believe that it is becoming one of the most anticipated events in the region.”

In 2019 the Roots & Soul Festival is showcasing an eclectic mix of musical entertainment, delivered by an A-list of reggae, hip-hop, RnB and Afro-punk artistes.

On Friday August 23 at The Ramp on Rodney Bay, the festival kicks off at 8:30pm with the soulful spoken-word of UK-based Saint Lucian poet Curmiah Lisette, followed by Canadian-based Saint Lucian hip-hop, rap and R&B singer, Asher “Smallz” Small backed by other Saint Lucian artistes.

The rootsy and soulful Naomie “N-gozi” Grandison will keep the heightened blend of entertaining, stimulating and world-class compositions with her brand of inspirational music.

Day one of Roots & Soul will close with the philosophical, ever-conscious Rapso band out of T&T, 3Canal. Tickets for this event are EC$75/US$30.

Roots & Soul will move to Pigeon Island National Landmark on Saturday August 24 and Sunday 25.

On Saturday 24, starting at 6pm, homegrown folk-rock band Skip Monday will lead the cast, followed by awardwinning songwriter, producer, and performer Nigerian Timaya and flamboyant British pop superstar Leee John and his band Imagination. The everprovocative reggae legend Tarrus Riley featuring Estelle will bring the curtain down.

Roots & Soul will turn up the volume on Sunday August 25 from 4pm, with Saint Lucian-Canadian jazz and R&B balladeer, the young yet soulful Zamani. Saint Lucian Sherwinn Dupes Brice will then take the stage followed by R&B duo trailblazer, sultry crooner Ginuwine and Grammy awardwinning recording artist and actress Mya.

The Roots & Soul Festival will hit an all-time high note, transcending generations, origins, and time, with showstopper, the most successful reggae group in the world, UB40 featuring Ali Campbell and Astro.

Tickets for Saturday and Sunday shows are EC$150/ US$60 each and are available at The Cell outlets islandwide, Steve’s Barbershop and online at eventssaintlucia.com

For more information about the Saint Lucia Summer Festival and about Roots & Soul, go to eventssaintlucia.com.

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JUly 27, 2019 THE STAR

www.stluciastar.com

From Watergate

A leap not

T

he 17 June 1972 breakin at the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters in Washington’s Watergate office building triggered what universally came to be described as the biggest political scandal in U.S. history. Still, it is doubtful the majority of Americans could name the principal players. Or, for that matter, the president who in consequence of his surreptitious participation had been forced to resign his office. Then again, a survey conducted in 2011 revealed that a shocking number of United States citizens could not name their vice president. So there!

Suffice it to say that for several months after the Watergate break-in Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein and their Washington Post colleagues were alone on the story, ignored by the rest of the media and most other Americans—even as the reporters came under heavy fire from the Nixon administration.

Not until it was several months old—eleven days before Nixon’s landslide reelection, to be precise—did the legendary Walter Cronkite devote an unprecedented fifteen minutes of his CBS Evening News broadcast to the story, prominently featuring gems from Ben Bradlee’s Washington Post. Cronkite described the Watergate affair as a “high-level

campaign of political sabotage and espionage apparently unparalleled in American history.”

In the wake of the Watergate hearings Nixon became in 1974 the first and only United States president to demit office before completing his term. As for Woodward and Bernstein, they were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for their bestseller All the President’s Men (made into an Oscarwinning film starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman).

This being the 40th anniversary of Watergate, the networks have been featuring recollections of Richard Nixon, often citing the two muckrakers who famously had brought down his presidency— reminding me in the process of my own travails as a working journalist in Saint Lucia these last 25 years. If I may be permitted the large arrogance of saying so myself, some of the pieces of which I am most proud were written in the period, among them several about the then nascent drug trade, poor citizens blatantly and cruelly denied their constitutional rights, endorsed police brutality and a truckload of so-called “human interest stories.”

I also recalled with some personal satisfaction as I took in the Watergate programs my articles about the environment,

produced at a time when the then lucrative banana industry took precedence over all else and Robert Devaux was the only Saint Lucian who seemed to give a goddamn about the government-funded rampant use of proscribed pesticides.

That is to say, proscribed everywhere else but in Saint Lucia, regardless of their irreversible consequences to human, avian and marine life.

Nevertheless, I would readily acknowledge that on this Rock of Sages what I am best known for are my stories of egregious abuses of office—which may well have made me more enemies than friends, if only among our presumed omnipotents and their satellites. Suddenly it sounds so unbelievably naïve, but there was a time when I truly believed the message of John 3:16: “Then will you know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Yes, I believed with all my heart that there could be nothing more important or nobler than bringing the truth to light. Alas, it didn’t take long before I discovered another irreducible truth: when existence depends on corruption and deceit even the most trusted among us will do whatever it takes, including attempting to suffocate the truth under a landslide of lies and disguises.

Perhaps I should at this

juncture remind younger readers that a decade or so before the STAR was born, I was the editor of, if you can believe it, the island’s conservative Voice. That was circa 1972-73, the season of Watergate that coincided with the advent of the New Journalism propagated by such as Tom Wolfe, Gay Talese, Truman Capote, Norman Mailer, Jimmy Breslin, Garry Wills and Hunter S. Thompson among others.

The shared fantasy of journalists everywhere was to be the next Bob Woodward or Carl Bernstein. Easier said than done, of course. Especially in Saint Lucia, where reading has never been the most popular pastime and John Compton was in his circumstances relatively more powerful than any American president—close to numinous. Small wonder, then, that with every issue of the suddenly “titillating” Voice (to borrow one of George Odlum’s favorite pejoratives) my unflattering image as an “American sensationalist” became more entrenched.

Curiously, I was at once considered “antigovernment”—meaning I could not be counted among the blindly faithful to John Compton. I was at the same time an enemy of the opposition Labour Party, since I often took to task parliamentarians on both sides of the political divide. I was labeled “without friends,” which is Saint Lucian for “untrustworthy!”

I am at this point reminded of Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham.

(She passed away in 2011.)

Recalling Watergate, this is what she wrote in her 1997 memoir Personal History: “The investigation of such a web

Carl Bernstein (left) and Bob Woodward: Their history-making sto

of crime, money and mischief was made much harder, given the unveiled threats and harassment by a President and his administration. Sometimes I wondered if we could survive four more years of this kind of strain.”

In 1972 Republican businessmen had challenged the licenses of two TV stations owned by the Washington Post Company, causing the company’s stock price to drop by more than fifty percent. In my own case, I was in one way or another threatened from within and without. Especially

unforgettable is the episode involving two government ministers who had blamed me for embarrassing them out of office. When in the aftermath my boss summoned me to his office, I fully expected a commendation.

Instead, he informed me in no uncertain terms that my “investigative journalism” was cramping his lifestyle. He said he could not recall the last time he had been invited to a government cocktail party, so either I tempered my contributions to the twice-weekly paper or he would be left no other choice but to let me go.

I resigned soon afterwards, anyway, having accepted the specially created job of personal assistant to

THE STAR

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te to Grynberg:

ot too far!

making story of the Watergate break-in was initially ignored by the American public and media.

Premier John Compton—in whose imagined best interests my publisher had been ready to give me the boot.

Suffice it to say that having created the Vanguard and assisted in the 1974 reelection of John Compton, I returned to California—for reasons that had more to do with the UWP rank and file than with their leader. That partiular story is detailed in It’ll Be Alright in the Morning and in Lapses & Infelicities.

The STAR as known today hit local newsstands in 1987. Barely four years later, with elections imminent and with my image as a staunch supporter of Julian Hunte’s St. Lucia Labour Party stronger than ever, the

day’s prime minister set out to rid himself of the “cancer” that was the STAR newspaper. On August 2, 1991—and with the opposition Labour Party MPs in silent attendance—John Compton delivered at a specially convened meeting of parliament the unforgettable following statement:

“I wish to draw the attention of this honorable House to a matter that is causing a number of people in this community some grave concern. As you know, the twin curses of our modern age are drugs and pornography.

You know the steps that government is taking to try to control and eradicate the first evil. Now the second evil has just shown its head and the intention is for this government to act resolutely and promptly in order that this evil should not spread.

“Information available to the government provides us with incontrovertible evidence that certain people associated with a certain section of the media have for some time now been directly engaged in activities which can only be described as representing

the corruption of public morals.

These persons have not only used themselves as subjects for the production of pornographic materials but have also drawn many of our young people into a pornographic ring with the objective of producing pornographic material for profit.

It is especially alarming that some of these persons who have drawn others into this iniquitous ring are young girls of school age and young women who have not yet reached the age of maturity. It is indeed ironic that the persons who have engaged in these activities are associated with a section of our media that has sought to represent itself as the only champions of moral values and social justice in our society . . .”

Again, I remind you, full details of the episode— designed to put an end to the STAR before elections—are to be found in Lapses & Infelicities. So, too, is the story of the same moralizing prime minister’s affair with a 15-yearold schoolgirl and several of her closest relatives. That the STAR and its owners survived to tell the tale says much for the support given us by rightthinking citizens—and the fact that in the end truth always prevails.

I should say also that my purpose in bringing to light the details of Compton’s love affair with a young Comprehensive School student had less to do with its prurient elements than with the fact that in several ways the prime minister had abused his office to accommodate the altogether illegal affair. For one, there were his visa applications written on the prime minister’s official letterhead, filled with fictive

claims about his “niece.” Then there was the party in his honor, hosted by Texas dignitaries and attended by accommodating government of Saint Lucia personnel and the prime minister’s “daughter.”

There were also his billets doux on notepaper bearing Saint Lucia’s coat of arms, and quite possibly typed up by the prime minister’s secretary— hardly what taxpayers paid her to do.

With much regret, I must point out that the recalled episodes—as with Watergate, initially—went uncovered by the local media, even after they had been published in the UK, the United States, Canada, Singapore and elsewhere. Ah, you say, that was then; we’ve come a long way in 25 years. To which I say, oh, really?

As Andre Paul, the host of What Makes Me Mad, has often reminded the nation, only one local newspaper had the courage to oppose the pressgagging Section 361—until it was repealed. The same paper, on its own, had repeatedly reported on the hidden details of Rochamel, long before the issue came before the Ramsahoye Commission of Inquiry.

And now we have Grynberg, a secret transaction recently come to light, involving millions of acres of the Saint Lucia seabed. Even though the Saint Lucia government has now been sued by the Denver, Colorado oilman Jack Grynberg for breach of contract, the prime minister still has not seen fit to properly address the issue, neither in parliament nor anywhere else. Despite his several press interviews on matters relating to the island’s

dismal economy, not one local media house—or for that matter the official opposition, has seen the need to broach with him the US$200 million suit!

We need not go into Jack Grynberg’s recent successful appearance before the ICSID’s ad hoc committee. Suffice it to say that since then negotiations have been going on between lawyers on both sides of the issue. And now my normally reliable sources tell me our government finds itself between the devil Grynberg and our deep blue sea. I am informed that thanks to contractual amendments to the original arrangements between Kenny Anthony and the Colorado oil prospector Jack Grynberg, the government of Saint Lucia stands almost no chance of beating the breach of contract suit pending before the ICSID, via which Grynberg is demanding US$500 million in damages.

I am reliably informed that Grynberg has declared his readiness to drop his suit altogether, on conditions the government is prepared to forget their troubles and dance with the slippery oilman. But don’t expect to hear any of this from the regular news media.

Neither at the government’s weekly pre-Cabinet press briefings. Thank goodness, the STAR still breathes!

We would all do well to remember Thomas Jefferson’s legendary caution: “Where governments fear the people, there is liberty. Where the people fear governments, there is tyranny!”

First published in part June 14, 2012.

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JUly 27, 2019 THE STAR

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‘Eco-friendly’ Could Be Harmful Claudia Mc Dowell

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n August 1, we will no longer be able to import plastic and Styrofoam food service containers. On a small island largely invested into food, we need to find alternatives quickly before the next, say, Jounen Kwéyòl. So, what will we import?

Plastic has been a cheaper, lighter alternative. Now that it’s non-degradable nature has proven to be one of mankind’s most environmentally-threatening inventions, most of the world (including Saint Lucia) is switching to compostable products, especially for singleuse. But food containers made of paper, cardboard and natural fibres such as bagasse need some sort of protection that will enable these products to store food and liquids in the same way as plastic and Styrofoam. Enter the over 4,000 types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS or fluorinated compounds) are groups of man-made chemicals that are resisitant to water, oil, stains and heat but are also unable to decompose. Since the 1940s, the use and production of PFAS has been widely unregulated. Now they are being called “forever chemicals”. Recent research indicates that long-term exposure to these chemicals is associated with cancer, liver damage, immune system disruption, resistance to vaccines, thyroid disease, impaired fertility and

O

high cholesterol.

According to the United States Environtmental Protection Agency, PFAS can be found in several places including household products, cooking pots, carpets, water supplies and living organisms. In humans PFAS are ingested into the body when they are absorbed into food through packaging which has the compounds. The chemicals can also be absorbed by plants, crops and and water supplies through waste disposal and seepage to ground water.

Countries like the United States have stopped production of PFAS. Denmark and Canada have banned the use and importation of products containing the compounds. Others, like the United Kingdom, have advised consumers to cautiously use products that may contain PFAS and are beginning to phase them out from local markets.

In preparation for our import ban, the Ministry of Sustainable Development says alternatives that will be allowed include bagasse (sugarcane), wheat straw, polyactic acid, paper and cardboard. Importation of compostable products outside the list will be permitted, but the government accounts for no restrictions on fluorinated compounds in its information kit.

Recently, Barbados Today reported: “Ten days into Government’s ban on single-use plastics, the Minister of Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Commerce Dwight Sutherland is expressing serious concern with some of the replacement products coming into Barbados.”

The online newspaper stated that the Barbados National Standards

"Forever chemicals" have become a target for recent research.

Institution had discovered that several of the imported bio-degradable replacement products tested positively for high concentrations of PFAS.

Minister Sutherland was also quoted as saying: “CROSQ —CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality—is developing a standard as it relates to these biodegradable products and I want to compliment them because we can’t just say we are banning plastics and our replacement biodegradable products have high levels of fluorine, which in effect, poses the same danger as the single-use plastics.”

In Saint Lucia, just two weeks before a scheduled plastic importation ban, it’s a different story. When a STAR reporter approached Minister for Sustainable Development, Gale Rigobert for comment about PFAS, she was unprepared to speak about the matter. Staff at the ministry offered this

statement: “The Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards will monitor the import of the alternates with the use of ISO and ASTM standards. The assistance of the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards and continued monitoring and testing of the alternatives being imported into Saint Lucia will assist us in determining whether the alternatives are high in these chemicals. At this time, alternatives approved by international standards are low in these chemicals.

The standards ensure that the biodegradable containers are indeed compostable and safe for the environment and health.”

Barry Fakoory of Trinidad’s VF Packaging is a manufacturer of food service containers. He explained that VF Packaging was interested several years ago in making products from bagasse but discontinued pursuing the idea because of the contentious fluroinated compounds with which bagasse tends to be

treated. When the Trinidadian government recently began heavily promoting bagasse and other materials possibly containing PFAS, Fakoory became gravely concerned.

He said: “There is no hope of implementing proper standards in our region if a chemical has become so controversial that various states in the US, as well as the US military, have already begun implementing bans, and we in the Caribbean are importing [it].”

As a food packaging manufacturer himself, Fakoory added: “Currently in the Caribbean we have absolutely zero standards when it comes to food packaging, and most companies outside our region would probably prefer we keep it that way.”

Contradicting the statements made to this reporter by the ministry offical, Fakoory claimed: “I can confidently say the Caribbean is incapable of properly

testing these products for PFAS chemicals. It is quite obvious we are being targeted as a dumping ground due to our lack of regulations and companies.”

Fakoory also professes that when he personally imported certified products, the PFAS results were alarming when he sent them for testing in the US.

While not all compostable materials and not all bagasse contains PFAS, products with high concentration can still be found on the international market.

Research done on PFAS has not been widely known and many reports were made available only this year. This research also notes that most humans already have levels of PFAS, given that it is found in so many products.

Food retailers who are PFAS cautious do so of their own accord. That is why Washington State and the mega-retailer Whole Foods Market and the countries mentioned before have taken to independent policies and regulations by implementing tests and then allowing only PFAS-free materials for food packaging.

Shortly before we went to press this reporter met with Director of the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards, Verne Emmanuel who claims that while our neighbour is rooting out PFAS, there is nothing to signify that Saint Lucia’s supply-chain is compromised. He indicated that the SLBS is currently in the process of developing standards for food packaging and participates through CROSQ in the development of regional standards.

Find Verne Emmanuel’s full statement in next week’s STAR.

DAREN SAMMY FOUNDATION GIVES SCHOLARSHIPS TO 15 TOP PERFORMING STUDENTS

n Thursday, 25 July, 2019, the Daren Sammy Foundation (DSF) held a special award ceremony where fifteen Saint Lucian students were presented with scholarships for the upcoming school year 2019/2020. The total value of these scholarships is EC$28,000.

The DSF award scholarships are given every year to hardworking students from low-income families, to cover tuition fees, school textbooks, bags and uniforms. Recipients are selected based on strict criteria, which requires that the applicants must belong to a sports club or participate in extra-curricular activities, and have a grade

average of seventy per cent or more.

What makes this scholarship programme different is that many of the students continue to receive support through the Foundation, as long as they continue to adhere to the criteria.

This means that nine of this year's selected students are receiving scholarships for the second or third time.

According to Mrs Cathy Sammy, Vice-President of the DSF, “We are proud to once again, make a difference in the lives of many deserving students, for the upcoming school year. I believe that this year’s scholarship holders; some returning from last

year, all mirror the dedication and discipline of our Founder, Daren Sammy, who has achieved excellence in international cricket. It brings us so much joy to help these students achieve goals that would otherwise not be possible for them.”

The DSF was founded by international cricketer and Saint Lucian sports legend Daren Sammy, with a mission to serve Saint Lucia by developing its youth through sports and education. Daren shared with the students, “You have a duty to make parents proud. I know that this was what was driving me; to make my parents proud and to achieve in a way that would help

them live better lives.”

Though the Foundation cannot extend its reach to everyone, the goal is help create a better future for Saint Lucia, one child at a time, and to inspire everyone to give back to their community.

The DSF thanks all of its corporate partners who have ensured that the Foundation continues to fulfill this mission.

A special thank you is given to Digicel’s OECS Marketing Manager Jamisha Wright who has pledged to ensure that twenty students will receive scholarships in 2020.

Digicel, Saint Lucia’s leading telecommunications company,

Daren Sammy, pictured standing behind the scholarship winners, urged them to make their parents proud.

has been one of the key corporate partners of the Daren Sammy Foundation and its mission over the years. The desire is to partner with even more local entities to significantly increase the number of students who will receive support in the near future.

THE STAR

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The Week at SLHTA Tourism Matters

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Environmental matters discussed in the Netherlands

ur focus on people, planet and profits continues to permeate the weekly commitments of the SLHTA. This week, discussions with Invest Saint Lucia provided the SLHTA an opportunity to share some of our work with small and micro entrepreneurs such as Funky Fungi, Penny Pinch, HRM Solutions, local farmers and community groups such as the Fond St. Jacques Development Committee. The discussions reinforced the critical need for a business incubator for SMEs as well as the need to dispel unproductive bureaucracies that hinder our ease of doing business in Saint Lucia. Our end game must be to stimulate private sector investment in our local economy from both corporate and SME investors.

Environmental matters also received significant attention this week with the SLHTA engagement on issues such as Saint Lucia’s Pilot Programme on Climate Resilience, Saint Lucia’s Sectoral Adaptation Strategy and action plans for the fisheries, agricultural and water sectors, as well as workshops on climate finance and the private sector.

Over 50 representatives from 12 countries came together in Rotterdam, the Netherlands to discuss how developing country governments can engage businesses and investors in the development and implementation of their National Adaptation Planning (NAP) processes.

Hosted by the NAP Global Network, with support from the Government of the Netherlands, this Peer Learning Summit aimed to raise climate change adaptation ambition among private sector stakeholders

Invest Saint Lucia and the SLHTA discuss a local business incubator.

through peer learning and exchange.

Countries in attendance included Ghana, Saint Lucia, Rwanda, Morocco, Vietnam, Brazil, Colombia, Jamaica, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Sierra Leone and Jordan, as well as a range of bilateral development partner agencies and international climate support initiatives.

The Saint Lucian delegation, comprising Kemuel Jn. Baptiste, Vincent Boland, Deepa Gardari and Carl Hunter, spanned the public, private and banking sector interests. Of note was the advanced nature of Saint Lucia’s NAP process and that we were the only nation represented that has already progressed to the actionable SASAP (Sectorial Adaptation Strategy & Action Plan) process. We were able to share our Private Sector Engagement Strategy to much applause.

Our main objectives were to: • identify and share country experiences and enabling factors for private sector engagement in the NAP process.

• identify needs and gaps

The Saint Lucian delegation to the NAP summit.

for government action from the perspective of private sector actors in key priority sectors such as tourism and agriculture, in order to facilitate their engagement in NAP processes.

• reflect on the role that donors and climate support initiatives can play in fostering greater private sector engagement in NAP processes.

In discussing the objective of finding ways to engage the private sector in the adaptation process, many viewpoints from

The SLHTA encourages members to be climate conscious in order to foster resilience in their businesses.

many nations were examined.

The discussion pivoted around the willingness for the private sector to fund change and included opportunities for us to share the island-state private sector perspective in contrast to the traditional available wealth from a developed nation’s private sector.

Of particular note should be that the advanced state of Saint Lucia’s Private Sector Engagement Strategy may well mean that it becomes adopted as a global guide. We encourage SLHTA members to become more involved and aware of what their gaps are and how resilient their business is in the face of climate change.

Some useful links are: www.climatechange.govt.lc/ wp-content/uploads/2018/04/ saint-lucia-nap-V6-digital.pdf and www.climatechange.govt. lc/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ Impact-Assessment-NationalAdaptation-Strategy-and-ActionPlan-in-Tourism-Sector.pdf

Over the coming weeks, our internal newsletter will share with our members “Recommendations to the

Saint Lucian Hospitality Sector for alternatives to Single Use Plastic containers and utensils” as we push for the reduced utilization of single-use plastics among our members by sharing viable alternatives.

The recommendations were penned by Carl Hunter, Chairman of the SLHTA’s Environmental Committee. It complements our “Garcon you mad or what” bumper sticker campaign, seeking to raise our collective awareness of indiscriminate dumping of garbage and encourage behavioural change on a personal and community level.

Membership engagement on taxation was also featured highly this week. The promised introduction of a new Head Tax on the accommodation sector has stirred much discussion among our hotel members and,

as we near its implementation date, the industry continues to present its recommendations to ensure it is cost neutral to our operations.

The Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) is the principal tourism private sector agency in Saint Lucia with a membership of over 200 companies comprising 74 hotels and other accommodation establishments plus allied members ranging from airlines, ground transportation agencies and destination management companies (DMC) to distributors, restaurants, public and private sector agencies, retailers, tourism professionals, tour guides, tour operators and travel agents. As a private non-profit membership organisation, the SLHTA‘s main role is to facilitate tourism sector development and management in Saint Lucia.

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JUly 27, 2019 THE STAR

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Venezuela supported by 120 NAM countries

he delegations of 120 countries of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries (NAM) approved and announced that they recognize and support the Government of the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, as the only one, legitimately and constitutionally elected.

In a declaration signed by the members of the international organization, which met for two days in Caracas, the delegations indicated that only Venezuela can

decide its fate, no other State can intervene in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.

The NAM Coordination Bureau expressed a clear rejection of foreign intervention in the South American country and reiterated its commitment to redouble efforts aimed at channelling the Government and the Venezuelan opposition to find a peaceful solution to the problem.

In this sense, President Nicolás Maduro Moros, indicates: "A new geopolitics of peace,

exchange, cooperation and brotherhood for world stability.

That is our flag . . . that is neither a dream nor a utopia, the NAM "is called to play an immense role for humanity to make its way to a new world."

On the other hand, the Chancellor of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Jorge Arreaza, stressed: "We are living a historical moment in which multilateralism is being attacked, a systemic phenomenon that responds to many countries in

the world: coups, political destabilization, economic, with geopolitical interests."

"There is a propaganda machine to take Venezuela to war. But today, the most important role that is occurring and avoids a war is that 120 countries meet in Caracas supporting the peace of Venezuelans, rejecting coercive measures and the threat of the use of force. They are the guarantees of peace," informed on Saturday the ambassador and the Presidential Commissioner for the Movement of NonAligned Countries, Samuel Moncada, and the data on important decisions at the NAM Ministerial Meeting.

The attending delegations, approved condemn and reject any attempt to change the current government in Venezuela and agreed to support the Venezuelan candidacy to the UN Human Rights Council at a ceremony to be held in October in New York.

In addition, during this meeting, we can see the creation of a working group of NAM that will oppose illegal coercive measures, which will be coordinated by Venezuela to work on mechanisms that demand their condemnation by the international community and be eliminated. US attempts Against Venezuela, as well as other countries of the world, are illegal and called for a defender and a respected principle of the Charter of the United Nations (UN).

Anthony Severin, Director of International Relations of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), participated in this meeting for the Caribbean entity of Saint Lucia.

From the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venzuela to Saint Lucia

Hong Kong is now the Front Line of Democracy and Freedom

Ambassador from the R.O.C. (Taiwan) to Saint Lucia, H.E. Douglas Shen

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ntil this day, four young people have committed suicide to urge the Hong Kong Government to halt the amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance, or so-called Extradition Bill, while millions of people are on the street fighting for their rights, facing batons, tear gas, rubber bullets, and horrifying attack organised by pro-China mafias who even targeted pregnant women.

The Extradition Bill is an act promoted by the Hong Kong Government which erodes the island’s once independent judicial system. When the Ordinance passes, crime suspects in Hong Kong would very likely be extradited to Chinese Mainland upon Chinese Government’s request, of which the transparency and accountability are questionable. The fear of facing wrongful prosecutions has forced the Hong Kong people to the street again and again, making the financial metropolitan the de-facto front line of democracy and freedom.

Saint Lucia and Hong Kong were originally both overseas colonies of the British Empire. However, Saint Lucian people have fought for its well-deserved independence and democracy. The legacy not only brings democracy and freedom to the island but also is an encouragement for those who are still struggling against authoritarian oppressions, such as people in Hong Kong.

The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) calls on all democratic nations, including Saint Lucian to continue to speak out in support of the people of Hong Kong in their fight for human rights and freedom; to work together to uphold liberty, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law; and to support the people of Taiwan as they defend their democracy and their right to determine their own future.

---Douglas C. T. Shen Ambassador of the R.O.C. (Taiwan) to Saint Lucia

THE STAR JUly 27, 2019

Miss Understood

What Women Want:

A Guy’s Guide Strength and Positivity: These two have to do your character, your personality. When we talk about strength we are not necessarily referring to oday we address men.

Someone needs to educate physical strength, even though we’re not looking for a man them a little more about what we, as women. want when who needs us to carry his briefcase. Here, strength refers it comes to relationships. I’m to the quality in a man that not saying that you guys are makes a women feel he can clueless, even though some of handle the ups and downs of a you give the impression, but most of you don’t spend enough relationship. You should be able to show her that you are able time analysing the women you to take control of challenging go out with. Today I will make situations, are able to pick her it my duty to educate you a up, and have the strength to little more about some of the stand up to her, for her sake. main things women look for Self-assurance in a man is most in a guy. This list comprises attractive to women. Which the most important, according leads us to our next point. to my research, but there are Confidence: Standing true other traits beyond them. We to who you are and what know we can be confusing; it’s you believe. Not being too in our DNA. We say one thing dependent on her. Loving but our actions can suggest yourself enough to appear, in the contrary. So, learn to read her eyes, that you’re the between the lines. Women, man of her dreams. Be careful unlike men, are nowhere close to being simple creatures. Truth not to let self-confidence come across as arrogance. We are be told, sometimes we don’t looking for a man who is really know what we want. So, well grounded and spiritual, now, my list: who knows his worth and that of the woman he needs in Honesty: Without honesty his life. Don’t be a peacock. there is truly nothing to build If you’re unsure how a lady on. A good woman doesn’t feels about you, quit the alpha seek perfection; she just male body language unless wants honesty and someone it’s genuinely part of your who is man enough to realize personality. Pretending to be she deserves the truth. We what you’re not will lead to do not want to play games to loneliness. figure out if you are telling the truth. In a past relationship, I Affection: It’s not all about was completely honest with a touching and feeling. There is guy from the get-go. We both more to affection than just that! decided to take things slow as Women want to feel special we got to know each other. I and cherished. Sometimes it’s was totally honest about my the little things that make us relationship status, or lack feel good. It is true we may like thereof, and he claimed to be the big gestures but you’d be in the same position. I soon surprised how much a genuine discovered he wasn’t. Even if compliment can mean to a the other woman was “just a woman. Simple things, like friend with benefits”, I could leaving a note on mornings if not get past the fact that he you live together, or sending her couldn’t trust me enough to be a sweet text to brighten up her open and honest. Women are day, can make a woman feel more understanding than most men give us credit for. We don’t like a queen—and you a king in her eyes. expect you to remain single for months. All we want is to be aware of it so that we don’t feel The 3 S’s (Stability/Security/ Support): Showing up to like we are manipulated into constantly support each other being with you.

By Allana Maximin

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in your goals. Having the confidence the woman needs from a man to show her that this is now a partnership. You are in it to win it. Together!

Communication: We need communication. Extremely important! If a relationship is going to work, there needs to be a clear line of communication. In addition, women need to communicate because it is ingrained in us to do so. This is why men feel like they are being nagged. Men more often communicate through sex, not intimacy. It’s also about you being able to express your feelings and say exactly what it is you need to say. When you don’t talk, we will still interpret your silence, often wrongly.

We imagine you’re hiding something from us; or you don’t trust us with your views.

We also want to be with someone who will be there for us and who will communicate with us, even if it means putting aside something to ensure we share our feelings with you.

And now for some honourable mentions: Spirituality: Most women would love a God-fearing man.

Personally, one of the first things I ask about when getting to know someone is their belief in God. I believe that a man who is God-fearing will support his wife as he should, and have the right morals.

Continuous courtship: Women love being courted.

During that time we feel special, wanted and appreciated. Even after marriage, we expect the romance and the positivity of courtship.

You don’t need to be perfect in every way. Women aren’t perfect either. We’re close (wink-wink) but not quite there. We know we can be difficult but underneath it all, we are looking for exactly what you are: long-lasting, unconditional love.

LOCAL

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Invitation for Bids COUNTRY: SAINT LUCIA NAME OF PROJECT: DISASTER VULNERABILITY REDUCTION PROJECT IDA Credit # 5493-LC, SCF Loan # TF017101, SCF Grant # TF017143 Contract Title: Procurement of Computer Workstations and Server Reference No.: SLU-DVRP-G-NCB-CW-01-18 1. Saint Lucia has received financing from the World Bank towards the cost of Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project and intends to apply part of the funds to cover eligible

payments under the Contract for Procurement of Computer Workstations and Server.

2. The Department of Economic Development, Transport and Civil Aviation, now invites

sealed bids from eligible bidders for the following. The goods are to be delivered to the

respective project sites within eight (8) weeks of contract notification.

Lot 1 – Computer Workstations No. Description Quantity 1 Workstation 25 1 Server 1 Lot 2 – Servers No. Description Quantity 1 Server 2

LTO Tape Drive

1

Lot 3 – Wide Format Printer and Document Scanner No. Description 1 1

Wide Format Printer – 60” Document Scanner 1

Quantity 1

3.

Bidding will be conducted through the National Competitive Bidding procedures as specified in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Procurement of Goods, Works and Non-Consulting Services under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits &Grants by World Bank Borrowers [Procurement under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits January 2011 revised July 2014 (“Procurement Guidelines”), and is open to all eligible bidders as defined in the Procurement Guidelines.

In addition, please refer to paragraphs 1.6 and 1.7 setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

4.

Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from the Project Coordination Unit, Department of Economic Development, Transport and Civil Aviation, and inspect the bidding documents during office hours 0900 hours (9:00 a.m.) to 1600 hours (4:00p.m.) at the address given below *.

5.

A complete set of bidding documents in English may be collected by interested eligible bidders at the Project Coordination Unit, 2nd Floor, Finance Administrative Centre, Point Seraphine, Castries. The document will be made available from July 24, 2019. The document will be sent by courier for overseas delivery and surface mail for local delivery.

6.

Bids must be delivered to the address below ** on or before August 28 2019. Electronic bidding will not be permitted. Late bids will be rejected. Bids will be publicly opened in the presence of the bidders’ designated representatives and anyone who choose to attend at the address below *** on August 28, 2019. All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Securing Declaration.

7. The address(es) referred to above are: *The Project Coordinator Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project Department of Economic Development, Transport and Civil Aviation 2nd Floor Finance Administrative Centre Point Seraphine, Castries, Saint Lucia Telephone: 758-468-5817 Email: slupcu@govt.lc **The Secretary (Submission of Bids) Central Tenders Board Department of Finance 2nd Floor Finance Administrative Centre Point Seraphine, Castries, Saint Lucia ***Meeting of the Central Tenders Board Central Tenders Board Department of Finance 2nd Floor Finance Administrative Centre Point Seraphine, Castries, Saint Lucia

18 LOCAL

JUly 27, 2019 THE STAR

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KIM’S KORNER J

Hepatitis: The Silent Virus

uly 28 is World Hepatitis Day and the aim is to raise awareness of this viral infection. Hepatitis can be caused by certain medical conditions, and also by alcohol and drug abuse. In most cases, however, it is the result of a virus. Regardless of the cause, it can lead to widespread infections throughout the body but it predominantly triggers

inflammation of the liver.

The virus can go undetected, often progressing to diseases of the renal, endocrine, cardiovascular, rheumatological and central nervous systems, which can lead to life-threatening and sometimes fatal consequences.

The biggest problem to controlling hepatitis is that

Pointe Seraphine • La Place Carenage • Hewanorra Airport ~ ST. LUCIA Esplanade Shopping Complex ~ GRENADA

MULTIPLE SALES CONSULTANTS WANTED Harry Edwards Jewelers – founded in 1999 – continues to be St. Lucia’s premier duty-free retailer for almost 20 years, specializing in exclusive world-renowned luxury branded jewelry, watches, crystal, and accessories. With multiple retail locations island-wide, and current expansion into other islands, we are seeking results-driven sales consultants with dynamic personalities to join our team.

Candidates for this position should prioritize customer care, acquisition, and company profitability.

Sales Consultants - required for high performance, commission-based roles Duties and Responsibilities: • Achieve and surpass store targets while closing sales by means of excellent customer service and salesmanship.

• Maintain a personal customer database and positive customer relationships in addition to keeping clientele informed by notifying them of preferred customer sales and future merchandise of potential interest.

• Generate and qualify leads via phone and email.

• Welcome customers into our stores with a warm and friendly disposition.

• Ensure our stores have a pleasant shopping atmosphere and are kept up to the standard set by management.

• Promote products/services to new and existing customers.

• Represent our company at various functions, showcases, and product training during and outside of regular store hours.

• Work on weekends and holidays.

• Continuously improve through feedback.

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

• Must take pride in his/her appearance.

• Must be a self-motivated, assertive individual.

• Must be determined to meet and exceed monthly sales targets.

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

• Must have an aptitude for negotiation and persuasion.

• Must possess strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently as well as with a team in a highly competitive commission-based environment.

• Must have strong organizational skills and excellent time management.

• Must be able to learn and implement sales techniques.

Please submit your CV by July 31, 2019, to info@harryedwardsjewelers.com with the subject: SALES CONSULTANT APPLICATION or mail to: Harry Edwards Jewelers Attn.: Hiring Manager P.O. Box 1889, Maurice Mason Avenue Sans Souci, Castries LC04 101

it can be present without obvious symptoms. Not until the condition becomes chronic do people become aware of its presence. And by that time there has usually been extensive liver damage.

According to research there are 300 million people worldwide who are unaware they have viral hepatitis.

Failure to identify these people means that hepatitis will continue to be a problem, and lives needlessly lost to the disease.

There are three types of hepatitis: A, B and C. Although they have similar symptoms, each comes with its unique issues. The symptoms that all three share, are: fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, jaundice, dark urine, pale/chalkcoloured stools, muscle and joint pain, and abdominal pain.

Hepatitis A: This is the only one of the three that can be prevented by vaccination.

Children between the ages of 1-2 years and adults at risk are usually encouraged to be inoculated. It is normally found in infected stools and blood, and can be spread by person-to-person contact or by ingesting contaminated food or fluids. The symptoms, if present, do not appear until after 2-6 weeks of exposure to the virus. Symptoms, which are frequently mild and can last up to six months, include those listed above plus itching, headache and diarrhoea.

There is usually complete resolution of the symptoms, often without medical intervention, and no long-term damage to the liver.

Hepatitis B: This is spread through contact with body

Hepatitis can be contracted in various ways, and there are three different types of this condition.

fluids such as semen, vaginal fluids, saliva and blood. If a mother has the virus then it can be passed to the baby during childbirth. Another common way this virus is spread is through having unprotected sex or by sharing personal items such as razors, toothbrushes, or from infected needles (either through drug use or needlestick injuries in a healthcare setting). Some people may live with this virus for life, while others have a full recovery— even without intervention. The main symptoms usually present within about three months of contracting the virus, but can take up to six months. As well as those symptoms listed above, there may be signs of liver damage and, in severe cases, liver failure or liver cancer.

Hepatitis C: Before 1992 the most common form of transmission was through blood transfusions. There is now more scrutiny and the procedures in place in hospitals have made this less likely. Like hepatitis B, the most common way this is spread now is through contact with body fluids. Initially there

are no symptoms but once they start to present it can be similar to the flu, as well as the other common symptoms lited above. There may be itching and tenderness in the area of the liver.

Only around 25% of those with hepatitis C will recover spontaneously from the virus, with the rest carrying the virus in their body for life.

The most common way to detect hepatitis is through blood tests and, if liver damage is suspected, there are tests that can monitor the extent, such as testing albumin levels and liver function tests.

In certain cases, your doctor may recommend a liver biopsy to assess what damage has been done to the liver.

If you travel a lot or come from an area where sanitation is poor, it is recommended that you get tested to determine your status.

If you or anyone you know is infected or at high risk, there are steps you can take to stop the spread of the virus: always wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and before preparing food; do not share personal items such as razors, nail clippers or toothbrushes.

If you are diagnosed with the virus it is important to control the symptoms and it may be necessary to take an anti-viral medication to reduce the risk of liver damage. The liver is an important organ, responsible for filtering the blood; it stores sugar that the body uses for energy, makes bile that is responsible for digesting food, and removes toxins and medicines from the body. When it does not function correctly it can have a detrimental effect on your health. So practice safe hygiene and keep yourself fit and strong by eating a healthy diet and exercising.

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

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THE STAR

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19

YOGA ST LUCIA Background and Benefits

oga St Lucia is a fully equipped Yoga studio and the first privately owned Yoga studio in Saint Lucia. We are located at the north of the island in Rodney Bay, behind Harmony Suites Hotel.

We teach Hatha Yoga in the Iyengar style. B.K.S. Iyengar is considered one of the greatest Yogis of our time and was the world’s foremost authority on Hatha Yoga until his death in 2014. He was one of the earliest Yogis to bring Yoga to the United States and the West. Iyengar is the world’s most widely practiced method of Yoga.

Iyengar teachers are highly qualified and undergo a strict and in-depth training for six years before they can apply for certification. After the first certification, training continues according to rigorous standards and supervision. This maintains the growth of the teacher and the teaching.

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HEALTH

www.stluciastar.com

JUly 27, 2019

Yoga St Lucia offers classes for all ages and abilities.

Yoga St Lucia’s teachers study continually to work toward higher qualifications and certifications by going through workshops, teacher training and annual classes with more senior teachers of the Iyengar method. Our teachers have a deep commitment to excellence

in teaching.

Iyengar Yoga comes from the most classical Hatha Yoga traditions. It focuses on alignment, precision and detail in the performance of each posture. Great attention is paid to the technical alignment of each pose. It is a method which

GAME ON!

ark your calendars for August 24 as the St Lucia Amateur Bodybuilding and Body Fitness Association (SLABBFA) prepares for its annual National Championship.

SLABBFA is determined that this will be a sizzling show. Athletes have been training rigorously over the past year and are eager to show off their aestheticappealing physiques.

Come cheer for your favourite physiques competing in Bikini, Men’s Physique, Figure, and Bodybuilding, with many new competitors and transformations to be seen from athletes hailing from the gyms across the island.

Door prizes are up for grabs, with awards for most represented gym, plus audience prizes. Food and refreshments will be on sale.

All are invited to come out and show support on Saturday, August 24, 2019, from 7:00pm, at the National Cultural Centre. Tickets are only $30 in advance and are available at Steve’s Barber Shop and gyms throughout the island.

Impressive physique!

Our publishers would be proud.

On June 8, athletes attended an important antidoping workshop to further assist their training process.

The workshop was geared towards improving the athletes’ awareness of banned substances and methods used in the sporting world.

A presentation explained doping and prohibited methods, a brief psychology behind why athletes turn to doping, the responsibility of athletes and coaches, how and why certain substances make it to the banned list, controls in place in the sporting industry, and testing procedures.

Athletes learned that not only does the use of these prohibited substances and practices go against the policies

of the authoritative body (WADA), but that the many health risks involved can be detrimental to their health.

The workshop was facilitated by Dr Kenneth Louisy who enthusiastically engaged the athletes with real-world scenarios surrounding doping and athlete screening processes.

The athletes left the workshop with newfound knowledge and a general consensus that they felt better equipped to approach their training and supplementing in a safer and more educated way.

Follow SLABBFA on Instagram and Facebook (@ SLABBFA, @SLABFA) for a preview of our athletes.

is easily understood by any practitioner; it is for anyone and everyone.

Concentration is placed on the quality of movement to encourage safety. We use props, such as blankets, blocks, chairs, bolsters and straps. These assist students of any age and level of ability to achieve a pose without injury, and to gain the correct alignment suitable for their own individual body.

Iyengar is a method of Yoga which is accessible to all. The elderly and those with injuries, or just growing pains from age, are welcome to come to our classes. Iyengar Yoga is a therapeutic Yoga and most who practise it see positive results in a short period of time. The elderly are able to move, focus and balance better. Those with injuries feel the therapeutic effects as the body strengthens and brings alignment to the injured areas so that they can heal in less time. General pain is lessened or alleviated.

A beginners’ class will teach the standing poses first so that the student learns the basic fundamentals of each pose and how to adjust and align the body correctly.

Standing postures form the foundation of the practice of Yoga; they strengthen the body by creating stamina and flexibility, and they relieve stress. When students have learned the basic fundamentals of each pose, they can progress to forward bends, twists, inversions, backbends and restorative poses. A well

qualified Iyengar teacher will provide a clear demonstration and explanation of each pose, with individual correction and adjustment, when necessary.

People who practise Yoga generally have more vitality.

As the body grows stronger, gaining flexibility along with stamina, the mind becomes more peaceful and focused; stressful situations aren’t so stressful, and life just becomes better.

We look forward to welcoming you to Yoga St Lucia.

Jill Hagar is a certified instructor of Iyengar Yoga and a certified International Yoga Therapist.

She holds regular Yoga classes at Harmony Suites in Rodney Bay. For more information about classes please contact Jill by phone or WhatsApp on (758) 718 1297 or by email on yogastlucia@gmail.com

20 SPORTS

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JUly 27, 2019 THE STAR

SLFA Football Roundup

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he St Lucia Football Association (SLFA) Inc Island Cup, powered by the National Lotteries Authority, kicked off in contrasting styles at Marchand and La Ressource playing fields.

Over at Marchand, on Saturday July 20, Vieux Fort South served early notice to their opponents when they came from behind to defeat a spirited Mon Repos team 4–2.

Joel Lubrin stunned Vieux Fort South as he gave Mon Repos an early lead in the second minute of play. Not perturbed at being behind, Vieux Fort South stormed back and found the equalizer with a Gregson President goal in the 23rd minute of play. No further goals were scored and the half ended 1–1.

On the resumption, both teams sought the go-ahead goal but poor finishing negated this. However, it would be Mon Repos who seized the advantage with J Joseph finding the back of the net in the 78th minute.

This served as a wake call for the Southerners who continued to exploit their opponents’ left flank, and it came as no surprise, when Jevic McFarlane scored a brace in quick succession in the 80th and 83rd minutes. These two goals broke Mon Repos as Antonio Joseph sealed the initiative with a goal in the 85th minute.

When the final whistle sounded, it was a relieved yet confident Vieux Fort South team

A Babonneau player tries maintaining possession as a Marchand defender closes in.

basking in the hard but wellearned 4–2 victory.

The second encounter was exciting with Gros Islet prevailing over Laborie 3–2.

At half time the score had been 3–1 in favour of Gros Islet, with goals scored for that team by Tev Lawrence in the 5th and 19th minutes, and Laborie’s

Francis Joyent conceding an own goal in the 30th minute. Laborie earned their goals from Darell Francis in the 15th minute and Imyran Marshall in the 47th minute. Interestingly, both teams’ first goal originated from the penalty spot.

Over at La Ressource, on the same day, Anse La Raye and La Clery played to a tame goal-less draw.

In the second game played, Dennery

Spencer qualifies for World Championships S aint Lucia and the region’s high jump sensation, Levern Spencer, last weekend achieved a season’s best mark of 1.94 metres (m) to qualify for the World Athletics Championships scheduled for later this year in Doha, Quata.

As the world-class high jumper soared over the bar last Friday in Buhl, Germany, she didn’t just achieve a season’s best,

but also booked her flight to represent Saint Lucia for the 8th consecutive time at this global event held every two years.

Though not having the most prolific season of her long and successful career, the star high jumper has managed to clear 1.90m or higher at least eight times this season. She currently sits at seventh in the world on the IAAF ranking list.

As Spencer headed back to her training base in Athens, Georgia, her focus was on the

Pan American Games in Lima, Peru from July 26 to August 11, where she is expected to defend her title of Pan American Champion which she won in 2015.

Besides Spencer, Saint Lucia is represented by six other athletes at the Pan American Games: Jeanelle Scheper (high jump), Albert Reynolds (javelin), Sandisha Antoine (triple jump), Stephanie Devaux-Lovell (sailing), Luc Chevrier (sailing) and Jean Luc Zeph (swimming).

edged out Vieux Fort North 1–0, the goal scored by Kenvie Polius in the 85th minute.

Meanwhile, in regional football, the Saint Lucia Under 20 football team ended their campaign in the Concacaf Under 20 Women’s Qualifiers on a losing note. They went down to Guyana 2–0 in their final match of the round.

Despite the loss, Team Saint Lucia placed second in Group A to advance to the round of 16.

In another international, the Saint Lucia team went down 1–0 to Puerto Rico in the Under 23 Olympic Qualifiers. They have suffered losses in both of their opening encounters.

However, Team Saint Lucia finished the tournament on a high, defeating Antigua and Barbuda 4–0 to finish third in Group D.

It rained goals galore when the SLFA Inc Northern Zone Under 17 football competition continued. On Saturday July 20, over at La Clery playing field, FC Pioneers swamped Garrand FC 7–0, with a half time score of 5–0.

Val Yarde scored a brace in the 30th and 58th minutes, while there was one goal each by K St Omer in the 9th minute, Cleaven Theophane in the 17th, Joshua Boland in the 21st, Nathen Lamontagne in the 25th and Demario Pelage in

the 57th.

On the same day, but over at Corinth playing field, Big Players drubbed Flames FC 9–0, with a half time score of 4–0.

Estwick opened the scoring in the 11th minute with other goals coming from Adrian Vitalis in the 12th minute, Ivan Frederick in the 40th and Semian in the 49th. Kevin Francis registered a hat trick in the 26th, 35th and 36th minutes. Nas Valcin scored a brace in the 13th and 45th minutes.

On Sunday July 21, in the first of a double header at Corinth playing field, GMC defeated B1 2–0. GMC earned their goals from Shelder in the 25th minute and Sherman Augustin in the 70th.

In the second encounter, New Generation FC and Northern played to an exciting 4–4 draw.

Scoring for New Generation were Jason Joseph in the 21st minute, Yanic Noel in the 22nd, Shakin Hunie in the 77th and Darren Edward in the 79th.

Northern’s goals were scored by N Etiene in the 11th minute, Ajanie Lansiquot in the 37th, Jernel Morille in the 67th and Nahem in the 80th.

Matches continued in the SLFA Inc Island Cup at Marchand and La Ressource playing fields on Sunday July 21.

Over at Marchand, Babonneau and Marchand played to an exciting 1–1 draw, with both teams guilty of squandering numerous opportunities.

However, in the 59th minute of play, Marchand were awarded a penalty which was taken by Lamar George. His shot was saved by the goal-keeper and, in the ensuing tussle, the ball was deflected for a corner.

Marchand immediately made amends with Valdez Maximin slotting in from the corner kick. Babonneau secured the equalizer with a Nelson goal in the 81st minute.

Both teams fought gallantly for the winning goal, which never materialized. When the final whistle sounded, both teams looked pleased, sharing the points.

In the second game played, Canaries enjoyed a comfortable 3–0 victory over Roseau, with Nick Longville registering a hat trick in the 14th, 38th and 61st minutes.

Over at La Ressource, Central Castries and Mabouya Valley played to a goal-less draw.

In an earlier encounter, Micoud got the better of Desruisseaux 2–0, their goal scorers Shane Paul in the 27th minute and Toni Gaspard in the 45th plus one minute.

World-ranked high jumper Levern Spencer.

THE STAR

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JUly 27, 2019

21

West Indies announces squad for first two T20Is against India

“We figured that though Nicholas Pooran will be the first-choice wicketkeeper, we needed to have someone to deputise in case something unexpected happens, and Bramble is the perfect choice.

He is young and has a lot of ambition, and we saw his character come out in the way he batted whenever Guyana Jaguars were in problems in the West Indies Championship and Super50 Cup, so we know he is capable of getting the job done.”

As one of the most feared and fierce hitters in the shortest version of the game, Russell will add further depth to the batting, and Haynes expects him and the other senior members of the squad to play a big role in the series.

“We expect that this will be a keenly contested series against India,” said Haynes.

“Most of the players that we have selected have played in the IPL and they know all of the Indian players well. We will have the edge, for sure, because

we are playing at home. At the end of the day, however, it is important that the players go out there and play to win, not just to compete, and I think we have the right balance to do so.”

Haynes said veteran opener Chris Gayle had notified him that he was unavailable for the series due to playing commitments at the GT20 in Canada, so this has given the opportunity for left-handed compatriot John Campbell to fill the slot.

St Lucia represented at Optimist World Championships

T Carlos Brathwaite is named as team captain. (Photo: DNA India)

W

est Indies’ chances against India in the upcoming MyTeam11 Twenty20 International Series, co-sponsored by Skoda, received a boost with the recall of the veteran duo of Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard.

Wicketkeeper/batsman Anthony Bramble is the only newcomer in the 14-member squad selected for the first two T20Is in the series. The matches will be contested on August 3 and 4 at the Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida.

The Selection Panel has the opportunity to make changes to the squad before the third T20I on August 6 at the Guyana National Stadium.

The squad also includes Andre Russell, subject to him passing a fitness assessment prior to the series. He is set to return to the playing field following his early exit from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England and Wales to undergo an operation on his troublesome left knee.

Left-handed opener John Campbell and left-arm spinner Khary Pierre have also been included alongside a number of regulars led by Captain Carlos Brathwaite, as the interim CWI Selection Panel seeks to explore options with the ICC World T20 looming next year in Australia.

“This squad is an excellent

balance of experience and youth,” said interim chairman of the CWI Selection Panel, Robert Haynes.

“It’s not just about the present—the India Tour of the West Indies—but we are also looking at the T20 World Cup coming up next year and it is important that we find the right combination of players and the right formula for defending our title. We have to make sure that we put certain things in place now, so that when it comes to picking the squad for the T20 World Cup, it becomes easier, so we are giving more players the opportunity to play and get the exposure.”

Mystery spinner Narine last played in a T20I for West Indies against England almost two years ago at Chester-le-Street and batting all-rounder Pollard appeared last November on the Tour of India.

“We felt that players like Narine and Pollard, who have played well in T20 leagues around the world, once they are fit and mentally ready to play, we must give them the opportunity to represent the West Indies again,” said Haynes.

28-year-old Bramble has given firm proof of his batting and keeping ability in the West Indies Championship for reigning five-time champions Guyana Jaguars, who also

Anthony Bramble is the only newcomer on the West Indies team for MyTeam11 T20.

reached the final of last year’s West Indies Super50 Cup. He captained West Indies “B” to the final of the Global T20 Tournament last year in Canada and was recently picked up in the CPL draft for the first time in three years and will play for his home-based Guyana Amazon Warriors.

“We have been following his performances in regional competitions over the years and it cannot be forgotten that he led the West Indies ‘B’ Team to the GT20 in Canada, and that team did well to reach the final,” said Haynes.

he Optimist World Championships were hosted July 6–16, 2019 in Antigua, with Saint Lucia among the competing nations.

Saint Lucia was represented by three young sailors: Brice Batrick, Jake Johnson and Celestino Nelson.

They have all been trained, guided and coached through St. Lucia Yacht Club’s Youth Sailing Programme. The team was led by Coach Fredric Sweeney who is the coach and mentor for the Youth Sailing Programme at the Yacht Club.

The World Championships attract the top five optimist sailors from their respective nationalities. This year 65 nations were represented by over 260 sailors.

Commodore of St. Lucia Yacht Club, Peter William Lang, was enthusiastic about the team attending the World Championships. With the recent achievements of the Youth Sailing Programme, it demonstrates what can be achieved with hard work.

According to Sweeney, “The conditions were challenging.

The race course was set up in the open ocean on the south coast of Antigua. There were big waves, lots of ocean breeze and sargassum to challenge the sailors.”

Although the Saint Lucian sailors did not place in the top 20, everyone is proud of their performance and tenacity. They gained powerful experience by learning from others. A young man from South Africa kindly

Coach Fredric Sweeney (right) and the Saint Lucian team that competed at the Optimist World Championships.

provided them with pointers throughout the qualifiers and races.

St. Lucia Yacht Club’s Youth Sailing Programme allows local individuals to engage in the sport of sailing. If you are interested in learning more about the Programme, please contact Fredric Sweeney on (758) 489-8914 or stop by St. Lucia Yacht Club on Reduit Beach in Rodney Bay.

22

sports

JUly 27, 2019 THE STAR

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Saint Lucia fourth in Rugby Americas North Women’s Rugby Tournament T

he Saint Lucia Women’s Rugby National Team participated in the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Women’s 10s Tournament in Barbados.

The tournament took place July 18-21 at the Bellevue Plantation Polo Club, a few kilometers from the nation’s capital, and was open to the public and all rugby enthusiasts.

The Women’s 10s tournament is entering its fourth year and the number of teams competing, and the quality of play, continue to increase. Eight teams took part in the two-day competition with Saint Lucia emerging in fourth position.

Following are the results: (1) Mexico, (2) Jamaica, (3) USA South, (4) Saint Lucia, (5) Dominican Republic, (6) Trinidad and Tobago, (7) Barbados, (8) Curacao.

On the first day of the competition, Saint Lucia lost to USA South 10-17 in a closely contested match. In the second match, Saint Lucia defeated Trinidad and Tobago 17-5. In their final match for day 1, Saint Lucia crushed Curacao 47-0.

On the second day, Saint Lucia triumphed over the Dominican Republic 20-12. In the second match of the day, Saint Lucia lost to Jamaica 0-19. In their final match of the

tournament, Saint Lucia lost to USA South 0-24.

Saint Lucia’s highest scorers were Winnie Rene with 20 points and Kameka President with 19 points.

The Saint Lucia Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) recorded another first in the tournament.

Chantel John became the first Saint Lucian female referee to officiate at the competition.

At previous RAN tournaments, John operated as an assistant referee.

When contacted to comment on the team’s success in Barbados, President of the SLRFU Roger Butcher said: “I am very pleased with the team’s performance and their success is due to a concerted effort by all team members, support staff and financiers. Our participation in this tournament was one of the major milestones in the SLRFU’s four-year strategic plan. The Saint Lucian team has been receiving accolades on their performance from both local and foreign supporters.”

When asked about upcoming rugby events, Butcher stated that in August there will be the rugby community 7s, youth rugby in September, RAN Men’s XVs against Saint Vincent set for October, beach rugby in November and the Barbados

National 10s Team with officials and coaches.

World Rugby 7s taking place in December.

The SLRFU Women’s 10s team consisted of the following players. Loianna Alexander, Marline Cherry, Renetta Frederick (captain), Winnie Della Rene, Electra Marcelle, Kameka President, Mary Roberts, Marissa Wilfred, Genesis Alfred, Daleanna Alcide, Mylene

Grunberg, Josel Gonzague, Kera Dornelly, Kisha Jeanik Edgar and Shawnette St Juste.

Accompanying them were: team physiotherapist and Assistant Manager, Zhenya C Allain; Coach Wayne Pantor; President Butcher who also served as Team Manager; nutritionist and chef Kera Donelly; and Peggy Laurent.

The SLFRU thanked the many persons who continue to make this journey possible: Le Sport BodyHoliday Spa and Resort; LUCELEC; Saint Lucia National Lottery; Ministry of Youth Development and Sports; Senator Fortuna Belrose and the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee; Dame Pearlette Louisy; Stephanie Lambert-Montague;

coaches for the SLRFU 10s team: Damien Clothier, Willet Wayne Pantor, Chantel John and Matt Jess; Massy Stores; Zhenya C Allain, team physiotherapist for the past 14 years; Mo and Simon Boulter; and all friends and well-wishers who have supported, and continue to support, the efforts of the SLRFU towards its goals.

Cristiano Ronaldo won't face rape charge in Las Vegas

By Ken Ritter, Associated Press

C

ristiano Ronaldo won't face criminal charges after a woman accused the soccer star of raping her in his suite at a Las Vegas resort more than 10 years ago, a top prosecutor said Monday.

A new investigation by Las Vegas police failed to show that Kathryn Mayorga's claim could be proven at trial beyond a reasonable doubt, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said.

"Therefore, no charges will be forthcoming," Wolfson said in a statement.

The decision represented a victory on one of two legal tracks tied to the 2009 allegation against one of the most recognizable and highly paid players in sports.

In a lawsuit still pending in federal court, Mayorga alleges that she was pressured to sign an agreement to keep quiet in exchange for $375,000. Her lawyers want to void the deal and collect at least $200,000 more from Ronaldo.

Ronaldo's attorneys have acknowledged that the

soccer star and Mayorga had consensual sex in June 2009, but they denied it was rape.

Attorney Peter Christiansen was travelling on Monday and wasn't immediately available to comment.

Attorneys for Mayorga, a former model and schoolteacher, did not immediately respond to telephone, text and email messages.

The Associated Press generally does not name people who say they are victims of sexual assault, but Mayorga gave consent through her lawyers to make her name

public.

Her lawsuit says she met Ronaldo at a nightclub and went with him and other people to his suite at the Palms Hotel and Casino, where he assaulted her in a bedroom.

Afterward, she signed a nondisclosure agreement under pressure from "fixers" trying to protect Ronaldo's reputation, her lawyer, Leslie Mark Stovall, has said.

The lawsuit in the US District Court in Las Vegas accuses Ronaldo, or those working for him, of conspiracy, defamation, breach of contract, coercion and fraud for allegedly allowing terms of the settlement to become public in European publications.

Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo.

(Getty Images)

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