Mother of two shot in family home by STAR Publishing

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The Star (St.Lucia)

SATURDAY, november 10, 2018

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Mother of two shot in family home

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Wanted: Heroes Dead Or Alive! A

s part of plans to commemorate Saint Lucia’s 40th anniversary of independence in February, the National Awards 2019 was launched this week. The awards will seek to highlight the contributions of Saint Lucians who have made a significant impact on the island. Chairperson of the National Awards Committee, Senator Mauricia Thomas-Francis, is hopeful that nominations will be forthcoming: “2019 will be a particularly important milestone for us as we will be celebrating forty years of nationhood. It will be fitting, therefore, for us to ensure that we receive nominations from across the country to recognize persons who have contributed significantly to building our nation over the years.” Additionally: “When we talk of forty years of independence there would be no nationhood, no sustainable development without human capital and, more specifically, the collective passion, talent, dedication to service above self, and perseverance of our citizens.” Thomas-Francis informed her audience: “In that context, let us endeavour to ensure that we celebrate our heroes. Awards don’t only acknowledge success; they recognize many other qualities, abilities, struggle, effort and sacrifice.

Chairperson of the National Awards Committee, Senator Mauricia Thomas-Francis.

They are a way through which we can encourage and reward good behaviour, sound discipline and patriotism, in addition to providing inspiration, encouragement, hope and aspirations to other members of the citizenry.” Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Mr. Wilbert King, also serves on the awards committee. He said that many times nominations focus on the careers of the nominees, and that is a big mistake. “There are thousands of professionals, and if this is what you are going to use as the major criterion to select nominees, I think we would end up in a lot of trouble. It has to transcend what a person does as a professional,” he advised. “If you’re a doctor or a lawyer and you’re very good

at your work, you are being paid for your work; you offer a good service, but it’s for your money. We are not recommending people for awards based on services you have given for your salary; that’s not what it’s about. We are selecting people who have demonstrated that, combined with their level of excellence in their profession, they have been able to use their resources—mental, physical and intellectual—to uplift the community, socially in particular.” Nominations are open for the Saint Lucia Cross, the Medal of Honour, Medal of Merit and the Les Pitons Medal. Nomination forms can be downloaded from governorgeneral.govt.lc/ honors-and-awards or picked up at libraries, post offices, constituency councils and at the Office of the Prime Minister in the Greaham Louisy Building, Waterfront, Castries. The completed forms should be dropped off at the Office of the Prime Minister. Deadline for submissions is January 4, 2019. To sensitize the public, the committee will be embarking on a campaign that includes hosting town hall meetings and getting together with social clubs such as Rotary and the Lions.

As a correction to last week’s article “Digicel first to launch LTE network” published in this newspaper, Digicel was not the first company to launch an LTE network in Saint Lucia. Telecommunications provider FLOW became the first to introduce a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network on the island last year on 9 September 2017. According to FLOW, the network provides download speeds up to 69Mbps, and up to 25Mbps for upload. However, Digicel claimed at its launch to have the “very first island-wide LTE network”.

---JSA

november 10, 2018 THE STAR

Essay Competition to promote Domestic Violence Awareness

s an initiative to increase awareness of domestic violence in Saint Lucia, Club GAR, Department of Gender Relations and the Women's Support Center are collaborating to host a solutionfocused campaign. The tag line is “I am Part of the Solution”, urging people to get involved and learn how they too can be part of the fight against domestic violence. Club GAR’s annual “Walk for a Cause” activity in 2017 raised $70,700 for a campaign to “Break the Silence on Domestic Violence” in Saint Lucia. The partnership with the Gender Relations Department resulted in a rebranding of the campaign. The initiative will run until March 31, 2019 and it will provide support to survivors of domestic violence and increase programmes and avenues

available to those at risk to reduce their vulnerability. In order to promote awareness, the campaign is also reaching out to the island’s children to share their insight on this issue in an essay competition. The aim of the competition is to make this campaign an inclusive movement where different departments and institutions will be given the opportunity to contribute possible solutions to this problem. All students from grade 4 to form 5 are invited to participate in the essay competition. Prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners. The primary school student topics are: "What makes a happy home?" or "How could you know if a friend is being hurt?"

The topics for secondary school students are: "What role can I play in stopping domestic violence?" or "Are St. Lucians aware of the impact of domestic violence?" Submissions should be no more than 500 words and can be sent to either wewalk4acause@gmail.com or mailed to the Department of Gender Relations. Please refer to any of the organisers’ social media for the full guidelines. The deadline for the receipt of submissions is November 23r 2018. The prizegiving ceremony will take place on December 7, 2018. All Saint Lucians are asked to encourage a child to share their views on the issues of domestic violence and to share their thoughts on solutions that could decrease these cases in our island.

HIGH COURT RULES IN WASCO’S FAVOUR

he Water and Sewerage Company Inc. WASCO can now move ahead with plans to improve water distribution to residents of Bouton, following a judgement in its favour, handed down by the High Court this week. On Monday 5th November 2018 the High Court of Saint Lucia dismissed the court actions SLU 2018/254 and SLU 2018/190 filed against the Water and Sewerage Company Incorporated (WASCO) concerning the Belvedere/ Bouton Water Supply Project. The land earmarked for the project had been vested in the crown. However, as a result of an injunction filed by the previous land owner in April 2018, preparatory works on the project came to a halt, until

the matter could be resolved in court. These High Court actions commenced in April and May 2018 respectively, and prevented WASCO from completing the Belvedere/ Bouton Project within the estimated time frame. Judgment was entered in favour of WASCO, as the court found that the applicant did not meet the necessary threshold established for granting such applications. The Belvedere/Bouton project was being spearheaded by the Saint Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF in early 2015 with the clear objective of addressing the supply issues being experienced by residents of Bouton.

This project entails the installation of a 50,000-gallon storage tank, 3.27 kilometres of four-inch PVC and ductile pipeline, construction of a pump house and the installation a water pump at the tank location, to increase the water supply availability, reliability and sustainability to residents of Bouton. General Manager Edmund Regis remarked, “WASCO is very happy with this decision and would like to again assure the residents of Bouton, Belvedere and Colombette of our dedication in ensuring that improvements are made to the water distribution system supplying these communities." WASCO is currently mobilizing to re-commence the project.

THE STAR

www.stluciastar.com Digicel SLU 2 Hours Free Video_PRT 7.5x13.pdf 2 2018-11-08

november 10, 2018

1st National launches new and improved website

L-R: Executive Manager of Marketing & PR Mr. Robert Fevrier alongside the bank’s marketing team: Mageesa Biscette, Sherydan Plummer and Michael Casimir.

aint Lucia’s first indigenous bank, 1st National Bank, on Wednesday launched its new website, 1stnationalbankonline. com. The launch comes at a time when the bank is observing 80 years of service. Its Executive Manager of Marketing & PR, Robert Fevrier, opened the launch by addressing the new features: “Today is a special and a proud day. We have listened, we have heard, and so we have made changes. The new website is both customer- and user-friendly, dynamic and informative. “We continue to listen to our customers, ensuring that we remain relevant and competitive in an ever-changing financial services industry. This revamped website provides enhanced functionality and is designed to highlight information without prolonged searches.” The website enables customers to transfer funds, pay bills and view account balances, among other services. Also available on the site is access to a wide array of information including the bank’s history and 80-year journey, educational forums, and its leadership team, which Mr. Fevrier boasted was “one hundred per cent Saint Lucian.” He says that it will be refreshed often to keep it current and simple. He continued: “The site also has the full list of products and services with a simple calculator to calculate monthly loan payments, upload foreign exchange rates, not to mention an ‘SME’ tab designated specifically to small medium enterprise.” He promised that with a robust system and “top of the line firewall”, customers can rest assured, knowing that their information is safe and secure. ---JSA

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november 10, 2018 THE STAR

Talking alone was never a match for constructive action! metals was the more precious. The reluctance of the average Peter Josie Saint Lucian to speak his or her mind freely and openly may well have its genesis in the strict and hose of us who grew up early rules of silence learned at in Saint Lucia when young home and at school. These rules people were taught that were not relaxed even after it was preferable to be silent, some children were old enough to listen, and to do as we were to join in a family conversation. told, never forgot the lesson. I’ve often wondered at what Today, when we see others age children acquired more speaking out of turn, who knowledge than their parents demonstrate over and over suspected, about the science that they are better talkers of reproduction or of family than doers, we remember our secrets. parents with gratitude. We Too often, anger and take it for granted that people resentment were allowed who speak to deceive, or who to fester in place of sincere lack factual information, are exchanges and openness that victims of a certain kind of allowed love to flourish. It parenting and coaching. Being would therefore not surprise a poor listener has always been me to discover hidden anger viewed as bad manners or an in some people who speak attempt to mask ignorance and often, especially when they lie. aggression. Experience teaches us that such Throughout a child’s angry persons are impatient school life the code of silence, with truth. They tend to revolt observing and listening, was against all information that rigorously enforced as part of does not meet their subjective school discipline. Punishment standard. Such persons are at school was more likely to likely to classify information follow an infraction of the they would rather avoid as rule of not speaking in class, lies, even when the contrary unless addressing the teacher. evidence is overwhelming. It therefore followed that by In the modern era some age seven many children had persons are paid to speak and learned that speech is silver and influence others with false silence golden. Children seemed messages. It does not matter to know which of the two

The author suggests that had Kenny Anthony (pictured) won the 2016 general elections, he and his followers would’ve moved heaven and earth in their total commitment to the proposed Desert Star Holdings project.

whether these messages are religious, commercial or political. Whatever the agenda, the constant chatter aims at capturing our attention and influencing us to believe in falsehood and lies. Liars intend to persuade the rest of us to listen and to believe their lies, for their own benefit. Thankfully, the average Saint Lucian seems more willing to listen to people who can improve their lives. They have discovered that factual information can help to lift the human spirit by always providing verifiable information, regardless of the topic. Whatever the choice

they make between speech and silence, those who serve the nation in high office will do well to remember the words of the philosopher in the Book of Ecclesiastes, in Holy Writ, Chapter Three, ‘A Time for Everything.’ Yes indeed, there is a time for silence and a time for speaking out, especially when the latter has been inspired by knowledge and a commitment to grow a people socially, economically and spiritually. Therefore, let those who know of what they speak be encouraged to do so in order to shed light in the pervasive darkness, wherein evil-doers

and peddlers of hate seem determined to keep the sons and daughters of Saint Lucia. The recent tweak in Cabinet portfolios by the prime minister may be seen as a form of communication. But it needs to be further explained. We are informed that the minor changes are to eventuate in major improvements in the delivery of government services. The spoken word must now be expanded to explain the Cabinet changes, and how they will benefit the people of Saint Lucia. One of the more remarkable lessons that have been learnt from the former government is its silence, ostensibly on behalf of success. These lessons are remarkable because it was the former government that introduced the word transparency into the local political dictionary. In opposition, the former government had all the answers; in government, they had an opportunity to explain their actions but they fell woefully short. They turned out to be the most secretive politicians ever to administer the business of this country. The most recent example of how well the people have learnt the lesson of silence versus talk is the revelation

of the Desert Star Holdings (DSH) project at Vieux Fort. An increasing number of Saint Lucians from all walks of life now believe that had the current opposition won the last general elections, the DSH project would have had the government’s unbridled support. The Maria Islets off Vieux Fort would have been connected to the mainland and no dog would bark. New hotels would be rising on reclaimed lands between the islets and the mainland and no one would lose sleep over any lizards. The SLP hacks and other hypocrites would have promoted the DSH project as “Vieux Fort’s time to shine”. And who would dare oppose jobs for the people of the south? Anyone who dared to speak against the DSH project under Labour would have been threatened and labelled an enemy of progress. Words would have been used by Teo Ah Khings “dearest prime minister” in his usually cunning and diabolical style to devalue any opposition to his DSH baby. It gives me great pleasure that more Saint Lucians believe that the DSH project would be at full steam under a Labour government, whether or not they were able to complete the unfinished symphony.

Gros Islet Youth and Sports Council Restructures into north and south

he Gros Islet Youth and Sports Council is in the process of restructuring, and has completed phase 1, which is the establishment of an interim executive for a Gros Islet South Youth and Sports Council. Phase 2, which is well on the way, involves the same for the North, all pending final ratification at the General Assembly of the National Youth Council during mid-2019. Over the past decade the Gros Islet Youth and Sports Council has found it increasingly difficult to efficiently and effectively represent and manage the entire span of the constituency, due to its large geographical and population size and the diverse and unique issues, and varying needs of the

several communities therein. Consequently, a proposal to restructure was tabled for youth consultation, whereby a split, into a Gros Islet North and Gros Islet South Youth Council, would be established. The suggested boundary is the divergence of the main road from Mongiraud into the Monchy Gap, up to the River Mitant Junction. The youth, youth groups, clubs and organisations living and functioning in communities which are situated (southwardly) below that road, down to Union/Choc (where the Gros Islet and Castries boundaries meet) would unite to form the Gros Islet South Youth and Sports Council. At that junction the road splits into two, leading to either River

The first (interim) executive of the Gros Islet South Youth & Sports Council.

Mitant or Monchy proper. Youth in River Mitant will be a part of the South council and those of Monchy proper and surrounding communities will be part of the North. Whilst this is not the first

attempt to achieve this, it is encouraging to note that, after several months of continuous youth consultation, the young people unanimously agreed on the proposed restructuring.

Members of the newly formed councils assure the youth that this process has not divided Gros Islet, but instead encourages and has created the environment for increased inclusion, participation and collaboration of everyone in order to mitigate the issues affecting the young people of the district. Although two separate councils would represent the sectors, they ultimately represent the entire Gros Islet district, as they are expected to collaborate and rely on each other to plan and organise events which will highlight the talents, gifts and achievements of all its youth. Both councils will be overseen by The National Youth Council, as is done for every

other district council of the organisation, once ratified at the next General Assembly. Sunday November 4, 2018 marked the date that general elections were held for the Gros Islet South Youth and Sports Council. The elected council is: President, Jeshurun Andrew; 1st Vice President, Shanice Francis; 2nd Vice President, Maluarae Jones; General Secretary, Daniel Defraites, Assistant General Secretary, Tara Auguste; Treasurer, Sheralee Simon; Assistant Treasurer, Sherwin Alexander; Public Relations Officer, Jardelle Auguste; Assistant Public Relations Officer, Crystal Morille. For more information contact: 719 2117, 461 4911 or 285 1945.

THE STAR

november 10, 2018

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PRESS RELEASE

The Landings responds to claims by Sandals

ecently, much has been published and discussed in the media regarding the cessation of construction work on the Sandals La Source Project at Pigeon Island, Gros Islet, due to legal proceedings instituted by The Landings Resort. For those who are unaware, the Causeway linking Pigeon Island to the mainland was created in the 1970’s by dredging the Reduit swamp and the reefs joining the mainland to Pigeon Island were filled in to create the Causeway. Pigeon Pointe is therefore all reclaimed land. At that time, when hotel construction was being undertaken along the Reduit Beach, as well as the then Hyatt Hotel now Sandals

experience. Unlike with the Sandals All Inclusive product, the guests and owners of The Landings can be frequently found patronizing local restaurants, tours, shops and taxis to name a few. Late last year The Landings, like most of the Saint Lucian public, became aware, through the media, of an intended development Grande, the Saint Lucia Planning by Sandals at Pigeon Island. As the intended development Department indicated that was said to bound with buildings should be no higher The Landings property, The than the highest coconut tree. Landings sought dialogue This rule has generally been with Sandals and requested followed with The Landings particular information, being constrained to no more including their development than 4 stories during its plans. No information was construction in 2007. forthcoming. The Landings is an hotel Early this year, The resort made up of 146 villas Landings wrote to the DCA constructed and developed through its legal counsel Peter in 2007 by Saint Lucian and I. Foster, QC and the law firm Canadian Nationals. The hotel of FOSTERS, to inquire into presently employs just under the proposed development. 200 full time employees, all Again, no information was of whom are Saint Lucian or provided. Eventually, and only Caricom nationals, in wellpaying jobs and is an important after the development plans had been approved, were The contributor to Saint Lucia’s Landings permitted to view economy and tourism product, the plans, but no copies of the offering an excellent hotel

plans, reports or information were allowed. On review of the physical plans at the offices of the DCA, we observed that extremely large structures, 9 to 11 stories, were approved for development, 25 feet from its boundary. Part of The Landings property was also included in the approved development plans of Sandals. The proposed 9 to 11 story Sandals buildings would cast shadows over The Landings hotel property and restrict the views of not only Landings residents but many residents in the area who had become accustomed to viewing the iconic Pigeon Pointe and its peaks. The Landings are concerned that they were not consulted during the DCA approval process and no consideration was given to the devastating effect this development would have on their property. The intended development is not in keeping with the style, scope, density and blend of surrounding existing coastal properties in the vicinity of the Pigeon Pointe and Reduit Beach properties. The effect of this large

10 story plus development so close to The Landings could be devastating, to our hotel product, our property and our operations, thereby jeopardizing investments and the jobs of nearly 200 individuals. We therefore had no alternative but to file a claim for a review by the Court of the decision of the DCA to approve this development plan without any proper consultation with us or without any consideration of the effect of these buildings on our operations and property. Whilst Sandals was undertaking its construction works, we found that Sandals had commenced construction on our property. The Landings had no choice but to protest this development and take whatever legal action necessary to protect the Landings Resort and the long term employment of all its Saint Lucian staff, and to ensure proper discussions and negotiations could take place between The Landings and Sandals. We are not averse to a hotel development on our northern boundary and our action was in no way meant

to jeopardize or hinder the employment of Saint Lucian construction workers as has been suggested. It is unfortunate that due process was not followed, whereby the concerns of both sides would have been considered during the planning stages of the Sandals La Source project. This would have alleviated the need for any legal proceedings. The Landings management and staff harbor no ill will against Sandals or it various developments and The Landings’ only interest is ensuring that fair and frank negotiations proceed to the mutual benefit of both resorts.

Contact: The Public Relations Department The Landings Resort & Spa Pigeon Island Causeway PO Box CP5984, Castries 1-758-458-7300 ext 7301 pr@landingsstlucia.com

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november 10, 2018 THE STAR

Who Killed Kim William-De Leon Depends On Who You Ask! Rick Wayne

he incident now under investigation occurred on Monday, October 29, 2018. Sergeant Leozandre De Leon left his family at home for the Criminal Investigation Department in Castries. He is the department’s administration officer. He arrived at CID shortly before 8 pm to find just one officer at the station. It turned out to be a quiet night, so he decided to kill some time at the cinema, where he joined two friends, also cops. Together they watched an action movie. They had some KFC afterward, then De Leon returned to CID around 11.30. The duty officer still was on his own, taking down a statement from three individuals—two women and a man—concerning what sounded like a case of piracy on the high seas. The department phone rang while the officer was still

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engaged with the trio. De Leon answered it. An unidentified person reported having heard gunshots coming from Beverly Hills, in Bocage; several shots. De Leon asked the duty officer about his other men and was told they were out on a report. De Leon called one of them and informed him about the reported shooting. The officer told De Leon he and his team were at Chef Harry Drive, at the Morne. He said they had heard gunshots but could not establish where they came from. De Leon instructed them to go to Beverly Hills and investigate. Then, it suddenly hit De Leon: his own home is on Chef Harry Drive. He called his wife; several Mother of two and Education Ministry employee times. There was no response. Kimberly William-De Leon was discovered dead in Eventually he drove to his her bedroom on the night of October 29, 2018. An house. On arrival he wondered autopsy report revealed she died from a bullet to the why certain individuals known head. There have been no related arrests. to him were in his driveway. I will not go further into night at CID. The next day, he officer and friend he voluntarily who did what, or when, at this made an official statement and handed over his gun, for which point. Suffice it to say that at the suggestion of a fellow he has a license. It’s his private De Leon slept the rest of the

firearm. He left CID around 4 pm. Sergeant Leon was never told he was a person of special interest or a suspect; he was never arrested or accused of any crime; never asked to hand over travel documents. Evidently the police saw no cause to detain him. From what I’ve been able further to establish, De Leon has never been disciplined, or taken to the orderly room. No one has ever accused him of bad behavior, and most definitely not his wife. Contrary to repeated news broadcasts, there is no evidence that she ever complained to the police that her husband abused her in any way. The shocking statements by deputy police commissioner Dorian O’Brian at an early morning press conference on the day of the incident were made, I’m reliably assured, without first checking with the crime department. Much of

what he told reporters seems to have been gleaned from the first Romeo & Juliet radio report of the homicide early Monday morning. Contrary to widely disseminated reports, De Leon was never “sent home on leave.” A letter signed by the deputy police commissioner O’Brian, states that last Wednesday De Leon applied for 90 days’ vacation leave. His request was granted via correspondence dated 6 November 2018, and bearing O’Brian’s signature. Until her death on Monday 29 October, Kimberly William-De Leon and Sergeant Leozandrae De Leon were husband and wife, the parents of two children age 9 and 4. In the meantime, De Leon resides at the home he once shared with his wife, now a crime scene. His kids were controversially taken away from him, a situation he and his lawyers intend soon to correct.

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november 10, 2018

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november 10, 2018 THE STAR

Kimberly’s Relative Denies Domestic Violence Allegations! Claudia Eleibox

ast week the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force fingered one of its own as a person of interest in relation to the death of Kimberly WilliamDe Leon. By police definition, a person of interest is someone who can assist the police in their investigations of a particular incident. Such a person may be suspected of involvement but for lack of evidence has not been arrested and charged. A suspect, as defined by the police, is someone they have reasonable grounds to believe has committed a particular offence. Last Tuesday, the acting police commissioner, Dorian O’Brian, stated at a press conference that there had been disputes reported by the deceased Kimberly William-De Leon. This shocking declaration generated several questions among journalists as to why the current person of interest in a case of homicide had not earlier been arrested. While O’Brian was careful not to use the phrase “domestic violence,” it was a different matter with the disseminators of social media

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Minister Gale Rigobert flanked by colleagues Michelle Charles (left) and Dawson Ragunanan at Tuesday’s vigil for Kimberly Williams-De Leon, organised by the Ministry of Education.

rumormongers. Their dispatches included naked accusations of domestic violence, obscenities and published photographs of the deceased and her husband. The police say there were no reports of domestic violence, but that anything, from obscenities and insults, can be classified as “domestic incidents” and are punishable according to the Criminal Code. The same applies to the media, and wannabe social media Bob Woodwards. Following a candlelight vigil on Tuesday, Kimberly’s brother, Wayne St. Ange, spoke with this reporter. He said: “It’s normal for people to assume what they want.” As for the allegations of domestic violence, he dismissed them as rumours. “That part I prefer if you not put in the newspaper. But it was just rumours, I can tell you that. It was just verbal confrontation, that’s all. Not anything physical. It was just man and woman talk; just quarrelling.” As to whether he believes these “confrontations” could have led to his sister’s death, St. Ange said: “I’m hoping not. I don’t want to point fingers at anyone. I wasn’t there and I’m definitely not going to make any connections.” St. Ange said that some of the family were interviewed by the police but, as for himself, he stopped co-operating with them. “It was something that was said to me and I wasn’t too pleased. So I guess, basically, I kind of cut off the conversation.” Asked what that something was, before he could answer, his relatives at the vigil pulled him away. Kimberly’s neighbours meanwhile were telling reporters they had heard up

to seven shots on the night of October 30. On the other hand, a post-mortem report states that Kimberly died from a single shot to her head. According to relatives, Kimberly was found in her bedroom in a pool of blood. It’s not clear whether her two young children were near her when she was shot or whether they witnessed what happened to their mother. At time of writing the police have not identified a suspect. Neither have they identified another person of interest. Their most recent related statement: “After completely examining this person we may come up with suspect or suspects. The investigation is going so far so good.” Rosemary Anthony, best known as Rosie, was reportedly found dead in Castries on October 11, 2018. She was 54 and generally referred to as a vagrant. By month end many were worried she might have been sexually violated, then killed. Among the more conspicuously concerned were the Saint Lucia Labour Party Women’s Organization (SLPWO), which issued on October 30 the following statement by its president Delia Ashby: “I would

also like to draw your attention to the brutal rape and beating of Rosie, one of our transient citizens. Rosie has since succumbed to the many injuries she suffered on that dreadful evening.” On October 18 the police reported the findings of a post-mortem on Rosemary Anthony: No signs of violence. No indication of sexual contact or force, only a wound on her head that could have resulted from falling when she suffered the heart attack that killed her. There has been no related further word from SLPWO. Also in October, a young woman reportedly walked up to a complete stranger in Castries, who turned out to be an employee of the Castries City Council, and claimed to be a victim of human trafficking and sexual abuse. TV and online news bulletins indicated she was brought by an unidentified person or persons to Saint Lucia while sedated. Reportedly the CCC employee referred her to the police. In relation to the unconfirmed human trafficking case, the SLPWO president stated: “To be captured, transported and used for

the pleasures of demented individuals is the nightmare of every woman, not just in St. Lucia but in every country around the world . . . this plague is a nightmare of women everywhere. I urge the relevant authorities to ensure that these matters are investigated thoroughly in an effort to reinstate the confidence of the populace in the police force and the rule of law in our country.” Police sources soon put Ms Ashby’s mind at ease when they announced the alleged victim of human traffickers was safely housed at the Bordelais Correctional Facility. At time of writing they had not learned much from the woman, whose mental condition is under analysis. In all events the police would like the interested public to understand that when it comes to matters under investigation there is only so much they can say without prejudicing the case one way or the other. Detailed daily updates can be counterproductive. The police also warn that dissemination of misinformation, by mouth or via the media, only makes their job that much more difficult.

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Will the authorities ever take seriously the problems of the Boys’ Training Centre? Keryn Nelson

ehind several beat-up structures along Saint Lucia’s roadways is a wellintentioned, ambitious proposal laden with the attractive prospects for positive change. Darnell Boxill's relationship with the Boys' Training Centre—a rehabilitation facility for young boys who have contravened the law— dates back many years to the time he, along with his sister and friend, would take lunches to the facility on Sundays. Boxill's most recent contribution to the organisation came to fruition in 2018 when his threeperson party, now named Third Sector Development Foundation, officially received US$45,553 from the Global Environment Facility for a proposed aquaponics project at the BTC grounds. This came after a grant of US$3,417 was issued for the project's planning, which involved various stakeholders. The aquaponics project was to work in conjunction with the OECS USAID-funded hydroponics plant that was erected beside it. Together, the two would not only facilitate the breeding of tilapia, and teh growing of lettuce and other produce, but it was also expected that at the completion of the project there would be “a fully managed aquaponics

for two hours, then headed back to another class. But it is taking too much out of us to deal with two big projects with no labourers. What happens is the teacher is there to guide and then has to come in on weekends and off-days to take care of the farms. As it stands, for now, we don't even have a groundsperson and we are sort of teaching boys to do certification programmes. It's very difficult.” She added: “It would not be fair to use the wards as the primary source of labour.” For some, passing along the Massade Road, the GEF- and OECS-initiated As for GEF, which funded aquaponics and hydroponics facilities at the local Boys' Training Centre have become two eyesores. the aquaponics project, Romulus says they are facility delivering organic But we knew why and what According to Boxill: “A aware of the human resource produce through a process we have to do. In terms of the second grant I want to get deficiencies. “This institution that provides job training and lettuce, we were able to harvest would be used to enclose both has been maligned for years, assistance for boys in becoming three times.” the aquaponics and hyrdoponics from the time I was a child. gainfully employed citizens of So far so good. Joseph systems so that there's a Some may classifiy it as a Saint Lucia”. went on: “Right now we are greater level of security. That place that you should avoid but, Once the aquaponics pools on a lull. We're short-staffed; way we can determine whether because of that, the young boys were set up, things became we have persons on vacation there's an outside factor or up there really need a lot of operational thanks to Marlon and others whose contracts internal factor damaging the assistance, a lot of mentoring, Williams, Agriculture Instructor were not renewed. We also facility.” and we thought if this could at the BTC, who is currently on have repairs going on, thanks Perhaps the most pressing work, we could really bring in vacation. Assisting Mr. Williams to damage by Storm Kirk to dilemma confronting the parties revenue to help out. is Samantha Joseph, BTC Head some of the items down there, involved—Boxill, Ms. Joseph "This project has taught of the Education Department, including our ponds being and GEF's National Co-ordinator us a number of lessons. There who gave a report on the dismantled. Right now it looks Mr Giles Romulus—is the lack have been successes but there progress of the project and abandoned but it's not. We of human resources at the BTC. have also been challenges with its setbacks: “We have been are in the process of obtaining Said Ms Joseph: “Prior to the the system and its full and total able to harvest quite a bit of and purchasing everything we BTC getting the aquaponics adoption into the curriculum our tilapia which we used for need to do our repairs for both and hydroponics project placed at the BTC. Having observed the centere so that was a good projects—the hydroponics at the centre, the agriculture that challenge, our board set yield. And also, we were able to and aquaponics.” The cost of teacher was there to instruct up meetings with the OECS, get Chinese cabbage, although repairs is being paid for by the and guide the boys. It was because they had a hydroponics we had some iron deficiency. government. more like class; they came in project nearby, and with the

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Equity—which is in charge of the BTC—because we thought that the real problem there was a management problem. “We had two meetings and at the final one the OECS agreed that funds left from the hyrdoponics project would be used to hire a consultant to do a business plan and to really get us to understand the human resource deficit that was existing at the BTC.” Romulus says the agreement was that once the study is completed, the ministry will address the major concerns. He could not give a projected date of completion but said he would be getting in touch with the OECS soon for an update. All three entities agree that giving up on the initiative is not their ideal option. Ms Joseph still believes the programme has merit. “The whole idea of our agriculture programme is to take the boys to some sort of certification so at least they could leave here with a certificate in some vocational skill. And we're pushing entrepreneurship. We don't want the boys to be dependent on going out there and working for others. As I said, we have had our successes but we have also had our challenges. I do hope they can be addressed as soon as possible.”

Tyrone Maynard Re-elected President General of National Workers Union

eteran Industrial Relations Consultant Comrade Tyrone George Maynard has been asked to remain in the position of President General of the National Workers Union for another one-year term. The NWU last Sunday held its 2018 Annual Congress of Delegates at the Conference Room of the Royal St. Lucian Resort & Spa. Delegates were honoured with the presence of Cde Dr. the Hon Ralph E. Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines as feature

speaker and the Hon. Colin Jordan MP, Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations of Barbados. The 110 delegates who participated in the day’s proceedings voted unanimously on a resolution that requested Cde Tyrone G. Maynard to continue to lead the NWU’s general operations. Comrade Maynard now heads a Central Committee of twenty-one members of which Cde Solace Myers is Deputy President General, Cde Johann Harewood is Secretary General, Cde Caroline Montoute Caroo is Finance Officer, and there

are three trustees. The Congress also debated and approved portfolio reports on negotiations, grievance handling and educational activities. The hallmark of the day’s event was the respect and honour paid to journalists Rick Wayne, Earl Bousquet, Guy Ellis, Sam “Juke Bois” Flood, Ernie Seon, Timothy Poleon, Lawrence Adonis, Dave Samuels, Lissa Joseph, Micah George, businessman the Hon. George Theophilus and attorney-at-law Mary Francis. The mentioned individuals have all contributed to Saint Lucia’s social, economic and educational advancement. Congress delegates left the hotel conference room on a high, with pledges to continue to build a strong workers' movement, especially against the background of the NWU commemorating its 45th year of service to the working people of Saint Lucia.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines prime minister Ralph Gonsalves (left) and STAR publisher Rick Wayne flank the re-elected leader at the 45th anniversary gathering of the National Workers Union last Sunday.

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National Wor Celebrates 45th

mong the first friends I made upon assuming the position of Voice editor (my introduction to journalism in Saint Lucia) was Tyrone Maynard. He, too, was at the time setting out on a new adventure: taking over the leadership of the National Workers Union. We’ve remained friends and shared many adventures over the years, sometimes landing in trouble with sections of the society determined to stay in their comfortable cobwebs— politicians mostly. We had our ups and downs, in relation to our work, but always our friendship remained solid. Even after I noted that my invitation to the NWU’s 45th anniversary celebration required me to be in my seat at 9 a.m. I knew I’d be there, despite that I seldom get out of bed before 11 on a Sunday. I finally had no reason to regret the Herculean effort. It had been a long time since Tyrone Maynard and I met face to face; like me it seems he has become quite reclusive. Ditto his Castro-bearded special comrade, and my friend for all seasons, Lawrence Poyotte—a grossly underrated talent, and not only for journalism and photography! I had the great pleasure of sitting with Guy Ellis, formerly editor of the

Voice, now semi-retired. Guy it was who first suggested, when I still lived in the UK, I should take up writing as a profession. I’ve never regretted following up on that. And then there was the prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Mr. Ralph Gonsalves, always a close friend of Tyrone Maynard and his National Workers Union. My own relationship with Ralph, to put it, er, diplomatically, had always been an up and down affair, mainly downs, dependent on what he had written or said somewhere; or whose politics he had chosen to support. Of course, I’ve known Ralph even before he held his current job. Over the last several years I’ve discovered myself supporting more and more of his controversial decisions, especially on the issues of citizenship vending and American involvement in regional matters. Most importantly, I’ve learned to respect him for his willingness to confront the possible negative fall-out from standing by his convictions. My kinda man! Ralph was the NWU’s keynote speaker. Suffice it to say he was absolutely at ease at the podium, cool in casual wear, up to date on matters regional and elsewhere, with a

demonstrated fine appreciation of metaphor. He is probably the region’s most well-read politician, as familiar with St. Paul as with Naipaul and Churchill. Again, my kinda guy. He also shares with fellow Vincie the late John Compton a salt’s sense of humor. The difference was in their deliveries. Ralph tends to serve his adult rib ticklers with a devilish smile; Compton remained straight-faced. On the subject of trade unionism, however, Ralph was dead serious. Certainly Tyrone could not have chosen a more appropriate keynote speaker. It turned out Ralph had contributed much to Tyrone’s development as a trade unionist. Maybe it was from Ralph Gonsalves that the NWU president first learned to stand by his beliefs, regardless of the risks to himself. Most appropriate was his telling observation that too many of our leaders know what must be done in the best interests of our region but lack the gonads to act, largely because they fear the right action at the right time might be tantamount to “political suicide.” Ralph had his audience laughing our heads off when he recalled undertaking controversial public campaigns all by himself. Those who had

Was it something he said? Former Voice editor Guy Ellis (left) can hardly contain himself as S holds forth from his seat at the NWU’s 45th anniversary celebration l

promised faithfully to be at his side had chosen instead to chicken out, often leaving him to address on his own “some old man and his dog, with the dog paying far more attention than its owner.” Oh, but the lone ranger was self-convinced “the

people in their bedrooms were hearing me.” Also addressing the Royal St Lucian’s packed conference room last Sunday was Colin Jordon, Minister of Labour & Social Partnership Relations in the Mia Mottley government of

Barbados. Guy Ellis and I racked our brains wondering who in our own parliament might’ve delivered as inspiring an address. Had we not known in advance Jordon was a politician, we might well have taken him for a young businessman who cared very much

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orkers Union th Anniversary

imself as STAR publisher Rick Wayne typically lebration last Sunday.

about the Caribbean’s immediate future: no pointless exaggerations issued from him, no demeaning comments, no accusatory finger pointing. His demeanor and tone were easy on the eyes and ears, while his address offered a feast for thought. What a relief that

A section of the audience: Dame Pearlette is flanked by history maker Mikey Pilgrim (he served for three months as prime minister in 1982) and culture minister Fortuna Belrose.

not once did he sound like a politician! The open session concluded with the presentation of awards by the visiting prime minister, Saint Lucia’s governor general Sir Neville Cenac and the NWU’s leader. I am pleased

to say Tyrone personally handed me one of the more beautifully crafted trophies I’ve ever received, engraved “champion of journalism.” I should add that the presumed tough as nails Tyrone turned out not to be so tough after

all. He sobbed openly while Lawrence Poyotte delivered the vote of thanks, along the way pausing at stations of the cross endured by the leader of the National Workers Union. Poyotte neglected to add he was all the time at Tyrone’s side!

Awards were also handed to Earl Bousquet, Dave Samuels, Sam ‘Juk Bois’ Flood, Ernie Seon, Lissa Joseph, Lawrence Adonis, Timothy Poleon, Micah George and Guy Ellis for their contributions to journalism in Saint Lucia.

Mr. George Theophilus and Ms Mary Francis were also honored. The first for contributions to Saint Lucia’s economic, social and financial development and Ms Francis for unflinchingly standing up for human rights.

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The Rural Unknown

Rural Women and Feminism By Keithlin Caroo

developmental issue and that the feminist advocacy sphere may not be the best place to week ago I was invited gain support. But if not here, to consultations for a then where else could these feminist mapping of the women gain assistance? Caribbean by a well-known I realized that the issue feminist organisation, of of rural women’s rights in the which the name will remain feminist sphere was not only undisclosed. While the event overlooked in the Caribbean brought together some of but worldwide and that the the brightest young minds in disconnect was rooted in the the regional feminist sphere, misconstrued conception of I couldn’t help but feel that I was out of place. Issues—from who or what is a feminist. sexual and reproductive health, Unfortunately many view feminists as male-hating, braLGBTQ matters, mentorship burning women when, in fact, of young girls and mental health—were all at the forefront the opposite is true. Feminists can take many shapes and of the discussions. While these forms, from a schoolteacher to issues interweave into those a bodybuilder, as long as they faced by rural women and hold the simple belief that both girls, they all took precedence men and women should live over the topic of rural women and thrive equally. Many rural in the agricultural sector—a women may not call themselves demographic probably needing the most attention from feminist feminist but believe that they should be able to benefit from groups. At one point, someone the same training, technical even insinuated that the issue support and access to land that of rural women was more of a

yet. Furthermore, if feminism, as Chimamanda Adichie powerfully said, represents the “social, political and economic equality of the sexes” then why would rural women in agriculture, who represent a substantial part of the Caribbean population and who are plagued with the same issues of inequality as women in other professions, not be at the forefront of the feminist agenda?

Isn’t it about time that we had a rural feminist agenda?

men do. Dare I say that they are feminist too? The problem is, in the Caribbean they don’t have feminist groups to assist them in getting the equality they desire. However, the feminist agenda, like any ideology, can become exclusive and focus

on persons who are highly educated and most often those who live in an urban setting, while feminism should seek to include all, regardless of urban or rural context. Some will support the prior claim that the feminist

sphere cannot support rural women because they represent more traditional concepts such as having a nuclear home. However, for ages there has been a high percentage of households headed by single mothers and it hasn’t changed

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

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Cabinet of ministers meets 'The Prince of Pot’ kind of non-stop. I go wherever one grower, one activist invites me; he doesn’t have to pay me or anything, I’ll just put his location on my schedule." opularly known by his The presentation to moniker ‘The Prince of Cabinet centred on calling Pot', Canadian marijuana for an end to the arresting of activist Marc Emery’s career individuals so that legalization of advocacy has spanned can follow. Said Emery: more than thirty years and has “Basically it was a blueprint resulted in his spending time for an improved regulatory in over thirty jails. Emery, 60, framework; so instead of the defiantly opposed Canada’s regulatory framework being cannabis laws and opened stores which supplied marijuana prohibition, meaning it’s just seeds. In 2005 Vancouver police banned, this proposal was, first and foremost, 'Let’s have raided his store with help from a moratorium on the arrests.' the U.S. Drug Enforcement If we can stop the arrests, that Agency. He was arrested and eliminates the major civil rights faced extradition to the United problem there.” States. In May 2010, after “From there,” he continued, years of legal battles, he was “we can establish an economic extradited from Canada to the framework by which to enrich U.S. where he was sentenced the community through jobs, to five years in prison for drug reduce police interdiction, and distribution charges. More recently, in December more promotion of the health benefits of cannabis. You can’t 2017 he pleaded guilty to negotiate with the government marijuana possession and was if they’re still arresting you fined $150,000 and placed on because it’s an unequal power two years' probation. situation. But if the government Emery travelled this says, 'Okay, we’ll stop arresting week to Saint Lucia and people,' then we can come was alongside the Cannabis to the table and work out Movement as it made a some good rules that we’re presentation to the Cabinet of ministers. His visit was part of a all supportive of, and begin to move forward.” worldwide campaign on which By his measure, time is he has embarked. Afterward, Emery talked with the STAR. “In short and unless Saint Lucia makes significant strides it will the last two years,” he told me, be left behind. “I think within “I’ve been travelling the world, Joshua St. Aimee

Canadian activist Marc Emery (left) and chairman of the Cannabis Movement Andre DeCaires following their meeting this week with Cabinet.

the next six months they’ve got to announce the moratorium on arrests, and at that point they’ve got to come up with a policy about decriminalizing. In six months to a year they should come up with some way to sell it on the island. But to me it’s all got to happen in the next two years—or Saint Lucia will be left behind.” Emery said that Cabinet members asked informed questions. Some seemed sympathetic, especially to expunging criminal records of past convicts, but there was one component lacking: a final

decision. “All of the Cabinet sounded good, said nice things, seemed sympathetic, but I didn’t hear anybody say, ‘Okay, well, we’ll try and get that done by mid next year,’ or anything like that. But these talks are all useful and the direction is the right direction.” Emery says that ideal legalization should not dictate how many plants an individual is allowed to grow on his or her property, since there is “nothing wrong with cannabis. If one plant is okay then a thousand plants are okay. It’s funny how immorality or criminality is

Saint Lucia encouraged by Taiwan’s Agricultural Industry

zechiel Joseph, Minister for Agriculture, accompanied by Minister Herod Stanislaus visited Taiwan on 5-9 November 2018, to get a first-hand experience of Taiwan’s agricultural development and technologies. The ministers believe that Saint Lucia can take a page from Taiwan’s book in developing agro-tourism. On 6 November they visited the 2018 World Flora Exposition in the central Taiwan city of Taichung. Later that day they visited the Hankuang Fruit and Vegetable Production Cooperative and the Taichung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station to better understand how Taiwan’s

suggested by quantity. When you go buy a beer you can buy a thousand cans; you could stack your house filled with it. You could do this with tobacco, you could do this with prescription drugs. We have to stop letting the state determine limits on something that’s safe and good for you. The state needs to acknowledge that they are the ones that have been wrong. By telling us you can only grow twenty plants they’re really saying, ‘We’re still right, we are your fathers, we are your patriarchy, we are still making the rules,’ and ultimately it's unacceptable.” Emery is strongly against allowing foreign companies to set up shop in Saint Lucia if, or when, marijuana becomes legal. He says that when they come flashing millions, their proposals will sound good at first, but they would ultimately take over. "I would ban all those corporations from coming, simply because you've got everything you need right here; you've got growers, you've got great land, great soil. Everything that's needed for

a sophisticated and modern cannabis industry is already here. You don't need foreign money. The reason politicians and governments love these big corporations," he added, "is because they control each other in a mutually beneficial way. The government sets up regulations which only the big corporations can afford to meet; and because the governments guarantee them this big monopoly or exclusivity, they're willing to invest." He advised that a cooperative be set up so that, after farmers harvest their produce, they can bring it to sell. The cooperative, he says, will also be responsible for selling the marijuana to tourists, foreign companies and the general public. “Every store in Castries sells something more dangerous than cannabis, whether it's sugar, salt, fats, tobacco, alcohol, prescription drugs or cars that go twice the speed limit." Emery plans a return visit to celebrate “as soon as an announcement of no more arrests is made”.

THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN SUPREME COURT IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE SAINT LUCIA CLAIM NO. SLUHCV2010/0417 BETWEEN: FIRSTCARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL BANK (BARBADOS) LIMITED Claimant and 1. WYCLIFFE ADOLPHUS PROVIDENCE 2. PETULA LEWIS-PROVIDENCE Defendants To: (1) WYCLIFFE ADOLPHUS PROVIDENCE and (2) PETULA LEWIS-PROVIDENCE, whose last known address was 141 East 21st Street Apt. #21 Brooklyn, New York 11226, USA NOTICE TAKE NOTICE that on the 27th day of February 2012, a Judgment in Default of Acknowledgment of Service was granted against you in the High Court of Justice (Saint Lucia) in Claim No. SLUHCV2010/0417) in favour of the Claimant, FIRSTCARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL BANK (BARBADOS) LIMITED. PURSUANT to the CPR Rule 5.13 service of the Judgment in Default of Acknowledgment of Service in this action being effected on you by this advertisement in two (2) consecutive issues of a local newspaper circulating in Saint Lucia and two (2) consecutive issues of the Official Gazette. A COPY of the Judgment in Default of Acknowledgment of Service can be obtained at the High Court Office, La Place Carenage, Jeremie Street, Castries, Saint Lucia, Telephone Number 468-7500, Fax 468-7543 or Email: stluhco@eccourts.org. The office is open between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Mondays to Thursdays and between 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Fridays except public holidays. THE Judgment in Default of Acknowledgment of Service can also be viewed and/or copies of same can be obtained from the offices of Peter I. Foster & Associates, Robin Kelton Building, Choc Bay, Castries, Saint Lucia, Telephone Number (758) 453-1100, Fax Number (758) 452-4940 or E-mail: contact@piflaw.com. The office is open between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays except public holidays.

Ministers visiting the Taichung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station in Taiwan.

agriculture sector optimises its supply chain. Saint Lucia is scheduled to launch an agricultural production

and marketing improvement programme next year in cooperation with Taiwan. The ministers’ trip to

Taiwan further convinces them of an even brighter future for Saint Lucia’s agricultural development.

Dated this 25th day of October, 2018 PETER I. FOSTER & ASSOCIATES Per...................................................... Peter A.H. Marshall Legal Practitioners for the Claimant Presented for filing by: MESSRS. PETER I. FOSTER & ASSOCIATES, Legal Practitioners for the Claimant, whose address for service is: Chambers, Robin Kelton Bldg., Choc Bay, Castries, Saint Lucia or Suite #5, 1st Floor, 6 Bridge Street, Castries, Saint Lucia. Tel. No.: 758 453-1100, Fax No.: 758 452-4940, E-mail: contact@piflaw.com The Court Office is at La Place, Carenage, Jeremie Street, Castries, Tel. No.758 468-7500, Fax No. 758 453-2071, e-mail: stluhco@eccourts.org. The Court Office is open between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday and between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Friday except public holidays.

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An Arthritis Conversation Through Art

Artist Gary Butte (left) and MeCurator founder Buki Cahane happily launched Mask Parade 2 last Friday.

he MeCurator Art Gallery, in collaboration with Saint Lucia Arthritis and Lupus Association (SLALA), will host an art collection launch, titled 'Art Thrives Us – A Journey of Art through Arthritis' on Thursday 15th November, from 7.00pm to 9.00pm, at the MeCurator

Art Gallery, located in Massade, Gros Islet (within the Star Publishing premises). MeCurator owner Buki Cahane says the gallery holds art at its core. As an art curator, her heart is set on connecting artists, audiences and buyers to Caribbean art. This is done

This Thursday's exhibition at MeCurator will be a window to an entirely different perspective of art.

through providing a regular platform for artwork to be shown by artists of all ages, genders and abilities. In collaboration with SLALA, MeCurator will showcase an art collection by talented artists who suffer from the restrictive effects of

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arthritis and lupus and from other physical restrictions. Although the artists are constrained by their ailments, they have been able to find a mental and physical freedom through expressive art therapy. The month-long collection will showcase the works of these artists and all pieces will be available for sale. It will also reinforce the efforts of the MeCurator Art Gallery to showcase all forms of Saint Lucian art; by those able and, in some cases, by those deemed as disabled.

Robert Lee recited poetry at the Mask Parade 2 opening which was a full cultural experience. There will be a similar experience for Art Thrives Us.

Dr Amanda King, psychologist Nicole Edgecombe and renowned artist Peter Walcott will share a few words on the night, each reflecting from the perspective of the journey with art and arthritis. The launch night is focused on raising awareness of this condition, asking people to broaden their minds, dig deep into their pockets and support the charities, such as SLALA, helping those with arthritis and lupus. Come experience this insightful collection on the

opening night this Thursday. Please note that an entry fee of $20 will be charged. Wine and canapés will be available for attendees. Last Friday MeCurator launched Gary Butte’s collection, Mask Parade 2, an event that brought artists, poets and art lovers together. It is still available for viewing at the gallery. For additional information, please contact SLALA at (758) 459-0092 or Buki Cahane, MeCurator Art Gallery at (758) 722 8303.

Masquerade Master in Theatre

he National Cultural Centre will come alive on November 21 and 22 with an incredible, theatrical experience. Youth in Arts (YIA) will host its annual production and for 2018 features 'Masquerade Master', a musical by Drenia Frederick, directed by Michelle Theobalds with music adapted and arranged by Barbara Ann Cadet. YIA works to contribute to the preservation of Saint Lucia’s rich culture and tradition through the arts, and affirms that developing skills in the performing arts is developing skills for life. The group features a dynamic,

talented and skilled cast. In addition, the creative Miss Theobalds is ably supported by assistant director Shakira Roberts-Sankar, Jamie Forde as musical director and Roxanne Didier-Nicholas as dance director. Masquerade Master is presented in two showings. The grand opening on Wednesday November 21 features a cocktail reception hosted by Kiedel Sonny, priced at $65. Tickets for the second performance on Thursday November 22 cost $45. Michelle sums up ‘Masquerade Master’ in this way: “While the production pays homage to a unique part

of our cultural identity by way of the ‘masquerade’, it ultimately speaks to a much bigger message. It resonates a powerful message of freedom, and the many interpretations of the concept of freedom. I think the audiences will have many takeaways and moments of delight so we encourage people to come live that experience.” Tickets for 'Masquerade Master' are available for purchase at The Cell outlets. For more information and daily updates, follow Youth in Arts on social media. Facebook: Youth in ArtsYIA Theatre Company and Instagram @youthinartslu.

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Dealer calls for Regulation of Used Vehicle Imports

We are looking for the best of the best, Are you ready to be part of the Carnival Team, You will need to be dedicated, Hard Working, Have Good Customer Service Skills, and Fun..

Positions Available Full Time and Part Time Captains When it comes to Saint Lucia’s transport sector, one importer says that traffic should be the least of our concerns.

sed vehicle importer Kerry Daniel is as concerned as the next commuter that traffic congestion in Saint Lucia seems daily to grow worse. He blames it on the unreliable and inconvenient transport system, but most of all on the ease of buying vehicles. Daniel believes he has the solution: improvement of the island’s back roads, the transport system and limiting the number of vehicles per household. What Daniel considers the greater priority, however, is the need for regulation of the importing of used vehicles. He says that this industry as is, causes more harm than good, with some importers exploiting consumers. His first concern in that regard centres on the quality of vehicles imported. Before a vehicle is imported from Japan, it is auctioned, he says. Each vehicle is given a quality rating: S, 6, 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3, and 2. ‘S’ marks a vehicle in perfect condition, the near equivalent of a new car, whereas a grade of ‘2’ indicates that the vehicle is in very bad condition. Grade 3.5 is typically

a vehicle with high mileage and in need of repairs; likewise grade 3, only in more urgent need of repair. “When you import a ridiculous grade vehicle, say grade 3, or 3.5, well, that’s what Caribbean people purchase.” The biggest problem, he warned, is the practice of changing the manufacture year of the vehicles. This allows the importer to charge more. “Say the vehicle was manufactured in 2010, unscrupulous importers will register it as a 2011 vehicle. There’s a big difference in cost between a 2010 and a 2011. For instance, for a 2010 vehicle you’d pay $10,000. For a 2011 one you’d pay $15,000. And I’m just talking to order that vehicle. So, automatically it makes duties more, everything more.” Another way some importers take advantage of consumers, according to Daniel, is by adjusting the mileage. “The buyer discovers he’s been conned when sections of his vehicle start to fall apart after a certain mileage. Each part on a vehicle has its specific

recommended change after a certain amount of miles. If you get a vehicle with almost 200,000 km on it, after say six months on Saint Lucia’s roads, you’ll find yourself in some kind of problem.” The lower the mileage on the vehicle, the more profitable for the importer. But Daniel is not totally a doomsday prophet: “Used vehicles, I would say, are very good. Honestly, it doesn’t even make sense to buy a new vehicle because of the quality of the good, used ones and the cost; not everybody can afford a new vehicle. I just think we need to regulate their importation. “There needs to be a body to oversee these imports. The body should be in place to make sure we set a quality standard. If you bring in a vehicle in such state that you have big problems after two years, well . . . we already have too much garbage on our roads.” Joshua St. Aimee

We are currently looking for two Captains to join us ready for the busy season ahead. Full time salary, plus dues on every trip and excellent profit share bonus.

Kitchen Assistant / Trainee Chef

We are looking for a trainee to work along side our chefs and assist in all aspects of the kitchen.

Tour Guides

We have vacancy’s for experienced tour guides ready to work full or part time For all Positions please send applications to Carnival@candw.lc or drop off your application at our office in Vigie Cove next to the Auburge Hotel

18 HEALTH

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november 10, 2018 THE STAR

KIM’S KORNER

Chronic Ankle Injuries H ave you ever heard someone complaining of ankle pain and weakness years after they experienced an ankle injury? It is almost expected that if you have sprained your ankle, you will experience weakness forever. Sometimes associated problems may develop in the hip or knee or the other ankle. Well, no need for worry; there are steps you can take to aid your recovery and build up your ankle strength. The ankle joint sits between the foot and lower leg (the tibia and fibula). It is a large complex joint made up of three bones: the tibia, fibula and the talus. It is capable of moving the foot up and down, in and out. It acts, along with the foot, to propel the body forwards, backwards and sideways, adapt to uneven surfaces, support the body and maintain stability. Because of the need to adapt to movement on different surfaces, and also support

the body, it has a network of ligaments running in different directions that increase the ankle’s stability. Ligaments are thick, fibrous, flexible bands of tissue that connect bones and limit excessive movement. Ligaments and the reaction times of our muscles to changes in the position of our foot protect us from injury. However, there are times when this mechanism fails; or is overstretched, resulting in an ankle sprain. A sprain is a movement that takes the joint beyond its normal range and can be graded depending upon the severity of the injury. Regardless of the severity, ankle sprains are often accompanied by pain, swelling and decreased function. Grade I – Mild sprain with no tears to the ligament. Responds to rest, ice and a period of exercise to promote quicker return to activity. Grade II – Moderate sprain

where some of the fibres are torn but the ligament remains intact; you may notice light bruising. May require a brace or splint to allow better healing of the ligaments followed by rehabilitation and exercise before full function is restored. Grade III – Severe sprain where the fibres are completely ruptured. This is usually accompanied by bruising as the torn fibres cause bleeding beneath the skin. These do not always respond to conservative management and may require surgical intervention Healing and return to function depend on the grade of the sprain and although pain and swelling may resolve in a few weeks, it can take several months (sometimes up to a year) for full ligament healing to occur. Not all ankle sprains heal as expected and if symptoms are still present after six months, the condition is then classified as chronic. Most sprains occur when the ankle twists in an

The pain from an ankle injury can resurface at any time, especiallly if you’re not careful. outward motion, stretching all the structures on the outside aspect of the ankle. In severe cases it may cause a complete rupture of the ligament or even a fracture which would require immobilisation. Why are some people more predisposed to injury than others? Age, poor balance, weakness and previous injuries are all factors that increase the risk of injury. A previous injury that is left to heal without rehabilitation can develop laxity in the lateral supporting ligaments, with tightness and weakness of tendons and muscles which can affect postural control, static and dynamic balance, proprioception (reaction time),

biomechanics and gait. As with any injury, prevention is always better than cure. But we do not always know we have a problem until after the injury occurs. Working on ankle and balance exercises can reduce the risk of injury but

if you have already had an ankle injury, or an injury that keeps recurring, a physiotherapist can help identify any weaknesses and altered biomechanics and design a unique exercise programme based on your individual needs. A recent study concluded that lower limb and balance exercises prescribed and supervised by a physiotherapist have a greater success rate on recovery and preventing recurring problems than injections or exercises that just focus on ankle strength. If you sprain your ankle, the first step is to remember the Protect Optimum Loading Ice Compression Elevation protocol, then speak to a physiotherapist about developing an exercise programme that gradually increases in intensity as your pain and swelling reduce. The most important take-home message is: don’t accept the unacceptable; a weak, unstable ankle can have negative affect on the whole body and create more problems in the future. Kim Jackson is a UK-trained physiotherapist with over 20 years’ experience. She specialises in musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction including back pain and sciatica, stroke and other neuro conditions plus sports physiotherapy, having worked with local, regional and international athletes and teams treating injuries and analysing biomechanics to improve function and performance. She is registered with the Allied Health Council and is a member of PASL. She currently works at Bayside Therapy Services in Rodney Bay, O: 458 4409 or C: 284 5443; www.baysidetherapyservices.com

Morocco welcomes Caribbean Diplomats W ithin the framework of implementing the development programme existing between Morocco and OECS countries, the Moroccan Academy for Diplomatic Studies (AMED) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco is hosting an International Training Session in Diplomacy for the benefit of fifteen diplomats from the Caribbean region. The two-week training started on Monday November 5, 2018. As a result, the group of diplomats from OECS

The OECS now has an embassy in Rabat, Morocco and the two territories continue to strengthen ties.

countries and Barbados, represented by two diplomats each, are presently in Morocco taking part in the diplomatic training with the aim of enhancing the excellent diplomatic ties between the two sides. This follows the official opening of the OECS Embassy in Rabat on October 18, 2018.

THE STAR

HEALTH

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november 10, 2018

Understanding Dementia

Letters and Numbers that Move Around By Regina Posvar

hen dealing with illness, each condition has its own set of warning signs. For Alzheimer’s disease, there are ten of them and this week we will look at the sixth one. If you experience any of these signs, see your doctor or contact the Saint Lucia Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association for more information or for a memory screening. Warning Sign Number Six: Trouble with abstract thinking. An example of this could be struggling to balance a chequebook or not understanding numbers and how they work. A comment I remember hearing from a person living with dementia was, “Early on, I noticed things were changing when it appeared that the numbers on the page started jumping around.”

Some Alzheimer’s patients have trouble following numbers and letters on a page but sometimes ignore it.

This can also happen when people read. People observing early signs of dementia can either become scared by them while others pay absolutely no attention to it. The ones who pay no attention have the ability to hide their challenges most of the time, but this leads to more damage to the brain. People in this group tend to brush off the instanced or excuse it for “just having a bad day”. And, because of their ability to function normally in other areas, this warning sign doesn’t

get noticed by others until after the person is diagnosed in the middle stages of Alzheimer’s. Those who become frightened about the changes may become embarrassed and not want others to know about it or don’t like the way others treat them after a mistake is made. This group may isolate themselves. It’s also possible for them to develop depression, and many times the depression is noted but not the changes that lead to it. In this case the warning signs of dementia go undetected again. Unfortunately, depression

Saint Lucia Explores Opportunities for Cruise Tourism Development

cting Chief Executive Officer of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA), Mrs. Tiffany Howard, was part of a delegation led by Prime Minister, Allen Chastanet, representing Saint Lucia at the 25th Annual Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Cruise Conference & Trade Show in Puerto Rico this week. The five-day event from in San Juan was an opportunity for Saint Lucia to grow its cruise tourism business which is up by an impressive 13.2% so far this year. In January 2018 Saint Lucia expanded the capacity of Port Castries to accommodate Freedom and Quantum Class vessels, which has contributed significantly to the increase in the number of cruise visitor arrivals. The FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show blends meetings and workshops with social functions that allow attendees to develop relationships, promote their products, and learn from FCCA executives. These executives represent the FCCA’s 18 member Llnes who decide

symptoms mimic those of dementia. So, if the depression symptoms are treated, and the person seems to be a little social, family will assume that the medication is working. However, silently the person is still struggling with cognitive thinking. I believe we, as medical professionals, have failed to help our clients in these conditions by not monitoring them closely enough to detect the difference. We tend to give tablets and, if the client doesn’t complain, then everything is fine.

I encourage clients, and families concerned, to seek more answers. It’s okay to get second opinions, and it’s fine to monitor and keep records on yourself and then give this information to your doctor. The more information a doctor is given, the better the diagnosis can be. Many doctors have more patients than they can handle so they deal with just the information provided and move on to the next client. This is a time where we are responsible for our own health and can assist doctors. Many times, misdiagnoses are made from lack of information. So be proactive and pay attention to your own body and mind so you can inform the appropriate professionals of changes. Questions about warning signs: Q: My mother has always been a storyteller. She read to us frequently when growing up but now, with her dementia,

she struggles to read. How can we bring this joy back to her? A: A person who reads stories must also like to listen to stories. You can read her favourite stories and animate the story while you read. You will be surprised at her response. You can also purchase books on tape or CD and get the book for her and see if she can follow along with the story told. Regina Posvar is the current president of the Saint Lucia Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association and has been a licensed nurse for 25 years. SLADA is supported by volunteers and donations and aims to bring awareness and support by providing awareness public workshops, family support, memory screenings, the Memory Café, counselling and family training for coping skills and communication with persons living with dementia.

Requires an energetic, enthusiastic and dynamic

LOYALTY AND TRAVEL CONSULTANT This is an exciting sales role requiring a dynamic, assertive, self-motivated personality. The agent is responsible for ensuring repeat business by securing future travel plans by way of client deposit on room accommodation. In addition to organized training, the job requires a driven individual who understands the need for on-going product exploration for constant education on the product.

Prime Minister Honourable Allen Chastanet (centre) with SLASPA, SLTA and CIP representatives.

where ships call, what is sold and used onboard, and how to invest in destinations and infrastructure. The Saint Lucia delegation included Tourism Minister Honourable Dominic Fedee and SLTA Chairman Mr. Nicholas John; senior managers from the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) and representatives from the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP), Barefoot Holidays and Foster & Ince Cruise Services Inc. They met with cruise industry officials from ports and destinations, cruise and tourism agencies, tour operators, attractions,

suppliers and ship agents. Saint Lucia continues to consolidate its position as one of the leading cruise destinations in the Caribbean. In addition to the expansion of Berth No.1 at Pointe Seraphine to accommodate Quantum and Freedom Class vessels, the Government of Saint Lucia is advancing plans to build a cruise ship port in Vieux Fort. Saint Lucia’s focus at the 2018 FCCA Cruise Conference & Tradeshow was to ensure that the destination becomes a port of call for additional cruise lines, while networking inclusively to improve the cruise tourism product.

Applicants should satisfy the following minimum requirements: • Secure future business by obtaining room bookings prior to guest departure • Ensure that bookings made are accurate and properly reviewed with guests • Actively listening to guests’ preferences so that the correct resort match is made • Ensure that all booking details are recorded and stored as required by SOPs • Constantly ensuring that available promotions are known and used to drive and close sales • Interact and develop relationships with guests through exciting company approved activities • Prepare approved invitation to book for send out to guests to help stir interest and drive business to the desk • Ensure as many guests as possible are informed about the Loyalty and Travel desk by way of collateral, participation in resort activities, “dining with guests” opportunities and the like • Develop strategic alliances with select team members to assist with sales • Support Sandals Select Guest (SSG) activities spearheaded by the Loyalty and Travel Concierge agent • Ensure that all SSG exclusive events are organized in a timely fashion and to the professional standard required Qualifications and Experience • Associate Degree in Management or Marketing • Minimum of two (2) years experience in sales or a similar capacity. Please submit a letter of application and current resume addressed to: Loyalty and Travel Vacancy Sandals Resorts International Email: catherine.louisfernand@sri.sandals.com Applications must be received by Friday 16th November 2018.

20 REGIONAL

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november 10, 2018 THE STAR

Creating a Better USVI, Post-Storm Claudia Eleibox

ast month a LIAT aircraft ushered me beneath fluffy clouds to the mere 83 square kilometers of St. Thomas. By then the USVI’s recent history was sliced into two segments: pre- and post-storm. In September 2017 hurricanes Irma and Maria, “two fair ladies” as one local described them, had discoloured the territory, leaving five people dead. USVI residents consider their home to be back to normal but the truth is the situation is still a long way from that. Just over a year after Irma and Maria, scars remain in the form of large buildings standing faceless, and islanders put the blame for every shortcoming on the two

category-five storms. The territory’s remaining schools were reopened only thirty days post-storm, with students from the six hurricane-demolished institutions sharing resources up to a year later. The two main healthcare options on St. Thomas are also yet to be rebuilt. My fellow LIAT-hosted reporters and I walked into an airport clearly not yet restored to its regular state. In St. John some trees still appear scorched and the mangrove on the nature reserve featured only barely visible new shoots. And as much as people of the USVI would like business to be restored to pre-storm status, some of the island’s best performing companies have resorted to opening for only a few hours a week, or have relocated. Nevertheless, as Caribbean people love to say, the USVI has remained

Commissioner for Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty (pictured) displays the unexplainable confidence the USVI has in a bright and successful recovery period.

Hundreds of metres of mangrove area in the Virgin Islands National Park still look like this, a year after Hurricanes Irma and Maria stripped vegetation dry.

“resilient through it all”. With assistance from the government, LIAT has, since July 2018, been making regular flights to St. Thomas, an achievement that inspired Lieutenant Governor Osbert Potter to say: “We feel good that we were able to sustain and bounce back after two category-five hurricanes.” The territory relies heavily on tourism so, just three months post-storm, the USVI was open to cruise ship tourists. Still, arrivals are down by some 30%. With improvements continuing apace, Commissioner for Tourism, Beverly Nicholson-Doty expects the 2018-2019 roster to bring about 1.7 million visitors, nearing the territory’s pre-storm numbers. Tax collections from overnight visitors are down by about 55%, according to

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Nicholson-Doty. Currently only 50% of traditional tourist accommodations are open for business but the largest resorts, which have the most room capacity, including Marriott’s Frenchman’s Reef, Sugar Bay Resort & Spa and The Westin on St. John, have remained closed for the past year. However, Nicholson-Doty anticipates the major resorts will reopen by 2020. Meanwhile, non-hotel accommodations, according to an Airbnb report last month, have increased by 600%. Both Potter and NicholsonDoty are focused on the silver linings of their struggle. Said the latter: “We know that the light at the end of the tunnel is that we are going to have a much-improved overall territory for the people of our islands and also for the people that visit

us. We’re also really proud that the hotels are not just rebuilding to their earlier standard; they’re really improving the overall product.” Retraining industry workers, evaluating the territory’s overall service, and promoting the new “Made in the USVI” campaign are all initiatives expected to boost the tourism product. According to Potter, new schools, hospitals, roads and “the overall hardening of infrastructure” have been evaluated and price-tagged at about US$8.5billion. The funds have already been sourced from the U.S. federal government. “We know what we want to do,” Potter says, “we know how it’s going to be financed but design and engineering for a lot of the structures that have to be rebuilt will take some time.”

Nonetheless, the territory has so far been able to sustain itself and has recovered well enough to be inviting more and more visitors to its shores, even as work (expected to last for two more years) progresses. Although impeded by the remarkable duo last year, the islands have a lot to offer to sightseers and plenty of historical information that couldn’t be rained out by hurricanes. Said Nicholson-Doty: “LIAT returning to the Virgin Islands is so important in terms of visitors coming to the territory. We’re talking about Caribbean people visiting one another.” She noted that about 30,000-40,000 regional citizens annually visit the USVI and that LIAT is “happily reconnecting families”.

THE STAR

november 10, 2018

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Commemorations of the Centenary of the nd of the First World War

REMEMBRANCE DAY

THE FUNNIES!

he Embassy of France to the OECS Member States and to Barbados, in residence in Saint Lucia, reminds us that November 11 this year marks the centenary of the end of the First World War, which ravaged Europe and parts of the world from July 28, 1914 to November 11, 1918. Concluding with the military victory of the Allies, the First World War, dubbed the Great War, left a terrible record on the human, social, political, diplomatic, cultural and demographic levels. Humanity had never experienced such terrible losses in a single war: 22.5 million dead, wounded or missing on the side of the Allies, 16.4 million on the side of the Central Empires. 1,400,000 French soldiers were counted dead, 27% of the nation’s young men aged 18 to 27 and the second highest rate of loss, after unfortunate Serbia, of the total Allied casualties. The battle of Verdun alone symbolizes all the horror of this war. It opposed the French and German armies for 300 days, from February 21 to December 18, 1916 in the region of Verdun in Lorraine. It created more than 700,000 casualties (dead, missing or wounded): 362,000 French soldiers and 337,000 Germans; an average of 70,000 victims for each of the ten months of the battle, more than 1,000 deaths per day in each camp. How to better illustrate the futility of these fights? The Great War was global. The fighting took place not only throughout Europe and part of Eurasia but also on all the oceans of the world, including the Western Atlantic waters. Since 1922, November 11 has been a national holiday in countries that commemorate victory and peace. A national tribute to the dead, a ceremony is held in front of the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, marked in particular by a taking of arms, the laying of wreaths and the ringing “to the Dead”. This ritual is repeated in all the cemeteries and military memorials of the Great War, as well as at the foot of communal war memorials. This year, for the centenary of the end of this atrocious war, French President Emmanuel Macron is attending a series

“We know the strength with which nationalism and totalitarianism can undermine democracies and threaten the very concept of civilization.” — Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic.

of highly symbolic events. After a week of visits and tribute ceremonies on the sites of multiple battlefields, the President of the French Republic, accompanied by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, joined a ceremony on Sunday November 4 at the Armistice Glade, in the commune of Compiègne, marked by the simplicity of a moment of recollection and homage. On November 5, President Macron spoke at an international ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, in the presence of a hundred foreign dignitaries. As in previous years, the countries that participated in the Great War came to commemorate in 2018 the memory of their soldiers fallen in France. Throughout the year, the Portuguese, Australian, American, Czech, Slovak, British, Canadian, New Zealand, and Germans authorities have organised, or participated in the organisation of, ceremonies honouring their soldiers. More than 120 foreign dignitaries representing the belligerent countries of the Great War, the European institutions, the United Nations and several other international organisations are invited to a ceremony on November 11. The Paris Forum for Peace

is the natural continuation of the commemoration of the end of this terrible war. It was opened on November 5 at the Grande Halle de la Villette in Paris, in the presence of foreign dignitaries invited to the ceremony on November 11, joined by some of their counterparts who did not participate but were invited to attend the opening ceremony in the afternoon. Because peace is currently losing ground every day in the world, this Peace Forum will bring together heads of state and government, leaders of international organisations, NGOs, intellectuals, stakeholders, all those who want to think, take action, drive modern multilateralism and build peace, because peace is in danger. The risk of division, nationalism, inward-looking attitudes, the great fears which can cause democracy to doubt itself, the lack of international co-operation; this is what our world might currently be going through. The Forum, which will run until November 13, aims to make concrete proposals on global peace and governance in all their aspects, and reinvent multilateralism and all modern forms of co-operation to ensure peace gains ground every day. Nothing is impossible to men of good will.

VACANCY NOTICE Project Co-Ordinator for Crime Victimization The United Nations Development Programme Barbados and the OECS invites applications from Suitably Qualified Nationals of St. Lucia and Nationals of the OECS countries who hold the CARICOM Skills Certificate for the position of Project Co-Ordinator - Crime Victimization (Job ID 19364). The position will be based in Commonwealth of St. Lucia and will be under a UNDP Service Contract. The United Nations Development Programme Barbados and the OECS invites applications from Suitably Qualified Nationals of St. Lucia and Nationals of the OECS countries who hold the CARICOM Skills Certificate for the following positions: Remuneration will be in accordance with the established UNDP Service Contract Salary Scale for the OECS. The Terms of Reference for these positions can be obtained by visiting the UNDP website at: http://www.bb.undp.org/content/barbados/en/home/operations/jobs/ Applications must be submitted electronically to the relevant: ID 19364 – Project CoOrdinator Crime Victimization by visiting the above link. Deadline for submission of applications is 19 November 2018. Applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. Only suitable applications will be acknowledged. The United Nations Development Programme does not as a rule acknowledge unsolicited applications. Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply. We shall only contact those persons who are short listed.

22 INTERNATIONAL

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november 10, 2018 THE STAR

US Attorney General Jeff Sessions resigns at Trump's request U

S President Donald Trump forced out Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after the Republican party lost control of the House of Representatives. Sessions informed Trump of his resignation in a letter sent to the president earlier in the day. In the letter, which was widely shared by US media, Sessions said he was resigning "at your (Trump's) request". On Twitter, Trump thanked Sessions for his service and wished him well. He said Matthew G Whitaker, Sessions's chief of staff, would become the acting attorney general until a replacement is announced, which the president said would come at a later date. In the resignation letter, Sessions said he was honoured to have worked "to implement the law enforcement agenda" that formed a central part of the Trump campaign for presidency. "We did our part to restore immigration enforcement," he wrote.The former senator was a key figure in implementing Trump's anti-immigration agenda. He threatened sanctuary cities, which are cities and states that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, with a withdrawal of federal funds and instituted a "zero tolerance" policy for those found crossing the border into the US without documents.

Trump's criticism of Sessions stemmed over Sessions's decision to recuse himself from an investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. The US president did not hesitate to make those criticisms public. "If all of the Russian meddling took place during the Obama Administration, right up to January 20th, why aren’t they the subject of the investigation? Why didn't Obama do something about the meddling? Why aren't Dem crimes under investigation? Ask Jeff Sessions!" He wrote on Twitter in February. Trump blamed the decision for opening the door to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller, who took over the Russia investigation and began examining whether Trump's hectoring or Sessions's was part of a broader effort to obstruct justice and stymie the probe. Mueller is overseen by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who reports to Sessions. There were reports Trump may fire Rosenstein, a frequent critic of the president, earlier this year, but last month Trump said he had no plans to get rid of the deputy attorney general. US media reported on Wednesday that Whitaker, who has criticised Mueller in the past, would likely oversee the

Jerry Nadler is in line to become the chairman of the Judiciary panel when Democrats take control of the House in January. He tweeted that "we will be holding people accountable". He added that it would be "wholly inappropriate" if Whitaker takes on the role of supervising the probe. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Shumer said it is "paramount" that the Mueller

Sessions earned Trump's anger by recusing himself from the investigation on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. [Alex Brandon/AP Photo]

Russia probe. Trump was buoyed on Wednesday by victories that added to the Republican majority in the US Senate, telling reporters at the White House that the gains outweighed the Democrats' takeover of the House. He added that he was willing to work with Democrats on key priorities but felt any House investigations of his administration would hurt prospects for bipartisanship. Following Sessions's resignation, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee said he wants "answers immediately".

Communal Bin Removal Exercise at Bisee, Castries

he Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority continues efforts at ensuring that all Saint Lucians benefit from a cleaner environment. A bin removal and beautification exercise is scheduled for Bisee, Castries in the vicinity of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) Secretariat on Wednesday, November 14, 2018. Residents serviced by the bins will be required to place household garbage at the

designated collection point or along the concrete road from their homes on Tuesdays and Fridays by 7:00a.m. Bulk waste collection service will be provided on the first Saturday of every month. All residents are therefore encouraged to play their part to ensure that the former location of the bins and the community remain free of garbage by undertaking the following: 1. Obtaining a garbage bin or suitable container for storage of

solid waste at home; 2. Placing solid waste out only on the designated collection days for the community. Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority encourages residents to do what is required in order to keep Bisee clean. For more information on this matter, please call the Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority at 4532208 or 450-7070 or Whatsapp at 724-5544.

investigation be protected by Trump's new attorney general. He called the timing of Sessions's departure "very suspect", adding that it would spark a "constitutional crisis" if Trump forced out Sessions as a "prelude" to ending or limiting Mueller's investigation. Democratic House leader, Nancy Pelosi, called the firing of Sessions "another blatant attempt" by Donald Trump to end the Mueller investigation,

and criticised his choice of acting replacement. "Given his record of threats to undermine [and] weaken the Russia investigation, Matthew Whitaker should recuse himself from any involvement in Mueller's investigation. Congress must take immediate action to protect the rule of law and integrity of the investigation. ---Al Jazeera

Wear your poppy with pride, whatever the colour

Red is not the only recognised colour for a Remembrance poppy.

11 November is Remembrance Day—a day to commemorate the First World War and the conflicts that followed it. Many people choose to wear a red poppy around this time to pay respect to those who have lost their lives fighting on behalf of their country. While the red poppy is the most well known symbol of remembrance, there are other coloured poppies too—white, black and purple—that have different meanings. The purple poppy is often worn to remember animals that have been victims of war. Animals like horses, dogs and pigeons were often drafted into the war effort, and those that wear the purple poppy feel their service should be seen as equal to that of human service. In particular, many horses were

killed or injured in World War One. The black poppy has two different meanings attached to it but is most commonly associated with the commemoration of black, African and Caribbean communities' contribution to the war effort, as servicemen and servicewomen, and as civilians.The campaign organisers say that while they also support the red poppy, they feel that the black poppy highlights this contribution and the place of black, African and Caribbean communities in remembrance. Some people feel that the red poppy glorifies war and conflict. Instead they might choose to wear a white poppy. The white poppy is handed out by a charity called Peace

Pledge Union, which promotes peace. They say that the white poppy commemorates people who died in conflict, but focuses on achieving peace and challenging the way we look at war. The poppy is arguably the most famous symbol used to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives in World War One and conflicts that followed. Wearing a poppy was inspired by the fields of poppies that grew where many of the battles were fought. The red poppy is connected to the Royal British Legion, a charity created by veterans of World War One. They say that the red poppy represents remembrance and hope. ---BBC

THE STAR

november 10, 2018

Organisers Preparing for DASH 2019 T he wheels are in motion for the 5th annual and most colourful event on Saint Lucia’s independence calendar, DASH. DASH, established on the island’s annual independence calendar of events, has grown exponentially over the years with participants looking forward to fun, purpose and family. This year’s event is expected to literally bring life and colour to the island’s 40th anniversary of independence celebrations, creating a funfilled environment that cements the bonds between generations for a worthy cause. This past week, the organising committee of the event met with Dr Kim Gardner and her team from the Child

Development and Guidance Centre (CDGC), which has been the charity of focus for the event from inception, to discuss the new challenges and commitments to be undertaken post February 2019. These discussions are crucial to the planning and execution of the DASH event as organisers renew a more personal connection to the cause and those who benefit most from the undertaking. The CDGC is the only multidisciplinary developmental assessment centre on the island and continues to express gratitude to the donating public who help to keep the spirit of the organisation and, most importantly, its patients alive. Just over 40 per cent of the centre's budget is covered by

a governmental subvention so donations from the public and other institutions are paramount to continuing to provide the much-needed service to the island. The committee used the opportunity to gauge the needs of the centre with a view to planning the type and extent of donations—financial and otherwise. Saint Lucia continues to realise an increasing number of cases of children affected by developmental disabilities as a result of various causes. Dr Gardner expressed her gratitude to the committee for continuing to choose the organisation as the main beneficiary. This year’s donation will be used for scholarships, as has been done in the past.

Crystal Clear Water Wins a GRAND-GOLD Quality Award

indward & Leeward Brewery Limited’s (WLBL) & Du Boulay’s Bottling Company Limited’s (DBC) premium Crystal Clear water was recently awarded with the Grand Gold Quality Award by the International Institute for Quality Selections, Monde Selection. The institute officially recognized WLBL & DBC during its 57th Annual Awards Ceremony held in Valencia, Spain this year. Crystal Clear Premium Bottled Water, which is locally produced, was recognized for its high quality and the companies' standards and practices. For Saint Lucian nationals everywhere, this achievement is worthy of immense celebration and pride. This accolade has legitimized the quality of Saint Lucian products amidst similar products manufactured from all over the world based on the impartial and prestigious reputation of the Monde Selection Institute. This year, over 1,000 companies from 92 countries submitted no less than 3,000 products to be judged by the

Saint Lucia is recognized internationally for its water.

panel. WLBL & DBC came out of its category of beers, soft drinks and water, with the highest award from the institute. Crystal Clear Premium Bottled Water received not just the gold but the Grand-Gold Award. The unique brand of water was first introduced to Saint Lucia in 2009 by DBC. In 2016,

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the company merged with the leading beverage manufacturer in the OECS and is now a part of the Windward and Leeward Brewery Limited family; a family which has also won itself three consecutive gold awards at the Monde Selection Institute from 2016 -2018 in the production of Saint Lucia’s lager ambassador, Piton Beer. Said the Junior Category Manager for Malts, Energy and Water at WLBL, Fern WilsonJean, “Winning the Grand-Gold Award now gives our water a voice to speak to nations about the talent and commitment of our people and the overall quality of our water produced right here on the island of Saint Lucia.” Crystal Clear Bottled Water’s production process is fully automated with no human interference from start to finish, ensuring the highest purity standards. Water is life and staying hydrated is key to a balanced healthy lifestyle. And what better way to keep hydrated than with water that is trusted all over the world? The choice is clear, Crystal Clear.

FOR RENT

Furnished house for rent at Beausejour Phase 2. 3 bedroom, 2 bath, master bedroom, hot and cold water, cable, internet and parking.

1 unfurnished downstairs apartment, 2 Bedroom, 1 bath for rent at Ciceron, after the Baptist Church, fence and parking.

1 unfurnished one bedroom spacious apartment for rent at Beausejour, Gros Islet $850.00 monthly. No utilities included.

2 Bedrooms one bath fully furnished house with laundry room downstairs and storage situated in Phase one, Beausejour, Gros Islet. Lovely view of the stadium.

Call: 518-6208

Contact: 724 7747/ 722 8563/ 520-1444

FOR SALE 2012 Kia Sorrento CRDI 2.2 Turbo AWD ,Leather interior, Automatic/ Sport 6speed Call 519-0590

Selling a house? Have an apartment to rent? Want your car sold?

$900.00 monthly.

Call: 452-7552

$1,650.00 water included

Tel: 520-1444

PROPERTY FOR SALE Property for sale in Soufriere 2600 Sq ft. 4-Bedroom, 1 bath, laundry/ utility extension. Great location close proximity to all available amenities. Potential for commercial use Serious buyers/ enquirers only Call:

286 6190

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Also on special : PLASTIC CHAIRS $33, METAL SHELVES $70, CLOTH WARDROBES $55, GLASS TV STANDS $105, FOLDING TABLES $65, RECLINING PATIO CHAIRS $120, FOLDING BEACH CHAIRS $30, BAR STOOLS $120, OTTOMANS $50, BEDS $335, WASHING MACHINE STANDS $90, SHOE RACKS $50, COMPUTER CHAIRS $158,

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