What Will Be The Theme For Our Next General Elections? Boloms and Ballots?

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2019

www.stluciastar.com

$2.00

What will be the theme for our next general elections?

BOLOMS AND

BALLOTS? STAR Businessweek:

Nothing Personal.

It’s Just Business.

AR WEEK T S THESINESIS NDS SLA E T BULLING APRRIIVBABEEANNE:FITS? ITION

IS ED

IN TH

OF

SBW

BER

EM SEPT

19 14, 20

COM

TAR.

UCIAS

W.STL

WW

Cay, tirrup the ttle S in n as Li cale with 50 lo US$2 d ly know rmer e sleepy ect to a fo th an an nd e isla d leased ld be subj Caribbe versy al on th oCay se line ha that it wou rd for Roy but contro oc C ca 18 ns, ened e crui ar op land, th March 20 t new drawm attractio in on ea is this ye bean Operating nouncing eated a gr many tour Carib . an as’ has cr Royal Bahamas n before oCay the Baham ai e oc th ch C in ion to ation.

Island Berry transform r destinat T n he NDEN millio ded anot ESPO CORR has adso raged. SINESSWEEK al BU s AR ST ha EDY,

SE THE C LLY B IN O REA WH KENN ge 2

BY ED on pa nued Conti

STAR EEK THE NESSW BUSI

n ibbeable? about u e Car Is th d in Trolk in tourismhat n Bra s a lot of ta and’ but w g card?

There’ aribbean brgion’s callin the ‘C is the re exactly Page

3

on July 6 ed on bling to s arrest am e tein wa been scr 70-acr frey Eps dia have James, his right, me ; St. aire Jef billion ficking, the on Little , by Alston ed since Ever s of sex traf at happen . (Credit: left .) charge se of wh Caribbean ty Images sen Get make island in theCorbis via private Friedman/ k

by Ric

and e ion es th perat y — unch Co-onectivit lth la a ea Con monw agend , Com trade uth trade al on a new South-So ains, regi talisation in gi ch th Grow ised value creasing di world global blocs, in tionism —ically since trading ing protec d dramat unded and rishas change lth was fo trade mmonweaago. the Co decades seven Page

y now compan by the oCay. Coc rup Cay at Stir s renamed wa ing Gre ghbour s Ltd., and of nei ise chase ibbean Cru 7 pur al Car the 197 owed brella of Roy foll um (This er the ises. its cru came und r d” for t-islan Cay late an “ou le Stirrup Cay as .) Litt Stirrup tination Little ise des operate ate cru n and t priv to ow as the firs lease it d the rate chased ich ope e, wh ises pur iral Cru n Cruise Lin 6 Adm gia In 198 as Norwe known

7

.

London g. held in 2018, ment Meetin OGM for CH of Govern meet ders ealth Heads th lea monw nweal Commo rtesy Com cou Photo

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

info@stluciastar.com

02 LOCAL

D

WWW.STLUCIASTAR.COM

SEEING THE LIGHT

avid Lloyd George was not very much liked by Dame Margot Asquith, the wittiest woman in England at the time and wife of the man he succeeded as Prime Minister of England in 1916, Herbert Humphrey Asquith.

Renowned for her wit, Dame Margot said of Lloyd George, “There is no Lloyd George.

There is a marvellous brain; but if you were to shut him in a room and look through the keyhole there would be nobody there.” She also quipped, “He cannot see a belt without wanting to hit below it.”

It does not surprise me that one of the first instances of the use of what became a political catch-phrase of the time —“light at the end of the tunnel”—emanated from Lloyd George. He was attending a Naval Conference in the United States in 1921 and expressed his confidence that the event would end “in a real pact of peace” and that he saw “the light at the end of the tunnel”. Of course, there was a power cut and peace became a short, sporadic and occasional episode in the ongoing drama of war. Later, in 1962, American President John F. Kennedy popularised “the light at the end of the tunnel” in a reference to the war in Vietnam, the darkness from which still clouds and haunts America. By the early 21st century, people had become sceptical about light and tunnels, to the point that when his political opponent, Prime Minister Patrick Manning, spoke about a light at the end of the tunnel leading out of the valley of debt into which the country was then plunged, Opposition Leader, Basdeo Panday, known for his quick wit, responded, “That light at the end of the tunnel is most likely a train coming to bounce you.”

And this is how the public response to the phrase went after that. I remember my friend Jimmy responding to a political speech by a “promising” politician who was sure that the hard times

would end: “Light at the end of the tunnel? That has to be a feller with a torchlight looking to see if anybody drop a ten-cents there.” Another version states, “The pessimist sees a tunnel.

The optimist, a light at the end of the tunnel. The realist sees a train . . . The train engineer sees three idiots on the railroad tracks.” Two other comments that I like came from sceptics like myself. One said, “Light at the end of the tunnel? The first question to ask is who is paying the bill?” The other added, “The light at the end of the tunnel was turned off by the Minister of Finance as an unnecessary expenditure.”

This is why, just over a month ago, when I saw a report in the Saint Lucia Star in which the Prime Minister of that country, the Honourable Allen Chastanet, was promising a group of people who had suffered a very difficult ten years that there was light at the end of the tunnel, I paused for a moment. I did not doubt his sincerity but, given the disrepute into which it had fallen and the humourous responses it was attracting, questioned his use of the phrase. Did his audience know that sometimes, to see the light, you have to open the fridge door?

I don’t mean to ridicule the Prime Minister. He was very sincere in his seeing and sharing the light but, in my own light-hearted way, I believe that this tunnel business is worth digging into as deeply as I can.

You have to see the parts as parts, as one wit known for his off-colour remarks said, but you must have a feeling of the hole. The mistake we continue to make is to believe that all tunnels are road or rail tunnels and they have entries and exits, beginning and ends, with lights on both sides of the area of darkness. This kind of thinking is called tunnel vision.

In the coalmines and oil wells, Vietnam and South Africa, the tunnels only have one end—at the top, where you enter. If you ever see light at the end of any of these tunnels you have to pray that it is a Chinese lantern.

My fear about the use of

the phrase “light at the end of the tunnel” is really the tunnel-vision that comes with it. Tunnel-vision is “the loss of peripheral vision with retention of central vision resulting in a constricted circular tunnel-like field of vision.” When Henry from Siparia (whose cry “Help the blind!” was shrill and plaintive enough to cause people to stop and put money into the battered felt hat which served as his collection plate) sat under the awnings of Imperial Stores in San-Fernando, chanting, we did not know that he might have been suffering from tunnel vision and not total blindness. So, when one of my schoolmates held out a ten-cent piece in front of Henry and moved it in a circle above Henry’s palm, and Henry’s hand followed the movement, we declared Henry a fraud. “He eh blind!” we shouted. “He only fooling people.” Then the rumours started: “We see Henry in Gaiety theatre watching a show!” and “Henry neighbour say he does maco [peep at] she.” Henry became history and had to move on, dark glasses and all, stumbling along the dim corridors of time and memory, white stick in hand, perhaps still muttering, “Help the blind” to a disbelieving world.

In straight political talk, I have never seen anybody’s optimistic promise of “light at the end of the tunnel” ever materialise. It is not impossible that somewhere, some time, it will but I am not betting on it. What I will do is stick to the Almighty. After He gave humanity twentyfour hours of alternating light and darkness, His favourite angel, Gabriel, asked Him, “So what are you going to do now?” God replied, perhaps intending it for all the present governments of the Caribbean, “I think I’ll call it a day.”

Tony Deyal was last seen saying that even the die-hard evangelists no longer shout into the loudspeakers, “Have you seen the light?”

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 THE STAR

St. Lucians benefit from successful Lobster Aquaculture Workshop

O

ver 20 Saint Lucians are now better equipped to take advantage of the economic opportunities in lobster farming. This is thanks to a major collaboration between the UK Government, the Department of Fisheries and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

This trio of organisations mounted a successful fourday Spiny Lobster Aquaculture Workshop (Sept. 3-6) at the Fisheries Department’s southern office in Vieux Fort.

The technical training was provided by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), a UK Government agency. This training initiative by Cefas is funded by the Commonwealth Marine Economies (CME) Programme. Launched in 2016, the programme aims to support the marine economies of 17 Commonwealth Small Island Developing States (SIDS) by helping them to identify

the potential of developing ‘their marine economies in a sustainable, resilient and integrated way’.

At the workshop opening, UK Resident British Commissioner, Steve McCready, reiterated the UK Government’s commitment to the Commonwealth family of nations and particularly to creating a sustainable economic future for the youth.

This workshop was evidence of this commitment in addition to other activities under the CME Programme taking place locally such as the seabed mapping project.

Cefas’s Dr. Matthew Sanders highlighted the project’s aims which included fostering economic opportunities for fishing communities and reducing pressure on current lobster stocks by developing sustainable aquaculture. He also indicated that Cefas was carrying out similar initiatives in other OECS countries and the

wider Caribbean region.

The USAID, via its Community, Family, Youth Resiliency Programme (CFYR), supported the project by providing a life coaching and soft skills component. USAID’s Deputy Chief of Party, Bertrand Laurent, and Senior Life Coach, Ajani Lebourne, both praised the project and said that they were happy to be a partner in helping youth to gain employable skills.

Participants were trained in a wide range of areas including spiny lobster biology and aquaculture; animal supply and seedstock selection; as well as food preparation. Site visits to Savannes Bay and Moule-àChique were conducted to give a practical experience of the topic.

Deputy Chief Fisheries Officer Thomas Nelson thanked all the agencies involved for their invaluable support and commitment to Saint Lucia developing its marine economy and diversifying the fisheries sector.

West Indies Selectors name Pollard as White-ball Skipper

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) on Tuesday confirmed the start of the recruitment process for a permanent West Indies men’s team Head Coach, announcing a new selection structure and policy as well as confirming the appointment of Kieron Pollard as the new “white ball” captain for the West Indies One Day International (ODI) and T20 International (T20I) squads.

This follows a comprehensive review by CWI’s Selection Task Force into the selection process and system for all West Indies cricket, incorporating all the recommendations approved by the CWI Board of Directors at the quarterly meeting, held for the first time in Tobago on September 7 and 8.

The Selection Task Force’s four-month review benchmarked cricket selection systems around the world and involved feedback and contributions from current and former players, coaches, administrators, franchise CEOs and nearly 2,700 fans across the Caribbean. As a result,

CWI announced that it will be advertising the men’s Head Coach role with immediate effect, inviting applications before September 20 with the aim of having a permanent Head Coach in place for the forthcoming away tour against Afghanistan.

The new CWI selection system will introduce new team-specific selection panels for the West Indies men’s and women’s and youth teams.

This will comprise an Executive Selector (lead selector), a selector and head coach.

These full-time selectors will be supported by a selection analyst to provide performance data to support selection considerations, plus a minimum of three scouts to ensure cricketers throughout the region are closely watched and evaluated.

A modernized, transparent selection policy will see players selected against six criteria: form and performance, fitness (based on a new approved fitness and conditioning policy), team balance, mental capacity, technical ability and

commitment. The playing XIs will then be selected by the Executive Selector, Head Coach and Captain.

The Selection Task Force also recommended the immediate introduction of “red ball” and “white ball” captains to support a long-term strategy to focus on the different formats of international cricket.

Kieron Pollard is appointed “white ball” captain for both the ODI and T20I teams, with Jason Holder continuing as “red ball” captain for the Test team as CWI seeks to see an improvement in performances and therefore ICC World Rankings as part of the long-term development strategy.

On his appointment, Pollard said: “I’m truly honoured to be appointed Captain of the West Indies and I would like to thank Cricket West Indies’ Board of Directors for placing their faith and confidence in me. I can’t wait to work with the coaching staff and players as we start building towards future world cups and give the fans more reasons to get behind the team.”

THE STAR

C

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019

SAINT LUCIA ESTABLISHES CANNABIS COMMISSION

abinet, at its meeting held on the July 29, 2019, approved the establishment of a Commission to review and make recommendations on the regulatory framework for cannabis. The Minister of Commerce, International Trade, Investment, Enterprise Development and Consumer Affairs, Bradly Felix, is spearheading this initiative given the investment potential and consequential positive impact on GDP.

Realizing the changing tide towards the decriminalization and regulation of cannabis by regional and international counterparts, Saint Lucia is intent on positioning itself to take advantage of the transformative economic benefits in the cannabis industry, while simultaneously addressing human rights and public health issues. The minister agreed that the positive impacts of a regulated cannabis market outweigh the potential negative impacts, and that areas which may be a cause for concern can be mitigated

with regulation and proper use of public education. “We must, however, thoroughly consider all aspects of a regulated cannabis programme, including its impact on the youth, public health, criminal justice and state revenue, and mitigate any potential risks associated with it. I thank the members of the Commission for their time and expertise as we work to craft a model programme,� said Minister Felix.

The Cannabis Commission is chaired by Mr. Michael Gordon QC, Attorney at Law, and held its inaugural meeting on Friday September 6, 2019.

The Commission will consult on a number of issues fundamental to the design of a new legislative and regulatory framework for restricted cannabis use and will be guided by the following: 1. Protect Saint Lucians by keeping cannabis out of the hands of children and youth.

2. Keep profits out of the hands of criminals, particularly gang-related.

3. Reduce the burdens on the police and the justice

LOCAL 03

WWW.STLUCIASTAR.COM

system associated with simple possession of cannabis offences.

4. Prevent Saint Lucians from entering the criminal justice system and receiving criminal records for simple possession of cannabis offences.

5. Protect public health and safety by strengthening laws and enforcement measures that deter and punish more serious cannabis offences, particularly selling and distributing to children and youth, selling outside the regulatory framework and driving under the influence of cannabis.

6. Ensure Saint Lucians are well-informed and provide appropriate public health campaigns for youth in particular to understand the risks involved in cannabis use.

7. Establish a system of strict production, distribution and sales, taking a public health approach, with regulation of quality and safety, restriction of access and application of taxes with support for treatment, mental health and education programmes.

8. Provide access to quality-controlled cannabis for medical and scientific purposes.

The Commission will be overseen

by Invest Saint Lucia and will consist of members from the following agencies/ departments:

Mr. Michael Gordon QC, Attorney at Law (Chairman)

Attorney General

Invest Saint Lucia

Ministry of Commerce

Ministry of Agriculture

Ministry of Health

Ministry of Home Affairs

Ministry of Equity

Cannabis Movement

Leader of the Opposition

National Youth Council

St. Lucia Christian Council

Iyanola Council for the Advancement of Rastafari

The next steps for the Commission in the next few months are to finalize operational activities and work plans, schedule meetings and consultations with national stakeholders, NGOs, communities and the general public to gain insight on their sentiment and concerns and share the proposed approach on the establishment of a wellregulated cannabis industry in Saint Lucia.

Man Charged for Manoel Street Homicide

O

n Thursday, September 12, 2019, thirtyeight-year-old Shan Samuel of Micoud was formally charged for causing the death of twenty-six-year-old Paul Albert of Malgretoute, Micoud. The incident occurred on Thursday, July 25, 2019 on Manoel Street in Castries. Albert, who sustained multiple stab wounds during the altercation, succumbed at the Victoria Hospital.

Shan Samuel was charged for the offence of murder, contrary to Section 85 of the Criminal Code Chapter 3.01 of the Revised Laws of St. Lucia 2013. He was escorted to the First District Court on Friday, September 13, 2019, for a bail hearing, where he was remanded into custody. He is expected to return before the court on October 3, 2019 for case management.

The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force wishes to thank the members of public who were instrumental in bringing a resolution to this matter.

EXCLUSIVE LIVE COVERAGE OF ALL MATCHES

EXCITING GIVEAWAYS ON THE WAVE 94.5 AND 93.7 fm

04 LOCAL

WWW.STLUCIASTAR.COM

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 THE STAR

While self-seeking politicians continue to spout obvious lines, the people await the delivery of St. Jude hospital, at last!

Worth pondering are the related words of then prime Dean Nestor minister Dr. Kenny Anthony. In a May 20, 2016 address he said, “Fellow citizens, I address you tonight on the date for the next ith everyone tripping general election in our country. over themselves to As you are probably aware, have their say on the fifth anniversary of the last the tenth anniversary of the general election is November tragic St. Jude Hospital fire, it 28, 2016. Our Constitution says was hardly surprising to hear in section 55(2) that ‘Parliament the obvious being repeatedly unless sooner dissolved shall stated. On September 10, the continue for five years from SLP, by press release, joined the date of the first sitting of the dog pile. After predictably blaming the state of healthcare the House after any dissolution and shall then stand dissolved’. on the “callous and heartless” Allen Chastanet administration, This would mean that general elections are constitutionally the SLP congratulated itself due, at the latest, three on almost completing the reconstruction in over four and months after the first sitting of Parliament, which was held a half years. on 5 January, 2012. In effect,

“It is important to the government would have underscore,” the press release had until 5 April, 2017 to call stated, “that tens of millions of elections.” dollars were donated by many The then government foreign governments toward the chose to forego that option. The rehabilitation of the St. Jude rest has been consigned to the Hospital, which was nearing annals of Saint Lucia’s electoral completion when this wicked waste bin. But I digress. Per and uncaring administration the boast of the previously took over the levers of power mentioned SLP press release: on June 6th 2016.“

W

“The hospital, which was six months away from completion, could have been finished with the loan funds of US$20 million that were made available by the ROC (Taiwan) and partially drawn down.”

Why then, did the SLP call a snap general election, if the 80% reconstructed St Jude could have been finished in six months? Dr. Anthony offered this explanation: “I have decided, in the interest of our country, to call the general election several months ahead of its due date to ensure peace, stability and certainty in our country and its affairs.” (See “The Die is Cast” address to the Nation, May 20, 2016.) He neglected to mention precisely how calling early elections and engaging in campaigns that predictably set Saint Lucians against Saint Lucians, could on the particular occasion ensure “stability and certainty”.

What a boost to the SLP campaign the delivery of a promised state of the art St. Jude might’ve been. Sadly, in this writer’s view, our

As the political St. Jude football continues to be kicked around ten years on, former Prime Minister Stephenson King (pictured) this week decided to fess up.

politicians seem convinced that playing a St. Jude blame game in 2019 will deliver benefits all around. As Rick Wayne reminded readers last week, we tend to recall only what at the moment is convenient.

Consider this, from Dr. Anthony as prime minister in 2015: “Mr.

L

Speaker, a tremendous amount of work has been undertaken at the St. Jude Hospital. Last year, approximately $13.18 million was spent on infrastructural works and this year a further $49.13 million will be expended.

It is anticipated that the new hospital will be commissioned this financial year.”

We know now this was plain pie in the sky.

Not to be outdone by her leader, in a Facebook post dated 25 May, 2016, Health Minister Alvina Reynolds predicted: “When the construction of St. Jude Hospital is completed, which we anticipate will happen toward the end of this year, the residents of the south of the island in particular, and the people of Saint Lucia in general, will be extremely pleased and proud of the end product. We will have a new St. Jude that is equal to the Owen King-EU Hospital.”

More proof that Kenny Anthony’s snap elections announcement caught his own party with their undies around their ankles. There was the MP

Reynolds talking May 25 about the delivery of St. Jude, with elections secretly scheduled for June 6 that year!

Surprisingly, one politician decided to buck the trend of the typical St Jude partisan mudslinging. On Wednesday, Stephenson King declared: “To know that despite all the pain and suffering of workers, the families who lost loved ones and the experience of the night of the fire—I personally and physically was present on that night—and the decisions that were made to relocate the operations of the hospital to the comprehensive school and then to the stadium. I believe that, ten years later, the fact that we have failed to deliver to the people of Saint Lucia a proper facility to replace the burnedout facility, or to redevelop the existing facility, is unpardonable.

We all must take blame for not completing the facility within the ten years.”

Alas taking blame is not the same as delivering to the people a vital promise long overdue!

MP REACTS TO MILLET BUS DRIVERS’ COMPLAINTS

amenting the poor condition of roads in Venus Estate and Belair, the Millet Minibus Association on Monday started a suspension of services to the areas until they are repaired. The Association’s president told the STAR the problem had been ignored by the authorities for several years; that last year’s dialogue with officials had proved futile.

Yarde said his membership was left no other option but to withdraw its services for as long as necessary.

Said a frustrated president: “What we are planning is, after this week, if nothing happens, is this: we will stop servicing the entire route. Progressively, we will take it up another notch depending on what happens.

Our Association will be meeting over the weekend to reassess the situation and then a determination will be made as to what steps we’ll take.”

Yarde says a transport officer recently visited the affected areas. “We welcomed the further dialogue but this must be followed by useful action. If you’re in discussion with a government and all you

get are unfulfilled promises, you have no other choice but to take appropriate action.”

Concerning the Venus Estate road, he advised that it last received attention after Hurricane Tomas, nine years ago. “Since then,” he said, “not a single pothole has been filled in.” He recalled that the MP for the Belair area, who is also the transport minister, had himself undertaken some road repairs when the SLP held office. “Now that it’s his party in charge, why can’t he get his government to do what’s necessary?”

In February 2016 Castries Southeast MP Guy Joseph spoke to reporters during a self-help road repair initiative in his constituency. “Because I’m an opposition parliamentarian well known for my demands on the government, they punish the people I represent. That’s unfair. After all, my constituents also pay taxes, license fees and so on.” He pointed to evidence supportive of his complaint that there was a “high level of road neglect by the [Kenny Anthony] administration”.

On Wednesday, Joseph announced that in the interim

Two days after the Millet Minibus Association began the suspension of certain services, Transport Minister Guy Joseph promised that rehabilitation activity should begin in the coming week.

a bus had been engaged to transport commuters to the main road. In the meantime, he said, he had “been discussing with both the Ministries of Finance and Infrastructure, and in the coming week we should see some activity on the Belair road. The plan is to undertake a complete rehabilitation.”

---Joshua St. Aimee

THE STAR

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019

come celebrate with us

05

WWW.STLUCIASTAR.COM

SERVING THE CARIBBEAN FOR Sixty YEARS

ANNIVERSARY 1959-2019

Prices are correct at the time of going to print. Courts reserves the right to subsequently change prices without notice. Offers available while stocks last. All finance terms are subject to credit approval. Weekly prices are based on a Gold 36 months repayment plan. 3 to 36 months credit plans available. See in-store for details.

ASK ABOUT EXTRA PROTECTION FOR ALL YOUR PURCHASES SHOP NOW &

PAY NOTHING FOR

60 DAYS

06 LOCAL

WWW.STLUCIASTAR.COM

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 THE STAR

Is politics to blame for our demonstrated stupidity? scheduled to visit Saint Lucia to provide free medical services Peter Josie to people in need. Gullible supporters accept as gospel whatever is handed down to o judge by the misinformed them by misguided leaders. talk regarding the failure

Bearing in mind the to complete, after ten exchanges that have focused on years, the reconstruction of St. healthcare and the mechanics Jude Hospital in Vieux Fort, one of the much discussed national might be forgiven for thinking health insurance plan, by which this island had been landed everyone is expected to benefit, with more than its fair share it seems strange that in the of idiots, nincompoops and interim there should be such morons. Still, it prides itself as opposition from certain quarters the only Caribbean island with to the proposed visit of that two Nobel laureates to its name. goodwill US medical hospital I stick my neck out and say that ship. We complain bitterly about we are a better than what a the lack of proper healthcare smart foreigner may conclude on the island, yet demonstrate listening to local talk radio. willful ignorance when

Whether or not we admit help is offered by a friendly it, it is the voice of opposition government. politics that’s behind the

It is a truism worth negative comments about repeating that thoughts and the US Navy Hospital ship opinions have their origins

T

in information received, and how the brain processes such information. One must add that the way information is processed depends on the ability of the particular individual to decipher information gleaned (and stored) from infancy. This expands over time by the way the mind has been trained to receive, interpret and analyse new information. This ability to correctly make sense and interpret new ideas is the Achilles heel and burden of those that have been neglected and denied comprehensive formal education.

In today’s world there are many opportunities for those who wish to improve their social and economic situation through education and skills-training.

These processes must, however, be packaged and presented in

VACANCY Applications are invited from suitable qualified persons for appointment to the post of

LEGAL OFFICER

in a Statutory Corporation.

JOB TITLE : Legal Officer REPORTS TO : The Executive Director SUPERVISES : Relevant assigned staff of the Authority A. RELATIONSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Works under the direction of and reports to the Executive Director/Board of Directors 2. Required to liaise with the Attorney General’s Chambers and Crown Prosecution Office as well as management of the Authority B. GENERAL DUTIES AND TASKS 1. Legal research 2. Legal representation in matters relating to anti money laundering and miscellaneous court matters 3. Assisting with the preparation of various reports as required by legislation 4. Training and raising awareness of the financial and business sectors on their anti-money laundering obligations.

5. Provide legal advice to the management and staff on matters related to the operations of the Authority 6. Research and advise on any other matters relating to the work of the Authority as directed by the Board and the Executive Director C. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES 1. Advanced knowledge of and ability to interpret the laws of Saint Lucia including anti-money laundering, terrorism financing and criminal law legislation D. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

1. Masters of Law Degree plus a certificate in legal Education or equivalent plus three (3) years’ experience in legal practice or 2. Bachelor of Laws Degree plus certificate in legal education or equivalent plus five (5) years’ experience in legal practice Experience or qualifications in anti-money laundering will be an asset E. GENERAL Employment will be non-pensionable. Compensation will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and will be in accordance with the terms stipulated by the Authority Basic salary will be equivalent of grade 16 – 19 in the Public Service depending on qualification and experience. Travel and other allowances will be paid in addition to basic salary.

Applications must be accompanied by certified copies of all certificates and transcripts from the relevant institutions. Two confidential testimonials are required (one from the most recent employer of the applicant) to be submitted in a sealed envelope marked: CONFIDENTIAL – APPLICATION FOR POSITION OF LEGAL OFFICER, and must be sent to: The Director P.O. Box GM 959 Gablewoods North Post Office Castries LC02-501 Saint Lucia ONLY SUITABLY QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND INVITED FOR AN INTERVIEW Applications should be received no later than 4th October, 2019

Sadly, some of us have been so twisted by the lethal combination of partisan politics and palpable ignorance that we would gladly see our country flattened by a hurricane than have Allen Chastanet in the prime minister’s chair!

such a way that makes sense to the learner/recipient.

Surely, the negative uses to which technology can be put must be a concern to educators and parents alike. We are aware that some miscreants spread false information and lewd pictures that offer little hope of social or financial improvement in the lives of recipients. What can be done to counter such purveyors of gloom and doom?

The latest example in Saint Lucia is the false information by someone who may have overstayed his or her visit to the USA and cannot access medical treatment. And since she can’t get medical care in the USA, no Saint Lucian who has not made the effort to get to the USA as she did, should be afforded US medical care in Saint Lucia.

The USA is not the only country that offers an international medical service on board a ship built for that purpose. It would be of interest to note the reaction of a visit here by a Chinese hospital ship to provide the same medical

services as are being offered by the US medical ship.

Someone charged with the responsibility should have explained at the time of the announced visit by the US medical ship that it should be seen as a diplomatic gesture by the US government. It may be the result of representation made on behalf of the people of Saint Lucia by Prime Minister Allen Chastanet in his private conversations with President Trump. The announcement that in the not too distant future Saint Lucians travelling to the US will be checked at Hewanorra airport by USappointed Customs officials is further indication of the warm relations Saint Lucia is presently enjoying with the USA.

The relations between Saint Lucia and the USA ought to be navigated in a way that will redound to the benefit of the island and the region.

Our personal feelings about President Donald Trump are irrelevant to our medical and other needs. It may be useful

to remind the sceptics that countries do not have their interests, hence the reason they establish diplomatic relations.

Putin’s Russia and Trump’s USA are a perfect example of the changing tides of relations between countries and the new interests that are still unfolding.

The excesses of President Trump do not disqualify him from being recognized as a friend of Saint Lucia. How governments approach their relations with the USA during and after President Trump is a matter for each country to decide in its own interest.

What must guide our approach in the proposed visit by the US hospital ship is whether our people and our qualified professionals stand to benefit from the visit. The answer is most obviously yes.

As was recently demonstrated, there are many people in our midst who would happily see Saint Lucia destroyed by a hurricane rather than have Allen Chastanet in the prime minister’s chair.

07

WWW.STLUCIASTAR.COM

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019

X

CLUSIV

E

E

THE STAR

X

CLUSIV

E

E

BR AND

BR AND

back woes

DID YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD CHANGE YOUR MATTRESS EVERY

8 YEARS ?

HERE’s WHY!

Foam and coils wear out reducing support and sending your spine alignment out of wack.

LET’S WEIGH IN A new mattress better supports your weight and gives a more restful night

OHH EEKK..

Over time dead skin cells, dust mites and bed fluids collect.

LET US HELP YOU FIND THE MATTRESS THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU.

08 LOCAL

A

WWW.STLUCIASTAR.COM

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 THE STAR

Conrad Flavius Clears the Air on Government’s Land Acquisition in Belair

recent issue of the Voice newspaper featured an article entitled: “Government Acquisition of Belair Lands Foils Local Companies’ Plans”. The story centred on a June 27, 2019 agreement between Exquisite Homes Limited and Geest Industries (Estate) Limited. The article opens: “A government acquisition of 52 acres of land in Belair, Castries, has left shareholders of two local companies on the brink of collapse; land they spent seven years preparing to transform into a residential housing area for low income earners.”

Having pointed out that the property in question was Gazetted by the government for acquisition, as cited in the June 16, 2019 edition of the Saint Lucia Gazette, the article quotes an Exquisite Homes Limited spokesperson: “We were therefore startled to learn that the property was acquired in a record time of one week between publication of the Gazette.”

The article went on: “According to Exquisite Homes Limited’s spokesperson, long before the closing date for the purchase of the land an unplanned development by

Conrad Flavius claims that he is the owner of the land on which this partially constructed property stands. Surprised to see it featured in a recent newspaper article, he contacted us to explain his financial outlay.

persons unknown to Exquisite Homes Limited started on the very same land they [Exquisite] had already paid $760,000 for.”

But now one of those “unknown persons” claims there’s more to the Voice story.

Conrad Flavius claims that “the land in question which belongs to Geest Industries was offered to the farmers in 2011”. He says he and

other farmers had been on the land for many years, but without legal rights to it. Geest Industries offered to sell them the land in lots. A Geest letter addressed to Flavius, dated 20 September, 2011, confirms his recollection: “Dear Conrad Flavius, consequent upon a whole series of activities involving discussions, group meetings and consultations

with occupiers of Geest Lands and Geest representatives, government officials as well as numerous interactions with parliamentary representatives, a firm proposal was submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers for their consideration.”

The letter goes on to say that the Cabinet of Ministers thereafter approved the disposal of the lands in

question at nominal levels “particularly to the indigent portion of the population”. This 2011 letter was signed by the Geest Programme Manager, Douglas Rapier.

And so, with Cabinet’s approval, Geest Industries (Estates) Ltd. offered occupiers the opportunity to acquire title to their lots. In 2012, the initial offer was updated.

Geest’s managing director, Maximilius Johannes, met with the farmers to propose the updated offer. According to Flavius, the lots would be two acres, priced at $17,000.

Flavius says that by the time of the Johannes offer, he had already deposited $5,000 towards ownership of the land, which the signed letter confirms.

The missive was bookended by a 25 January, 2013 expiry date. Flavius says he paid a total of $14,000 of the $17,000 price of his lot and claims he’s been waiting to see what’s going to happen regarding his investment.

“After the deal’s expiry date,” he recalled, “the land was surveyed once more, based on a new deal between Geest and Exquisite Homes.

We were not consulted.”

As to the status of farmers’ claims to the land, Flavius explained: “We were asked to go to Crown Lands. We’ve done that, submitted our names and numbers.”

We reached out to a spokesperson of Exquisite Homes Limited who told us that the company had been in negotiations with Geest Industries over the land in question since December 2013.

“We signed a sale agreement with Geest to purchase the property in Belair for $1.5 million. We made a deposit of $200,000 and then commenced the infrastructural designs for 229 houses at that point in time, a commercial centre and a recreational park. After a long and arduous process, last year the change of land use was approved from agricultural to residential . . . We made a $500,000 deposit and were preparing to commence works.”

Since the government’s June 16 acquisition of the land in question, Exquisite Homes Limited claims that it has not yet been reimbursed for its deposits. The STAR has, on numerous occasions, tried to get a statement from Ministry of Planning officials on this matter, all to no avail.

---Dean Nestor

Tourism Minister Optimistic about Outcome of Pilots’ Strike

A

t a pre-cabinet press briefing on August 6, this was how Prime Minister Allen Chastanet addressed the proposed Virgin Atlantic pull-out from Saint Lucia: “We respect Virgin Atlantic and certainly our doors are open for dialogue. I’m hoping that prior to June 20 of next year we might have found an amicable solution. But in the absence of that, we’ve also moved on.”

He went on: “We’ve spoken to other carriers about increasing their airlift into Saint Lucia from the UK market and those discussions have gone extremely well. I will be leading a mission to London in early September . . . and our intention is to meet with British Airways and some of

the other carriers.”

The prime minister emphasized that the government could not agree to Virgin Atlantic’s demand for a $20 million subsidy over a three-year period to continue its London Gatwick to Hewanorra International Airport route. The British airline operates five weekly flights in the winter months, and three in the offseason summer months.

On Monday this week, British Airways pilots began a two-day strike over a pay and benefits dispute. In a related statement, the British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA), the pilots’ union, stated: “The pilots, whose argument is with the company’s highly paid management and not with passengers, have walked out after earlier negotiations broke down and the company’s

Tourism Minister Dominic Fedee is not unduly disturbed by the dispute between BA pilots and management. Meanwhile he had good news about next year.

subsequent refusal to consider alternative proposals or get back together for further constructive talks.”

BALPA’s general secretary Mr. Brian Strutton said: “British Airways needs to wake up and realize its pilots are determined

to be heard. They’ve previously taken big pay cuts to help the company through hard times.

Now BA is making billions of pounds of profit. Its pilots have made a fair, reasonable and affordable claim for pay and benefits.”

Further industrial action is planned for Friday September 27. Nevertheless, on Wednesday Tourism Minister Dominic Fedee told the STAR that the government had had an “exceptional meeting” with British Airways, details of which would be provided later. He added that there are other planned meetings with other partners in the airline, travel agent and tour operator industries, aimed at strengthening collaborations.

On August 22 the government announced that two additional British Airways

flights had been secured, which translates to 600 additional weekly seats. The flights will commence July 4, 2020 and run until August 29. Fedee said that this will help fill the void left by Virgin Atlantic, and increase British Airways’ weekly flights to Saint Lucia from seven to nine. He expressed confidence that the pilots’ strike would not affect the agreement. “It’s normal industrial relations and, based on the discussions we have had with BA, the situation is something that they expect to put under control.”

Fedee also revealed his government will spend an extra US$1 million to beef up marketing and anticipates that 2020 will be a strong year for the UK market.

---JSA

THE STAR

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019

WWW.STLUCIASTAR.COM

WE LOVE YOU

09

10 LOCAL

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 THE STAR

WWW.STLUCIASTAR.COM

Chaz Cepal’s Parents Warn: If you drive fast, be careful!

Claudia Mc Dowell

D

Chaz Cepal was a talented athlete and fun individual.

His life was cut short at age eighteen.

hanraj Chaz Cepal promised his brother, Joshua, that they would go together to the visiting Suarez Brothers Circus. Additionally, he would use his first salary from the teaching job he expected to start on September 2 to buy Joshua whatever fun things he wanted.

But Chaz would never deliver on his promises. In the early hours of Sunday, August 31, he drove his mother’s car into an electricity pole at Union, breaking it and causing a power outage in the area. By all accounts, Chaz died on impact.

At the time, Chaz's mother, Samina James Cepal, was at Sandals Halcyon, where she works as a nurse. She answered the phone at 6:10 am, expecting the caller to be a guest in need of her assistance. Instead she found herself listening to an officer from the Gros Islet police station

who wanted to know if she drove a green car, and what was its number plate. He also asked Samina to spell out her son’s name.

“I spelt the name,” Samina recalled, “and then I asked: ‘Is he dead?’”

Next she called her son’s father: “I said, 'Cirus, where is Chaz?’ He answered that Chaz was in bed asleep. I forgot everything I had learned about handling such a situation. I blurted out: ‘Chaz is not asleep.

Chaz is dead.’”

According to Cirus Cepal, Chaz had gone out around 7p.m. and he expected his son to be back after three hours or so. Cirus turned in around 11p.m. thinking Chaz would return home a few minutes later. He told the STAR: “I thought he was in his bed sleeping. I cannot describe that. I said to [Samina], ‘What nonsense are you saying? Chaz is asleep, I tell you.’”

I formed the impression that despite them no longer living at

the same address, this had not affected the estranged couple’s devotion to their 18-year-old son.

But they grieve differently. Cirus is having a hard time controlling his anger at the loss of his son at such a tender age. Meanwhile, Samina is comforted by the knowledge that her son enjoyed his short life. “He lived,” she said, eyes lit up. “Chaz lived!”

Corroborating the scores of social media posts and the speeches made about Chaz at his funeral last Sunday, his parents described him as kind, intelligent, talented, jovial and amusing. Neither his father nor his mother could recall Chaz being defiantly disobedient. “All his friends knew Chaz had bread,” Samina chuckled. “He always had this thing, about bread. He took at least ten loaves with him to school to share with his friends.”

Cirus: “I remember I was upset with him once. I had told him not to go to town because it was raining heavily. But there was one girl alone at the school. Chaz

decided to accompany her to Castries, just to be sure she was safely on a bus. Then he returned to the school for whatever reason and came home later than expected. I was about to chastise him but he said: ‘No, daddy, wait, listen. I was helping somebody.’

That’s the kind of person Chaz was.”

For Samina, the most memorable testament of Chaz’s selfless personality was when he and two other boys were suspended from school for a week after a phone went missing.

She says Chaz knew the identity of the thief but never revealed it.

“Wings of Love, at the time they were feeding homeless people,” Samina recalled, “so I got Chaz to go there and help out. It was supposed to be punishment.

By the third day he thought I was taking too long to get ready to take him to Wings of Love. At the end of the week, he wanted another week of suspension so he could continue helping those homeless people. After school he

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE Hewanorra International Airport The Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) is seeking a suitably qualified person to join its team as a Customer Service Representative at the Iyanola Executive Lounge – Hewanorra International Airport.

EMPLOYEE SPECIFICATIONS DEPARTMENT: Airports EDUCATION:

Five (5) CXC subjects including Mathematics and English Certificate in Customer Service will be an asset Minimum of three years’ experience in the service sector

REPORTS TO:

Manager – Iyanola Executive Lounge

For more information regarding the post please visit SLASPA’s website at www.slaspa.com.

METHOD OF APPLICATION Applications should be accompanied with certified copies of qualifications and should be addressed to:

Senior Manager – Human Resources

Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority

P.O. Box 651 CASTRIES OR Email: vacancy@slaspa.com

Applications should be clearly marked with the appropriate position being applied for.

Deadline for submission of all applications is Friday, 20th September 2019 at 4:00 pm.

Please note that only the best candidates who meet the requisite qualifications will be short listed for the selection process.

THE STAR

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019

Continued from page 10 would still go to help. He was that kind of person.”

Chaz was dedicated to developing his prowess in cricket, football and drumming.

He was involved in the peer helpers group, debating, and environmental clubs at school.

He also invested time in the Pathfinder Club at church. “Some days I think he just lived quickly, as if he was going to die. He took in everything, a little bit of every single thing,” revealed Samina.

Excited about his first job, shortly before he passed, Chaz bought five pairs of pants, new shirts, shoes and belts. “The boy was just ready,” his mother sighed. “I asked him, ‘Are you going with a book bag?’ He said, ‘No, I’m a teacher, I want a side bag like my father’s.’ He wanted a Wowbox for school!”

Samina, as earlier noted, is a nurse. Her estranged husband Cirus had been a teacher. Chaz wanted somehow to do at once what his parents had done. He planned to start with teaching, then move into nursing, with the intention of becoming a nurse educator. But, most of all, Chaz

hoped to play county cricket in England. Said Cirus: “That was his dream. He and Joshua would talk about that all the time.”

His parents admit that it took some time before they recognized their son's cricketing potential.

Their boys learned to catch a ball by bouncing it off a wall because it was difficult in Vanard to get an area to play cricket. “All children were at some cricket academy, but not our kids. When we moved, he just picked it up. He just picked it up and ran with it,” said Samina.

Chaz excelled in the Windward Islands Under-15 and Under-17 cricket teams.

He scored his first century on the Beausejour Cricket Grounds at age 13. With obvious pride, Cirus recalled: “It was the SDA Under-13 team playing the John Eugene Cricket Academy. He scored that century and SDA defeated John Eugene. John Eugene could not understand that. He scored 121. I mean, he has his academy but who knew about SDA? Nobody. And then they show and beat Eugene’s academy!”

In his mother’s telling, Chaz sometimes fantasized about

getting married one day in his cricket gear. He didn’t quite manage that so his parents did the next best thing. They buried him in his full cricket regalia, and with his football and goalkeeper gloves. As for securing for the funeral the location where he first made 100 runs, the Cepals thanked MP Ezechiel Joseph and Prime Minister Allen Chastanet.

They wanted the ceremony to be as theatrical as their son.

Said Cirus, eyes awash: “Mr. Tom T and these two, I have to commend them. Also Delia Francois, Mrs Goodman and her team, Caron Tobierre and my staff at the District One office.

They came through.” They helped with the set-up, the sound, red carpet, decorations and catering, all without charge!

“I’m just pleased that he wasn’t drunk,” Samina said finally. “The autopsy revealed this.” Chaz was driving alone at the time of the accident so his parents cannot say for certain what happened. Nevertheless, they seem to have settled on two possibilities: he may have fallen asleep at the wheel, or he may have lost control because of speed.

The Pitons Cup set to be the “Richest” in the Caribbean

H

orse racing in the world’s newest thoroughbred centre is set to launch in spectacular fashion with the richest race in the Caribbean in 2019. The Pitons Cup, named after Saint Lucia’s geographical wonders, is expected to draw participation of racehorses, owners and trainers from across North America and the wider Caribbean when it anchors the Royal Saint Lucia Turf Club as its maiden race on December 13, 2019.

The Pitons Cup will be one of a series of highlights at the 2019 China Equine Cultural Festival Saint Lucia—the luxury lifestyle and racing event set to be held on Saint Lucia’s National Day. This year’s edition draws particular inspiration from the 2015 CECF Singapore which coupled social responsibility and business networking with the richest day of racing in Singapore’s history.

The Royal Saint Lucia Turf Club’s newly built facilities will be the first stage of the highly anticipated Pearl of the Caribbean integrated development to be publicly unveiled. Master-planned by internationally renowned architect, businessman, entrepreneur and China Horse Club founder and

chairman, Teo Ah Khing, the Pearl of the Caribbean is the most significant project ever undertaken in Saint Lucia.

Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister Allen Michael Chastanet says The Pitons Cup is one of the island’s highly anticipated events and great horse racing moments will be made in Saint Lucia.

“Saint Lucians have been looking forward to having this international racetrack and an event of this nature. We are readying to welcome race fans and enthusiasts from around the world who will be getting the Saint Lucian experience for the first time. The Royal Saint Lucia Turf Club adds to the attractions and activities that already exist on our beautiful and iconic island which is among the fastest growing destinations in the world,” noted PM Chastanet.

“The Pitons Cup launches Saint Lucia’s entrance into the world of thoroughbred racing and, as a government, we are encouraged and excited by the opportunities it creates for our people. There is a passion behind this project; to finally see it come to life is a milestone for our country. We are especially happy that the race is happening on our National Day,

LOCAL

WWW.STLUCIASTAR.COM

which holds significance for all our citizens. Great moments in racing will be made in Saint Lucia.”

Drawing inspiration from the Pegasus World Cup and The Everest, The Pitons Cup presents a bespoke racing model crafted to appeal to spirited racing adventurers the world over. The purchase of one of only 12 slots will not only guarantee entry into the Caribbean’s highest-priced race, but will guarantee the purchaser(s) a thoroughbred to own and race, that is also guaranteed a place in the US$20,000 Helen of the West (7 furlongs/1,400m) on the event undercard.

“The Pitons Cup sets the tone for the Royal Saint Lucia Turf Club and its aspirations to be both a significant contributor across the Caribbean and an innovator within the racing landscape,” said Eden Harrington, Director of the Royal Saint Lucia Turf Club.

“But core to our club’s belief system are the values of community, unity and active contribution. We are part of the community here in Saint Lucia and the success of this fledgling industry here rests on our ability to ensure these values are honoured in every way.”

11

CCC WORKERS TO DISCONTINUE USE OF THE CDC RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE FACILITY

I

n response to the concerns of the residents of the CDC blocks located on Jn Baptiste Street and Darling Road, the Castries Constituency Council has agreed to discontinue its use of the residential garbage disposal facility located near the CDC block.

This means that the council’s sanitation workers will no longer dump garbage there but allow the space to be used solely by residents.

The decision to use the residential garbage dump site was a temporary measure to allow for ease of access by sanitation teams. The Castries Constituency Council understands fully the added health risks and poor waste management practices associated with the use of the site by its sanitation workers and so, effective September 12, 2019, will suspend its use by the workers.

The Castries Constituency Council wishes to thank the CDC residents for their patience and co-operation during this time and encourages everyone to continue working towards a clean city.

The CDC garbage facility is no longer in use.

Please be advised that Peter & Company Limited DRY Warehouse will be closed for stock taking on:

Friday, September 20th 2019 NOTE: The deadline to receive orders for facilitation of deliveries is 12pm Thursday September 19th 2019.

Our Frozen and Liquor Warehouses remain open for business.

We regret any inconvenience caused.

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

12 COMMENT

www.stluciastar.com

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 THE STAR

When Will We Recognize We Are All Prisoners Of Our Own Device?

Over the years we’ve blamed our problems on the color, the education and the place of birth of our elected parliamentarians. Never on our individual idiosyncrasies!

C

uriously, some people habitually deliver their most profound pronouncements when the balance of their mind is disturbed. A group of such handicapped individuals has lately been suggesting this country’s more pressing problems are to be blamed on the age of its parliamentary representatives.

The current prime minister, who is 58 years old, is ten years younger than his immediate predecessor Kenny Anthony, who first took office when in 1997 he was 46; his immediate predecessor was then 56.

It is hardly surprising that the inadvertent ageists earlier cited are yet to declare how old is too old for office or how old is young. Nevertheless they seem self-convinced that if voters placed greater emphasis on a candidate’s age, and less on his or her education, their police records and their work history, our government over the years would’ve been less corrupt, our country less poor, our citizens less depressed about our present and future.

I offer the small comfort that in Saint Lucia any citizen not

under 21 years of age is eligible to offer his services to the public.

He or she is also welcome to participate every five years in an electoral race, the outcome of which is determined by citizens from age 18!

I might also remind readers we are a people that believe wealth, power and status can be acquired through prayer and incantations. We cannot say for certain how this works but then that has never prevented us from spending the midnight hours in unlit graveyards, calling on the spirits to do unto our fast asleep

seemingly better off neighbor the evil that men cannot do.

We willingly hand over scarce money to perfect strangers whom we believe can tell us more about ourselves than we know, the names of individuals who may be standing between us and success, and who may be responsible for our killer headaches that seem always to strike after two straight nights of partying.

We’ve been known to rape innocent children, ostensibly for virgin blood we consider magical.

We appear on TV to talk about the supernatural powers of beautiful sweet-talking ladies of the night who had one foot human and the other like a cow’s. Not so long ago a well-loved priest offered himself to be interviewed on television about his latest book on the spirit world, exorcism and his faith in God. When a viewer called to ask where boloms come from, the priest, as casually as he might have spoken the first line of the

Lord’s prayer, said: “Boloms are human fetuses.”

The caller was evidently satisfied with the received short answer. More information on the subject may be obtained from our kwéyòl dictionaries, wherein bolom is defined as “a miniature man, roughly two feet tall, brought into being on a Good Friday to do the evil bidding of his summoner.” Despite extensive research I could find no information about what boloms eat, what they do when not carrying out their summoner’s evil bidding, whether they have sex and with whom. Someone assured me that at least two local politicians house boloms (conceivably in their basements or in miniature underground bunkers!).

I wonder from time to time how a people with such strongly held primitive beliefs as hinted above can be expected to make useful decisions based on the realities of modern-day living. A

significant portion of our number remain convinced that natural disasters are the price we pay for engaging in unblessed sex and other excesses in defiance of God’s laws, and therefore consider it pointless to waste money battening down against the unstoppable. Why waste time clearing trash-laden drains and river ways? Regardless of whether we heed the official warnings, God alone will decide whether we survive his wrath.

I am at this point reminded of Thomas Jefferson, who in a letter to Charles Yancey opined: “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.”

Even as some of us theorize on Facebook about remedies for what’s killing our country, it is not unusual to hear someone talking about “a boy sent to do a man’s job.” As recently as two months ago, this was how one parliamentarian described

THE STAR

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019

Continued from page 12 a fellow MP. Similar scorn was heaped on the head of Stephenson King when despite never having attended university he was this country’s prime minister.

The line was a throwback from the heyday of George Odlum, perhaps the first Saint Lucian to acquire an Oxford education.

I recall an occasion when he howled from the steps of the Castries market that he more than anyone else was qualified to replace John Compton as leader of government since he alone held university degrees in economics and English literature.

At the time Odlum was only a campaigning politician. But he would have his opportunity to prove intellectuals make better leaders than such as Stephenson King whose institutional education ended at high school.

So would Kenny Anthony and his lettered chief advisors; so would Vaughan Lewis, described in Anthony’s The Rainbow’s Edge as Saint Lucia’s worst prime minister and more immoral by far than John Compton ever was.

The notion that to have earned a Ph.D was irrefutable proof of the holder’s Midas touch—to the extent that one local politician fabricated his own—took a battering in the

I

years following 1997, which may explain the earlier mentioned prayer for “young people with new ideas.” I, for one, am far more interested in hearing the new ideas, regardless of their origin. So far all the nation has been served are more of the same, both in terms of possible candidates and their repetitious platform deliveries, all of them disconnected from our killer realities.

There is nothing new about our healthcare situation. It stinks.

As badly today as it did before St. Jude went up in flames.

Victoria Hospital has from way before the 80s been undeserving of its name—albeit that its dedicated personnel continue to perform miracles.

There is no justice in our justice system; it’s been broken for over a century, way before a visitor famously described our prison as “the local black hole of Calcutta.” Unemployment has long been our chief sower of dragons’ teeth. Even in the best days of bananas and in the time of what Compton once described as “fly by night industries,” profitable legal work was a problem. Every prime minister since Compton has acknowledged, not necessarily in the same words, “our work force is not up to doing what is considered menial work everywhere else!”

local

www.stluciastar.com

In short, successive governments have failed us, whether or not in varying degrees.

By which I mean to say, a man who robs another of fifty bucks is as much a thief as he who robbed a bank of $38,000.

I can imagine the Facebook intellectuals (our over-sensitive politicians, too), thinking: “Okay Mr. Know All, tell us how you would save Saint Lucia.” Which of course takes us quickly back to the root of the problem: our obeah-voodoo self-destructive mentality. It has been brought to my attention, the latest recipe for disaster circulating the Internet, prescribed by yet another soi-disant intellectual parasite: A national strike. Reminiscent of a time when self-serving unconscionable “best brains of the nation” regularly persuaded banana farmers to engage in nocut strikes against themselves.

When will we acknowledge “we are all prisoners here of our own device”? Always we’ve imagined it’s someone else alone who can save us, never mind that our perceived saviors created our predicament in the first place, while we looked on like baffled sheep. Or is it that Breen was right when he declared us too lazy to fend for ourselves, too unwilling to accept positive change . . .

Too damn parasitic!

13

UWI Open Campus Announces Opening of Disaster Relief Fund Account for The Bahamas

O

ffice of the Pro ViceChancellor and Principal.

Tuesday, September 10, 2019 — The University of the West Indies Open Campus has opened an account for cash donations to assist Open Campus students and their immediate families affected by Hurricane Dorian which ravaged Abaco and Grand Bahama in The Bahamas.

The account is The UWI Open Campus Disaster Relief Fund and is held at CIBC First Caribbean International Bank.

Persons, including students, staff, alumni, stakeholders, and well-wishers, can make their donations at any CIBC First Caribbean International Bank branch throughout the

region. They will need to quote the account name and number: 106933692.

The UWI Open Campus has a Country Site in The Bahamas capital, Nassau, based on the island of New Providence; however, students throughout The Bahamas, including the worst affected islands, Abaco and Grand Bahama, are pursuing studies with the Open Campus.

“The Government and people of The Bahamas are part of The One UWI family, and the Open Campus expresses solidarity and empathy with our students, alumni and friends and all our faithful stakeholders, in this period of extreme hardship,” Dr Francis Severin, Director of

Open Campus Country Sites, conveyed. “The opening of the disaster relief account is but one way the Open Campus is demonstrating its care and concern for The Bahamas in their time of need.”

In addition to the opening of the account, the Open Campus is working with its affected students on Abaco and Grand Bahama to facilitate their continuity within their respective programmes.

All funds collected from the donation drive will be utilized to support affected Open Campus students and their immediate families in The Bahamas through our Country Site located in Nassau.

Peter & Company Distribution announces recipients of the Ricardo Leonard Memorial Scholarship Awards 2019

n a ceremony held on Saturday September 7, 2019 at its Cul de Sac corporate office, Peter & Company Distribution hosted the 27th annual Ricardo Leonard Scholarship Awards to distribute academic scholarships to 25 deserving young recipients.

It was renamed the Ricardo Leonard Memorial Scholarship Awards in 2019 to honour the late namesake, former CEO of PCD.

Michele Kalloo, the current CEO, in a feature address delivered on behalf of the PCD team stated, “While I never had the opportunity to know Mr. Leonard, a generous and visionary man who treasured education, self-development and personal growth, I identify with his values and his journey as they are closely aligned to my own.”

This is why the awards have been renamed this year to celebrate his legacy, ideals and spirit through these academic scholarships which have shaped, and will continue to shape, the lives of many young Saint Lucians.

Ms Ariel Leonard, the daughter of Ricardo Leonard,

PCD team members with recipients of the renamed Ricardo Leonard Memorial Scholarship Awards.

attended the ceremony along with other family members as the guests of honour and presented the scholarship awards to the recipients who are the children of employees of Peter & Company Distribution.

Ms Leonard delivered an inspirational speech highlighting her father’s academic achievements and love for learning, motivating the young recipients to aim for excellence in all their endeavours.

Kalloo saluted the awardees for their hard work and dedication while also recognising their parents for their commitment to both their families and to PCD. Over $28,000 in bursaries and

scholarships was awarded to the recipients present: Nevaeh T. Alfred Claudine L. O Neil Melanie Mathurin Mya Mathurin Kishma Forde Elizabeth Augustin Ella K. McFarlane Jeanique K. Harris Natisha Savery Zania Duncan Tyler Hubain Natalia S. Smith Ulyssia Lewis Simon Desir Adanya James Janicia La Force Shamus Vitalis Kacey Felix Naomi S. Oscar

WE ARE HIRING TEAM MEMBERS

TASTE YOUR POTENTIAL BUILD YOUR CAREER! As part of the

All Star Family you’ll enjoy:

• The opportunity to build a career • Dynamic Rewards & Recognition Programs • Transportation and Medical Insurance • Flexible working hours

APPLY TODAY

• Free meal • Free uniforms • Paid vacation

• Send your resume to RealFoodsHR@gmail.com • Obtain an application form from KFC Head Office • Complete the application online at www.kfcslu.com

14 INTERNATIONAL

O

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 THE STAR

JUSTIFY FAILED A DRUG TEST BEFORE WINNING THE TRIPLE CROWN

n June 9, 2018, a colt named Justify thundered home to the full-throated cheers of a capacity crowd to win the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes and claim horse racing’s Triple Crown, one of the most storied achievements in sports. It was the perfect ending to an improbable journey for a talented horse, his eclectic ownership group, and his Hall of Fame trainer, Bob Baffert.

Only a few people, however, knew the secret that Baffert carried with him into the winner’s circle that day: Justify had failed a drug test weeks before the first race in the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby.

That meant Justify should not have run in the Derby, if the sport’s rules were followed.

They were not, according to documents reviewed by The New York Times. Instead of the failed drug test causing a speedy disqualification, the California Horse Racing Board took more than a month to confirm the results. Then,

WWW.STLUCIASTAR.COM

instead of filing a public complaint as it usually does, the board made a series of decisions behind closed doors as it moved to drop the case and lighten the penalty for any horse found to have the banned substance that Justify tested positive for in its system.

By then, Justify had become just the 13th Triple Crown winner in the last 100 years, and his owners had sold his breeding rights for $60 million. Only a handful of racing officials and people connected to Justify knew about the failed drug test, which occurred April 7, 2018, after Justify won the Santa Anita Derby. He tested positive for the drug scopolamine, a banned substance that veterinarians say can enhance performance, especially in the amount that was found in the horse.

Justify was undefeated at the time, but he still needed to finish first or second in the Santa Anita Derby to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, on May 5. While the colt won at

Santa Anita, the failed drug test would mean disqualification and forfeiture of both the prize money and the entry into the Kentucky Derby that came with the victory. None of that happened, though.

Test results, emails and internal memorandums in the Justify case show how California regulators waited nearly three weeks, until the Kentucky Derby was only nine days away, to notify Baffert that his Derby favourite had failed a doping test.

Four months later—and more than two months after Justify, Baffert and the horse’s owners celebrated their Triple Crown victory in New York—the board disposed of the inquiry altogether during a closed-door executive session. It decided, with little evidence, that the positive test could have been a result of Justify’s eating contaminated food. The board voted unanimously to dismiss the case. In October, it changed the penalty for a scopolamine violation to the lesser penalty of

FUEL SURCHARGE COST ADJUSTMENT Applied to Bills for September 2019

The fuel surcharge cost adjustment is the cost of fuel at the current price less the average cost of fuel in the twelve months preceeding 1st January, 2019 (the base price) divided by the total number of kwhs sold.

Current price of fuel EC$ 7.5092 / gallon

Average price for 2018 EC$ 7.7292 / gallon

Amount of fuel used (August 2019) 1,802,392 gallons

Cost of 1,802,392 gallons at EC$ 7.5092 per gallon EC$ 13,534,522

Cost of 1,802,392 gallons at EC$7.7292 per gallon EC$ 13,931,048

Current cost of fuel less cost at base price EC$ (396,526)

Electricity Sales (August 2019) 31,981,111 units

(396,526) Fuel Surcharge Cost Adjustment: ----------------- x 100 (1.2) cents / unit 31,981,111 2019 Tariff Rebate FSCA Cost Rates per Electrical Unit EC$ EC$ EC$ EC$ Domestic 1-180 0.763 (0.012) 0.751 >180 0.813 (0.012) 0.801

Commercial Low Tension all units 0.913

(0.012) 0.901

High Tension all units 0.873

(0.012) 0.861 Hotel/Industrial Low Tension all units 0.913 (0.0081) (0.012)

High Tension all units 0.873 (0.0081) (0.012)

Streetlighting all units 0.908

(0.012)

0.893 0.853 0.896

The Tariff Rate and the FSCA are computed in accordance with the Electricity Supply Act No. 10 of 1994, as amended by Act Nos. 12 and 13 of 2006. Note that since the average fuel price in August 2019 is greater

than the average fuel price for 2018, this has resulted in a reduction in the tariff.

Ian Peter- Chief Financial Officer

a fine and possible suspension.

Baffert did not respond to multiple attempts to contact him for this article.

Rick Baedeker, the executive director of the California Horse Racing Board, acknowledged that it was a delicate case because of its timing. He said regulators moved cautiously because scopolamine could be found in jimson weed, which can grow wildly where dung is present and become inadvertently mixed in feed, and that “environmental contamination” is often used as a defence.

“We could end up in Superior Court one day,” he

said.“There was no way that we could have come up with an investigative report prior to the Kentucky Derby,” he added. “That’s impossible.

Well, that’s not impossible, that would have been careless and reckless for us to tell an investigator what usually takes you two months, you have to get done in five days, eight days. We weren’t going to do that.”

The documents reviewed

by The Times do not show any evidence of pressure or tampering by Justify’s owners.

Horse racing, however, is uniquely insular.

The chairman of the

California Horse Racing Board, Chuck Winner, owns an interest in horses trained by Baffert. Two other board members employ trainers and jockeys they regulate.

Justify’s owners included power brokers in the sport such as Kentucky-based WinStar Farm, owned by Kenny Troutt, a billionaire commercial thoroughbred breeder; the mysterious China Horse Club, whose 200 members from mainland China and beyond have paid $1 million to join; and an equine investment fund with ties to the billionaire investor George Soros.

LOCAL REACTION TO MUGABE’S DEATH REVEALS MUCH ABOUT THE LOOSHAN PSYCHE

“

Of the dead, say nothing but good.” So goes the old saying, and it appears more than a few Saint Lucians took this to heart at last week’s passing of Robert Mugabe, former president of Zimbabwe.

As the news broke, the daily callers to talk radio, and the usual Facebook pundits waxed lyrical about “this great freedom fighter”. Two samples, both to Newsspin: “He was very funny, you know. I like his speeches.

I didn’t really know too much about him as a leader, but you know, his speeches were good.”

“Definitely a freedom fighter. I followed him very closely during the struggle for African Liberation. He was a well educated man; one of the best leaders in terms of education. Do you know what I mean?” It is passing strange how being “educated” seems for many the ultimate measure of the competence of a nation’s leader, while it simultaneously absolves them of any blame over their horrible decisions.

Take the numerous atrocities Mugabe committed during his reign. Those were nowhere near the tongues and fingertips of his posthumous Lucian worshippers. But as Stuart Doran points out in a London Guardian piece, the ultimate responsibility for the Gukurahundi massacre of the Ndebele people, in 1980s Zimbabwe, (with over 20,000 civilians killed), lies at the feet of this so-called freedom

a government programme of land reform. The seizures were blamed for destroying Zimbabwe's economy, and ruined relations with the West.”

One local armchair pundit cited Mugabe’s disastrous land reform of the early 2000s. “What I realize is most of these African leaders have an anti-white sentiment. Mugabe had that in him too; but the international community, I find they were a little bit harsh on him because of Already the history his stance. Taking lands from the of the late President white people and giving it to the Robert Mugabe is being rewritten. So much for the blacks. The sanctions really came suggestion that the evil down hard on Zimbabwe for that.” men do, lives after them!

It is, of course, not atypical of us Saint Lucians to blame our fighter. In 2015, Doran, a shortcomings on that ultimate historian and author of the “white bogeyman”.

What book Kingdom, Power Glory— Zimbabwe’s former Second Vice Mugabe, Zanu and the Quest President said of the massacre of for Supremacy, 1960–1987 the Ndebele is reflective of this: wrote: “No one has accepted “I have always said the postthe blame for the violence, but independence Gukurahundi was a the recent release of historical conspiracy of the West.” documents has shed new light

Rewritten history has on those responsible . . . These already begun to absolve Robert papers, augmented by my Mugabe.

But all is not lost. investigations and the testimony One Saint Lucian offered this of Zimbabwean witnesses, observation: “Mugabe was a appear to substantiate what villain, man.

Do you know the survivors and scholars have thing dictators have in common? always suspected: Mugabe, The people loved them.

When then prime minister, was the they started out they were loved prime architect of well-planned by the masses.

All the dictators and systematically executed were loved by the masses. All of mass killings.” them! But they get arrogant, just

The atrocities did not end there. Per this BBC News report: like Kenny Anthony.”

Hopefully, not the Kenny “In Zimbabwe, thousands of Anthony we know so well! white farmers were forced from their farms, sometimes violently, -–DN between 2000 and 2001 under

THE STAR

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019

Continued from page 14.

Baffert is America’s preeminent trainer. He has won the Kentucky Derby five times.

In 2015, he trained American Pharoah, the first horse to win the Triple Crown after Affirmed won in 1978.

With Justify, Baffert was faced with a late-developing colt who did not race as a 2-year-old. The last horse to win the Derby without starting as a 2-year-old was Apollo in 1882.

As is customary, blood and urine samples from Justify and 34 other horses who competed on the day of the Santa Anita Derby were delivered on April 10 to a lab at the University of California, Davis.

The lab sent notice on April 18, two and a half weeks before the Kentucky Derby, that Justify had tested positive for scopolamine, which is normally used to treat stomach or intestinal problems, such as nausea and muscle spasms, in humans.

Horse racing has a long history of trainers repurposing drugs in pursuit of a performance edge. Frog and cobra venom, Viagra, cocaine, heart medicines and steroids have all been detected in drug tests.

Scopolamine cases have resulted in disqualifications, purse reimbursements, fines and suspensions over the decades.

Dr. Rick Sams, who ran the drug lab for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission from 2011 to 2018, said scopolamine can act as a bronchodilator to clear a horse’s airway and optimize a horse’s heart rate, making the horse more efficient. He said the amount of scopolamine found in Justify—300 nanograms per milliliter—was excessive, and suggested the drug was intended to enhance performance.

“I think it has to come from intentional intervention,” he said.

Baffert and other trainers in California were well aware that scopolamine was a banned substance and that it could occasionally be found in jimson weed, though the plant’s strong odour and foul taste make it unappealing. In November 2016, Dr. Rick Arthur, the racing board’s equine medical director, warned horsemen to be alert to jimson weed in their feed and hay, saying that a positive test for the drug is “totally avoidable”.

“Now, the likelihood under our current procedures of getting a positive from environmental contamination is rather low,” Dr. Arthur said

WWW.STLUCIASTAR.COM

INTERNATIONAL 15 ST. LUCIA CO-OPERATIVE CREDIT UNION LEAGUE LIMITED PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE VACANCY

GENERAL MANAGER

The St. Lucia Co-operative Credit Union League Limited (SLCCULL) is seeking applications from suitably qualified persons to fill the post of General Manager.

The jockey Mike Smith, pictured last year at the Belmont Stakes, celebrated his Triple Crown win aboard Justify. Credit: Victor J. Blue for The New York Times

at the time. On April 20, two days after learning of Justify’s positive test, Dr. Arthur wrote in an email circulated to Baedeker, the board’s executive director, its lawyers and its interim chief investigator that the case would be “handled differently than usual”. He asked for further testing and review of the data.

In an interview, Baedeker, speaking on behalf of Dr. Arthur, said he believed Dr. Arthur meant that the investigation had to be thorough. Other doping cases have moved swiftly through California’s racing bureaucracy. In March, an employee of a trainer, William Morey, was caught on surveillance giving a prohibited drug to a horse. Lab tests were conducted, an investigation completed and a complaint filed and made public 28 days later.

On the morning of April 26, four days before Justify was to ship to Louisville, Ky., for the Kentucky Derby, Baffert received notification that Justify had tested positive for scopolamine.

Baffert, as was his right, asked that another sample from that test be sent to an approved independent lab.

It was sent on May 1, four days before the Derby, and that lab confirmed the result on May 8. (By then, Justify had won the Derby, the first leg of the Triple Crown.) The same day, Baedeker notified the board members that Justify had tested positive for scopolamine.

“The C.H.R.B. investigations unit will issue a complaint and a hearing will be scheduled,” he told them in a memorandum obtained by The Times. No one ever filed a complaint and the hearing never took place.

Instead, on Aug. 23, 2018, more than four months after the failed test, Baedeker said he presented the Justify case directly to the commissioners of the California Horse Racing Board in a private executive session, a step he had never taken in his five-and-a-halfyear tenure. The board voted

unanimously not to proceed with the case against Baffert.

Without a formal complaint, Baedeker said state law prohibited him from discussing in detail the evidence of environmental contamination.

In a written response, Baedeker said that a handful of other horses may have been contaminated, but he offered little supporting evidence.

“The other horses had the presence of scopolamine but below the screening level and therefore were not positive tests,” he said in a written response.

The California racing board, along with the horse racing industry at large, has been under fire because of the death of 30 racehorses since Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park. The Los Angeles district attorney is investigating the deaths, and the state legislature has held hearings and considered changes to improve how horses are treated and tracks regulated.

California statutes do not prohibit active horse owners from being appointed to the regulatory board overseeing the sport. Beyond the chairman’s owner-trainer relationship with Baffert, the board’s vice chairwoman, Madeline Auerbach, and another commissioner, Dennis Alfieri, employ trainers and jockeys in California.

Joe Gorajec, a former chairman of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, a trade group of industry commissioners, said the system was doomed to fail in California and other states in which the regulators are in business with the people they are there to police.

“Minimal prohibitions should preclude active horse owners, trainers, breeders and jockeys, or anyone else that derives income from the business, to serve on a commission,” said Gorajec, who was executive director of the Indiana Horse Racing

Commission. “Commissioners should be prohibited from wagering in the state they serve.”

In the months that followed the decision to drop the case against Justify, the racing board moved to lessen the penalty for a scopolamine violation from disqualification and forfeiture of purse to only a fine and suspension.

Baedeker said regulators had been considering a move to the lesser standard. He said the plan was to appeal for the lesser classification if the matter came before a hearing.

“Our staff failed to bring those changes to the board—we admit that,” he said.

Baffert has endured previous regulatory proceedings in California. In 2013, after seven horses in his care died over a 16-month period, he was the subject of a report by the board, which revealed he had been giving every horse in his barn a thyroid hormone without checking to see if any of them had thyroid problems.

Baffert told the investigators that he thought the medication would help “build up” his horses even though the drug is generally associated with weight loss.

In that case, the board’s report found no evidence “that C.H.R.B. rules or regulations have been violated.”

In retirement, Justify mates as often as three times a day.

Coolmore, the international breeding concern that bought Justify’s breeding rights, receives as much as $150,000 for a mating, or $450,000 a day over a five-month breeding season. That means Coolmore has already recouped its $60 million investment.

Justify is currently in Australia. Owners there have their mares lined up in the hope of getting what is supposed to be the perfect seed from the perfect racehorse.

---The New York Times

GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITY Under the direction of the Board of Directors, the General Manager shall be responsible for ensuring good governance structure for resilience related to profitability, sustainability and continuity.

Ensure that the institution is driven by adequate and relevant procedures, policies and or manuals in keeping with cooperative principles and the Credit Union philosophy. Be responsible for the development and implementation of an effective enterprise risk management and compliance systems within the League and maintaining an appropriate compliance culture. Additionally, the General Manager shall be responsible for developing strategies that reflect the vision, mission and values of the League as stated in the By-Laws.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES • Ensure that the operations of the League are in compliance

with established Co-operative principles, the Co-operative

Societies Act and Co-operative Societies Regulations, the

By-Laws of the League, and the Labour Laws of Saint Lucia.

• Ensure that the League is fully compliant with all regulatory

and legislative requirements related to risk and compliance.

• Maintain effective working relationships with all Affiliates

of the League, OECS Credit Union Leagues, the Caribbean

Confederation of Credit Unions and the World Council of

Credit Unions.

• Monitor and measure; and report various risks within the

Credit Union Movement.

• Establish and monitor benchmark and limits for the control of various risks including credit, operational, liquidity,

interest rate, foreign exchange, insurance, and compliance to

limit impact on capital.

• Ensure security measures are met and internal control

procedures are followed to minimize risks and reduce non compliance.

• Report to and liaise with the regulatory authorities on

relevant matters.

• Liaising with Government Ministries on co-operatives and

finance matters.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience • Minimum of a recognised Bachelor’s Degree in Business

Administration, Finance, accounting, auditing or related

field plus five (5) years related experience and or training; or its equivalent from an accredited institution in

Management Studies with a focus on Behavioural Science

field of study.

• Knowledge of the credit union movement, compliance,

risk management, risk assessment techniques, co-operative

principles, values and regulations, Co-operative Societies

Act, accounting standards, AML/ CFT issues within the

financial sector.

• Operational and project risk assessment skills.

• Ability to work accurately with fixed and short timeframes.

Behavioural Skills • Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with a

wide range of people.

• Good leadership and motivation skills and abilities.

• Good verbal, written communication and presentation skills

and abilities.

• Good organizational and analytical skills and abilities.

• Advanced computer skills, knowledge and abilities of

Microsoft Office Suite, AML, and risk simulation programmes.

• Ability to be pro-active regarding decision making; be result

and quality oriented and be innovative in approach to

business decisions.

Applications can be submitted: via email to admin@sluccull.com Deadline for submission: September 30th, 2019.

Applications must be addressed to: Secretary, Board of Directors St. Lucia Co-operative Credit Union League Limited # 8 William Peter Boulevard P.O. Box 1535, Castries

16

WWW.STLUCIASTAR.COM

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 THE STAR

THE STAR SEPTEMBER 14, 2019

INTERNATIONAL

WWW.STLUCIASTAR.COM

17

I met Robert Mugabe in the late 1970s What he told me still haunts me “

We are not going to make the same mistake the rest of Black Africa has made,” Robert Mugabe told me in the late 1970s in an interview for Newsweek. “We are going to learn from their mistakes.”

We met in Mozambique, the headquarters for his guerrilla army, which was then locked in a seemingly interminable war against the white minority regime in Rhodesia. The conflict would claim an estimated 20,000 lives, most of them black nationalist guerrillas and African civilians, and was marked by terrible atrocities on both sides.

Tragically, Mugabe, who died last Friday at age 95, would make good on his promise to learn from the mistakes of fellow African leaders, turning into an art form the corruption and brutality that had plagued African nations since the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa won its independence in 1957.

One statistic sums up what Robert Mugabe did for his people: At independence in 1980, the average life expectancy for a Zimbabwean was about 60 years old; by 2006, that had dropped to 37 for men and 34 for women, the shortest in the world.

Here’s what else you need to know about Robert Mugabe and the complicated legacy he leaves behind.

From the 1880s, when the British first arrived, until the rebellious British colony of Rhodesia transitioned to majority rule and Mugabe took power in 1980, the country was ruled by whites for whites.

The majority black African population was nothing more than the hired help.

Mugabe, a soft-spoken former teacher and self-styled Marxist-Leninist revolutionary who quoted Chairman Mao, led one of two guerrilla armies that fought against the white minority regime of Ian Smith and the short-lived black African government of Bishop Abel Muzorewa, which never won international recognition.

Mugabe began his struggle against Rhodesia’s white colonial government in the late 1950s, establishing an opposition party with other black leaders in 1960. He and several colleagues were jailed a few years later when Chinese-

Zimbabwean Prime Minister Robert Mugabe addresses a crowd in Harare stadium during a political meeting in July 1984.

trained militants loyal to them began to launch attacks against government forces.

Mugabe eventually went into exile in neighbouring Mozambique, from where his ZANU militants launched a full-scale war against the white regime while an allied guerrilla army, led by Joshua Nkomo, carried out attacks from their base in Zambia, on Rhodesia’s western border.

The war would eventually force the white government to accede to a British-negotiated settlement, bringing about independence in April 1980.

Mugabe and his guerrilla rival, Joshua Nkomo, ran for office and eventually formed a coalition government.

“Vote for the cock”: That was the slogan of Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) party in the campaign that brought him to power. It was a reference to his party’s logo, the rooster, a symbol of strength to the poorly educated African populace.

But it was tribalism, not clever campaign tricks, that brought Mugabe to power and through which he ruled.

Within two years of taking office, Mugabe, a member of the majority Shona tribe, would turn on his ally during the war, Nkomo, whose guerrilla army was largely made up of members of the Ndebele tribe.

Nkomo was purged from the cabinet and Mugabe unleashed his forces in a pogrom that effectively wiped out Nkomo’s

armed followers, left as many as 20,000 of Nkomo’s fellow tribesmen dead, and consolidated Mugabe’s grip on power.

For Zimbabweans who were not part of the ruling elite, the long national nightmare was just beginning. As white farmers were driven from their lands, political opponents were jailed or murdered and the media was cowed.

Mugabe presided over the complete and total collapse of a nation. Starvation, disease, and brutality were the legacies of Mugabe’s one-man rule. The country’s currency collapsed and was jettisoned. Hospitals ran out of medicine.

Tuberculosis, HIV, malaria, and other diseases spread like wildfire. Cholera fatality rates were 10 times the global norm.

International donors were driven away by rampant corruption and inefficiency. A quarter of the population fled the country.

And despite it all, Mugabe was feted in Africa’s halls of power. He was elected president of the Southern Africa Development Community, chairman of the African Union, and, in the ultimate hypocrisy, named as a World Health Organization “goodwill ambassador”.

To most fellow African heads of state, he was a revolutionary who drove the last vestiges of colonialism from the continent. Nothing else, it seemed, mattered.

Ultimately, the man who

said, “Only God, who appointed me, will remove me,” was forced out by the military in 2017 — not because he was a vicious dictator, but because,

as the ailing and infirm leader ceded day-to-day power to his ambitious young wife, she had alienated his cronies.

As one of the generals who fought under him in the liberation war put it, “as he became old, [he] surrendered his court to a gang of thieves around his wife.”

Unlike most ousted dictators, though, who tend to live out their lives in exile (if they’re lucky enough to survive the ousting), Mugabe lived out the remainder of his life in the gilded luxury of his mansion in the Zimbabwean capital Harare.

But for ordinary Zimbabweans, little changed.

Mugabe was replaced by Emmerson Mnangagwa, a fellow revolutionary forged in Mugabe’s image.

Today, millions are again on the brink of starvation.

The economy is once again in free fall: Inflation is running at 175 per cent; fuel prices have

increased almost 500 per cent since the beginning of the year; there are widespread shortages of electricity and water; and the national cell phone company is about to collapse. The army has been sent in to deal with those who protest, leaving more than a dozen dead.

As Britain’s Daily Telegraph recently reported, “A perfect economic storm of inflation, food shortages, and water and energy blackouts has left the country on the brink of a disaster comparable to post-World War One Germany or Russia following the Soviet collapse.”

Mugabe told me back in 1978 that he wasn’t “going to make the same mistake the rest of Black Africa has made.”

At the time, I thought he meant he wanted to do better by his people. But I was young then.

Perhaps I was just naive.

---Vox

FOR SALE • 1000 sq. feet of prime top floor office space for rent at Bourbon Street Castries. Asking price $1500.00 monthly.

• 1000 sq. feet of office space available for rent at Asking price $2000.00 monthly.

.

• Land for Sale at Vigie, ideally located between Prime Minister’s Official Residence and Daher Broadcasting Services (DBS).

• 10.89 acres of land for sale in Soufriere close to Stonefield Estate is ideal for a condominium complex overlooking the Soufriere Bay with stunning views of the Pitons.

For further information please contact Hermas Alphonse

1 (758) 716-1909

18 LIFESTYLE

WWW.STLUCIASTAR.COM

Miss Understood

A SINGLE MOM’S STORY

By Allana Maximin

W

hen I found out that I was carrying my son, my boyfriend and I were excited. I was happy that I would not be raising my son alone, or so I thought. It turns out that the pressures of raising two kids, finances, keeping the relationship alive and trying to also grow into ourselves, among other issues, created great strain on our relationship; eventually it broke. I had tried to make things work for the sole purpose of keeping my son and his sister in a two-parent home, but I learned first-hand that staying in a relationship because of the kids only brings about chaos and resentment. I made the decision to take my son and start over. Well, easier said than done. Maybe my story can help with your hardships as a single mom. Or at least you find comfort in knowing that you are not alone.

Picking up the pieces

The first few months or a year on your own will not be easy. You may be lucky, as I was, to have an amazing mom and family to help you cope.

Although sometimes they may not understand your emotional state, they can help you care for your child and yourself. I moved in with my mom for a year.

Although it was hard not having my personal space, it was a sacrifice I made to ensure that my 1-year-old had someone responsible and trustworthy looking after him while I was at work. When it was time to move out on my own, I was terrified. I had so many questions: Am I up for the challenge? Can I afford it? Will my baby be OK without his dad? Well the answer is “yes” to all these questions.

Affording it

Some single moms who get reliable, substantial childsupport payments from the baby’s father, but not all. I had

to assume the responsibility of breadwinner as I was determined to give my son everything he needed and some of what he wanted. I lived paycheck to paycheck but then I figured out that by consolidating my debts, I would have a larger disposable income and could save for our future and live a little more comfortably. So, one piece of advice when you are overthinking the future: take life one step at a time.

The Ex-Files

In the beginning, talking with my ex was painful. We were angry at each other and looking for ways to hurt each other. But no matter how right I thought I was, deep down I knew that being in constant fighting mode was horrible for my son and making me even more miserable. I decided that he deserved to make his own decisions about his dad so I have continuously allowed my son to see him and now their

VACANCY Position Available

OFFICE ASSISTANT Duties will involve:

• Admin • Call answering • Assistance in accounts • Filing a basic knowledge of accounts will be helpfull Please email applications to

peter.byrne@carnivalsailing.com

bond is beautiful. Sometimes I look at the way my three-yearold admires his dad and wonder if he would still think the same if he knew the truth about the situation. But it isn’t my place to decide. I figured my son will have his own issues with both of us when he is growing up so there is no need to add fuel to that. Besides, he needs his dad and, maybe in some weird way, his dad needs him too.

Moving on

Trust me, this one isn’t as simple as it was when you were a lone ranger. You now have another small human being to consider. At the start of my dating phase, I was so eager to have companionship and to find a father figure for my son

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 THE STAR

that I kept throwing myself into dark places where I had no business being and accepting things I shouldn’t. It took me time to realize that I have to love myself first. Take some time to care for yourself. I get that it’s lonely. I’ve been there.

One thing I really didn’t expect was the intense isolation that comes with being a single mom.

But quickly, I discovered that all that quietness was a huge adjustment.

After I put my son down each night, I was forced to face the long, empty hours before bed that seemed impossible to fill without a companion. The silence was unnerving, and I fantasized about moving back into my mom’s house where I could be sure of conversation.

But I resisted, and now, amazingly, for the first time ever I’m learning how to be alone—and loving it too! But every young, vibrant woman needs to have adult interaction and, after spending some time evaluating myself and what I need in my life, I found a man who adores me and my son.

From homemade breakfast to long meaningful conversations, I gave myself time to appreciate someone who completed me and would set a great example for my son.

The bottom line is that being a single mom isn’t as bad as it may seem as long as you stop playing the victim card. Being a single mom is the hardest but most empowering thing I’ve ever had to do. At the end of the day every sacrifice I’ve made, meal I’ve missed or messed up and bad day I’ve had feels worth it when he comes to hug and kiss me and say he loves me. We, single moms, are not just that. We are doctors, teachers, maids, singers and so much more.

Who cares if your Mr Right was not right, or work was stressful, or someone said something hurtful to you?

Guess what, a tiny little hugger is waiting at home for the one person he adores more than anyone else in this world. And if that is what it means to be a single mom, well I guess I’m always going to be one.

up to 10 minutes to slow down and open the body through passive stretching. Props like blankets, blocks, bolsters and straps are used to support the muscles so that they release deep stress and tension that we hold onto. The props help us to remain in the poses longer, giving us time to go deeper into the body and the mind. The nervous system becomes calm.

A favourite pose for most people that practise restoratives is Supta Baddah Konasana— reclined bound angle pose. We recline onto 2-3 blankets that have been folded to give us a slight elevation from the floor.

The blankets are folded a little more narrow than our bodies and the length of the trunk so that from the head to the trunk the upper body is supported.

The knees are bent and out to the side with the bottoms of the feet touching. We place another blanket under each knee to support the thighs so that we can release the tension in the groin. With the support

of the blankets, the chest opens so that we make more room in the lungs for the breath. This is a pose that is very good for anybody with colon or prostrate issues; it assists in making child birth easier; it gives room in the lower abdomen for the ovaries and organs in that area.

Lots of students could remain in this bound angle pose for the entire class because it is so comfortable.

The practice of restorative yoga began with our teacher, BKS Iyengar, it is a therapeutic and healing art and science which is now practised in many styles of yoga.

At Yoga St Lucia we dedicate the last week of the month to restoratives. We also have a restorative class every Saturday morning from 10:45 a.m. to 12 noon.

Join us and become restored. You will love it! Feel the healing effects and the peaceful state of mind that will remain with you for the entire day following the class!

RESTORATIVE YOGA

R

estorative yoga does exactly what the name says—it restores. It restores the body and the mind.

Webster dictionary defines ‘restore’ as: “to bring back into existence, reestablish, renew or bring back to a former state of health.”

Restorative yoga helps us to slow down and relax, in order to prevent stress and anxiety.

Many people in our society can’t relax; they just don’t know how. When they begin to do restoratives they can’t remain still; they fidget, scratch, the eyes flutter, the fingers and toes wiggle. This is an indication that the mind is not still or at peace. The millions of thoughts that run through our minds daily have a difficult time being stilled.

One of the definitions of yoga in Sanskrit (the ancient Yogic language) is “Chitta vrtti nirodhha,” which means, calming the fluctuations of the mind, the thought waves.

Watching and feeling the breath, paying attention to the inhalation, exhalation, retention and the rhythm of the breath helps with the calming of the mind which brings us to a state of relaxation to allow stress to melt away. It can bring us to a meditative and healing state.

Restorative yoga helps us to learn to go inward and find that peaceful place of relaxation. Poses are held for

Jill Hagar is a certified instructor of Iyengar Yoga and a certified International Yoga Therapist. She holds regular Yoga classes at Harmony Suites in Rodney Bay. For more information about classes please contact Jill by phone or WhatsApp on (758) 718 1297 or by email on yogastlucia@gmail.com

THE STAR

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019

HEALTH

WWW.STLUCIASTAR.COM

KIM’S KORNER

F

What’s Good for Harry can be Hell for John!

itness and exercise, considered today the elixir of good health and longevity, have been given priority and elevated status in the 21st century. As a physiotherapist I have long known the benefits of staying fit and healthy and so I always encourage my clients to follow a regular exercise routine. But I’ve been struck recently by the number of people who visit me as a consequence of exercising.

After deep questioning and observation, I have realised that people, in their quest to fulfil society’s demands, too often jump in with both eyes closed.

I mean here that we are being told exercise is the key to a good life but nobody is telling us how to plan our exercise programme or how to identify our needs, our strengths and our weaknesses.

So what are the first steps we should take when thinking about starting an exercise routine? The question does not just apply to the unfit population—the proverbial couch potatoes—but also to athletes and people recovering from an injury, hoping to return to sport. Well, I am going to share one step that might help you achieve better and faster results with your fitness programme and may also minimise the risk of injuries. I hope I still have your attention!

I have been told by my mentor to always get to the point early but the main point is exercise and my solution is to add fitness testing as the first step before planning your programme.

The term fitness testing may be new to you but those in sports may have heard of testing, and may even know why they should be doing it, but many often skip this step.

Of course, the effectiveness of correct exercises and training is based on the end results, whether it’s being able to climb a set of stairs without getting breathless, fitting into that slinky dress that was bought years ago and still hangs in the wardrobe unworn, or winning a race and taking the gold medal.

There is a better way to achieve success and great results, and that is to have a baseline and definite goals. This is where fitness testing can take your

You need to know what you are capable of before you touch that first barbell on the weight rack!

training from adequate to sublime. The first thing is to have a firm idea of what you want to gain from exercise:

General Fitness: If your goal is to be fitter and healthier you will need an all-round programme that includes cardiovascular training, flexibility and stretching exercises, and strength and endurance exercises.

Weight Loss: The greatest element of your programme will involve aerobic exercises which help to burn excess fat stores but it is important to include some strength training as stronger muscles burn more calories when doing everyday tasks. Adding flexibility and stretching exercises can help to keep you supple and also prevent muscle soreness often experienced after exercise.

Build Bulk and Definition: Many people want to develop a chiselled physique. So they head to the gym and start pumping heavy weights, then skulk away disappointed, sore and sometimes injured. When weight training it is important to follow the correct formula for achieving amazing results.

Strength training involves heavy weights and low repetitions.

Stretching is also important, and does not, never mind the rumours, affect the definition of muscles. It does, however, ensure that you keep flexible as extra bulk can affect range of movement.

Improve Sporting Performance: Whether you play for fun or compete professionally, it is important to understand what your body requires in order to excel. Every sport and every individual will have different needs. So, what

works for one may not work for the other; one cap does not fit all, and that is really important to remember. So how can you work out what is best for you? Fitness Testing. Fitness tests will take a record of your current level of fitness and help you set your goals and achieve the best outcome with better results and targeted efforts.

Think about it as maximum benefits for least (perfected) input.

So, what are fitness tests?

They are a series of exercises and tasks performed at a set rate and the results recorded.

The results are then compared against norms that can help direct your fitness programme.

These tests can also be repeated in the future to make sure you are on target to reach your goals.

Aerobic Tests/ Cardiovascular Endurance: These measure the efficiency of your heart and lungs in supplying oxygen and energy to your body during physical activity. Examples of aerobic tests are the beep test, 12-minute run test and step-up test. For most adults the heart will beat at 60-100 beats a minute. When planning an aerobic exercise programme it is important to make sure you work at 50-75% of your maximum heart rate.

Strength and Muscle Endurance: This measures the maximal amount of force a muscle group can exert at one time. Endurance, on the other hand, measures the length of time a group of muscles can function before fatigue sets in.

Speed and Power/ Anaerobic Power: Power, speed and sprint recovery

are important factors in many sports. Speed is the ability to reproduce explosive movements repetitively without fatigue. Power is the ability to exert a maximal force quickly and is important in sports that involve jumping and throwing.

Examples include sprint tests, the 20-meter dash, vertical jump tests, the 3-hop test and the overhead medicine ball test.

Agility: The word describes the ability to move quickly and change direction without losing control or balance. Good agility requires the combination of a number of skills such as speed and acceleration, balance and co-ordination, power and, of course, good reaction times and reflexes. Examples include reactive shuttle run (used in basketball), shuttle run test, zigzag test and the sittingrising test.

Flexibility: This measures the range of motion available at your joints. Lack of flexibility can identify postural imbalances, instability and limited range at joints.

Examples include the sit and reach test, toe touch test, back scratch test and the groin flexibility test.

Balance: Balance can be described as the ability to stay upright and is an important aspect of fitness. The ability to control the body can reduce the risk of injuries and falls.

Examples include the flamingobalance test, the stork stand test and the beam walk test.

Co-ordination: This is the ability to move two or more body parts in a smooth, efficient and controlled manner. Have you ever tried patting your head and rubbing your stomach?

That’s a good example of using

19

co-ordination as a party trick!

Not all co-ordination tests are so difficult. Most tests measure hand-eye or foot-eye coordination. Examples include stick alternate hand wall toss test, flip co-ordination test, plate tapping and light board test.

Reaction Time: This describes the ability to respond quickly to a stimulus. This is an important part of daily activities and sports. Examples include tap reaction time, reaction time ruler test and light board reaction timer.

Now you understand the benefits of fitness testing so you can plan a programme that will give you the best chance of achieving your goals. Fitness can be fun and measuring your achievements is an incentive to keep pushing onwards and upwards to a better, healthier life.

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

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS The Saint Lucia National Trust is seeking to recruit suitably qualified persons to fill the posts of:

1) Programme Assistant/ Membership Job Summary: Developing, implementing and coordinating the Trust’s membership.

2) Programme Assistant / Communications and Advocacy Job Summary: Provide support to implement the Trust’s Communications and Advocacy Programme in fulfillment of the Trust’s mandate to protect Saint Lucia’s heritage.

Please visit our website https://slunatrust.org/news/vacancies for additional details.

Applications with CV and two (2) References should be addressed to: THE DIRECTOR SAINT LUCIA NATIONAL TRUST Email: natrust@slunatrust.org TO REACH HIM NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 1, 2019 Only suitably qualified applicants will be acknowledged.

20 SPORTS

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 THE STAR

WWW.STLUCIASTAR.COM

Blackheart/SLFA Football Tournament kicks off this Weekend

By David R Pascal

A

ll systems are go for the 2019 Blackheart/SLFA Football Tournament following the press launch and tournament draw on Tuesday evening at the Bay Gardens Marina Haven Hotel. The tag line this year is “Uniting Communities Through Football”.

Following the opening prayer, Master of Ceremonies Shannon Labourne introduced various officials including Minister of Youth Development and Sports, Edmund Estephane; President of the St Lucia Football Association Inc. (SLFA) Lyndon Cooper and his General Secretary Victor Reid; CEO of Blackheart, David Christopher; and sponsors associated with Flow St. Lucia, Turbo King (Windward & Leeward Brewery) and St. Lucia Distillers.

Tennyson Glasgow, better known as The Analyst, provided a preview of this year’s tournament, being the 17th edition. The winners last year were Vieux Fort South who

Minister of Youth Development and Sports Edmund Estephane (front row, third from the left) with Blackheart and Football Association officials and sponsors at Tuesday’s launch and tournament draw.

made history by winning the tournament in three consecutive years.

Said Glasgow: “This time around seems to be more interesting because the tournament, under the auspices of the St Lucia Football Association, has taken a different format where every affiliate is going to be involved.

CEO of Blackheart Productions, David “Shakes” Christopher (left) and SLFA Inc President, Lyndon Cooper, happy to be reunited again.

In years gone by we had what we called qualifiers and some teams would not qualify for the tournament proper. This year, again the mandate of the SLFA is to ensure all affiliates get into playing football.”

He went on to say: “Last year’s two finalists, Vieux Fort South and Laborie, get a bye in the first round and will join the competition in the second round. So basically you have 16 teams added on that will dwindle down to eight; eight plus two will make it 10. Within that 10 they are going to compete and will come down to five. They will play a round robin within the five teams and the top four from the five teams will move on to semi-finals.”

After acknowledging the sponsors and media, Christopher said: “The tournament took a different turn this year because, first of all, we “got married”. We were engaged to the SLFA but we got married now. We are

working together to reach the mandate of the SLFA which is the governing body for football in Saint Lucia.”

He mentioned that the SLFA, when having a tournament, has a mandate with FIFA to stage at least 90 games. With that in mind, Christopher said: “What we did this year is incorporate Blackheart into the SLFA National Lottery Island Cup and make it one family.”

In a rather lengthy address, Cooper focused his attention on the structure of football in Saint Lucia and emphasized that the SLFA needs to have 90 games in every competition in order to maintain its development programmes. He spoke of changes in the coming year, saying: “We may just decide, at the end of October, to announce a new format for district football; that you may see a division based on the principles of relegation and promotion.”

The president

complimented the boys’ Under-15 football team but was not complimentary when it came to senior football. “The year 2019 is going to be, as part of the district competition and Blackheart, the turning point for senior football,” said Cooper.

“We cannot continue on the myth of investing substantially in the development of senior football and the continuous reward is at the same pace as previous years.”

Before ending his lengthy speech, Cooper touched on the establishment of a school of excellence, Saint Lucia qualifying in one of the age groups for the World Cup and the construction of additional playing fields.

Minister Estephane was pleased with the direction in which the SLFA is headed and said: “Mr President [Lyndon Cooper] is a very good listener. I think Mr President and the SLFA are interested in moving the sport in the right direction and

SLAF Inter-Commercial Swim Meet

T

he Saint Lucia Aquatics Federation will host its second Inter-Commercial Swim Championship on Saturday, September 28 at the Rodney Heights Aquatics Centre.

Dubbed “The Little Big Meet” in 2018, the Federation will take on the theme “Unleash” this time round.

This competition will be conducted in the eight-lane 25 metre pool. Though the competition will be conducted in accordance with the basic rules of swimming, some of the events will be pure fun in

nature and will have specified guidelines.

Points will be awarded for all events. In addition, points and prizes will be given for the best dressed team, the loudest cheering team and the team with the most supporters.

According to the summons, all swimmers must be current employees of the registered organisation/NGO/commercial house. However, current employees will be allowed to have their son(s)/daughter(s) serve as a representative for the commercial house by which

they are employed, only if the son(s)/daughter(s) is (are) registered by the commercial house.

The final entries must be submitted to the organising committee by Monday, September 16 and must include the following: (A) name, gender and date of birth of each swimmer; (B) event being entered by each swimmer.

Each participating commercial house may include in its delegation the following number of officials: delegations of 15 to 20 swimmers will be

allowed two coaches, one team manager and one chaperone; delegations of 5 to 10 swimmers will be allowed one coach, one team manager and one chaperone. Please provide the names of team officials and position held by each official.

For further information please contact: Diane Spencer–Mauricette, email: dianem@candw.lc, telephone 485-9766, 724-9766 or Constance Rene, email: slasa.slu.secretary@gmail.com, telephone 720-3063.

so they have incorporated a lot of the plans that we are looking forward to them changing.”

The minister spoke about the economic activity derived from football and government’s willingness to partner with SLFA Inc to provide the necessary facilities in communities.

Following formal proceedings, the official tournament draw was conducted. The first round matches are: Saturday September 14, Mon Repos v.

Dennery, 6:00 pm; Desruisseaux v. Anse La Raye, 8:00 pm.

Sunday September 15, South Castries v. Mabouya Valley, 6:00 pm; Micoud v. Gros Islet, 8:00 pm. Wednesday September 18, Central Castries v.Roseau Valley, 6:00 pm; Vieux Fort North v. La Clery, 8:00 pm. Thursday September 19, Marchand v.

Babonneau, 6:00 pm; Canaries v. Soufriere, 8;00 pm.

All games will take place at the Philip Marcellin Grounds in Vieux Fort.

Domino enthusiasts, now is your time!

T

he Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture invites all firms and government ministries to be part of another exciting edition of the Inter-Commercial House Domino Championship.

Teams from each participating organisation should consist of nine players. Using this avenue, the Chamber wishes to stimulate sportsmanship among the business community while simultaneously providing domino lovers the opportunity to play and network.

Who will it be this year? Who will Dethrone Peter & Company Distribution?

Registration for the tournament closes on Thursday September, 26, 2019. All interested firms are asked to contact the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce on 452 3165 or via email at info@stluciachamber.org.

THE STAR

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019

SPORTS

WWW.STLUCIASTAR.COM

21

Football Association Gros Islet are Blackheart Big Eight Champs News and Highlights defeated El Salvador 1–0 with a goal by Jairo Bueno.

With each team having one more game to play in the first round, the points table n Tuesday September is as follows: Montserrat – 4 10, at the Blakes Estate points, El Salvador – 3 points, Stadium in Lookout, Dominican Republic – 3 points Montserrat, the home team and Saint Lucia – 1 point. maintained their unbeaten record in their last five matches, Meanwhile, in a game played in Group D of League A, having played to a 1–1 draw Haiti and Curacao battled for against Saint Lucia in the a share of the spoils in a 1–1 opening round of Group B of League B of the Nations League. draw in Port au Prince. Haiti got their goal from Frantzdy Coming into the game, Saint Lucia made three changes Pierrot in the 15th minute while Elson Hooi hammered in a to their last starting line-up, volley to make it 1–1 in the at all three levels, with Pernal 41st minute.

Williams starting in the back Curacao showed plenty four, Gregson President coming of fight on a night when they in wide and Antonio Joseph were playing with heavy hearts, starting up front. following the death of their The home team seized goalkeeper Jairzinho Pieter the initiative right on the cusp from a heart attack in his hotel of half-time, through a goal by room on Monday night.

Spencer Weir Daley.

The Saint Lucia Football In the second half, Saint Association Inc has embarked Lucia got more and more into on an initiative entitled “Adopt the match and carved out a A School Programme”. This number of decent chances. initiative involves the provision But it wasn’t until Malik St Prix of technical assistance to select went down that they would pilot secondary schools which knot things up through the experienced Kurt Frederick. The have been identified as having a football developing programme twenty-eight-year-old fullback on stream at their schools. and former captain calmly To this end, the following slotted home the resultant secondary schools have penalty in the 87th minute, been selected to benefit thus ensuring that Saint Lucia walked away with a share of the from the programme: Beanfield Secondary School, points.

Clendon Mason Memorial

In the other Group B Secondary School, Grande game, the Dominican Republic

By Michael “Midget” Pierre

O

Riviere Secondary School, Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School, Patricia D James Secondary School and St Joseph’s Convent.

SLFA Inc has scheduled a meeting with representatives of the aforementioned schools to further discuss the implementation of the programme.

Free Kick Foundation Recruit Anton Richard of Saint Lucia recently played an important role in Florida College’s 3–2 win over Ave Maria University. Richard ended the game with seven saves.

Two games were scheduled in the Safe Spaces Futsal Peace League tournament on Tuesday, September 10 at the Agard Playing Field. Unfortunately Boys Training Centre failed to show up for their encounter against La Clery.

In the lone game played, George Ville thumped Morne Du Don 9–0. Goals came from Mark Leo with a beaver trick, Nicholas Giraudy with a hat trick and one each by Linus Clark and Felix Mark.

The grand champion final of the Laborie Football League is scheduled to take place at the Desmond Collymore Playing Field in Laborie on Sunday, September 15 from 3:30 pm. The final will be between Bay Classics and Park United.

Gros Islet came away with the Blackheart Big Eight football title.

T

he preliminary round of the Blackheart Big Eight tournament lived up to all the hype and excitement, with some disappointment along the way, as 10 goals were scored on the opening day.

The knockout leg played on Saturday, September 7 at the Philip Marcellin Grounds in Vieux Fort produced some interesting results. Canaries, playing true to form, defeated Dennery 2–0, both goals scored

by David Henry.

Roseau continued their impressive form, coming from behind with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Marchand. Romiel Felix had given the Island Cup defending champions an early lead in the first half. However, two unanswered goals by Nilan Williams and Brendon Modeste enabled Roseau to advance to the semi-finals.

The third match of the day saw Gros Islet (who have picked up some momentum in the last couple of weeks) making light work of Mabouya Valley round slated for the month of on or before the stipulated to defeat them 3–0. Their goals October and are therefore asked deadlines at the mentioned came from Aramis Lorde, with a to register before Wednesday, locations. Teams can also brace, and from Eden Charles.

September 25, 2019. Successful register online via the Desruisseaux came into play-off teams will qualify veteransinsports.com website their own to defeat Central for the final four spots of the or by email: register@ Castries 2–0, with goals by Brad tournament proper. veteransinsports.com.

Bideau and Kivany Moncherie.

Registration packages Please be reminded that

The resultant semi-finals are available at Saint Lucia players eligible to play in this at the same venue on Sunday, Insurances Limited offices at tournament must be 40 years September 8 pitted Canaries 48 Micoud Street, Castries and or over and must turn age 40 at Veterans In Sports Inc. offices before December 31, 2019. For against Roseau Valley, and Gros in Louisville Avenue, Vieux Fort. more information please contact Islet against Desruisseaux.

In the first semi-final,

Completed registration the organisers at 484-KICK Canaries, looking like a team packages must be submitted (5425) or 285-BALL (2255). on a mission, defeated Roseau

4–1 to march on into the finals.

Once again, David Henry was on the score sheet with two goals.

In the second semi-final Desruisseaux and Gros Islet played to an exciting 2–2 draw.

However, in the penalty kick shootout, Gros Islet advanced 5–4 to set a clash with Canaries in the finals.

In the grand finals Gros Islet got into their stride very early with a goal by Aramis Lorde in the 5th minute. Ten

minutes later Nicholas Taliban Lawrence broke through on the left flank to put Gros Islet up 2–0. Canaries refused to go down without a fight and their perseverance resulted in Gros Islet conceding an own goal to make it 2–1.

Canaries went all out in search of the equalizer but Gros Islet kept them at bay.

The match ended 2–1, with Gros Islet becoming champions of the Black Heart Big Eight competition.

Registration for Veterans Football Tournament

V

eterans In Sports Inc wishes to invite registrations for the upcoming 2019 Veterans Football Tournament, scheduled to kick off on Saturday, November 2, 2019.

All teams already affiliated with this tournament are asked to complete the registration process before Tuesday, October 15, 2019.

All new teams wishing to enter this great tournament are required to enter a play-off

A Canaries player tried to regain his balance during Sunday’s semi-final game against Roseau.

22

SPORTS

WWW.STLUCIASTAR.COM

Bellamy’s 100 Mile Swim:

BARBADOS TO ST LUCIA

S

outh African ultraendurance athlete, Cameron Bellamy, owns an exceptional sporting resume.

He has completed the Oceans Seven swims, rowed across the Indian Ocean and swum around the island of Barbados. Now, after months of arduous training when he logged copious hours swimming every week, he is confronting an extreme endurance test: a 100-mile swim across the open ocean from Barbados to Saint Lucia.

The initial plan for 2019 was to attempt a swim from Havana, Cuba to Key West, Florida. Bellamy put in the rigorous training, spent considerable time researching the past attempts, secured a support boat and assembled a global support crew to join him on the swim. However, in late August the permission required for the support boat to enter Cuban waters was denied by the US government, based on the more stringent regulations enacted in June 2019.

Despite this extremely disappointing setback, Cameron, who hasn’t given

the Oceans Seven title for swimming the world’s seven toughest channels.

The “Swim Around Barbados” was a significant challenge in the life of this athlete extraordinaire. The fourth longest non-stop, unassisted sea swim ever was completed under imperfect conditions including fourteen-plus hours of adverse currents, detours due to large swells, a powerful squall and frequent backwash from cliffs.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 THE STAR

But Bellamy, a man who exemplifies the definition of perseverance, drew on his steely resolve, maintaining an uncanny focus and similar stroke rate throughout and, with his sheer determination, defeated the unforgiving seas after almost two days of swimming. This outstanding success announced the arrival of a serious contender for conquering the world’s longest and most difficult open water swims.

The start of the Barbados to Saint Lucia swim was yesterday morning, when there was a suitable “weather window”—a period of at least three days when favourable conditions are predicted. The swim could take between 50 and 60 hours to complete

and real-time tracking will be available online: https:// www.facebook.com/ SLUChannelSwim/

In addition to his impressive swimming accomplishments, Bellamy was part of a team of six who rowed from Geraldton, Australia to the Seychelles in 2014. For the 57-day, 6,270 km journey, he received two Guinness World Records for the longest distance rowed by a team in the Indian Ocean and the fastest ever crossing.

As Bellamy confronts this incredibly challenging Caribbean-crossing, he does so in support of the Ubunye Challenge, a project in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, as well as local educational causes in Barbados and Saint Lucia.

ZOUKS SECURE FIRST 2019 HERO CPL WIN IN FINE STYLE

Ultra-endurance athlete Cameron Bellamy is attemting to swim from Barbados to St Lucia.

up on his Cuba swim dream, continued his “crazy” swim schedule, including two recent 24-hour training swims, and devised an incredible alternate plan. Plan B: pioneering a new swim route between Barbados and Saint Lucia. This will be the longest channel swim ever, over a distance of about 100 miles (160 kilometers). It is a comparable distance to the

Cuba swim but, in Bellamy’s words, “It’s trickier than the Florida Straits in myriad ways.”

In November 2018 Bellamy completed the complex circumnavigation of the island of Barbados, swimming a gruelling 60 miles around the jagged coastline in 40 hours and 43 minutes. Earlier in 2018, Bellamy, a world record holder in ocean rowing, had earned

Corporate Warfare Futsal underway

O

nce gain it was Corporate Warfare Futsal at its finest, courtesy of Time Out Entertainment. The 2019 competition got underway in grand style last Saturday evening with three games on tap at the Beausejour Indoor Facility.

In the opening game, Elite had no trouble getting past BSJ 8-1. Christus Flavien and Gus Nervais both scored hat tricks. The other goal scorers were Dionmed Joseph and Kerlan Ferdinand. The lone scorer for BSJ was Sherman Charles.

In game two, Civil Service Corporation got past Government of St Lucia 5-1. Dalvin Raymond led the way with a hat trick with single markers going to Janai Clifford and JnMill Augustin. Jay White scored the lone goal for the Government side.

In game three, Velox defeated Bankers Association 6-2. Raheim Alcindor led the winning side with three goals. Teammate Shandel Alexander scored two goals and Andrus Remy, the other. Niale Alexander scored both goals for Bankers Association in a losing effort.

Action from last Saturday’s game between Civil Service Corporation (foreground) and Government of St Lucia.

Spectators got an extra treat when a Time Out All-star team went up against Kosmos Futsal from neighbouring Martinique. It was a close, exciting game, and Time Out came out on top 3-2. Alex Joseph, Lynch Isidore and Nehemiah Wilfred scored for Time Out. Antonio Buchet and Luigi Lecurieux scored for Kosmos Futsal.

S

t Lucia Zouks secured an impressive first victory of their 2019 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) campaign on Thursday, on a night marred by a nasty-looking injury for Jamaica Tallawahs’ star allrounder Andre Russell.

Rahkeem Cornwall continued his fine start to the season as he and Andre Fletcher did the bulk of the work to send the Zouks powering past the Tallawahs’ 170/5 with five wickets and 20 balls to spare.

But the sight of Russell being taken from the field on a stretcher, having been struck on the back of the head by a Hardus Viljoen bouncer, was one nobody wanted to see.

Russell was taken to hospital and given the all-clear after a scan. On the doctors’ advice, he returned to the team hotel to rest. The Tallawahs are hopeful he will return to action after a few days off.

Back on the field, the Zouks’ run-chase was a formality after the flying start provided by their opening pair, who put on 111 in just 52 balls, despite a late wobble as Oshane Thomas took three wickets in his final nine balls.

Nine sixes came in the six-over Power Play as loose bowling and dropped catches cost the Tallawahs dearly.

Cornwall raced to his 50 in just 19 balls, six of which he sent over the ropes. Three sixes came in the third over of the innings, bowled by Jerome Taylor. First Fletcher picked him up over the leg side before Cornwall went down the ground for the full count off successive deliveries.

Another pair of successive sixes off George Worker’s parttime spin took Cornwall within

one run of the half-century, which he duly reached next ball with a single.

The end of the fielding restrictions did nothing to change Cornwall and Fletcher’s intent. The big man blasted a four and two more sixes from the first four balls of the seventh over, and when Fletcher hit the first ball of the eighth over to the cover boundary, the hundred was up and the required rate down below a run a ball.

Cornwall’s fun was eventually ended by an inside edge into his stumps off Shamar Springer for a remarkable 75. He faced just 30 balls, eight of them dispatched into the stands.

John Campbell followed soon after, plumb lbw to Ramaal Lewis, but the Zouks were so far ahead of the rate that they could afford to take stock. Colin de Grandhomme joined Fletcher and, after giving himself a few sighters, plundered two fours and a huge slog-swept six over deep midwicket from Lewis’ second over.

The Zouks were far enough ahead of the game that a superb two-over spell from Thomas, picking up the wickets of de Grandhomme, Daren Sammy and Roland Cato while conceding just four runs, came too late to affect the final result.

Thisara Perera smashed a six and a four off Jerome Taylor in the 17th over with Fletcher remaining unbeaten on 47 to get the job done with plenty of time to spare.

The first Sabina Park fixture of the 2019 Hero CPL had got off to the most dramatic of starts. A scruffy beginning to the over from Obed McCoy was soon forgotten when extra bounce had Chris Gayle nicking behind for a golden duck.

And things got better still for McCoy in his second over when Chadwick Walton—on the back of a Hero CPL record stand with Gayle in the Tallawahs’ last game—also fell cheaply. He made just 8 before picking out Campbell at deep square-leg.

That brought Phillips and Powell together, though, and they set about the Zouks' bowling.

Nobody was spared. Powell struck the first Hero Maximum of the night, straight and true into the sightscreen off Fawad Ahmed, while Phillips was finding the boundary with regularity.

16 runs came from the final over of the Power Play, with Phillips smacking Kesrick Williams way back over midwicket for his first Hero Maximum.

Phillips reached his halfcentury from just 26 balls and at the halfway stage the Tallawahs had raced to 108/2 with the Phillips-Powell partnership worth 81 from just 42 balls.

It was going to take something special to break the partnership, and de Grandhomme produced it. Powell was millimeters away from reaching his half-century but instead had to depart for 44, as de Grandhomme caught the ball just inside the rope and flicked it in the air before going over the boundary and then stepping back inside to complete the catch and give Fawad Ahmed his first wicket of the night.

He removed Phillips as well in his next over—a far simpler catch for de Grandhomme this time—before Russell’s injury cast something of a pall over the night’s action. Perhaps understandably, the Tallawahs’ innings never really got going again after Russell left the field on a stretcher, with just 38 coming from the final six overs.

THE STAR

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019

CLASSIFIED

WWW.STLUCIASTAR.COM

VACANCY

VACANCY

VACANCY

Applications are required from qualified persons to fill the positions of:

Store Manager

A MANUFACTURING COMPANY IN THE SOUTH OF THE ISLAND REQUIRES A

• CASHIER • BARTENDER Please address your applications to: The Manager Castries Fishers Co-operative Society Ltd. P. O. Box GM687 Sunny Acres Castries, St. Lucia.

E-mail address: alynch@cfcooperative.org Telephone number: 758-452-6949

- JAPAN AUTO CONNECTION

Applications are invited for the post of Store Manager at JAPAN AUTO CONNECTION. Interested persons are asked to submit a CV and cover letter to the following email address:

Deadline for applications is Monday 16th September, 2019

japanautoconnect @gmail.com

Online Classifieds

Selling a house?

Have an apartment to rent?

Want your car sold?

Get maximum exposure for your dollar.

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

ADVERTISE IT!!

Get great results with a STAR Classified Ad Call the advertising department Tel: 450-7827 or Email:

info@stluciastar.com

SALES SUPERVISOR / MANAGER FOR RETAIL / COMMERCIAL SALES IN HARDWARE & CONSTRUCTION WITH EXCELLENT INTERPERSONAL SKILLS & 5 YEARS PRIOR SALES EXPERIENCE Salary: basic, commissions, phone & travelling Please send applications to: VACANCY – PO BOX 398 VIEUX FORT ST LUCIA OR EMAIL: hr.info@kplgrouptt.com The deadline for submission is 25th September 2019

FOR RENT Furnished house for rent at Beausejour Phase 2.

3 bedroom, 2 bath, master bedroom, hot and cold water, cable, internet and parking.

Call: 518-6208 FOR RENT 2 Bedroom, 1 bath downstairs apartment at Beausejour Phase one, Gros Islet.

Hot and cold. $1,400.00 monthly Tel: 732-7852

VEHICLE FOR SALE White 2006 Nissan Altima in good condition.

Lady driven.

Left hand drive Best offer!

Call mobile: 720 5046 For more details

23

DATA ENTRY CLERK Harry Edwards Jewelers has been a top-level duty-free retailer in St Lucia for over 18 years, specializing in luxury branded jewelry and watches, crystal, and accessories. With several locations spanning St Lucia and Grenada, we are seeking a reliable Data Entry Clerk to join our Inventory Department.

The successful candidate will possess certain essential software skills like using word processors, spreadsheets, databases, and other related record management software. He/she will have quick typing skills, an analytical mind, exceptional attention to detail, and a passion for precision.

Qualifications • Working knowledge of word processing tools,

spreadsheets, and databases • Strong organizational skills • Good written and communication skills.

• Great attention to detail • Ability to maintain confidentiality We’re looking for a long-term employee who wants to grow within our business. If you enjoy data entry and can work efficiently in a fast-paced office setting, please submit your CV by September 20, 2019 to info@harryedwardsjewelers.com or mail to: Harry Edwards Jewelers Attn.: Hiring Manager P.O. Box 1889 Maurice Mason Avenue Sans Souci Castries LC04 101

Property FOR SALE Spacious,2600 sq ft 3 bedroom house for sale in the Village of Micoud.

Close to everything.

Estimated 10 mins drive from the international airport. open plan Living Area.

Private parking.

Saab convertible 2005 , fully loaded (pristine condition) Suzuki Grand Vitara 2005 in excellent condition.

For further info Contact

1-758-285-4391

FOR SALE Epson Stylus Pro 9800 44” Large Format Printer Price: $1,800.00 Call: 720-5041

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2019

www.stluciastar.com

$2.00

Carnival now all behind us!

S&S

LAYAWAY NOW AVAILABLE AT S&S THE PRICEBUSTERS

GLASS SCREEN ARMY CELL PHONE SMART WATCH WITH SMART WATCH WITH SUCTION CELLPHONE PRIVACY SCEEN $3.50 PROTECTORS CASES $4.50 SIM & SD CARD $55 HEART RATE $37 PROTECTORS $3.50 HOLDER $4.50 Come and apply for your S & S Loyalty Card

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

Also on special: UNIVERSAL CELL PHONE SCREENS $4, UNIVERSAL BELT CELL PHONE CASES FROM $7,

SELFIE CAMERA LENS $2, SAMSUNG BATTERIES FROM $17, CAR CELL PHONE CHARGER FROM $16, WATCH BATTERIES $1, UNIVERSAL TABLET CASES $8, STANDING CELL PHONE CASES $4, 4GB SD CARDS WITH ADAPTER $16, 16GB FLASH DRIVES $22, UNIVERSAL LAPTOP CHARGERS $47, LAPTOP FANS $24, COMPUTER SPEAKERS $11, BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS FROM $31.

Printed and published by STAR Publishing Co. (1987) Ltd., Rodney Bay Industrial Estate, Massade, Gros Islet, P.O. Box 1146, Castries, St. Lucia, W.I., Tel: (758) 450-7827 Email: info@stluciastar.com Website: www.stluciastar.com