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Government launches St Jude Hospital Reconstruction Project

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

After months of deliberations and consideration of various options, the Government of Saint Lucia has decided on a well thought out and forward looking plan for the short and medium-term development of the St Jude Hospital. The St Jude Hospital Reconstruction Project gives consideration to the current challenges and futuristic demands for the Hospital within the context of Government’s National Vision Plan and the role envisaged for St Jude within the context of the National Health Sector Plan.

On Thursday, September 9th, 2010, the St Jude Reconstruction Project will be launched at a ceremony to be held at the original site of the Hospital before the devastating fire of September 9th, 2009. The ceremony which is scheduled to begin at 3:00 pm will feature remarks by the Chairman of the St Jude Hospital Board of Directors, H.E. Tom Chou, Taiwanese Ambassador to Saint Lucia, and Minister of Health Hon. Keith Mondesir among others. The feature address will be delivered by Prime Minister Hon. Stephenson King.

The launch of the St Jude Reconstruction Project will coincide with the anniversary of the September 9th, 2009 Fire at the St Jude Hospital. The launch will be preceded by a Commemorative Service at the George Odlum Stadium (current location of the Hospital) at 12:00 noon followed by a Media Tour of the current Hospital Operation at 1:30 pm.

The goal of the St. Jude Hospital Reconstruction Project is to rebuild St. Jude Hospital to reinstate the core and ancillary health services previously offered to the public. This will also be in keeping with the Government’s health sector objectives and as such will be expanded where necessary.

The St Jude Reconstruction Project is conceptualized in two phases.  This includes:
a.Short Term / Temporary Accommodation for St. Jude Hospital at the Original Location; and
b.Medium Term / Permanent Facility of St. Jude Hospital on a New Site in the vicinity of the Proposed Site for National University in Vieux Fort.

The intention is for these two components of the project to be implemented simultaneously.

The first component would entail – the re-construction of the surgical building on the old site as well as the renovation of the other two (2) buildings. The facilities will be made fully functional to allow St. Jude Hospital to relocate from the George Odlum Stadium and operate until the new facility is built on the new site. Upon relocation of St. Jude Hospital to the new facility, the old site buildings will be developed as a Medical Research Facility or other medically related use.

With respect to the second component, this will entail – the planning, design & construction of a new 90 bed health care facility for St. Jude Hospital at the new site. This modern, state of the art health care facility will be designed and constructed as a Tropical Sustainable multi –purpose Hospital. The design is expected to produce an effective and efficient health care facility according to modern day requirements but building on the solid foundation of St. Jude Hospital. St. Jude Hospital has charted a legacy of volunteerism and partnerships geared towards superior healthcare for the community as well as the country in general. Old partnerships will be fostered and New partnerships will also be developed. St. Jude Hospital will be more than just buildings. It will be a modern health care experience incorporating as well aspects of healthcare tourism.

During that eventful night of September 9th, 2009, Prime Minister Stephenson King boldly proclaimed: “Out of the Ashes a Phoenix will Rise”.  Government along with all patriotic Saint Lucians can now celebrate the commencement of work that will see the St Jude Hospital fully functional within the next ten (10) months at its original location as part of a transitional plan.

Posted in Development, Health | No Comments »

HEALTH TALK: Bell’s Palsy

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

INTRODUCTION

In deciding what to write about this week, my mind wandered onto a sweet old lady whom I diagnosed with this condition two weeks ago.  For all the world, one would have thought she had a stroke, because her face was drawn to one side.  But this was the clincher; only her face was involved, not a whole half of her body, as would be the case if it were a stroke.

So this is what Bell’s palsy is, a weakness or paralysis of the muscles that control expression on one side of your face.  It results from damage to the Facial Nerve (Cranial nerve 7), which runs beneath each ear to the muscles on the same side of your face.

It may result in a droopy appearance of your face, which can affect your self-esteem.  Usually it is not serious and clears up by itself in weeks or months for most people.

It is a condition which is actually relatively common in Dominica; many of you would have known someone who has had it.  Bell’s can occur at any age.  It is seen more often in pregnant women, diabetics, people with ailments of the upper respiratory tract, such as the cold or flu, and in people with compromised immune systems, such as in HIV/AIDS.

HOW DO WE KNOW IT’S BELL’S?

Signs and symptoms may include:

•    Acute paralysis or weakness on one side of your face, making it difficult to close one eye (on the affected side)
•    Drooping of the face and difficulty with facial expressions
•    Pain behind or in front of your ear on the affected side
•    Headache
•    Sounds that seem louder on the affected side
•    Loss of taste on the front potion of your tongue
•    Facial stiffness or a feeling that your face is being pulled to one side.  Actually, in effect, your strong side does pull the weak side toward it.  In other words, if your right side is affected, it will appear that your face is drawn to the left side.
•    Changes in the amount of tears and saliva you produce

The severity of Bell’s palsy can range from mild weakness to total paralysis on one side of the face.  Onset is usually abrupt, developing to become apparent within several hours to a day or two.  Symptoms may be noticed when you awaken.  The palsy may follow pain in the region of the ear by a day or two.  Weakness or paralysis usually peaks within 48 hours after onset of signs and symptoms, and the faster these signs and symptoms progress, the more serious the palsy you’ll experience.

WHAT CAUSES THIS THING?

Honestly, we don’t know.  And its development is still not well understood.  The theory we most believe is that the facial nerve becomes swollen and injured perhaps by a viral infection.  And the virus that has been implicated most often is of the herpes class.  Yes, Herpes virus again.  Remember chicken pox, shingles, cold sores?

Each facial nerve controls all muscles on one side of your face, except those involved in chewing.  The trigeminal (Cranial nerve 5), motor aspect, is responsible for this. That’s why you can still chew just fine when you have Bell’s.  When electrical impulses cannot be properly conducted along the damaged facial nerve, the muscles which it supplies cannot be stimulated, leading to weakness or paralysis of these muscles.

WHEN TO CHECK OUT THE DOC

Most people recover completely within weeks to months, with or without medical treatment.  But not all cases of facial paralysis or weakness are due to Bell’s palsy.

For a few people, the palsy can be severe or give rise to complications.  So see a doc if you have facial weakness, drooping or paralysis, to determine the severity and the underlying cause of your illness.

HOW IS BELL’S DIAGNOSED?

By looking at your face and asking you to try to move you facial muscles, the doctor can make a diagnosis.  He will bear in mind, though, that stroke, infections and tumors can also cause muscle weakness, so he’ll want to do a full examination and do tests to rule out other possible causes.

If the diagnosis is still in doubt after a few days, a test called electromyography (EMG) can confirm the presence of nerve damage and give us information about severity.  This is an out-patient procedure which can measure:

•    The electrical activity of a muscle in response to stimulation.
•    The nature and speed of the conduction of electrical impulses along a nerve.

To measure electrical currents in your facial muscles, tiny needles are inserted into a muscle to be tested.  The needles are connected to an electronic recording device by a wire.  Recordings of electrical activity are made when your muscle is at rest, and as you voluntarily tighten it.  The patterns of activity appear on a screen and may be recorded on film for further analysis.

To study your nerves, two small recording electrodes are taped on to your skin above the nerve to be tested.  We can’t see them, but we know where they are or should be.  Then a little instrument applies a mild shock over the nerve.  The electrical signal moves down the nerve, passing under the electrode.  We can compare the recording of the signal at each electrode site, and we can calculate the time it takes to travel between them.  The speed of conduction along the nerve is thus determined.

By these tests on your facial nerves, we can determine whether and how much they are damaged, and by testing your facial muscle, we can tell how well they are receiving electrical impulses from these same nerves.  Electricians and technical people should have no trouble understanding this bit.  If you don’t, don’t worry about it.  The doctors will have it under control.

COMPLICATIONS

If damage to your facial nerve is unusually severe, nerve fibers may be irreversibly damaged, leaving you with a permanent paralysis.

Sometimes misdirected re-growth of nerve fibers can occur, leading to involuntary contractions of certain muscles when you’re trying to move others.  For example, you may be smiling, only to find your eye on the affected side may close.

HOW BELL’S TREATED?

Well, we don’t really know the cause, so we can’t treat what we don’t know.  It’s not like when we know, for example, the bacteria that infects your tonsils and can easily treat that.  Besides, most cases are not going to last very long, and yet still we are not sure that what we do makes a difference.

But we may try:
Anti-inflammatory medication: These may reduce inflammation and swelling in the bony channel that the facial nerve travels through.

If we feel strongly that a virus is causative, such as the herpes virus, we may give an antiviral drug which can control, not cure it.  Remember.

Massage: Facial massage may help prevent disfigurements (contractures) of the paralysed muscles before recovery takes place.

CAN YOU HELP YOURSELF?

Yes, you can.  Because you cannot blink on the weak side of your face, damage to the outer layer (cornea) of your eye can occur due to it drying out.  It can become cloudy and even develop an ulcer; which can interfere with vision.  You will need to protect your eye using artificial tears, an eye patch, or a transparent eye shield attached to your face with tape.

See you next week.

Dr. Victor Emanuel has been an educator of medical professionals in training, and the public, for over 20 years in Dominica. The contents of his articles are based on facts and research conducted, and not of his opinion.

Posted in Health Talk | No Comments »

Two men arrested in connection with USVI attempted murder

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

Tuesday, September 7 – Officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force apprehended two residents of St. Thomas wanted in connection with an attempted murder committed in that U.S. Territory as they were attempting to board a flight heading to St. Lucia at the T.B. Lettsome Airport.

Cordilius Moncherry, 26 years, and his brother Gaius Moncherry, 24 years, both natives of St. Lucia, were arrested at the airport terminal as they awaited their flight. Both men were subsequently charged with separate counts of illegal entry into the Territory.

The two men are suspects in an attempted murder incident which took place on Sunday in St. Thomas. The victim in that incident remains in critical condition.

The men are scheduled to appear before the Magistrate’s Court today.

Posted in Crime/Police | No Comments »

National security still in crisis: Mayers must go after latest Bordelais escape

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

Less than one (1) month after the August 8th break-in at the Bordelais Correctional Facility by heavily armed masked men, who facilitated the escape of two (2) Venezuelan nationals and a Saint Lucian, our national security seems to have deteriorated even further with the casual escape of twenty (20) year old Markin Marquis, from the facility last Sunday afternoon, September 5th, in broad daylight.

The Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) joins with the people of Saint Lucia in expressing grave concern about this alarming state of affairs which appears to be getting worse. The fact that the violent murder of Ethelbert “Romeo” Evelyn was also discovered the same afternoon of the Bordelais escape has sent further shockwaves into the entire Saint Lucian society.  Citizens have become extremely concerned about their safety and security. Despite several cosmetic changes, the Stephenson King Government has failed to control crime in the country and Saint Lucians all over the island continue to live in fear.

Reports reaching the SLP suggest that since the armed break-in and escape on August 8th, nothing significant has been done by the Ministry of Internal Security to prevent a recurrence, especially on weekends during which the facility is very vulnerable.

This latest prison break-out and murder again brings into sharp focus the glaring failure of Home Affairs Minister – Mr. Guy Mayers – to bring the National Security situation under control. Mr. Mayers has been appointed a Senator and Minister to deal with this pressing issue, but is clearly too distracted with trying to become the Parliamentary Representative for Castries East, to give due care and attention to his Ministerial duties. This situation cannot be allowed to continue as it has serious negative consequences for the social and economic future of our country.

The Saint Lucia Labour Party therefore has no choice but to call, once again, for the dismissal of Home affairs Minister Guy Mayers who has been a dismal failure at his post.  Mr. Mayers has failed to earn the trust, confidence and respect of security personnel at Bordelais and elsewhere.

The SLP also reiterates its earlier call for an independent Commission of Inquiry to be set up urgently to unearth the causes of these latest security breaches.

Posted in Politics | No Comments »

Micoud South comes alive in unity for Labour

Monday, September 6th, 2010

The election train of the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) continued to gain momentum with the staging of the 2010 Micoud South Constituency Conference at the Desruisseaux Multi Purpose Centre, yesterday Sunday September 5, 2010. Hundreds of red-decked supporters and well wishers jammed into the conference hall and crowded the balcony, grounds and adjoining road to participate in this momentous activity.

Under the theme: “With Unity We Will …” people came from all over the constituency  as well as other parts of the Island to join with the Constituency Group and newly endorsed candidate, Lelia Harracksingh, in Labour’s fight to remove UWP incumbent Arsene James. All Labour’s soldiers in the constituency were solidly behind Harracksingh, and her main rival for the endorsement – Mrs. Mathurine Emmanuel, gave a stirring address of support and solidarity.

Labour’s 2nd Deputy Leader and Member of Parliament (MP) for Laborie – Alva R. Baptiste – in delivering the feature address, traced the Labour roots of the constituency and called upon constituents to unite to liberate Micoud South from the jaws of UWP imposed poverty and deprivation. For her part, newly endorsed candidate – Lelia Harracksingh – catalogued a list of problems plaguing the constituency, from poor quality water, collapse of the farming sector, deplorable roads, unemployment and poor health services. She pledged to work with everyone and the incoming SLP Government to address these issues once and for all.

Political Leader- Dr. Kenny D. Anthony received a rousing welcome from the gathering and he took an incisive look at several issues including the corruption and debt associated with the proposed Hewannorra Airport Project. Dr. Anthony urged supporters to continue their election preparation and assured the gathering that Labour was ready to replace the failed Stephenson King regime.

Former UWP stalwart and Saint Lucia Banana Corporation (SLBC) Chairman – Elias Armorsingh – who is the newly elected Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Constituency Group, brought the curtains down with an electrifying delivery punctuated by regular and spontaneous applause. Armorsingh blasted Arsene James and the King Administration for their poor performance to date, and he said the only answer to the country’s problems was a return of Kenny Anthony and the SLP to Government.

Posted in Politics | No Comments »

September 5th escape from Bordelais Correctional Facility

Monday, September 6th, 2010

Inmate Marquis.

The public is informed that on Sunday September 5th, 2010 Markin Marquis an Inmate at the Bordelais Correctional Facility was able to make good his escape from the Facility. Marquis was at the time serving a concurrent sentence of one (1) year for causing harm and one (1) year for Possession of Cannabis, which is an illegal substance.

Inmate Marquis

Markin Marquis is a twenty (20) years old male who is registered as a resident of the community of Grande Riviere, Dennery. The Inmate began his sentence on August 4th, 2010 for the aforementioned crimes.  Members of the Major Crimes Department and relevant authorities have visited the Facility and are currently conducting investigations into the circumstances surrounding the escape of Markin Marquis.

Authorities will update the Press and Public on relevant information and developments pertaining to this escape as it becomes necessary.

Posted in Crime/Police | No Comments »

NICE GUY: “It’s not what it seems like”

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

I am 200% sure that as I write this or as you read this someone is having sex with someone’s wife, husband, girlfriend or boyfriend. Not necessarily you, but someone out there who’s reading this.

Oh, put the darn phone away. Asking for whereabouts and “who, when, why, what” will not stop anything. People can have sex while talking to someone else on the phone, saying they’re cleaning the house or walking on the street or sleeping.

Take my advice: go home without notice, then let me know what takes place.

“It’s not what it seems,” is what he or she would tell you.

Anyway, have any of you people ever had that experience by the way? Catch your lover having sex with someone else – the whole action? I am not talking about kissing or hugging. I am talking about raw, raw, sweaty, overtime sex.

I guess not because if you did, you would not be reading this column. Most likely you would either be in prison, the mad house or dead (by suicide).

I had a similar experience though.

One day, I forgot a very important document home, and I needed it for work. I tried calling my ex, just to make sure it is home so I won’t waste my time driving two miles home for it. Unfortunately, I had to drive two miles because I could not reach her. Her phone was off. Well, I gave her the benefit of the doubt. I thought probably the battery died or she turned it off to get some sleep because it was her day off.

Well, to me, it would mean surprising her so I bought lunch for both of us, and headed down the country path.

When I arrived, I noticed a car pull up like 200 feet from our gate, which was weird because no other house existed within a mile of us. But I gave “the scenery” the benefit of the doubt.

“Aww maybe someone went into the forest to sh***… naughty peeps,” I thought.

When I reached the door it was locked. I knocked three times but got no answer. No surprise. Maybe she was sleeping, I thought. I went on to open the door to my two-bedroom apartment. As I entered quietly, I was shocked to hear the bed squeaking and faint moaning and kissing (quite loud I may add). First thought is that she is watching porn because both of us are freaks.

I am even freakier so I decided not to say anything. I wanted to peep to see what she was doing because no girl watches porn by herself at that time of the day and is not doing something to herself.

But as I got closer to the door, the squeaking, moaning and kissing got louder. By then, I knew that was no porn movie. That was reality porn!

Alas! My girlfriend was having sex with another man.

OK, immediately I felt a mixture of emotions: my heart was beating fast, I was sweating, I got nervous and then red-hot angry. My knees were shaking, I felt my hands trembling. I pushed the door suddenly.

In front my eyes, I saw something I never saw before: my girlfriend making out with another woman.

I did not faint. I simply joined in the action.

But that was a dream – a dream I still wish could be repeated. When I woke up that early morning, I was sweating and shaking like I was actually there. I wish it was real. But it was a good suspense-thriller-turned-porn-movie. I am not sure if I ended up being the star of the movie – or the dream – but I sure know it would’ve been a lot of fun.

Well unfortunately, not a lot of people are that lucky. Some have experienced the real deal. Catching your man with another man; catching your woman with another man; or catching your man with another woman. And I am sure it is devastating.

The woman-on-woman episode is hardly ever heart-breaking but the suspense can kill.

I have been asking a few peeps what they would do if they caught their lover with another person. Some say they would kill, others say they would walk away or just join in.

But we can say anything when it is not happening to us. When reality hits home we may react totally opposite to what we thought.

Personally, I believe someone’s reaction is dependent on how much you loved the person. If it is someone you wanted off your back then that is a perfect scenario to take off from the sour relationship. If you were in love or loved deeply, chances are you would evoke deadly rage.

Here are some reactions from a few peeps I spoke to (names changed to protect identity:

FF: I would probably faint but it would be quite devastating though.  I would be very angry and I would feel betrayed.

DG: Beat both of them.

SNAPPER: If she lives with me… I will make sure she knows I caught her… and I will continue to live with her and never talk about it. I will continue to be myself in the house but I will never sleep with her. Basically I will fraustrate her a** so much she will go crazy. The hardest thing is to not know what I am thinking, then when she cannot take it no more she will leave and I will blog her a** away pictures and all. If she does not leave with me, same ting but I will just go straight to blogging her a** away. She will never have another man again because the whole world will know. Boss doh worry with me na. I will just shoot her. End of story.

Alana: At first I will laugh. I am at my calmest when I am most angry.  Then somebody would be badly beaten.

Tan: Seriously, I would not let them see me, and go and get some boiling water and douse the two of them. That would be my first reaction.

Ven: Of course after I collect myself and recover from shock I would start throwing things at him. If I don’t have a gun in my hand then he should consider himself lucky, and leave him of course.

AN: Nothing out of the ordinary. Take my immediate needs and find somewhere to go and free myself; would not even want to discuss it.

Dwayne: Not sure.

Georgi: I’d take a pic and walk away. I would need the pic for proof.

Kev: Depends on whose bed it is. Mine? Probably go on the attack because das just disrespectful. Hers? Walk out and leave.

Laden: Beat he den walk out den probably mash up he house.

Helen: I would walk away and never look back.

Lish: Would just walk away
Someone else said would beat them both

Lish: If it is in my bed lol trust me they will be dead.

Lil Pimp: Mmm that’s a hard one.  Wow, I don’t know.

Sherl: I probably would just burst out in tears and then look for the closest weapon in my reach.

Nicky: Shoot em.

Sabby: I would get angry at first but ultimately just let it go. Every person free to do as they please … if my man chooses to cheat on me then that is him. I just have to get rid of him and say screw that. It has other fish – bigger, better fish in the sea.

Teo: Make their lives a living hell.

Jose: I’m gonna kill her! lol

Terry: If it’s a man, it’s pretty much over. If it’s a woman, the question is do you want me to join, watch or go away. If the latter, I’m gone for good.

My conclusion is that if something like that happens to you, it makes no sense being violent because at the end of the day, you’re getting yourself into lots of trouble. And what’s more heartbreaking than being imprisoned and allowed to pay for your lover’s crime? And while you’re there languishing in jail, he or she will be having much more booty calls – possibly with the same person.

I covered a story once where a dude beat up another dude because he allegedly touched his girlfriend’s vagina in a crowded place. Without concrete proof, and basing his actions only on his girlfriend’s words, he went on a punching spree – almost killing the young man. He got several years in prison. When he was released he was killed shortly after (not sure if it was related to his imprisonment). And where is the girl now? She has another man. He is now like a dust in the wind.

Violence is not the answer. Just walk away and vent your frustration on something else.

See ya next week.

Posted in Nice Guy | No Comments »

ECFH Launches Greedy for Green!

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

Greedy for Green logo

One of Saint Lucia’s leading financial institutions has taken the bold step towards becoming more environmentally responsible. East Caribbean Financial Holding Company Ltd. (ECFH) just launched its environmental campaign, Greedy for Green, at its head office on Bridge Street last Tuesday.

Greedy for Green will involve the company adopting environmentally-friendly practices internally across the Group’s subsidiaries that include Bank of Saint Lucia and EC Global Insurance, as well as supporting external projects that promote environmental conservation and awareness. This latest initiative forms part of the Group’s corporate social responsibility programme that has environmental conservation as a key element.

Speaking at Tuesday’s official launch, Group Managing Director, Mr. Robert Norstrom, stated that “While finance is our business, at ECFH, our greed is a genuine craving or desire to contribute to improving the quality of life of all Saint Lucians; and the protection and conservation of our natural heritage and resources is critical to achieving this. And so we are very concerned with promoting not just the green of financial success but the green of our natural environment and its conservation”. He reiterated ECFH’s commitment to the well-being of the communities that it serves and Greedy for Green is intended to further that commitment significantly.

The Greedy for Green launch was attended by members of ECFH’s executive and senior management; representatives of the Solid Waste Management Authority, the National Trust, and Consolidated Foods Ltd. Officials from the Saint Lucia Blind Welfare Association and Boys Training Centre were also present as they will be benefitting from activities undertaken as part of ECFH’s Greedy for Green.

One of Saint Lucia’s leading financial institutions has taken the bold step towards becoming more environmentally responsible. East Caribbean Financial Holding Company Ltd. (ECFH) just launched its environmental campaign, Greedy for Green, at its head office on Bridge Street last Tuesday.

Greedy for Green will involve the company adopting environmentally-friendly practices internally across the Group’s subsidiaries that include Bank of Saint Lucia and EC Global Insurance, as well as supporting external projects that promote environmental conservation and awareness. This latest initiative forms part of the Group’s corporate social responsibility programme that has environmental conservation as a key element.

Speaking at Tuesday’s official launch, Group Managing Director, Mr. Robert Norstrom, stated that “While finance is our business, at ECFH, our greed is a genuine craving or desire to contribute to improving the quality of life of all Saint Lucians; and the protection and conservation of our natural heritage and resources is critical to achieving this. And so we are very concerned with promoting not just the green of financial success but the green of our natural environment and its conservation”. He reiterated ECFH’s commitment to the well-being of the communities that it serves and Greedy for Green is intended to further that commitment significantly.

The Greedy for Green launch was attended by members of ECFH’s executive and senior management; representatives of the Solid Waste Management Authority, the National Trust, and Consolidated Foods Ltd. Officials from the Saint Lucia Blind Welfare Association and Boys Training Centre were also present as they will be benefitting from activities undertaken as part of ECFH’s Greedy for Green.

Posted in Environment | No Comments »

BOSL staff give back

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

BoSL Card Services staff member hard at work!

As financial entities, banks often give monetary assistance to worthy causes and organizations that require support. However, Bank of Saint Lucia’s staff gave far more than this when the Card Services Department undertook a major clean-up at the Saint Lucia Blind Welfare Association’s (SLBWA) head office in Sans Souci. On Saturday, August 28th, the bank’s Card Services team showed up with shovels, gloves and other tools ready to tackle the job of giving the grounds a real face-lift. The activity was part of the recently launched Greedy for Green environmental campaign undertaken by the bank’s parent company, East Caribbean Financial Holding Co. Ltd. (ECFH).

The idea of the clean-up activity came from the staff members themselves and Head of Card Services, Mrs. Tarbula Aimable-Amedee, ensured that her team were all on board and in fact, the children of one staff member also participated. President of the SLBWA, Mr. Anthony Avril, was delighted with the bank’s assistance and expressed his gratitude to Mrs. Aimable-Amedee and her team for this initiative. ECFH’s Senior Manager for Human Resource, Ms Jenni Killam, who also participated in the activity, emphasized that this was part of the Group’s corporate social responsibility efforts to enhance the well-being of those it serves.

At the end of the exercise, the SLBWA’s premises were improved significantly and its staff had a better work environment in which to carry out their important duties to the visually impaired. Staff members of Bank of Saint Lucia’s Card Services Department were happy to give their time and energy to such an activity and there are plans to assist the SLBWA even more in the future.
As financial entities, banks often give monetary assistance to worthy causes and organizations that require support. However, Bank of Saint Lucia’s staff gave far more than this when the Card Services Department undertook a major clean-up at the Saint Lucia Blind Welfare Association’s (SLBWA) head office in Sans Souci. On Saturday, August 28th, the bank’s Card Services team showed up with shovels, gloves and other tools ready to tackle the job of giving the grounds a real face-lift. The activity was part of the recently launched Greedy for Green environmental campaign undertaken by the bank’s parent company, East Caribbean Financial Holding Co. Ltd. (ECFH).

The idea of the clean-up activity came from the staff members themselves and Head of Card Services, Mrs. Tarbula Aimable-Amedee, ensured that her team were all on board and in fact, the children of one staff member also participated. President of the SLBWA, Mr. Anthony Avril, was delighted with the bank’s assistance and expressed his gratitude to Mrs. Aimable-Amedee and her team for this initiative. ECFH’s Senior Manager for Human Resource, Ms Jenni Killam, who also participated in the activity, emphasized that this was part of the Group’s corporate social responsibility efforts to enhance the well-being of those it serves.

At the end of the exercise, the SLBWA’s premises were improved significantly and its staff had a better work environment in which to carry out their important duties to the visually impaired. Staff members of Bank of Saint Lucia’s Card Services Department were happy to give their time and energy to such an activity and there are plans to assist the SLBWA even more in the future.

Posted in All News, Environment | No Comments »

Caribbean ministerial group to lobby in London against second round of punitive tax hikes

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (2 September 2010) – The Caribbean will intensify its lobby for a fairer passenger tax system in the UK, when a high level delegation from the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) visits the British capital next week for a series of meetings with travel industry and parliamentary bodies.

Between 6 and 8 September 2010, six Caribbean ministers of tourism, along with the CTO’s chief executive, will be in London for talks on the Air Passenger Duty (APD) with a range of organisations  including the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), the Caribbean Council, Caribbean Diaspora representatives, the British Air Transport Association and the British Caribbean All Party Parliamentary Group.

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL STORY

Posted in Finance/Business | No Comments »

Senator Chastanet has two passports?

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

Media reports indicate that United Workers Party candidate for Soufriere, Senator Allen Chastanet owns two passports, which could possibly have implications for him.

Stlucianewsonline.com managed to reach Mr. Chastanet who is currently in Miami, via his cell phone. He however refused to comment on the matter, save to say that he is neither confirming nor denying that he own two passports.

We also consulted Opposition Leader and Attorney-at-Law, Dr. Kenny Anthony on the issue.

According to Dr. Anthony, the St. Lucia constitution makes provision for dual citizenship. However, for a political candidate, it could have repercussions.

“The constitution of St. Lucia allows persons to have dual citizenship but a problem will arise if that person has dual citizenship and attempts to be elected to be to the House of Assembly. If there is evidence that that person is using such a passport, is under any acknowledgement of allegiance to a foreign power of state, then if that person went up for elections and won that elections, that results could be voided, in other words, the court could declare it unlawful on that basis, “Dr. Anthony explains.

He added that once the evidence is clear, there is a good possibility that the court will strike down the outcome of an elections and order a by-election, although the court does have the option of declaring the other candidate, a winning candidate.

Dr. Anthony made reference to a similar situation in Jamaica, where two candidates were also citizen of the United States, and was ordered by the court to revoke that citizenship, to retain their parliamentary positions.

Dr. Anthony added that there is a very clear precedence in the Caribbean that the courts will not only look to the fact of ownership or one or more passports but they will strike down an election once it is absolutely clear that the individual uses that passport on a regular basis, since it is interpreted in the court as that person having a certain allegiance to that other country.

Posted in Politics | No Comments »

Training for Pineapple farmers

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

Pineapple farmers on the island will this week get some valuable training and information to assist them in the determination of all stages of maturity of the main pineapple cultivars grown in St. Lucia.

The training begins on Thursday, September 02, 2010 at R and Zee’s Service Station in Piaye, Choiseul from 10.00 a.m.

Technicians and other stakeholders will also be part of the training.

The workshop will be conducted by CARDI’s Post Harvest Technologist Ronnie Pilgrim in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Pineapple Producers Cooperative Society.

Mr. Pilgrim will provide information through pictorial presentations on how to determine appropriate maturity stages for harvesting the various cultivars for the different market outlets such as market vendors, supermarkets and hotels on the island.
According to him, farmers seem to be having difficulty in determining the maturity of pineapples, before selling them to consumers.

“Apparently there is a problem in selling pineapples to the hotels, supermarket and consumers …they are saying that the pineapple does not taste the way it is suppose to, because of the stage of maturity.”

This project is a component of the Banana Commercialization and Agricultural Diversification programme.

It is being financed under the European Union Special Framework of Assistance SFA 2005.

Posted in Agriculture | No Comments »

More medical assistance from Taiwan

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

A medical team from the Changhua Christian Hospital, is currently in St. Lucia, providing their service to the St. Jude’s Hospital.

The team consists of 4 medical and nursing volunteer groups.

The assistance being provided by the medical practitioners is being done as a means to strengthen the existing volunteer programme with the Hospital.

The team of professionals will meet with Hon. Dr. Keith Mondesir, Minister for Health and Mr. Percival McDonald, the Chairman of the Board of Directors and staff of St. Jude Hospital during its visit.

Since November 2009, 4 groups of medical and nursing volunteers of the Changhua Christian Hospital have served St Lucia with their expertises and have acquired warm hospitality and valuable experience by working alongside with the staff of St Jude Hospital.

Numerous local patients have benefited from the medical services such as Orthopaedics, Emergency, Obstetrics, Gynaecological, Ear-Nose-Throat and Dental services among others.

However requests of more specialists on a periodical basis have been conveyed through the people in St Lucia, therefore a comprehensive volunteer programme which includes different specialists will be discussed between St Jude Hospital and the Changhua Christian Hospital for the year 2011.

The 5th volunteer group, which includes Orthopedics, Ophthalmologist, Emergency Doctor, Emergency Nurse and Operation Room Nurse, will visit St Lucia on Saturday, 25th September, 2010 for a period of 3 weeks.

St. Jude Hospital signed an Agreement of Twinning with the Changhua Christian Hospital on 8th July, 2009.

Posted in Health | No Comments »

Harracksingh will battle for labour in Micoud South

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

The Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) is pleased to announce that retired Family Nurse Practitioner – Lelia “Astride” Harracksingh – has been selected as its endorsed candidate to contest the Micoud South constituency at the upcoming general elections.

Nurse Harracksingh who is affectionately known in the constituency as “Astride,” still actively provides free nursing care to scores of elderly and disadvantaged residents who value her service immensely. A former President of the Saint Lucia Nurses Association, Nurse Harracksingh was instrumental in securing better working conditions for nurses including uniform salary payment for nurses from St. Jude’s Hospital.

Nurse Harracksingh is also very popular among the young people of the constituency where she continues to serve as the Leader of the Pathfinders and Masterguides. She is Vice President of her district’s Seventh Day Adventist Youth Ministry which serves from Mon Repos to Vieux Fort North.

Although she has unsuccessfully contested elections in the constituency since 1997, she has never had the endorsement of any of the two (2) main political parties until now. She is confident that with the backing of the Saint Lucia Labour Party, she will put an end to the poor representation of Mr. Arsene James in Micoud South and be part of the winning team which will form the next Government of Saint Lucia.

The Saint Lucia Labour Party welcomes Mrs. Harracksingh aboard its team of candidates and is extremely happy at the enhancement she brings, particularly among women voters and vulnerable groups.

Meanwhile, the Annual Conference of the Micoud South SLP Constituency Group takes place on Sunday September 5, at the Desruisseaux Multi-purpose Centre. The conference commences at 4:00 p.m.

Posted in Politics | No Comments »

The Lucian People’s Movement expresses sadness at the passing of Isidore Phillip Tisson

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

The Lucian People's Movement has expressed its greatest sadness at the passing of one of one of our national soccer stars, Isidore Phillip Tisson, who was shot and killed in Brooklyn in the early hours of Monday morning after he left a nightclub at which he was celebrating his Sunday-afternoon goal winning kick that led his team to a 1-0 victory over St. Kitts-Nevis.

Tisson who was shot by an unknown assailant was 27 years old and was in Brooklyn for the past four months participating in the Digicel Soccer Tournament.

Mr. Therold Prudent, the leader of the LPM, says that the organization is saddened at this senseless killing and will do all that it can to help the Tisson family in the time of the greatest need. To this end the LPM (New York wing) has organized a fund-raiser at the St. Lucian Paradise on Friday night, September 3rd to help the family defray the cost of transportation and burial. Calypsonians Jaunty and Rootsie
have agreed to perform at the fundraiser. All St. Lucians have been urged to attend this event so that the community can help in some small way to ease the burden on the Tisson family.

Posted in All News | No Comments »

Senator Chastanet has two passports?

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

Media reports indicate that United Workers Party candidate for Soufriere, Senator Allen Chastanet owns two passports, which could possibly have implications for him.

Stlucianewsonline.com managed to reach Mr. Chastanet who is currently in Miami, via his cell phone. He however refused to comment on the matter, save to say that he is neither confirming nor denying that he own two passports.

We also consulted Opposition Leader and Attorney-at-Law, Dr. Kenny Anthony on the issue.

According to Dr. Anthony, the St. Lucia constitution makes provision for dual citizenship. However, for a political candidate, it could have repercussions.

“The constitution of St. Lucia allows persons to have dual citizenship but a problem will arise if that person has dual citizenship and attempts to be elected to be to the House of Assembly. If there is evidence that that person is using such a passport, is under any acknowledgement of allegiance to a foreign power of state, then if that person went up for elections and won that elections, that results could be voided, in other words, the court could declare it unlawful on that basis, “Dr. Anthony explains.

He added that once the evidence is clear, there is a good possibility that the court will strike down the outcome of an elections and order a by-election, although the court does have the option of declaring the other candidate, a winning candidate.

Dr. Anthony made reference to a similar situation in Jamaica, where two candidates were also citizen of the United States, and was ordered by the court to revoke that citizenship, to retain their parliamentary positions.

Dr. Anthony added that there is a very clear precedence in the Caribbean that the courts will not only look to the fact of ownership or one or more passports but they will strike down an election once it is absolutely clear that the individual uses that passport on a regular basis, since it is interpreted in the court as that person having a certain allegiance to that other country.

Posted in All News, Politics | No Comments »

ECTEL recognizes Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for contributing to the liberalization of the telecommunications sector.

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

ECTEL awardees

Castries, September 1st th 2010: “The ECTEL model of joint Regulatory Authority is the most sought after model, to the point where we can export our human capital, our talents and expertise to several other regions of the world, including Asia, the Pacific and Africa, to demonstrate and share the ECTEL experience”… This impression of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) was stated by Prime Minister, The Hon Dr. Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in his feature address at the award ceremony at Government House in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The Awards Ceremony recognized the contribution of nationals of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to the liberalization of the telecommunications sector and the establishment of ECTEL.

The Prime Minister noted that the achievements of ECTEL was the result of rigorous negotiations and unrelenting dedication and professionalism of leaders, technical staff and advisers some of whom were selected to be honoured by ECTEL through out the region.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, former Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell, Hon Jerrol Thompson, Minister of Telecommunications, Science, Technology and Industry, Mr. Isaac Solomon, Chairman of the ECTEL Board of Directors, Mr. Donnie Defrietas former Managing Director of ECTEL, Mr. Randolph Cato, Senior Director at the OECS Secretariat and Mr. Apollo Knights Secretary/Director of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) are the seven persons who were honored in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Member of the ECTEL Council of Ministers, Dr Jerrol Thompson who also spoke at the event called for the revision of the current legislation governing the telecommunication sector to be expanded in scope to embrace the ICT sector. ECTEL will hold similar ceremonies in St. Kitts and Nevis in September and in Dominica in November. In addition to the awards ceremony, national and regional symposiums have been held in the Member States where issues such as the experience of service delivery, collaboration in regional regulation and the impact of ICT on young people have been discussed.

Speaking to the OECS News Link www.oecs.org Appollo Kights said ECTEL’s presence has significantly improved the accessibility of communications technology by households: “When we started the liberalization process in St. Vincent specifically, fifty percent of the households had a residential land liner. There were only a few thousand maybe two thousand mobile phones which mostly businesses had. But since that time we more or less have all households that have communication means which is mostly via mobile services… We have seen a large decrease in cost when communicating internationally, especially in countries like the UK and the USA.”

Kights says ECTEL and the NTRC in Kingstown continue to press for a further reduction in the cost of telecommunications service, particularly in the area of mobile phones: The cost of communication has not really reduced that much locally, especially for the mobile phones. So communicating is still substantially higher when compared to the fixed line service and it’s something we have been working on over the last few years and have found some reduction over the last year but we think more could be done in that area.”

He says most of the seven awardees still contribute to the development of the Telecommunications sector regionally and internationally. The ceremony in St. Vincent was the third hosted by ECTEL and forms part of a year-long programme of activities and events to observe the tenth anniversary of the regional regulatory authority.

Posted in Telecommunications | No Comments »

Memorial service for fallen saint lucian football star

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

Brooklyn, New York – The heartbroken Saint Lucian community in New York will gather this evening, September 1st to remember football great Isidore Phillip Tisson, who was shot to death execution style in Brooklyn early Monday morning, August 30th, 2010.

Tisson, 27, died from gunshot wounds to his head in a car on Utica Avenue in Brooklyn, hours after scoring the goal that sent the Saint Lucia Soccer team to the finals of the Digicel Caribbean Cup.

Mathias Wilkie, Chairman of the Saint Lucia House Foundation says the gathering will also be held to rally the community to take a stand against violence in Brooklyn.

The memorial service, organized by the Saint Lucia House Foundation in New York in collaboration with New York-based St Lucian organizations will commence 6 p.m. at the Saint Lucia House, located at 438 E 49th Street in Brooklyn, New York.

WHEN:

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 @ 6:00 PM

WHERE:

Saint Lucia House, 438 East 49th Street Brooklyn NY

WHO:

The Tisson Family

Saint Lucia Consulate Office NY

Saint Lucia House Foundation

Saint Lucia Soccer Alliance of NY

Saint Lucia United Association of NY

Pitons Netball Club

Saint Lucia National Day Committee

Cormesse

Flora Care

Saint Lucia Mothers Day Committee

Mount Zion Church

Saint Lucia Labour Day Committee

Saint Lucia Cultural Organization

Karma Carnival Band

North Jersey Saint Lucia Association

Saint Lucia American Progressive League

Saint Lucia Folklore Association

Saint Lucia American Christian Association

Connecticut Saint Lucia Association

Posted in Crime/Police, Sports | No Comments »

Police shooting left one alleged gunman dead

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

On Tuesday the 31st of August, 2010 about 4:30pm, the Laborie police responded to a report of Burglary in La Grace, quarter of Laborie. Upon arrival in the area, the police stopped to search a group of young men who were seated in the area when they noticed one young man namely; Hilarion Emmanuel, age 30 of Bruceville, Vieux Fort walking away from the group of men. Police called out to the young man to stop. During the process the young man pulled out a firearm, the police attempted to disarm him and in the process he was shot in his right shoulder.

Hilarion was taken to the medical facility at the George Odlum Stadium but was pronounced dead on arrival there. A post mortem examination will be performed at a later date.

An investigation into this incident has been launched.

Posted in Crime/Police | No Comments »

Princess Thundah enjoying good times in the music industry!

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010



Princess Thundah

With the ability to woo any audience, reggae music’s newest singing sensation Princess Thundah, believes it’s only a matter of time before she becomes a household name.

It has been a while now since the militant songbird, born Princess Saulas, has been honing her voice in numerous studios, with the hope that one day her hard work would eventually pay off.

When you are just starting out in the music business its good to be able to rub shoulders with some of the best in the business and in the case of Princess Thundah, the experience has been good so far.

“I’ve been in the music business for six years professionally and it has been a wonderful experience for me because I have met a lot of people and I have gained a lot by working with some of these people,” she said.

But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for her, as she has encountered several cynics in the business who has criticized her style of music.

However the Braeton Primary and Junior High graduate is moving full speed ahead with her career and has already began to make her mark with songs such as her hit single Life Caan Done which is currently number 16 on the Jamaica Music Countdown reggae chart and Baby, which features Natural Blacks.

Princess Thundah is also set to release her debut album titled Life Caan Done early next year. She recently returned to the US to continue working and the album. While in the US she will also be doing some promotional work. Princess Thundah will return to Jamaica in December, after completing a month long tour of France.

Posted in All News, Entertainment | No Comments »

HEALTH TALK: Common causes of fatigue

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

You may have trouble shaking that sluggish feeling, so let’s look at some of the most common energy zappers and how to fight them.

FATIGUE CAUSE NO. 1: Not Enough Sleep

It may seem obvious but you could be getting too little sleep. That can negatively affect your concentration and health. Adults should get seven to eight hours every night.

Fix: Make sleep a priority and keep a regular schedule. Ban laptops, cell phones and PDAs from your bedroom. Still having trouble? Seek a doctor’s help. You may have a sleep disorder.

FATIGUE CAUSE NO. 2: Sleep Apnea

Some people think they’re sleeping enough, but sleep apnea gets in the way. It briefly stops your breathing throughout the night. Each interruption wakes you for a moment, but you may not be aware of it. The result: you’re sleep-deprived despite spending eight hours in bed.

Fix: Lose weight if you’re overweight, quit smoking, and sleep with a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) device to help keep airway passages open at night.

FATIGUE CAUSE NO.3: Not Enough Fuel

Eating too little causes fatigue, but eating the wrong foods can be a problem too. Eating a balanced diet helps keeps your blood sugar in a normal range and prevent that sluggish feeling when your blood sugar drops.

Fix: Always eat breakfast and try to include protein and complex carbohydrates in every meal. For example, eat eggs with whole-grain toast. Also eat meals and snacks throughout the day for sustained energy.

FATIGUE CAUSE NO. 4: Anemia

Anemia is a leading cause of fatigue in women. Menstrual blood loss can cause an iron deficiency, putting women at risk. Red blood cells are needed because they carry oxygen to your tissues and organs.

Fix: For anemia caused by an iron deficiency, taking iron supplements and eating iron-rich foods, such as lean meats, liver, shellfish, beans, enriched cereal, and green leafy vegetables, can help.

FATIGUE CAUSE NO. 5: Depression

You may think of depression as an emotional disorder, but it contributes to many physical symptoms as well. Please take note of this; it’s quite important. Fatigue, headaches, and loss of appetite are among the most common symptoms. It you feel tired and “down” for more than a couple of weeks, see the doctor.

Fix: Depression responds well to psychotherapy and/or medication.

FATIGUE CAUSE NO. 6: Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid Gland)

The thyroid is a small gland at the base of your neck. It controls your metabolism, the speed at which your body converts fuel into energy. When the gland is under-active and the metabolism functions too slowly, you may feel sluggish and put on weight.

Fix: If a blood test confirms your thyroid hormones are low, synthetic hormones can bring you up to speed.

FATIGUE CAUSE NO.7: Caffeine

Caffeine can improve alertness and concentration in moderate doses. But too much can increase heart rate, blood pressure, and jittery feelings. And research indicates too much actually causes fatigue in some people.

Fix: Gradually cut back on coffee, tea, chocolate, soft drinks, and any medications that contain caffeine. Stopping suddenly can cause caffeine withdrawal and more fatigue.

FATIGUE CAUSE NO.8: Hidden UTI

If you’ve ever had a urinary tract infection (UTI), you’re probably familiar with the burning pain and sense of urgency. But the infection does not always announce itself with such obvious symptoms. In some cases, fatigue may be the only sign. A urine test can quickly confirm a UTI.

Fix: Antibiotics are the cure for UTIs, and the fatigue will usually vanish within a week.

FATIGUE CAUSE NO. 9 : Diabetes

In people with diabetes, abnormally high levels of sugar remain in the bloodstream instead of entering the body’s cells, where it would be converted into energy. The result is a body that runs out of steam despite having enough to eat. If you have persistent, unexplained fatigue, ask the doc about being tested for diabetes.

Fix: Treatment for diabetes may include lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, insulin therapy and medications to help the body process sugar.

FATIGUE CAUSE NO. 10: Dehydration

Your fatigue can be a sign of dehydration. Whether you’re working out or working a desk job, your body needs water to work well and keep cool. If you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.

Fix: Drink water throughout the day so your urine is light colored. Have at least two cups of water an hour or more before a planned activity. Then, sip throughout your workout and afterward drink another two cups.

FATIGUE CAUSE NO. 11: Heart Disease

When fatigue strikes during every-day activities, such as cleaning the house or weeding the yard, it can be a sign that your heart is no longer up to the job. If you find it’s becoming increasingly difficult to finish tasks that were once easy, talk to the doc about possible heart disease.

Fix: Lifestyle changes, medication, and therapeutic procedures can get heart disease under control and restore your energy.

FATIGUE CAUSE NO. 12: Shift Work Sleep Disorder

Working nights or rotating shifts can disrupt your internal clock. You may feel tired when you need to be awake. And you may have trouble sleeping during the day.

Fix: Limit you exposure to daylight when you need to rest. Make your room dark, quiet, and cool. If you still have sleep issues, talk with the doc. Supplements and medications may help.

FATIGUE CAUSE NO. 13: Food Allergies

Some doctors believe hidden food allergies can make you sleepy. If your fatigue intensifies after meals, you could have mild intolerance to something you’re eating – not enough to cause itching or hives (blotches), just enough to make you tired.

Fix: Try eliminating foods one at a time to see if your fatigue improves. You can also ask doc about a food allergy test.

FATIGUE CAUSE NO. 14: CFS and Fibromyalgia

If your fatigue lasts more than six months and is so severe that you can’t manage your daily activities, chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia are a possibility. Both can have various symptoms, but persistent, unexplained exhaustion is a main one.

Fix: While there’s no quick fix for CFS or fibromyalgia, patients often benefit from changing their daily schedule, learning better sleep habits, and starting a gentle exercising program.

See you next week.

Dr. Victor Emanuel has been an educator of medical professionals in training, and the public, for over 20 years in Dominica. The contents of his articles are based on facts and research conducted, and not of his opinion.

Posted in Health Talk | No Comments »

NWU successful in LIAT negotiations – for now

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

The National Workers Union (NWU), has been successful thus far in interceding on behalf of its members regarding the planned closure of LIAT’s City Offices.

The regional airline company a few months ago wrote the unions representing LIAT employees in various islands across the region, including Dominica and St. Vincent, to inform them of its decision to close its offices in the respective islands.

But the union joined forces and put up a fight, even to the point of threatening protest action.

However LIAT has retracted the letter. This was confirmed by NWU’s Secretary General, George Goddard.

“The national workers union has received a letter from the management of LIAT, and the company states that they have decided to retract the letter they had written on Tuesday, the 13th of July, advising that they were going to close the city offices,” Goddard said.

“They said that this retraction was taken against the backdrop of having further dialogue with the consultative mechanism that has been set up, among LIAT and the various unions that represent LIAT’s workers and other key stakeholders involved and that is in an effort to ensure the most favorable position is achieved with respect to this matter.”

Posted in Finance/Business | No Comments »

SLBC board in trouble-AGAIN?

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

Just months after selecting a new board of directors, trouble seems to be brewing among members of the St. Lucia Banana Corporation (SLBC).

According to shareholder and member of the SLBC, Patrick Joseph the company is experiencing some setbacks and according to him, it’s all because of the management style of the current chairman.

He hastened to add that he has no personal issues with the chairman, just the way he operates.

“The chairman feels that if it’s not his way, it’s no way. We have had a lot of setbacks because of that type of attitude that has been adopted by Eustace Monrose…one we have some French company that wants to develop the Rancho Farm and all he has to do is sign the Memorandum of Understanding or sit with the people to look at a way forward and he has fail to do that,” Joseph said.

According to Joseph the SLBC was also in negotiations with another company which would possibly assist in developing the Corporation and its plans, but this he says has bore no fruits since the chairman has his reservations about the company itself.

He added, “We also have some outstanding matters with Government; Government has acquired some of our properties, and we could have hand some money so we could have done some work on the building and pay some people we owe, but because of him (Monrose) not doing what he suppose to do, all of this is just hanging in the air.”

“We’ve been here since June and we’ve accomplished almost nothing,” Joseph concluded.

Joseph also claims that some of the by laws of the SLBC are also not being followed.

Prior to the Monrose, the board of directors were led by  Elias Armorsingh, who was oust in June, this year.

Posted in Agriculture | No Comments »

Earthquakes!

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

The Seismic Research Unit has confirmed that an earthquake occurred in the north of the island, this morning about 10:20 am.

The event was located at 14.17°N , 61.10°W. The magnitude was 3.6 with a depth of 28 km.

No damage or injuries were reported.

There have also been reports of earthquakes occurring in neighboring island, Dominica this month.

Just about two weeks ago, an earthquake of 4.9 magnitude   and 122 km in depth, occurred during the wee hours of the morning. Its effect was felt here in St. Lucia, as it sent shockwaves through the community of Monier, located in the north of the island.

According to a release from the National Emergency Organization (NEMO), the earthquake occurred southeast of Dominica.

And just yesterday, the Seismic Research Centre of recorded two more earthquakes on the island with a magnitude of 2.7.

The Center also warned residents to expect that the frequency of earthquakes on island will be usual occurrence.

Posted in Environment | No Comments »

Labour intensifies election preparation

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

As the countdown continues towards the next General Elections, the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) is intensifying its campaign to unseat the Stephenson King regime. Last weekend, the Party held Annual Constituency Conferences in two constituencies, Anse La Raye and Dennery South.

In Anse La Raye, supporters were in high spirits and turned out in large numbers to cheer on their new man, Dr. Desmond Long, known in Calypso Circles as the “Mighty Pep”. Before a packed hall and courtyard at the Anse La Raye Primary School, messages of hope and solidarity were delivered by several speakers including the candidate himself as well as the the SLP’s two Deputy Leaders – Hon. Philip J. Pierre and Hon. Alva Baptiste. Straight-up talk show host Claudius Francis delivered a stirring account of Labour’s achievements and assured supporters that the Labour family in Anse La Raye/Canaries was solid and united.

In Dennery, the mood was one of defiance and determination as hundreds turned out to register their displeasure with the poor representation of the UWP’s Edmund Estephane. After impressive reports were presented by the executive, Guest Speaker – Ms. Flavia Cherry, provided indictment after damning indictment of the Stephenson King Government and made the case for Labour to mobilize to boot out the UWP. Ms. Cherry’s remarks were reinforced by other speakers from neighbouring constituencies as well as Dennery Residents who in an “Open Mike Session” pledged to work hard for Labour’s return.

Political Leader – Dr. Kenny D. Anthony was in mobilization mode as he gave pointed advice aimed at marshalling Labour’s troops into the formidable army of 1997 and 2001. Supporters listened in rapt attention to the wisdom of their leader and punctuated his delivery with spontaneous applause as pertinent points were made.

Meanwhile, Labour takes its mobilization to Micoud South this weekend with its quarterly National Council Meeting in Blanchard on Saturday and the Annual Micoud South Constituency Conference in Desruisseaux on Sunday. The full schedule of Labour’s Constituency Conferences and other upcoming events including 60th anniversary Activities can be viewed on our website at www.stlucialabourparty.org.

Posted in Politics | No Comments »

Gov’t withdraws support for SADR

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

The Government of Saint Lucia has undertaken a review of some political and sovereignty issues to which support has been rendered in the past. It has examined various positions taken by past administrations on a number of issues, with a view to bringing consistency to the foreign policy of the State.

In that respect, it has noted a number of issues that remain problematic in terms of a definitive resolution, particularly on matters of sovereignty, territorial disputes and representation.

A decision seemed to have been adopted in the past concerning the recognition of the “SADR”, notwithstanding the ongoing negotiations undertaken under the auspices of the United Nations Security Council, with a view to achieving a political solution to this dispute over the Sahara issue.

In light of the above, the Government of Saint Lucia has decided to withhold its recognition of the “SADR”, pending the solution of the matter by the United Nations.

The Government of Saint Lucia has urged all parties to continue to negotiate in good faith and in a pragmatic manner in order to arrive at a solution to the dispute within the framework of the purposes and the principles of the United Nations Charter.

Posted in Development | No Comments »

‘Day of mourning in St. Lucia’ after soccer star Isidore Tisson killed by Brooklyn bullet

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

A St. Lucia soccer star’s jubilant victory celebration was cut short by a deadly .45-caliber bullet, fired execution-style into his car Monday on a dark Brooklyn street.

Isidore Phillip Tisson, 27, scored the goal that sent his country to the finals in a big tournament, then hit a Crown Heights club where he had the deejay give him shoutouts all night.

Headed home after 4 a.m., he had just stopped to buy some bananas when a gunman crept up and fired a single shot that crashed through his skull and hit the woman next to him.

“I heard the noise and then I felt the pain,” the wounded woman, Shawnette Justin, 24, told the Daily News in a bedside interview at Brookdale University Hospital. “When I turned to see what was wrong, I saw the blood coming from his head.”

Three other women in the car were unhurt. The driver stepped on the gas, but by the time they got to the hospital, the athlete was dead. “He didn’t say anything on the way. His eyes were moving a little, but then nothing,” Justin said. “I was holding his head, but then I couldn’t any longer.”

The motive for the murder of the team’s top striker was unclear.

Police were investigating whether Tisson got into a fight at Tropiks, the Utica Ave. nightspot where he and teammates went to party.

They were also looking into whether the violence was sparked by something that happened during the Digicel Caribbean Cup, which is being held in Brooklyn.

Tisson led St. Lucia to an improbable 1-0 victory Sunday over St. Kitts-Nevis, sending his team to the finals of the tournament, where it will play Jamaica.

While celebrating at Tropiks, Tisson did not drink but was the toast of the party.

Click here for full story

Posted in Crime/Police, Sports | No Comments »

Welcome to St. Lucia News Online

Monday, August 30th, 2010

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Castries East MP holds successful Spelling Bee Competition

Monday, August 30th, 2010

Residents of Castries East were treated to an educational event of international standard when Member of Parliament for the area – Hon. Philip J Pierre – hosted his 2nd Annual Spelling Bee competition at the Entrepot Human Resource Development Centre on Saturday August 28th, 2010. Some eighteen (18) contestants ranging from 8-11 years and coming from all corners of the Castries East Constituency, competed for the coveted prize of a brand new Laptop Computer.

When the three grueling rounds of competition were completed, Tamarah Plante of Bocage emerged as the eventual winner. After the champion was crowned, the two remaining contestants, both in a dead heat after the final round, underwent a sudden death match that saw 11 year old Kadin Antoine of Rock Hall earn the second place spot while 11 year old Nyoh Vitee of Ravine Chabot came third. Both received monetary prices to assist them with their school obligations. All eighteen (18) participants also each received a gift bag of school supplies for the upcoming school year.

Following the event, the Parliamentary Representative, Mr. Pierre presented brand new Laptop Computers to the constituency’s top two Common Entrance performers: Chrislyn Montoute of the Bocage Primary School who scored 87 and will be going to the Castries Comprehensive Secondary School; and Tiffany Modeste of the Marchand Combined School who scored 86 and will be going to St. Joseph’s Convent.

During the presentation ceremony, Mr. Pierre emphasized the need to hold competitions like these to stimulate the minds of the constituency’s youth and focus their competitive energies into productive activities. He lamented that the contestants, all residents of Castries East may be unfairly stigmatized as children of “the ghetto,” but a sound education would ultimately be the real liberating factor in their lives. He also advised the children, that irrespective of their economic background, they possessed the ability and through the implementation of Universal Secondary Education, the avenue to become sufficiently skilled to grasp the opportunities ahead.

The activity was well supported by parents and relatives of the participants as well as prominent citizens of the Castries East Constituency. Educator and SLP Candidate for Babonneau – Miss Alvina Reynolds served as the Chief Judge, while retired School Principal – Miss Andrea Bourne was the Moderator.

Posted in Youth/Education | No Comments »

Two shot dead over the weekend

Monday, August 30th, 2010

The number of homicides on the island has risen to 31, as two men were fatally shot during two separate incidents over the weekend.

A night of fun turned fatal when two masked men opened fire on a group of people attending a barbecue in Morne Du Don on Friday night.

A 52-year-old man died as a result while a 16-year-old girl was among several who got shot that evening.

Corporal Trevor Constantine of the Police Press Relations Office gave the details.

“The first incident occurred at Agard, Mon-Du-Don, Castries, about 9:00pm on Friday the 27th of August, 2010, when according to reports, two masked men approached a group of people attending a Bar-B-Que and fired several shots in their direction.  A 52- year – old man, Justus Cenott, proprietor of a shop in the area, was shot in the chest, he was later pronounced dead at the Victoria Hospital.  A 16-year-old girl, Kershel Jn Marie, was shot in the head but she is in a stable condition at the Victoira Hospital.

Four other persons were shot but two were treated and discharged, while the other two were admitted at the Victoria Hospital.  No one has been arrested.

Meanwhile a young man in his 30’s was shot dead, while another injured, in broad daylight in Conway, Castries on Saturday.

“The other incident occurred at Conway, Castries, about 11:00am on Saturday the 28th of August, 2010 and reports indicate that two men were shot during a shooting.   A 30-year-old man, Dave Eleodore alias “Boytie” of Grande Riviere, quarter of Gros Islet, was shot several times about the body and the other man, Denver Norley, 24 years old of La Borne, Monchy, quarter of Gros Islet, was shot in the abdomen.  Eleodore was pronounced dead on the scene, while the other man is currently admitted at the Victoria Hospital,” Corporal Constantine said.

No one has been arrested in connection with this incident.

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