The pressure is mounting for a change in policy regarding voluntary vaccination. With the rise in cases of infections and deaths, it is becoming increasingly difficult to fight off the Covid-19 virus without the weapon of vaccination. All around the world the response is the same: to win this war we must vaccinate our population. The difficult decision for governments is whether vaccination should be voluntary or mandatory. Indonesia, at the moment, is the only...

The threat of a shutdown in Dominica is not Covid; it is the Dominica Fuel Retailers Association (DFRA), who in a Press Release today 3rd September 2021, advised the general public that they will cease operations from September 3, from 1 pm until further notice. According to the release, the dealers have been engaged with officials of the Ministry of Trade since 23 July 2021 for a margin increase to avoid the “collapse of this...

Covid-19 vaccinations will not only help stop the virus from spreading, but they will also hamper the coronavirus’ ability to mutate into new variants, so said Dr Anthony Fauci, the United States’ director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. According to the science, the coronavirus is a parasite that requires a host, the cells of the human body, to replicate itself and spread to other human hosts through human contact. Vaccination, however,...

Before making his final departure from the Castries Constituency Council (CCC), Peterson Francis, the Mayor of Castries, presided over the issuance of redundancy letters to several monthly paid workers at the C.C.C. dated Monday, 30th August 2021, which became effective the following day Tuesday, 31st August 2021. This has prompted some employees to call in the Civil Service Association, the bargaining agent for monthly paid staff at the Council. Sources close to St Lucia News...

On the 31st of August 2021, the House of Assembly will be meeting for the second time following the general elections of July 26th this year. On the order paper will be several Bills for debate, including Covid-19 (Prevention and control) Amendment Bill and the Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) amendment Bill. The Covid-19 (Prevention and Control) Amendment Bill is expected to go through all its stages at the day’s sitting. The intention of the Bill...

For those still resisting the taking of the vaccine, the data gathered to date suggests that to get infected and not be vaccinated places one in a high risk category of getting very ill and needing hospitalization, or being dead. This was the nub of the message coming from the last public address from the Minister of Health, Hon Moses Jn Baptiste. While acknowledging a steady improvement in the number of persons getting vaccinated in...

Saint Lucia’s national election of July 26th, 2021 ushered in a New Saint Lucia Labour Party Administration with a resounding three-quarter majority mandate, augmented by the two independent parliamentarians, who have been assimilated into the Cabinet. The new government has found itself in an enabling position that sets the stage for a purposeful and decisive developmental agenda, which is badly needed if Saint Lucia is to be salvaged from its current economic quagmire. Cognizant of...

The government of Saint Lucia has appointed Ignatius Jean as the Chairperson of the Development Control Authority (DCA). The DCA, which falls under the Hon. Stephenson King, the Minister for Infrastructure Ports, Transport, Physical Development and Urban Renewal, is responsible for managing, regulating and approving property development in accordance with government policies. The DCA under the last administration came under heavy public criticism for its handling of the construction of a building at the base...