Castries, Saint Lucia, Friday, November 26, 2021:– Kairi FM, a local radio station owned by Dominican interests but very-much-alive here during the past two general elections, is now officially off-air. The station’s local operations were terminated on October 13, 2021 by Minister for Infrastructure, Ports, Transport, Physical Development and Urban Renewal Stephenson King, based on a recommendation by the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL). The Ministry issued a Public Notice on that date, indicating that by...

Castries, Saint Lucia, Friday November 26, 2021:– Saint Lucians are smacking their lips in disgust following a court’s conviction of another former senior national political figure. A fortnight ago, former UWP Micoud North MP Marius Wilson was sentenced to five years in prison for shooting and hurting someone. This time it’s Marcus Nicholas, another former UWP Government Minister and Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition has been found guilty of Tax Fraud. Nicholas was originally charged...

Castries, Saint Lucia, Friday November 26, 2021:– Saint Lucians will on Saturday pay tribute to the late Cuban President Fidel Castro, five years after his death in Havana, to honour his contributions to the warm ties between Saint Lucia and Cuba for over four decades. The Saint Lucia-Cuba Humanistic Solidarity Association (HSA) has again organized this year’s memorial at the Finance Administrative Complex in Castries, within COVID protocols, to welcome the new Cuban Ambassador to...

Castries, Saint Lucia, Friday November 26, 2021:— Saint Lucians have joined Vincentians and Caribbean people the world over, paying tribute to the late Sir James Mitchell, the former Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. But while many mourn the loss of the veteran Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leader, few are fully aware of how relatively close Sir James was (in real terms) to Saint Lucia – and especially its first Prime Minister, Sir John...

Castries, Saint Lucia, November 24, 2021:– A fisheries extension officer in the Ministry of Agriculture is the first local winner of an annual scholarship sponsored by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Mr. Hardin Jn Pierre, a Fisheries Extension Officer with the Department of Fisheries within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, is the first Saint Lucian to be awarded this scholarship.   Mr. Jn Pierre will be pursuing Doctorate Research to investigate...

Castries, Saint Lucia, Wednesday November 24, 2021:– Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Development and The Youth Economy Philip J. Pierre says Government will provide “special incentives” to support the involvement of young people “in areas of specialization” identified by the new Ministry of The Youth Economy. In the coming weeks, he says, the ministry — housed within the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and headed by the Prime Minister and Anse La Raye/Canaries MP...

Castries, Saint Lucia, Wednesday November 24, 2021:– Government is calling on the island’s private sector to join it in creating the conditions for the island’s youth, at home and abroad, to participate in the development of The Youth Economy. Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre made the call on Monday while addressing a ceremony launching the Ministry of The Youth Economy. Addressing his government’s quest to make the new ministry work for the island’s youth, PM Pierre...

Castries, Saint Lucia, Wednesday November 23, 2021: — Constituents in Anse La Raye and Canaries whose lives and livelihoods depend on short-term government employment are up-in-arms against a former MP for opposing the Government’s launch of “STEP for Christmas” program. Affected persons in the two villages have been pressing the government for pre-holiday jobs to help them through their second COVID Christmas. But Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate and former United Workers Party (UWP)...

Castries, Saint Lucia, Monday, November 22, 2021:– Never mind COVID-19’s effects and global supply chain problems, thanks to both Houses of Parliament, Saint Lucians can still look forward to equal and wider access to Christmas Barrel concessions for 2021. Government, at last week’s 4th Sitting of Parliament, cleared the way for the $2,500-per-barrel concessions that many families – at two barrels each — look forward to every year to cheer their Christmas and New year holidays...

Castries, Saint Lucia, Monday November 22, 2021:– The previous administration’s decision to incorporate the Desert Star Holdings (DSH) racetrack and its rushed plans for new seaport development in Vieux Fort helped widen the scope and increase the cost of the latest controversial Hewanorra International Airport (HIA) Redevelopment Project. That’s one of the findings of a special committee established to review the status of the project and make recommendations to the new administration. The committee has submitted...