St. Lucia Online: Last Week's News

ST. LUCIA 'S SEARCH ENGINE

SLHTA and Chamber: no confidence in ministers

Prime Sites

News

Sports

Jobs

Entertainment

Community

Society

(9th January 2001)

• PM's 2001 NEW YEAR MESSAGE
  More international News reports:
• Cathedral killings send brutal message to a C'bbean Babylon
• A generation born with hymns of hate

Nation struggling to make sense of violence

(6 January 2001) - Almost one week after the gruesome attack by Kim John (20) and Francis Phillip (32) [See photo on front page of The Star newspaper] worshippers at the Castries Cathedral - leaving one dead and several others seriously injured - the nation is recovering from its initial shock and disbelief and has started to analyze the chain of events that led to such methodical and willful destruction of life and things held sacred.
While some amongst the crowds at the crime scene, the hospital, the police station and the courts could be heard simply calling for bloody revenge, others chose instead to examine the path taken by St. Lucian society in recent decades. Archbishop Kelvin Felix, prime minister Dr Kenny Anthony, former PMs Dr Vaughan Lewis and Sir John Compton, minister of Foreign Affairs George Odlum, leaders of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), various newspaper editors and journalists, leaders of various religious denominations, the Caribbean Conference of Churches and incidental commentators all attempt to isolate the factors which they believe may have caused these two young men to feel such hatred towards society in general and the Roman Catholic church in particular.
General divisiveness in society, preoccupation with materialistic and violent lifestyles, and disintegration of moral and religious values, especially amongst the youth, are recurring themes. At the same time, some commentators, including government press secretary Earl Bousquet, take time out to place last Sunday's tragedy in a historical context of other violent attacks that have taken place in St. Lucia, including attacks directed against institutions of worship. Bousquet also reports that "The mother of one of the two young men apprehended by the police told reporters he had just completed a prison sentence for setting someone alight in Soufriere". Furthermore, prime minister Dr Anthony, in a televised statement on Tuesday morning, confirmed that "The two individuals concerned [Kim John and Francis Phillip] have claimed that they were involved in the setting of fire to the Soufriere Church last year". This is reported in The Star.
Meanwhile, spokesperson for the St. Lucian Rastafarian movement and president of the Imperial Ethiopian World Federation Inc. Peter 'Ras Ipa' Isaac, publicly condemned last Sunday's attack by John and Phillip - who, following their gruesome deed, had identified themselves as Rastafarians and claimed that they had acted on the orders of 'Jah'. The mother of Kim John also stated on national TV that her son had taken up Rastafarianism about a year-an-a-half ago. According to Ras Ipa, "These men definitely acted in a way which is contradictory to Rastafarian teachings and therefore, no blame or connection can be attributed to the Rastafarian movement. ... The Rastafarian movement deplores and condemns the atrocities committed on Sunday and grieves with the rest of the population at this evil act of senseless cruelty".
The St. Lucia Islamic Foundation (SLIF) has similarly condemned the attack. In a statement printed in The Star, SLIF writes: "We, as Muslims, will never condone nor sanction such criminal, barbaric and heinous acts in the name of religion. Hence, those person(s) who insinuate that Muslims were responsible are misled and ought to desist from attempting to tarnish our noble faith". Immediately following Sunday's tragedy certain rumours, apparently fuelled by the manner in which the attackers were dressed, had it that the attackers were Muslims.
While the nation struggles to make sense of last Sunday's attack and begins to reflect on how to initiate or strengthen efforts to eradicate the factors responsible for such evil - be it by hanging the perpetrators or by stemming the social and moral decline within St. Lucia - Star reporter Chris Barnard, perhaps more than anyone else, expresses his own soul-searching and struggle of conscience. Reflecting on the professional and personal curiosity which drove him, on Sunday morning, to take photographs of Sister Theresa Egan's blood on the pavement, just outside the Cathedral and to ask a seriously injured victim for a statement on what had just happened, Barnard reports on his own subsequent feelings of confusion, anger, excitement and repulsion. "I was crushingly guilty of the primal and salacious curiosity that I had felt all day. ... The new year met me with my embarrassment at my lack of respect, my revulsion for the act itself, my anger, both at the government for what I was beginning to see as an utterly preventable situation that had been permitted to occur, and at the people who had been fighting for a chance to satisfy their own morbid inclinations". Thus, despite having had ample opportunity, Barnard chose not to photograph Father Charles Gaillard while he lay at Victoria Hospital, critically burnt and unconscious. According to the latest reports, Father Gaillard continues to fight for his life at a hospital in Martinique. He suffered third degree burns to his face and body and a collapsed lung after having been doused with a flammable liquid and set on fire.
The names of the other victims who were seriously injured are, according to The Star: Gregory Biscette, Agnes Biscette, Desmond Devaux, Mary Bynoe, Mark Beaubrun, Celsus Merville, Eddison Elcock, Sister Mel Kenny, Gwendolyn Winters, Victor Darius and Victor Reyes.
Mrs. Bynoe and Father Gaillard have been taken to Martinique and Mrs Biscette, Mr Beaubrun and Mr Reyes were flown to the Cornell Burn Centre at the Presbyterian Hospital in New York.
The funeral of Sister Theresa Egan (72), who was bludgeoned to death, took place on Saturday 6th January, at 2 pm, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the same location where the attack took place. She was subsequently interred at the Calvary.
Sister Theresa was born in Mt. Melick in Laoise, Ireland, in 1927. She had been in St. Lucia for 42 years, since April 1958, first serving as principal of the Vieux Fort Primary School and then in Soufriere, from 1960 to 1965. She then acted as principal of the Ave Maria Primary School in Castries, until her retirement in July 1983. From September 1984 until last year, she was based in Vieux Fort, where she taught Home Economics in four government schools. She returned to Castries last November, where she acted as household caretaker and cook at the Cedar's St. Joseph's Convent Home and taught religious education at the Entrepot and Babonneau secondary schools. One Caribbean reports this. According to The Star, "Her heart, say colleagues, was with the poor, disadvantaged and those in need. Her passion was helping the illiterate and dyslexic. ... She was a quiet, friendly, hospitable and open person who endeared herself to others with whom she worked".
The latest from the international press:
BBC News
Nandotimes

ñ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ...

Large crowd at Alfred Harding's funeral

The body of Alfred Harding was finally laid to rest on Friday, after his shooting death on November 28th. According to The Voice, a large crowd attended the funeral, which took place at the Choc cemetery in Castries, not far from La Clery where he had been captured by residents after having escaped from prison, and subsequently killed by an off-duty policeman. Despite promises from prime minister Dr Kenny Anthony, four weeks ago, that an investigation into the circumstances of Harding's death would be carried out within "one week", there is as yet no further official word on Harding's death.
Harding, a Barbadian who was convicted for possession of an illegal firearm, made headlines last year when he successfully sued the government for having wrongfully kept him shackled and in solitary confinement for ten months and fifteen days. Harding, who had asked for $500,000 in compensation, was awarded EC$25,000. His lawyer, Martinus Francois, subsequently filed an appeal. Despite Harding's subsequent escape from prison and shooting death, the appeal will continue before the courts, said Francois this week. Harding's mother, Ianthia Harding, will continue the legal process.

ñ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ...

Golf & Country Club serious about golf tourism

An ambitious, multi-million dollar development plan involving the construction of 38 four-bedroomed family villa suites, 132 high-quality condominium villas and another 200 condo's located on an 'island' in the middle of the golf course at Cap Estate was launched this week, with the intention of firmly establishing St. Lucia on the international golf tourism map. American investor Dennis Nardoni and the chief operations officer of the St. Lucia Golf & Country Club, in this week's issue of The Voice, unfold their plans for the future of golf and golfing tourism in St. Lucia. Besides the 38 four-bedroomed family villa-suites and 132 condominiums, there are plans to set aside 14 acres of land in the middle of the golf course for the creation of "an island" with 200 condominiums. According to The Voice, plans for a new clubhouse, seven tennis courts, a fitness centre, a real estate office, shops and a golf maintenance shop are also on the drawing board. "Michelin anticipates that capital works will generate well in excess of 200 jobs and pump a few million dollars into the economy. The firm of Newell Lewis Broadbridge has prepared the blueprint of what will be a world-class golf resort along the lines of Royal Westmorland in Barbados".
Only last September, The Star reported that a new, fully-irrigated, 100-acre, 18-hole golf course had replaced the old 9-hole course. That upgrading operation cost US$10 million.
The new plans augur well for St. Lucia's tourism industry, if Michelin's predictions come true. "Golfers worldwide pick destinations with a decent championship or a top quality 18-hole golf course on which to play. Now that we have such a facility, we feel that we will be able to attract to St. Lucia the calibre of people who would be looking to invest in holiday apartments/condominiums in the tropics. These owners will also have the option of renting their villas/condos throughout the year. This is a new market, but we believe that with the golf course we will be able to attract persons with the disposable income and passion for the game of golf and the love for a destination like St. Lucia". In addition, the upgraded facilities also enable other hotels on the island to offer their guests a golf-playing package. The St. Lucia Golf & Country Club hopes to host the 2004 Caribbean Golf Association Championships. The second annual Youth Celebrity Golf Tournament is slated for 28th June to 1st July, 2001.
More information on investment opportunities at the Golf & Country Club can be obtained at www.stluciagolf.com.

ñ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ...

Response to leprosy awareness encouraging

Following intense media attention in January of last year, eighteen persons in St. Lucia were diagnosed with leprosy, and placed under treatment for the disease. More than three hundred people reportedly visited the leprosy clinic to checked for signs of the disease. This is a significant increase compared to previous years, reports The Voice, and a source of optimism to dermatologist Dr Marie Grandison-Didier, the consulting dermatologist. "In St. Lucia", says Dr Grandison-Didier, "we have mounted leprosy awareness campaigns for the past five years, yet there are still people in St. Lucia who are either unaware of the fact or refuse to accept the fact that leprosy can be cured. There are people who are petrified of the thought of sitting beside someone with leprosy. The irony of this is that they may in face have been sitting beside just such a person for many, many years; as the disease may be present in the body for a long time, before it shows up with signs on the body". Nevertheless, states Dr Grandison-Didier, more and more people are gaining the confidence to come forward, knowing that there now exist drugs to completely cure leprosy. Of the eighteen cases diagnosed in the year 2000, seven people diagnosed themselves, using information found in the media. "The best news is that five of these seven cases diagnosed themselves with early leprosy. They have no damage to nerves, no damage to eyes, no damage to hands, no damage to feet. We diagnosed one small child, four years old, with the disease. She was brought in by her father, who diagnosed himself with advanced leprosy. She caught the disease from her father because of close contact since birth. Her father had clear symptoms of the disease for over eight years. His family told him, that someone had done evil to him and that no doctor's medicine could cure him. He waited for eight years before seeking treatment, because he believed his family. We will be able to cure him but his nerve damage will remain for life".
In its early stages, leprosy appears as a pale spot on the skin with loss of feeling, loss of hair, or loss of sweating. The symptoms are sometimes mistaken for ringworm. In the early stages, leprosy is relatively non-infectious and even in the advanced stages, leprosy is not easily carried from one person to another. If left untreated, however, the disease can cause blindness and loss of fingers, toes, limbs and other extremities.

ñ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ...

M&C spreads its wings to Dominica

M&C - Minvielle & Chastanet Limited - recently opened its first overseas branch with the launching of M&C Brokers Limited in the Commonwealth of Dominica. The wholly owned subsidiary of M&C is located on the corner of Old and Church Street, in Roseau. According to M&C's executive chairman, "this venture outside of St. Lucia was part of the [M&C] Group's strategic development, which includes expansion into selected regional territories". M&C in Dominica offers extensive insurance experience. The Dominica office will be run by two Dominican members of staff and a St. Lucia-based executive manager.

ñ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ...

Church attack:
• Statement by His Grace, Archbishop of Castries
• Prime Minister's address to the nation

ñ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ...

Castries Church Fire: Rastafarian leader condemns attack

Ras Bongo Isley, chairman of the National Council for the Advancement of Rastafarians has said that Sunday's attack was not the work of real Rastafarians, since the Rasta movement teaches peace and love. He added that those who commit such acts in the name of the movement only abuse its name. Other political and religious leaders have united in condemning the New Year's Eve attack at the Catholic Cathedral in Castries, in which a nun was killed and 12 other people were injured. The police have since arrested two suspects in connection with the incident, both of whom claim to be Rastafarians.
There has been considerable speculation locally about whether or not the suspects belong to a wider religious sect or cult, particularly in light of the discovery of a 'satanic' symbol daubed on the wall of the Cathedral. The symbol is also said to have been found on the walls of other churches around the island. Police reports however indicate that the suspects have denied all knowledge of the symbols and state that there is currently no evidence to support the 'cult' theory.
Both suspects have spoken to police investigators about the attack. According to an Associated Press report, the accused Kim John and Francis Phillip told the police that they were "prophets on a mission to combat corruption in the Roman Catholic Church". The two are due to appear in court later this week on charges of murder and attempted murder.
Last Sunday's attack serves as a chilling reminder of another incident which was reported in the 21^st October 2000 edition of St. Lucia Online's (slucia.com) News, under the headline:  "St. Lucian smashes religious statues in Brooklyn".
[Read archived story].
http://www.slucia.com/archive/news/old_news_041100.html

This article reported how Primus St Croix, a 34-year-old St. Lucian illegal immigrant had carried out a campaign of destruction in New York, smashing statues and other religious symbols at several Catholic churches across the city. St. Croix was described by the New York Post as a 'scripture-spouting Rastafarian' who could have been responsible for over 11 attacks in Brooklyn over an eight month period. The US newspaper further reported that St. Croix had a 'band of followers' and claimed that God had told him to carry out the sacrilegious acts of vandalism.
[Read the New York Post Story]

Meanwhile, people around the world are expressing their emotions and thoughts regarding last Sunday's attack, both in private and public communications. Various messageboards on internet sites contain expressions of disgust, queries as to how this could ever have happened, future concerns and, occasionally, pockets of support.

ñ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ...

Castries Cathedral attack: second man arrested

Update: (1^st January 2001 - 7pm) - The condition of Father Charles Gaillard, the priest who was doused with gasoline and set on fire in Sunday's vicious attack on worshippers attending the 6am Mass, is reportedly worsening. This was revealed by Monsignor Patrick Anthony, the public relations officer for the Catholic Church. Monsignor Anthony said that Father Gaillard's chances of survival are 'slim' and he called for the nation's prayers at this time.
HTS television tonight carried footage of a meeting held earlier today between prime minister Dr Kenny Anthony, senior members of government and His Grace the Archbishop Kelvin Felix and other members of the clergy. All present joined together in solemn prayer prior to the meeting, the purpose of which according to the PM, was to assess the 'deep pain and anguish' felt by the nation. During the meeting, the PM also updated the church leaders on the status of police investigations into yesterday's tragedy. The prime minister further stated that both he and the Archbishop would address the nation within the next twenty-four hours.
A statement was also issued by Superintendent of police, Albert Fregis who said that he wished to correct misinformation which seemed to be circulating regarding yesterday's attack. According to Fregis, there are conflicting reports circulating regarding the number of assailants – with some reports saying there were two men involved in the attack, whilst others claim that there were three. He also said that the victims were apparently "bludgeoned" with pieces of "two-by-four" (pieces of wood) and set alight with torches. He made no mention of cutlasses (machetes) – as was done in previous news reports.
The other conflicting issue concerns the number of fatalities. Whereas some sources have reported that two persons have died – Sister Theresa Egan, as well as an unidentified man – Fregis stated that thus far, only Sister Theresa has died. CNN however, via CANA, as well as various other reports, state that two people have died as a result of injuries sustained in the attack [visit CNN.com -  click here].
Fregis further stated that there is no evidence to indicate that the attack was the work of members of a sect. Personal security has been assigned, however, to Archbishop Felix.
Other international news links reporting the tragedy:
• New York Post
• BBC News
• RTE News (Irish National Public Service Broadcasting)
• Yahoo UK news

-------------------------

(1^st January 2001) - A second man was arrested this morning in connection with yesterday's callous attack on worshippers attending the 6am mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Castries. According to the midday news on Hot FM, Francis Phillip alias 'Zion I' of Pavee was arrested this morning at his 'usual hangout'. Phillip is said to be in his 'early 30's'.
One man, 20-year-old Kim John, was arrested yesterday when members of the congregation captured him before he could make good his escape and handed him over to the police. Both John and Phillip are said to be members of a religious sect based in the Pavee area of Castries.
Despite reports last night on the HTS evening news of a second fatality in which an unidentified man was said to have died of his wounds, local news reports today continue to report one dead (Sister Theresa Egan, 72 of Ireland) and 12 injured. Five of the victims are said to be in critical condition, and one of them, Father Charles Gaillard is said to have been sent by air ambulance for treatment in Martinique.
Midnight mass took place at the Cathedral last night under tight security and with a heavy police presence.

ñ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ...

Death toll rises in Castries Cathedral burning attack

Photo left:  Egyptian Ankh, so-called 'satanic' symbol daubed on column at entrance to Cathedral

(31st December 2000) - The death toll in the deranged attack on churchgoers attending the early Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Castries has risen to two. Besides Sister Theresa Egan, TV news reports state that an as yet unidentified man has also died of his wounds. Sister Theresa, an Irish nun, was a well-known educator of some forty years service.
According to eyewitness reports, three men entered the church at around 6:30am, whilst celebrants were receiving Holy Communion, carrying burning torches and cutlasses, and proceeded to set fire to the central aisle, the altar and worshippers. Those trying to escape the fire were attacked with cutlasses and indiscriminately and viciously injured. Sister Theresa was repeatedly chopped and bled to death. A total of twelve other persons were injured and rushed to hospital. In earlier reports, five victims were said to have been in critical condition. According to the HTS evening news, one of them has since succumbed to his injuries. The victims all sustained third degree burns and various cutlass wounds. Three patients were discharged during the course of the day. All available staff reported to work at Victoria Hospital and medical care is said to have been dispensed "smoothly".
Prime minister Dr Kenny Anthony has said that the government will meet the expenses of those patients who needed to be flown overseas for medical care.
Meanwhile, public relations officer for the Catholic Church, Monsignor Patrick Anthony, in an official statement, called the attack "a calculated act of hostility" and a case of "anti-Catholic bigotry". Both Monsignor Anthony and Archbishop Kelvin Felix called for calm, prayer and watchfulness. According to Monsignor Anthony, an Egyptian Ankh hieroglyph - so-called "satanic symbol" - was painted on a column at the entrance to the Cathedral last Friday and that same symbol has allegedly been placed on churches around the country. All Catholic churches around the island are now under police security. Further according to Monsignor Anthony, the assailants appear to be members of a sect operating out of the Pavee area of Castries. One of them was caught by worshippers immediately following the attack and was subsequently taken into police custody. He is a 20-year-old male, and is said to be speaking "freely" about his actions. Monsignor Anthony also reported that the police are "on the heels" of the other two attackers.
Permanent secretary in the ministry of Foreign Affairs, Earl Huntley, was amongst the congregation when the attack took place. He described for a special report of the HTS evening news how the three men threw kerosene on members of the congregation and set them alight. They then subsequently attacked with cutlasses all those who tried to escape.
All day long people have visited the site of the tragedy. Among them were prime minister Dr Kenny Anthony and various government ministers, as well as former prime misinters Sir John Compton and Vaughan Lewis. Sir John, in a statement to the HTS news, described the incident as "the worst atrocity" he had ever witnessed "in all his years of public service". He also said that the attack will have far-reaching implications for the country, that news reports of it had already been picked up by the international media, and that he could not say, for now, how St. Lucia might recover from it.
[Visit CNN.com -  click here]
Meanwhile, another member of the clergy, Monsignor Theo Joseph said that he was heartened to see so many parishioners turn out today, Sunday, to assist in the clean-up of the Cathedral in preparation for tonight's mass. Monsignor Joseph invited all St. Lucians to come out and worship, to show their support and to pray for the victims.
[Reports given to the press about a second fatality were later found to be erroneous. Public relations officer for the Church, Monsignor Patrick Anthony put this down to the confusion that abounds at times like these.]

Click here to read the Prime minister's full statement.

ñ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ...

Nun dies in Castries Cathedral burning drama

(31^st December 2000)  - The nation was stunned this morning as reports came in about a crazed attack on worshippers attending the 6 am Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Castries, in which a nun lost her life, and twelve people were injured – two of whom are said to be in critical condition. According to an eyewitness account on Radio St. Lucia's midday news,  two or three men entered the church whilst the Mass was in progress, carrying burning torches and cutlasses. The men are said to have rushed around, slashing people and setting fire to them and the church interior. The altar, center aisle and carpet were reportedly quickly set ablaze, as was the choir's stand. The eyewitness recounted seeing people lying all about on the floor, "covered in blood" and "engulfed in flames", as he put it. Sister Theresa Egan, who was amongst the victims of the vicious and sudden attack, reportedly bled to death. Twelve persons were rushed to Victoria Hospital for treatment.
Further according to RSL, some members of the congregation gave chase and managed to capture one of the assailants. The man, reportedly in his twenties, is said to be in police custody and "talking freely" about his role in the gruesome drama.
Prime minister Dr Kenny Anthony, in a first reaction, offered his sympathy to the victims and their families, and spoke of a "satanic" act. He also pledged the government's assistance to the Catholic church in repairing the damage to the Cathedral. A special Mass will be held at the Cathedral at 11pm, Sunday night.
Finally, according to the RSL eyewitness, the assailants appeared to be dressed in 'sack cloth' and wore head dresses resembling turbans. The witness likened the attackers' outfits  to images of well-known reggae artist Sizzla. Speculation also has it that the violent act may have been religiously motivated.

Click here to read the Prime minister's full statement.

ñ BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ...
 

[HOME]

[CHAT]

[BOOKMARK]

[ABOUT US]

[CONTACT US]

Translate website:

Francais

Deutsch

Espanol

Italiano

Portugues