St. Lucia Online: Last Week's News

ST. LUCIA 'S SEARCH ENGINE

One St Lucian missing in WTC attack; fears of war

Prime St Lucian Sites

News

Sports

Jobs

Calendar

Community

Society

High honours for Chef Harry at New York festival

Hon. Edward " Chef Harry " Joseph received two Honors at New York's Annual Caribbean American Family Day Festival, Business Expo & Job Fair
Honorary member, past sponsor of Caribbean Festival USA and owner of The Green Parrot Inn, Restaurant & Bar, Castries, Saint Lucia  Honorable Edward " Chef Harry " Joseph was presented with a Congressional Honor by Honorable Congressman Eliot L. Engel of New York in The United States House of Representatives 107^th  Proceedings and Debates, First Session. Chef Harry received the highest Honor presented by a congressman and endorsed by Caribbean Festival USA.
On Tuesday September 3, 2001 Chairman & Founder of Caribbean Festival USA Mr. Marlon A. Gill presented the Honor on behalf of Congressman Eliot L. Engel.

The Congressional Honor Read:
"Mr. Speaker, America has long attracted the talented and ambitious to its shores and one of the people who responded to this lure is Edward Joseph, better known locally in his native St.Lucia as " Chef Harry ".
He was born in Soufriere to a poor and struggling single parent mother who managed to save enough to send him to the Anglican School in Castries. While growing up it was noted that he had a serious drive to succeed and to successfully finish any task given to him. He started saving until he had enough to go to London to train at Westminster College, a technical school where he learned the basics of French, German and English catering.
He then decided to learn how to cook and eventually became a master Chef and passed the Cordon Bleu Standard in Exotic European cuisine while working at the world-famous Claridge Hotel in London.
He returned to his native Saint Lucia and in the course of time became famous throughout the Caribbean, so much so that the then Prime Minister Sir. John Compton named him as one the three things that made Saint Lucia beautiful. For his 65^th birthday last April, Old Victoria Road was renamed Chef Harry Drive. He is also a generous man who has supported many deserving organizations and community projects, giving generously to them.
Chef Harry deserves all the Honors given to him and on the occasion of the Caribbean Festival USA, held annually in the Bronx, I congratulate him for his good works and accomplishments in Saint Lucia and America."

Chef Harry was also presented with The 2001 Caribbean Festival USA Award before a record-setting 75,000 plus attendees. The award was presented to Chef  for sponsoring   Marlon Gill's efforts while in St.Lucia in 1980 during the taping of " Sunshine Laughter " a comedy 30 minute made for Television, led to his presence in the United States thus the following events hosted by Gill: Miss St.Lucia USA Pageant 1988,Brooklyn New York,1990 Carnaval / Labor Day Float on Eastern Parkway's West Indian American Carnival Day Parade, St. Lucia Family Day Festival of The Bronx, Project Education Hope, Co-Sponsor of the Heart To Heart program granting financial assistance to candidates for heart surgery, Major Sponsor New York Calypso Association & The Annual Caribbean American Family Day Festival, Business Expo & Job Fair.

Thousands watch Alliance turn into opposition force

The battle for the 2002 general elections is on after a massive crowd showed up for a public meeting of the National Alliance on the William Peter Boulevard on Monday evening. Both Labour party supporters and UWP/Alliance supporters - as well as those who continue to sit on the political fence - seem to agree that even though the Alliance may not yet quite have its house in order, Monday definitely saw the birth of a viable opposition party in St Lucia. "Opposition supporters exhale", proclaims The Voice, describing the perceived sense of relief that, after a number of false starts, the National Alliance for Unity finally seems to have found its feet.
Naturally, media opinions differ about last Monday's meeting on the Boulevard, with Labour supporters describing the Alliance's performance as a "damp squib", "a disappointing affair" or "Mutton dressed up as lamb" but even Jeff Fedee in The Star had to admit that "the election campaign had truly begun. It was no longer going to be a dull affair".
Thousands made their way to the Boulevard on Monday evening to attend the meeting which was, according to The Mirror, "hastily thrown together" and certainly not very well publicised but which nevertheless is reported to have attracted the largest crowd to the centre of Castries ever - or at least since St Lucia's attainment of statehood. The most important outcome of Monday's meeting may well be the mere fact that the Alliance has shown that "the glue is beginning to hold", as Victor Marquis puts it in the Thursday Voice, and that "there will be a viable organization, come election day, which will afford the people at least a choice when they individually get behind the curtain and put that 'X' on the ballot slip".
The main criticism of Monday's meeting - and one hammered on mercilessly by SLP supporters - is the fact that no new faces were revealed. For months now, the Alliance has kept its slate of candidates under wraps, and Monday's gathering did not substantially change that. Addressing the crowd were Sir John Compton, Dr Morella Joseph, Dr Vaughan Lewis, George Odlum, Zephrin Francis, Karl Daniel, Marius Wilson and Rufus Bousquet. A particularly interesting take on the speakers' performance comes from Star reporter Nicole McDonald, a 20-year-old self-confessed newcomer to the political scene, critical, sceptical, and with no real first-hand memories even of Sir John Compton in action. Having prepared herself for "a boring disaster", McDonald was surprised to "actually [be] impressed" with Monday night's meeting. "Not that they offered any ideas on how to change our economy, solve our unemployment, our teenage pregnancy and other problems (and yes, they did spend a lot of time bashing the decisions that the Labour Party had made) but there was the distinct possibility, no matter how small, that they could be sincere about their publicised plans to unite St Lucia. I know the crowd felt it too. Or maybe ... St Lucians are at their wit's end, altogether frustrated, with nowhere to turn".The young reporter continues: "A shock to me was the joy that people openly expressed when the declared President of the Alliance, Sir John Compton, made his way to the front of the stage. Something which was way beyond my comprehension. These people really loved John Compton. This was the first time that I'd ever seen the legendary political figure in action. He was old. But the people loved him anyway. ... And although most of the young people at the meeting were unaware of most of Sir John's achievements, they listened attentively, seemingly in awe. From my perhaps youthful perspective, he was very convincing when he said he had only the country's best interests at heart".
Press secretary to prime minister Dr Kenny Anthony, Earl Bousquet, was sufficiently taken by Nicole McDonald's view of Monday's meeting to use it as the basis for his TV commentary on DBS. The SLP won the 1997 elections in part because of the strong mandate it received from first-time voters. With about half of the population being under the age of 25, St Lucian elections can be strongly influenced by the choices made by first-time voters.
Another young (although perhaps more seasoned) journalist, Jason Sifflet for The Mirror, analysed the contributions of Monday evening's speakers in greater depth. "The Alliance needs more scripted, organized speakers like Zeph Francis and Karl Daniel, who simply stuck to the issues that matter - the economy, agriculture, crime, etc. They did not try to tell me what the Government did wrong, because they know that I am fed up to here with the things this Government has done wrong. They told me what they were going to do about it. And what they said made simple sense. ... Better than having potential winners Marius Wilson and Rufus Bousquet who threw themselves wholeheartedly into the black hole of old style politics. They both promised to talk about something positive and then proceeded to make accusatory, unconnected statements about things that no one can remember - boring, annoying and stupid. ... In better times, voters would have written the Alliance off as a joke about political prostitution. But because of our need for a political alternative, we can't. But we can't suspend judgement forever. At some point, we will have to choose. And the Alliance better have a plan by that point. Because Labour's ineptitude is not enough to make me vote for a dead horse. Labour's failures are not enough to take the Alliance into the Government, at least not by the next election."

ñ  BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ..

Two die in gang violence, one in car crash

Three men died this week of unnatural causes, with two deaths apparently being gang-related and a third the result of a road accident. Dead is assistant superintendent of police JnBaptiste Robinson, a 42-year-old father of three. Robinson died after the car in which he was a passenger ran off the road and hit an electricity pole, shortly after 6 pm on Tuesday evening. The electricity pole broke and live wires touched the ground but further investigations will reveal whether Robinson was electrocuted or died as a result of the impact of the crash. Flags flew at half mast at Police Headquarters on Wednesday to mourn the death of 'Robbie', who was at one time an instructor at the Police Training School and more recently was in charge of the Faults Complaints Unit. This is reported in The Star.
Also dead is 22-year-old Alexis Lloyd who was killed on Grass Street last Saturday in a drive-by shooting. According to the Tuesday Voice, Wednesday Star and Mirror, Lloyd had been shot in the leg some three weeks prior to this, but had refused to press charges or reveal the identity of his assailant to the police. Last Saturday at around 11 am, four bullets were fired at Lloyd from a passing car, all missing their target but a fifth one hit Lloyd in the back. He died later that day at Victoria Hospital. According to The Mirror, the police have a suspect in custody "but because Lloyd never helped them to track his attacker, they have to hold him on a firearms charge while trying to prove that his gun killed Lloyd".
On the same Saturday, 20-year-old Martin Constantine of Trou Rouge was found in Black Mallet, bleeding from a stab wound to his abdomen. He was taken to Victoria Hospital but died on the way. No arrest has as yet been reported in this case which is also suspected to be gang-related.
The Mirror in its editorial laments the fact that gang members do not sufficiently trust the justice system to involve it in trying to end the cycle of violence in which innocent bystanders sometimes, lose their lives. Instead, writes The Mirror, "they are willing to face stiff jail penalties, hospital and even death, rather than co-operate with the system that is supposed to keep them safe. And the fact that they don't trust St Lucian justice keeps the guns coming in and keeps the stray bullets flying. How will the system win back their trust now?"

ñ  BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ..

Lobster season opens again; monitoring continues

Lobsters are back on the menu in St Lucia - at least until the end of April, while the lobster season lasts. The Department of Fisheries has written to hotels, restaurants and other major purchasers on the island to remind them of the regulation size and condition of lobsters that may be purchased from fishermen for consumption. Lobsters that are under the specified size, that are moulting, carry eggs or have been shot with a speargun, are not allowed to be bought, sold or eaten. Meanwhile, the department of Fisheries continues its ongoing monitoring of the lobster population and fisheries wardens and marine police officers are carrying out surveillance to ensure that no illegal landings or export of lobsters occurs. The Voice and Star both report this.

ñ  BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ..

St Lucians win double gold at Tai Chi championship

Ellen and Jimmy James both captured gold medals in their respective categories at the 2001 International Wushu Kung Fu Festival and Championships recently held in Orlando, Florida - where over 4,000 people from some 40 countries around the world took part in the contest. The Voice reports this. The only two St Lucians to participate in the championships, Ellen and Jimmy James successfully demonstrated their skills in Tai Ji Quan (Tai Chi Chuan): a form of martial arts cum mental exercise which lies at the root of faster-moving forms of martial art such as taekwando, kung fu and karate. As Jimmy James explains: "You use your body to control your mind. Your inner self is at peace, while you execute the Tai Ji movements. The movements are somewhat equivalent to the 'mantra' in Transcendental Meditation, which helps to establish serenity of spirit. The combination of brisk and gentle Tai Ji movements are like the components of the Yin and Yang in the Chinese philosophy: opposites which complement each other - they are fast and slow, strong and weak, fluid and brusque". Ellen and Jimmy James are members of the St Lucia Wushu Tai Chi Federation which currently has some twenty members and has been in existence for six years. The group meets at the Castries Comprehensive School every Monday at 6:30 pm. For more information, call Ezra JnBaptiste at 452-3986/451-8743 or the Jameses at 452-7298.

ñ  BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ..

Noise pollution serious but unrecognised danger

The mental and physical dangers of noise pollution should not be underestimated and can range from heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels to learning disabilities, sleeplessness and car accidents. The Voice dedicates a page to the long-standing problem of noise pollution in St Lucia, claiming that "There is no right to peace and quiet on this island of ours". One of the main problems with noise pollution in St Lucia, claims The Voice, is that there is so little concern and empathy for complaints about noise - if not to say blatant disregard. Also, there is no clear authority where people can register their complaints and find guidance on how to proceed, for instance with legal action.
"You begin the day earlier than you'd expected to the blast of the neighbours stereo. You dare not complain or he'd raise it a notch. To whom can you complain? Nobody. Suffer in silence. You decide to spend some reflective time on the beach. Y'know, enjoy the lapping of the waves etc. Well, later for that. Here comes a 'transit' with giant sized speakers blasting 'music'. You have no rights, no one to complain to. Pick up your towel and leave.
You've just paid your mortgage, and in keeping with the times your pockets are empty so you decide to sit home and cool out. Never happen. There go the neighbours dogs barking and howling for all they're worth. You can't sleep, and you can't even relax at home. When you complain the answer is 'dogs must bark' and you feel like trash. All you have to do is shut up and cry from frustration. ... You get on the 'transport'. These vehicles are supposedly public transportation. But the drivers play their music to a deafining pitch. Some contain the most offensive expletives. Who can passengers complain to ... ? You must be mad. Nobody. Just shut up and pay up. If you don't like it get a car. ... Noise pollution has never been addressed. We the affected people can only accept it and shut up, because nothing will be done".
Noise in the home, noise in the neighbourhood, noise in the workplace, noise in schools and on public transport: noise is 'the unsilent killer' in society, writes The Voice, and with awareness of its dangerous effects as low as it currently is, a change is not likely in the foreseeable future.

ñ  BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ..

Spread of dengue fever virus III to be stopped

Dengue fever virus type III has been found in St Lucia for the first time ever, and the ministry of Health has issued a warning to the public to help prevent the spread of this potentially more severe form of the disease which in the worst case may cause haemorrhagic fever and shock syndrome. Dengue fever virus type II has been endemic in St Lucia for the past 28 years and an average of six cases every year are reported to the ministry of Health. Dengue fever is carried by a particular type of mosquito, the Aegis Aegypti, recognisable by the black and white stripes on its legs and body. Dengue fever as it is known in St Lucia is an acute viral infection characterised by the sudden onset of fever lasting 3 to 5 days with intense headache, muscle pain, joint pains, pain to the back of the eyes, and loss of appetite. It is also colloquially known as 'break-bone fever'. The new type III strain which was recently discovered in St Lucia is already known to occur in other parts of the Caribbean, such as Belize, Puerto Rico, St Kitts and Nevis, Jamaica, French Guyana, Martinique, Dominica, Barbados and Aruba. It is particularly the co-existence of the two types, II and III, that increases the chances of severe bleeding and shock syndrome. Since confirmation that the type III virus is present in St Lucia, the ministry of Health has stepped up its dengue control work. As part of that effort, residents on the island are urged to help prevent the proliferation of mosquitoes, in particular the Aegis Aegypti. This mosquito is known to live close to humans and to breed in any container containing clear water, such as coconut shells, old tyres, drums, flower vases, old tins and other receptacles holding water. St Lucians are therefore asked to cover water drums with a fine wire mesh or cloth, not to throw containers which can hold rainwater in their yard or elsewhere, to keep roof gutters clear, puncture old tyres so they cannot hold water, and to check flower vases for larvae. The Aegis Aegypti is known to be particularly active two hours before sundown, and two hours before sunrise and people are asked to be especially cautious and to avoid being bitten at these times.

ñ  BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ..

Rapid Response praised; jet ski problem tackled

The Rapid Response Unit (RRU) operating in the tourist areas at the north of the island since last March is reportedly receiving well-deserved praise from hoteliers, restaurant owners and residents in the area who are happy that a more peaceful environment for their businesses and private homes has been brought about. The Voice reports this. The RRU was established after a serious bout of crime and violence at the north of the island over the Christmas period and into the first months of the new year. The unit was placed under the supervision of retired policeman Kim Louis and started off with a team of sixteen officers (consisting mostly of ex- Beach Rangers of the National Conservation Authority). The RRU now comprises twenty-three officers and is equipped with two vehicles. The unit patrols the beaches in the area as well as Rodney Bay, Rodney Heights, Rodney Orchard and Cap Estate, moving from as far as Sandals Halcyon in the south, to LeSport in the north. Some months ago, the government announced its plan to establish similar units in Soufriere and Vieux Fort as well. Minister of Tourism Menissa Rambally this week repeated this promise, saying that work is currently underway to establish a Rapid Response Unit in Vieux Fort. The St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association reports this in its weekly column in The Voice.
Another issue faced by the ministry of Tourism is that of the danger and nuisance posed by jet skis. According to the SLHTA column, Cuthbert Phillips, director of security at Club St Lucia and a former commissioner of police is spearheading a campaign to curb the inconvenience caused by jetskis along Reduit Beach. According to the article, the "random use of jet skis on the Reduit Beach [makes] it extremely dangerous to use the beach, snorkel or engage in any other water sports activity. Phillips made a passionate plea to Tourism Minister Menissa Rambally to give urgent attention to the use of jet skis before the situation becomes tragic. The noise pollution from the jet skis is also said to be a major source of irritation making relaxation at the beach difficult, if not impossible. In response, Minister Rambally
... acknowledged that concerns over the issue of indiscriminate use of jet skis ... have been pouring in to her office and her Ministry is deeply concerned about the issue. She said her Ministry is resolved to finding an appropriate solution to the jet ski situation".

ñ  BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ..

CXC results up almost 4 percent: 71 percent passes

St Lucian students on the whole performed very well in the 2001 Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) exams, with an overall pass rate of 71.2 percent - which is 3.9 percent higher than last year. St Joseph's Convent once again topped the ranks with a 95.6% percent pass rate, followed by Leon Hess Comprehensive (82.1%), Vieux Fort Comprehensive (80.3%), Choiseul Secondary (79.2%) and Castries Comprehensive (78.4%). Unusually low scores were recorded by St Mary's College, which has seen CXC pass rates slip over the past year, from 87.96% in 1998 to 78.47% in 1999, 79.3% in 2000 and just 72.57% this year. Although still slightly above the national average, the figure is causing some concern, especially as it seems to reflect the trend of underperformance by male students. The all-boys St Mary's College, like secondary schools island- and region-wide, is experiencing a "laissez-fair, laid-back attitude of male students", reports The Star. Deputy registrar of examinations Rufina Frederick says: "The Ministry and the society need to work together to do something about the development of our boys. It is not only about St Mary's College, it is about our society. The achievement of our boys is dropping and we need to do something to help them".
Home Economics Management scored a 100% pass rate, followed by Electrical Technology (93.8%), Information Technology (92.2% - a very large increase over last year's 51.5%), Integrated Science (89.9%), Office Procedures (89.6%), Food & Nutrition (89.3%), Clothing & Textiles (88.5%), Building Technology (87.4%), Social Studies (86.1%), Agriculture Science, Crops & Soils (82.9%) and Music (81.3%). English Language also scored much better than last year: (70.7% this year against 58.3 last year) but Mathematics continues to be the downfall of a majority of students (42.6% passes this year against 51.2% last year). Typewriting also scored just 43.8%. The name of the top 2001 CXC student has not yet been announced. The Voice reports this.

ñ  BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ..

Small Grants Scheme open to bids for assistance

The British High Commission announces that it accepts bids to its DFID/Small Grants Scheme. Projects likely to be financially supported with a grant must focus on community development, support for the environment, education for the poor and those with special needs, or health issues such as drug reduction and the fight against HIV/AIDS. Bids can be submitted by non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations, the public sector or community development agencies and must be developmental and sustainable and assist in the fight against poverty. The High Commission further stresses that requests for cash donations, gifts of sports or office equipment, furniture and appliances, sponsorship of individual study or promotion of a religious belief will not be considered.
Bids must be submitted in writing in a sealed enveloped marked British High Commission/DFID Small Grants Scheme, and contain a project outline, project objectives, details outlining the developmental and sustainable character of the project, a breakdown of costs, intended beneficiaries and a timeframe. The deadline for bid submissions is 28th of September. The British High Commission is located in the Francis Compton Building on the Waterfront in Castries (P.O. Box 227).

 ñ  BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ..

'Mary Could Dance' actors to play in Dublin, Ireland

St Lucian theatre production company Téyat Toutafé is on its way to Ireland, where it will perform at the Project Theatre in Dublin as 'Artists in Residence'. After achieving considerable acclaim in St Lucia last year with its productions of 'Mary Could Dance' and 'La Chunga', the members of the theatre group are now attempting to raise the funds to make their Irish adventure a reality. Therefore, the hit production 'Mary Could Dance' will once more be put on stage, this time at the Bay Gardens Hotel, on September 13, 14 and 15, from 8pm. The cast includes Lawrence Bain, Nathalie La Porte, Esther Lee, Karen La Porte, Miquel La Porte and Lyndale James. Director is Ellen O'Malley Camps, and music is provided by Gene Lawrence. The Star reports this. Lawrence Bain stresses the importance of theatre as a St Lucian export and promotional tool, saying: "This trip to Ireland means different things to all of the cast members and we are just going out there to make people aware that the West Indies have something to offer".

ñ  BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ..

Wider variety in revamped adult education classes

Adult education classes open again around the island on September 17th, with centres in Babonneau, Castries, Soufriere, Micoud and Vieux Fort offering a range of courses for adults of varying interest and ability. Classes will be given in Woodwork & Carpentry, Information Technology, Flower Arranging, Crop Production, Live Stock Production, Human Relations, Music, Managing Self, Electrical Installation, Garment Construction, Cake Decorating, Fisheries, Flora & Fauna, Healthy Lifestyles, Communications, and Kweyol Literacy. According to a press release in the Tuesday Voice, new modules have been written for the courses as part of the National Enrichment and Learning Programme of the minisrtry of Educaiton, Human Resource Development, Youth and Sports. Adults can also follow classes in pre-CXC and CXC Mathematics, Languages, Social Studies and Integrated Science.

ñ  BACK TO TOP OF PAGE ..
 

[Home]

[Chat]

[Discussions]

[Bookmarks]

[Contact Us]

[About Us]

[Email]