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Walter Francois(r) congratulates Michael Gustave
watched by C&W officials
Cablevision comes to Soufriere
Cable & Wireless (C&W) this week hit a landmark in Soufriere when it completed the establishment of a new cable television network. On hand for the "turning-on" ceremony was member of parliament for Soufriere, Walter Francois. The first customer was Michael Gustave, owner of the sports bar Sulphur Club 2000.
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Discord between banana leaders comes to a head
Leaders of the Banana Salvation Committee (BSC) on Friday presented a petition to the secretary of the SLBC asking for an extraordinary meeting of the SLBC Board of Directors, at which meeting they intend to move a vote of no confidence in the executive chairman of the SLBC, Patrick Joseph, and three SLBC directors: Joseph Hippolyte, Stephen Lesfloris and Renix Doxilly.
At a public rally in Blanchard, Desruisseaux, BSC leaders Fred Flood, Gilbert Pierre, Henry Alexander and Hyacinth Augustin accused Joseph of "bad administration of the SLBC; failure to pay farmers dividend earned from the Windward Islands Banana Development and Exporting Company (WIBDECO); indiscipline and arrogance towards farmers and the leadership of the BSC; and abuse of power and authority". The Mirror writes this. Fred Flood further announced at the meeting that according to him, the SLBC will have incurred an estimated $6 million loss by the end of the year, if things continue as they are. The BSC officials also criticised what they deem to be excessively high monthly salaries earned by SLBC management.
If the petition is signed by at least five percent of SLBC shareholders, then the extraordinary meeting must be called within 21 days of filing the petition.
The Crusader newspaper, however, is critical of Flood and the other three BSC officials, saying that they have disclosed confidential SLBC information – an organisation of which they themselves are also directors The paper also suggests that the BSC-quartet's criticisms may not be as widely supported by farmers and other BSC members as media reports suggest.
The Star, finally, provides a historical overview of Patrick Joseph's role in both the BSC and the SLBC, in the context of political developments at the time (1993-1997). Star editor Rick Wayne argues that the BSC is a thing "of the past, with no place in present-day matters". Furthermore, he dubs the BSC's Blanchard rally a "ridiculous state of affairs", where, according to Wayne, the directors and shareholders of the SLBC, in the "guise" of the BSC, betrayed "every company rule ... imaginable" by publicly attacking their company chairman.
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Islands put on alert for deadly West Nile virus
Following an outbreak of the deadly, mosquito-borne West Nile Virus (or encephalitis) in New York, the ministry of Health of St. Lucia, like all of its Caribbean counterparts, has received an urgent warning to be on the alert. This warning comes from the Caribbean Epidemiology Center (CAREC) in Trinidad and Tobago. It asks the ministries of Health in the region to monitor patients with a fever of unknown origin for the virus.
The West Nile Virus is transmitted to humans and other mammals by mosquitoes that feed on infected birds. In the past few weeks, the disease has affected scores of people in New York. CAREC emphasises that the virus is not spread from humans to humans or from birds to humans but is transmitted only through the bite of an infected mosquito. One Caribbean is the only newspaper to carry a report on the topic, this week.
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PM signs US$67.1M loan to restructure economy
Prime Minister Kenny Anthony this week put his signature to a US$67.1 million loan extended by the Caribbean Development Bank, intended for what is termed 'project financing' in the period 1999-2001. The funds are meant to bring about export diversification, human resource development, poverty reduction, environmental protection and infrastructure development. The Thursday Voice reports this. The paper goes on to quote Dr. Anthony: "The projects to be financed ... are particularly important to our overall thrust to restructure the economy and position St. Lucia on a path of sustainable growth". US$25 million is allocated to the upgrading and reconstruction of roads (Vieux Fort to Soufriere, East Coast Road and Grand Anse Road). US$6 million is earmarked for implementing the second phase of the Basic Education Reform Programme, which includes expansion of the school system to create 1675 primary and senior-primary school places. Another US$3 million will be used to create additional student loans at the St. Lucia Development Bank. Finally, US$4 million is allocated to flood control measures (including drainage control for Anse la Raye and phase two of the Castries river wall project) , and another US$4 million for solid waste management.
The Voice further reports that the Prime Minister stated that the terms and conditions of the CDB loan are "of significant value to St. Lucia, particularly in light of declining concessional aid flows from other sources".
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First step towards setting up animal shelter
The St.Lucia Animal Protection Society (SLAPS) has opened a bank account where the public may deposit donations to help in the setting up of an animal shelter. This would be the first such facility on the island. (See St. Lucia Online's Charity Appeals page). This was announced last week during SLAPS' first Annual General Meeting, by president Jane Tipson. The Star and Voice report this. The organisation also announced its plans for fund-raising activities, which include a kiddies' carnival band, an Alternative Dog Show, and a Beach Day. For more info: call the SLAPS hotline at 457-SLAP or visit http://www.geocities.com/slapss.
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Minister Pierre: Govt. has not yet approved casino gambling
The government of St. Lucia has not signed any agreement for the operation of casino gambling with any hotel on the island. This statement came from minister of Tourism, Philip Pierre during a press conference this week. This is reported in the Mirror. "We promised the people of St. Lucia a definitive statement at the end of the year. That still holds", Pierre is quoted as saying. Several investors, including the brand new Hyatt Regency Resort which is scheduled to open on 18th November, have interests in casino gambling.
Gambling, soft adventure entertainment and duty-free shopping are the three fastest-growing markets in world tourism, according to Allan Chastanet, Vice President for Sales and Marketing at Air Jamaica. According to the Mirror, Chastanet recommends the development of casino gambling in St. Lucia.
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New regional airline operational early next year
A new regional airline, EC Express - a subsidiary of Air Jamaica, is expected to commence operations in the Eastern Caribbean early next year. This was announced by Tourism minister Philip Pierre at a press conference on Friday. EC Express will be based in St. Lucia, and provide connections to Barbados, Dominica, St. Vincent, Grenada and Tobago. Furthermore, EC Express intends to concentrate on creating strategic alliances with new international airlines in the US, UK and Europe. The Voice writes this. Over one hundred new jobs are expected to be created, minister Pierre told reporters. Asked about EC Express' effect on other local carriers, including national airline HelenAir, the minister responded by saying that EC Express will complement instead of compete with the services of HelenAir, and its advent can only benefit HelenAir. The Mirror reports this. The Star, in it report on the minister's announcement of EC Express, makes reference to the recent political upheaval surrounding the government's guarantee of a EC$4 million bank loan to HelenAir.
Meanwhile, the Crusader reports extensively on a "confidential Speedwing analysis on LIAT" - another regional carrier. According to the Crusader, the Speedwing report advises LIAT shareholders that either LIAT must be closed down, or submit to a recovery plan, which would include selling three aircraft, and laying-off 202 workers (or twenty percent of its current workforce). LIAT, according to the Crusader's reading of the Speedwing report, made a profit of EC$7.08 million in 1995 but plunged into increasingly severe losses in subsequent years: EC$2,1 million in 1996; 13.1 million in 1997, and $15.6 million in 1998. LIAT is based in Antigua. Even if LIAT downsizes its fleet and staff as recommended, it would still need to raise between EC$55 and EC$60 million to restructure its debt and current liability position, the Crusader writes. The Speedwing Report claims that LIAT is "technically insolvent and is able to continue to operate only because of its default on outstanding payments to governments". Two weeks ago, minister Pierre said he expected to be paid the EC$4 million which LIAT owes the government of St. Lucia in outstanding landing fees.
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EC$780,000 jackpot won by father of three
A 57-year old employee of a Castries bottling company is the lucky sole winner of the highest jackpot ever in St. Lucia: EC$780,000. The father of three, who reportedly has been playing the lotto since its inception, won the October 6th draw on a ticket purchased at Adjodha Investments in Castries. The man, who did not wish to be named, says he intends to assist charitable organisations with his jackpot win, and put the remainder in a fixed deposit account. The Star reports this.
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HMS Northumberland on 'tour of relaxation'
Royal Navy ship the HMS Northumberland is expected to visit the island from 17th - 23rd of October on a 'tour of relaxation'. The ship is in the area acting as what is known as 'Atlantic Patrol Ship (North)'. As such, it is engaged in anti-drug trafficking operations, cooperation and training with regional and international military and civilian agencies, and is expected to provide aid in the event of hurricane damage. The Northumberland's visit to St. Lucia, however, serves foremost as a relaxation period for its 179 crew. Commanding Officer Michael Pearey will host a reception and luncheon for invited guests, and members of crew hope to play some football, rugby and cricket matches against local teams. Special tours of the ship are being arranged for local youth groups. The Star and Crusader report this.
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Violin Festival big hit with audience
"Exuberant", "appreciative" and ""wall to wall applause" are some of the expressions used by the Star newspaper to describe the audience's response to the first ever Violin Festival held in St. Lucia.
An initiative of the Helen Folk Dancers, last Sunday's violin festival at the National Cultural Centre brought together eight violin bands as well as Third Eye, Allegro Pan Groove, the United Talent Club of the Blind, the Helen Folk Dancers, and Luther Francois and the St. Lucia School of Music quartet. The violin bands that received so much acclaim were Mamai La Caye of Babonneau (directed by Julian Augustin); the Soufriere Folk Band (with Clive Butcher); the Desruisseaux Folk Band; the Morne Cayenne Band from Bellevue, led by Rameau Poleon; Patrick Jules and the Katon's Folk band; Tigisson Placide from Castries with the General Folk Band; and 22-year-old Wendell Jules' band Creole Treasures from Bexon. "A gold mine idea", the Star concludes. One Caribbean carries a similarly enthusiastic report.
In contrast, Saturday night's first folk concert was poorly attended, despite the fact that performers were greeted with "zesty applause". Both the violin festival and the folk concert (which benefits Monsignor Patrick Anthony's Jubilee Trust Fund) are part of Creole Heritage Month activities.
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"Eastern Caribbean tourism product lags behind"
For a tourism destination to grow, it needs to be able to register a continued growth in the availability of hotel rooms, and in the Eastern Caribbean, the number of hotel rooms has not kept pace with the growth in stay over tourist arrivals. This says John Arrindell, executive director of the Eastern Caribbean Promotion Service (ECIPS). Together with a number of other regional organisations, ECIPS is making an all-out effort to make the Eastern Caribbean's tourism product more competitive. To this end, it is bringing together more than 150 delegates from the US and Caribbean - investors, bankers, construction companies and government representatives - for the 4th Eastern Caribbean Hotel and Resort Development Conference which takes place in St. Lucia, from November 7th – 10th.
Chairman of the National Development Corporation, Desmond Skeete, argues that instead of waiting for foreign investors to search out and develop hotel projects, the islands themselves must learn to identify and prepare such projects, and only then approach foreign investors to participate. All major newspapers this week report on the conference and its aims.
Meanwhile, Caribbean ministers and directors of Tourism recently held "extensive and candid discussions" about crime and its negative impact on tourism. The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) is to execute a fact-finding study on crime and tourism and suggest strategies for addressing the issue. The Voice reports on this.
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Sulphur soap 'Lava' reportedly harmful to skin
Soap produced by mixing water and mud from the Soufriere sulphur springs and baking the mixture, can cause burning of the skin. This is alleged in this week's Voice. The paper quotes the general manager of the Sulphur Springs, Dominique Alexander, as saying that: "many people have complained to him about the effect of the soap", both locals and tourists. Alexander laments, however, that there is no legislation in place which enables him to prosecute the manufacturers of the soap. The soap, known as 'Lava' or 'Sulphur Soap', is sold by peddlars and certain gift shops in Soufriere.
According to the Voice, Alexander is currently collaborating with the ministries of Health and Tourism to try to tackle the problem. The soap, which retails at $5.00 a piece, has never been tested for consumer safety. Complaints have been made in the past, but according to Alexander, the problem has recently become worse, despite his having spoken to the vendors involved.
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Bachelor performs for Canaries/UK Association
St. Lucians in the UK this Saturday (9th October) celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Canaries/UK Association with a concert by St. Lucia's reigning Calypso King 'Bachelor' (Jason Joseph) and fellow performer 'Bingo'. BWIA has made this possible. In the past, the Canaries/UK Association has financially assisted the Canaries Health Centre and community library and the organisation intends to continue its fund-raising efforts for the benefit of the west-coast fishing town in years to come.
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UWP conference in run-up to convention
After Sunday 10th October, when the United Workers Party (UWP) stages yet another delegates conference, this time at the Soufriere Boy's Primary School, it is expected to become a little clearer who will be the party's new leaders and managers for the year 2000 and beyond. Definitive election of new officers to the executive of the party will take place on Sunday, November 7th, at the UWP's national convention in Gros Islet, which carries the theme: 'UWP 2000 - renewing the vision'. The Voice, Star and Crusader report this.
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