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Lawyers to act as one-day-a-week magistrates - plan under fire
In an attempt to solve the urgent need for magistrates in St. Lucia - where six magistrates are required, only two are currently acting - the government and Bar Association have proposed the appointment of eight leading lawyers to act as magistrates for one day per week, for a period of two months. Last week, however, former press secretary Claudius Francis, dubbing the proposal 'madness', warned that conflicts of interest will almost certainly lead to the destruction of what remains of the credibility of the island's legal system. In a call-in television broadcast of Newsmaker Live, last Wednesday, Francis received almost unanimous support from the public for his criticism. Despite an invitation from Newsmaker Live, neither the Bar Association nor government representatives appeared on the show to defend the proposal.
Two new housing developments for Vieux Fort
The government has announced it will spend $6.5 million for two new housing developments in the South: one at Black Bay East and the other at Derriere Morne. So far, 267 persons have applied to the Housing and Urban Development Corporation in Vieux Fort. The Black Bay development will cost some $5.5 million. It involves 124 lots: 100 for low income earners and 24 for middle income earners. The HUDC plans to build a minimum of seventy houses on this project, some in concrete and the rest in timber. At Derriere Morne, 38 house lots will be developed, all for middle income earners. Here, no houses will be constructed, but HUDC will spend $1 million to develop infrastructure. The lots will not be made available until this infrastructure is put in place.
Compton and Lewis urge publication of Inquiry's report
Former Prime Ministers Sir John Compton and Dr. Vaughan Lewis have written to Sir Louis Blom Cooper seeking his assistance in urging the government to release the report of the Commission of Inquiry, established in 1997. Compton and Lewis write: "The Prime Minister of St. Lucia admitted about six months ago that he had received your Report and that the Cabinet of Ministers was giving it consideration. In spite of a number of requests since then from interested parties [...] that the Report be released [...] the Prime Minister has adamantly refused to accede to these requests, insisting that his Government will release the Report as and when it sees fit".
Noni - cash crop alternative for banana farmers?
Described as a 'miracle fruit', a plant locally known as 'Cosol Jab' (or Devil's Soursop) and known as 'Noni' elsewhere in the world, is being discovered by St. Lucian farmers as a potentially viable alternative to banana farming. Noni juice or tea allegedly helps cure a wide range of ailments, including cancer, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, menstrual cramps, and sprains. When consumed on an empty stomach, it helps humans (and animals) to produce a substance (xenonine) which assists in regenerating new body cells. Noni has been used by people in the South Pacific for thousands years. Some claim it was brought to the Caribbean by Captain Bligh, the man who also introduced breadfruit. Recently, Noni has created a health-hype in the United States, where a 32 oz. bottle of noni-juice retails for anything between ten and forty US dollars. On sidewalks and markets in St. Lucia, Noni fruit currently sells for two to four EC dollars per heap of approximately five to six fruits.
Olympic champions bring home gold
Eight gold medals, four silver and six bronze is the rich yield brought home last week by the 27 disabled sportsmen and women who participated in the 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games, held in North Carolina. Medals were won by Nyler Shyla Isidor (Vieux Fort), Keenan Bellas, Allia Joseph, Kendal Severin, Chardia Clovis (Vieux Fort), Linus Francis (Ti Rocher), Emmanuel Harlow, Roberto Green, Alexander McLawrence (Bois d'Orange) and Michael Nuptil (Choiseul), for excelling in tennis, bocce, and 200m and 100m races. Seven thousand athletes from 150 countries participated in the Special Olympics, the world's largest sporting event. The St. Lucian equipe was supported by Wyndham Morgan Bay Resort.
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