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Bajan isolated, shackled, handcuffed for 8 months
Alfred Harding, the Barbadian who gained himself the nickname of 'Spiderman' when, armed with a firearm, he jumped rooftops in downtown Castries in an attempt to escape custody, has allegedly been kept permanently handcuffed and shackled in solitary confinement since 31st August last year. In a letter which, according to The Crusader, has been smuggled out of the prison, Harding writes the following. "Walking in the chains are [sic] very difficult and sore up my feet. The width between the chains are about six inches and each foot has a large brass lock. The back of each foot has an indentation from the chains and sometimes my feet swell. On my arrival at the prison I was immediately restrained and secured by two Chubb padlocks on my wrists, and I was told by Chief Officer ... that I would have to prove myself. I was given a piece of blanket and a drinking cup and escorted to an empty wet cell in the condemned section".
Richard Frederick was the lawyer representing Harding after his arrest and on his advice, Harding pleaded guilty to possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition. According to Harding's letter: "I was sentenced to three form years in prison plus two or three $10,000 fines or another three form years. During the sentencing I didn't understand what the magistrate said and at prison I was never informed if the sentence is consecutive or concurrent." According to The Crusader, Harding's lawyer Richard Frederick did not appeal the sentence.
The Crusader further alleges that Harding has been kept in solitary confinement, shackled and handcuffed, 24/7 for the past eight months. It is also alleged that he is not allowed to see visitors, including his mother from Barbados, not allowed to mix with other prisoners, and not allowed reading material or a calendar.
According to the Crusader reporter, Harding's current detainment with mechanical restraints is unlawful but the Superintendent of Prisons, Mr. Pierre, does not agree with that. Pierre is quoted as saying: "He is in a condemned place. I don't take chances. He is classed as high security. There is nothing inhumane about his treatment. He baths and gets exercise. Should he escape I have to answer to the state. I understand that he (Alfred Harding) fired shots. Although I am not clear on this point. No, I am not allowing visits at all. No, not even family. After all, we do not know who is family and who is not, do we? He does have visits, but only his lawyers". Asked how long Harding will remain in chains, Pierre allegedly replied: "For as long as it takes. Until we get a maximum security wing, Alfred Harding will remain chained".
According to The Crusader, in a similar case in St. Vincent last year, the Attorney General was successfully sued resulting in a $265,000 payment in damages to the prisoner concerned.
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Hyatt hopes for casino by end of summer
The Hyatt Regency Hotel hopes to have a fully functional casino by the end of the summer. "The end of July would be the absolute earliest", says the hotel's representative, Robert MacLellan. MacLellan made his statement on Friday at the official 'soft' opening of the newly-built Hyatt Regency Hotel. The Star, Crusader, Mirror and Thursday Voice all report on the opening ceremony but only The Star and Crusader comment on the casino prospect.
"We have not had any official word about the casino as yet, or about the legislation", says MacLellan. "However, we take heart in seeing that the Prime Minister announced the introduction of a gaming tax in his latest budget which is a good indication that he thinks the legislation is going to come through in this financial year. We're hoping the legislation will have its first reading in the next couple of weeks. To have a first reading in April would be lovely. That would open the door to potential ratification in May and then we're in a position to apply for a license, get the machinery in and begin training staff". The Star quotes MacLellan. The Crusader adds that, according to general manager Dale McDaniel, training for croupiers and similar positions will take approximately three months. "The gaming facility will operate a full casino and will employ a further 150 persons". McDaniel says.
The new Hyatt, which was originally scheduled to open in September of last year, is a so-called 'European-Plan' or EP-Hotel, which means that it is not all-inclusive. According to Hyatt's director of Sales, Jessica Phillips, the Hyatt encourages locals to patronise the facilities and, also stimulates its guests to use local tour operators, restaurants and other facilities. Four hundred new members of staff have been trained and 136 rooms have been completed. Hyatt will be one of the main hosts for the 2000 Jazz Festival. [See also Harris at Large].
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Donkeys from Montserrat get new lease on life
Thirty donkeys that were on the 'hit list' in Montserrat are scheduled to arrive by boat at port Vieux Fort on Tuesday morning, where they will be given a new lease on life thanks to the efforts of the St. Lucia Animal Protection Society (SLAPS) and the organisation's president, Jane Tipson, in particular. Following the volcano disaster in the Leeward Island of Montserrat, several donkeys were left to fend for themselves - in the process creating havoc in gardens and fields and putting a strain on public funds. The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), has been attempting to find a solution to the problem in order to avoid the donkeys being destroyed by Montserratian authorities. Tipson contacted the WSPA after managing to find homes for thirty donkeys in St. Lucia. The Star writes this.
Although donkeys used to be a common feature on the island, they have become virtually extinct following the introduction of pick-up trucks and other modern means of transportation. The donkeys will not be given outright to their new owners. Instead, the new caretakers are to sign a lifetime lease agreement. SLAPS will be monitoring all the donkeys to make sure they are being properly cared for. The donkeys also cannot be sold or given away without SLAPS' consent. The move is attracting considerable attention from the international media. The donkeys will initially be kept in a corral at The Reef restaurant in Vieux Fort before being moved to their new homes, which include a charcoal maker, a horse- riding school and several private persons. The cost and organisation of the operation is being borne by WSPA.
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UWP: investigate rumours about Poverty Reduction Fund
An investigation should be launched immediately to "squash the rumours" surrounding alleged mismanagement of funds in the Poverty Reduction Fund (PRF) project. This was advocated by leader of the opposition United Workers Party (UWP), Dr. Vaughan Lewis in a televised reaction to last week's budget debate. Last week, the chairman and entire Board of Directors of the PRF resigned after prime minister Dr. Kenny Anthony asked them to do so in order to make the PRF "more vigorous and efficient in its implementation of poverty reduction programmes" [see last week's news]. Dr. Lewis added, "I make this request because, like so many of you, I have heard certain rumours and we need, if they are not correct, to squash them now. A large mass of rumours about public business, such as we have in St. Lucia today is a sign of something not good deep down". Dr Lewis further called for the formation of a National Economic Council consisting of "relevant interest groups and professional associations for a full discussion" on the island's social and economic policies.
The Star, Voice, Mirror and One Caribbean all report this.
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SLHTA ready to discuss benefits of hotel sector
In response to recent criticisms alleging that the hotel industry, particularly the all-inclusive sector, does not really make its economic impact felt to the benefit of the so-called 'man in the street', the St. Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) intends to start a public awareness campaign to address these concerns and to discuss the realities of the tourism industry. Berthia Parle, SLHTA's president, calls the notion that the island's hotel sector has not created any linkages or benefits "a myth". This is reported in The Star. According to the paper, Parle said that "while some fine tuning was needed in many areas within the industry, locals were not reaping as much as they could from the sector because they were not taking advantage of the opportunities that already exist within the industry".
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PM and Odlum maintain polite distance
Both Foreign minister George Odlum and prime minister Dr. Kenny Anthony this week have been careful not to add fuel to the political furore caused when Odlum hauled his government colleagues over the coals during the 2000/2001 budget debate [see last week's news]. Amongst other things, Odlum revealed that he had disagreed with the government's decision to sack three senators over the HelenAir issue and that he disagrees with the current handling of the Smart Duah affair. Odlum further asserted that the government, "in three measly years" has managed to alienate "all the important sectors of the community", including the media, private sector, farmers, public servants, teachers, churches, trusted Labour stalwarts, the opposition and some regional colleagues.
According to The Mirror, the other cabinet ministers felt "traumatised" over Odlum's criticisms and held an informal meeting early last week, minus Odlum, to discuss the Foreign minister's words. It was decided that Odlum "should be allowed to speak his mind and share with his colleagues the full extent of his feelings towards the policies and direction of the Government". In The Star, the prime minister is quoted as saying that he does not, at present, intend to dismiss Odlum. The Mirror also writes that prime minister Anthony told reporters he has no intention of firing his Foreign Minister.
Odlum, in turn, during DBS's talkshow 'Newsmaker Live', denied that his critical budget address is part of a larger scheme to either try to take over Dr. Anthony's position, or defect to the United Workers Party. "Don't cheapen what I did in the House by suggesting I'm after Dr. Anthony's job - I'm not. I would have been happy to see everything going well in the country. ... I don't see myself in terms of an alternative to Dr. Anthony. Together we have to see what we can do to push the country on. People need to get out of their minds that anything we do must have a cheap political motive". Odlum agreed however that he and his cabinet colleagues will need to sit down and talk. "We have to get down and get our emphases right".
Asked if his criticism has exposed the Labour Party government to the opposition, Odlum said: "That might make us a better Government if the Opposition United Workers Party started taking us to task. You mustn't be afraid of that kind of opposition. That's what we must get in order to thrive as a Government".
In this week's papers and on radio and TV shows throughout the week, Odlum received much public support for his outspokenness, although a minority of callers accused him of not doing enough for his constituents in Castries North-East. Odlum, incidentally, expressed his intention to stand for elections again in that area.
However, Odlum revealed that a threat was made on his life by an anonymous caller to his home. Odlum was out at the time. The Mirror cites Odlum as saying he does not intend to let the threat interfere with what he does.
Unexpectedly, Odlum did not join PM Anthony at the South-South Summit in Cuba this week. But Odlum dispelled rumours that this was somehow tied in with last week's budget debate controversy.
The Mirror, Crusader and One Caribbean all report on various aspects of the political situation.
[Full text of George Odlum's 2000/2001budget presentation]
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PM admits: mistakes were made in Duah case
"Mistakes have been made in the management of the Smart Duah case". Prime minister Dr. Kenny Anthony made this revealing statement during a news broadcast on Friday night. The PM refrained from saying more on the matter of the 24-year-old Nigerian man who was unlawfully detained in a St. Lucian prison for three and a half years and who is currently applying for refugee status. However, Dr. Anthony did announce that his cabinet would discuss the Smart Duah case more fully this week. Two weeks ago, the Cabinet voted in secret on the matter of Duah's application for refugee status. It is widely believed that only three persons voted in favour of Duah's application - including minister of Foreign Affairs George Odlum, who has since publicly criticised the government for its handling of the Smart Duah case [see last week's news].
Meanwhile, The Star writes that Dr. Anthony has stated that "he has no reasons at present to dismiss his Foreign Minister, George Odlum, because of conflicting positions on the planned deportation" of Duah.
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SLBC offers to open its books to WIBDECO
"If the St. Lucia Banana Corporation (SLBC) had the welfare of their farmers at heart, they would act promptly to ensure there was no delay in their growers receiving their well-deserved bonuses". This, according the Windward Islands Banana Development Exporting Company (WIBDECO) in refuting a claim made by the SLBC that WIBDECO is denying SLBC farmers the chance to benefit from one million pounds sterling in bonus payments to be paid by WIBDECO to banana growers in the Windward Islands [see last week's news]. The SLBC last week alleged that the bonus payments exclude the SLBC farmers and hence are a form of "unfair business practice" meant to provide the other banana companies with "the necessary advantage to destroy the SLBC".
This, according to WIBDECO, is nonsense. WIBDECO maintains that all banana companies have been asked to submit a list with the names of their growers, so that bonus payments could be calculated and paid. The SLBC, however, refused to submit such a list and instead asked for the money to be paid to the SLBC as a lump sum, for the company itself to then pay to its farmers. WIBDECO, however, suggested that the SLBC's real intention might be to retain the bonus payment and deprive its farmers of what is justifiably theirs. The SLBC stands to receive approximately 388,000 pounds. The SLBC this week objected strongly to WIBDECO's suggestion of foul play and offers to demonstrate to WIBDECO how it intends to break down the payments and also to show proof of payment to farmers.
The Star, Voice, Crusader, Mirror and Tuesday Voice all report on the latest SLBC/WIBDECO conflict. Meanwhile, prime minister Dr. Kenny Anthony is expected to address the SLBC's Annual General Meeting on Monday. This is reported in The Voice .
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NIS names buildings after prominent citizens
Six buildings belonging to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) were named after prominent St. Lucian citizens during a special ceremony as part of the NIS' 21st anniversary celebrations, last Sunday morning. In attendance were the Governor-General, the prime minister, various other government officials and NIS director Emma Hippolyte. The NIS building in Soufriere is being named after the late Sir Darnley Alexander, born in Castries in 1920, who later became a Chief Justice in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The NIS building on the Waterfront in Castries is to be known as the Francis Compton Building, the one on High Street as the Godfrey Herbert James building; NIS Building Block A becomes the Sir Stanislaus James building, Block B becomes the Heraldine Rock building, and the NIS building in Vieux Fort is being named after Sir Ludovic Antoine Theodore. The Star, Tuesday Voice and One Caribbean all report on this.
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EC Express to start operations this week
EC Express is set to commence operations in St. Lucia on Monday of this week with services to Grenada, Dominica, St. Lucia and Barbados, from where it will operate a hub service. EC Express - which maintains close ties with Air Jamaica – will starts out with two 37-seater Dash 8's. It expects to expand its operations to St. Vincent in June, with the arrival of a third aircraft and to Tobago in November, when a fourth aircraft will be commissioned. EC Express is busily establishing alliances with a number of large international carriers, such as Virgin Atlantic, Air Canada and Air France. The Star, Voice, Mirror and One Caribbean all report this.
Concerns were raised during Thursday's talkshow Talk about the viability of the growing number of airline carriers currently operating in the regional market. Besides EC Express, there are HelenAir, LIAT and, coming soon, a new carrier called Star.
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Ultimate guide to St. Lucia now available
A new 106-page paperback guide to St. Lucia is on the market, combining dazzling photographs by Duncan Willets and Chris Huxley with exciting writing. The book, an Indigo guidebook titled 'St. Lucia', is written by St. Lucians Caroline Popovic and Nancy Atkinson. It offers a lot of historical information but does away with what Popovic describes as "the patronizing and stylized visions of St. Lucia as the 'Helen of the West Indies' - a cliché worn thin in too many travel books". Instead, Popovic maintains, "it gets straight to the reality of what makes St. Lucia interesting". That reality includes tips on the best dining, underwater sports, rainforest treks, cultural events, architecture, places of interest, beach life, night life, flora and fauna. The book is on sale at various outlets around the island for between EC$68 and EC$79. The Star and One Caribbean report this.
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LUCELEC Review Commission holds public meetings
In advertisements throughout this week's national press, the St. Lucia Electricity Services Review Commission invites members of the public to attend one of four public consultations to be held this week. The aim of the Commission is to review LUCELEC's performance since 1995 and make recommendations in various areas of interest to both the government and the company. The Review Commission was instigated some months ago by the government. The public consultations will be held on Monday 17th April, from 6pm - 8pm at the RC Boys Primary School in Castries, on Tuesday 18th April from 6pm - 8pm at the Maurice Mason Memorial School in Castries, on Wednesday 19th April from 3pm - 5 pm at the Soufriere Primary School and also on Wednesday 19th April, from 6pm - 8 pm at the Vieux Fort Primary School. Chairman is Professor Emeritus of the faculty of Engineering of the University of the West Indies, K.S. Julian.
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Three intense hurricanes predicted for 2000
Seven hurricanes and three intense hurricanes are being predicted for the upcoming hurricane season 2000 in the Atlantic and Gulf Coast, which formally starts on 1st June. This according to hurricane forecaster Bill Gray. "We do not anticipate a season as active as those of the years 1995, 1996, 1998 or 1999. Still, we believe we are entering a new era for increased storm activity and for East Coast landfalls by major storms", Gray is quoted as saying in The Star. "The 2000 forecast, while anticipated to be less active than several recent seasons, is still expected to exceed significantly the average season during the relatively quiet period between 1970-1994", writes The Star. Last year, Gray's forecast was close to its mark. He predicted nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes - there turned out to be eight hurricanes and five major hurricanes.
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Justice: do not fire employees on jury service
Justice Haripashad-Charles, speaking at the closing of the February 2000 Assizes this week, warned employers around the island that when an employee is summoned to serve as juror, employers are not entitled to fire that person or to withhold or deduct money their salary. The warning comes on the heels of reports that a Laborie woman who served as juror during the recent assizes, was subsequently dismissed by her Vieux Fort employer. The Tuesday Voice reports this. "Jurors have a civic duty to perform, and if they're not here then the judicial system collapses. The law is such that we cannot choose anyone with a legal background or any civil servants to serve as jurors", Justice Hariprashad-Charles explains. "I know that the business community themselves are having problems but once a member of your staff has been called to serve as a juror, if that staff is very important to you, you can delegate. ... We do not expect business places to suffer ... but my message is that no employer can dismiss a juror while he or she is serving a civic duty".
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C&W: new internet rates really are lower
Cable and Wireless' divisional manager for Sales, Deborah Barley, this week denounced reports that C&W's recent reduction in internet rates is merely "a reconfiguration" and not a real reduction. Small users do, in fact, have to pay more rather than less, it has been contended. This is not true however, explains Barley, who says that a "holistic approach" is necessary to understand that internet rates in St. Lucia have decreased. This reduction lies mainly in the fact that the five cents a minute telephone connection charge is now a thing of the past. The Voice and Mirror both report this.
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Caribbean Studies Ass'n conference in St. Lucia
The 25th annual conference of the Caribbean Studies Association (CSA) is scheduled to take place in St. Lucia, bringing together some five hundred scholars, authors and academics who all, on one way or another, specialise in Caribbean culture. The conference will be held at the new Hyatt Regency hotel and takes place from 29th May to 3rd June. Heading the local organising committee are John Robert Lee and Matthew Roberts. The CSA was founded in 1974 and now has more than 1000 members worldwide.
The Mirror, Tuesday Voice and One Caribbean all report this.
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