Emancipation Day Shooting
Story By
Winster Springer

A taxi driver is nursing gun shot wounds at the Victoria hospital. The victim is Alvin St Brice of Bois Patat Morn Du Don. Reports indicate that St Brice was returning home when a gunman opened fire on his vehicle hitting him in the face. The victim's ear was also partially severed by the gunshot blast.

The incident occurred around 2:30 Friday morning. The shooter is reportedly unknown by the victim and the motive for the crime remains unclear. The early morning shooting is being investigated by the police. Anyone with information pertaining to the incident and the whereabouts of the perpetrator are asked to contact law enforcers.

Acting Police Commissioner John Broughton says Saint Lucia must invest in security and law and order if it is to safeguard its vital tourism industry. His comments come a few days after the murder of a visiting UK national in Antigua. That crime has been heavily reported in the regional and international media. Fearful of the effect it could have on that country’s tourism industry – the Antigua and Barbuda Hotel Association is offering a reward for any information that leads to solving the crime. Broughton says repercussions of that murder will not be limited to the tourism industry in the neighbouring island.

Taking a proactive approach is also on the mind of Tourism Minister Allen Chastanet. Chastanet and Home Affairs Minister Guy Mayers on Thursday chaired a security meeting to examine Saint Lucia’s preparedness for a similar situation. That meeting was also attended by people closely affiliated with the tourism industry.The Acting Police Commissioner is using the just ended Carnival celebrations to hammer his point home. Broughton says increased security at Carnival resulted in a reduced crime celebration. It also solicited positive comments from visitors and locals.

The Tourism Minister has also extended his sympathy to the Antiguan government, its people and the tourism fraternity there. The reward being offered for information about the murder is $250,000.

The US Navy Vessel - USNS Grasp is in St.Lucian waters on a special mission. The US Navy is working with individual countries to enhance port security operations wihin the Eastern Caribbean. Regional Security Systems divers are being exposed to new dive techniques that will bring port security operations to International standards. Lieutenant Robert Greene says the training will help safeguard the region’s tourism industry.

Lieutenant Greene says the crew wants to forge maritime partnerships geared at increasing capacity.Greene says local and regional divers are being trained to undergo pier inspections and to conduct searches for dangerous and controlled devices like explosives and contraband. He says the focus is on preparing the divers to first identify any problems that may crop up.

Douglas Casavant is the captain of the USNS Grasp. The ship is powered by a thirty member crew including four communications specialists to facilitate interaction between the vessel and the US Navy. Captain Casavant says the primary mission of the vessel is to rescue salvage.

The USNS Grasp is the second US Navy Vessel to visit St.Lucia in the last month. Assistance from the US government to strengthen Regional Security Systems and port operations in the Eastern Caribbean came at the request of regional governments at a Security Summit in the US last year.

The certificates of participation were presented by the acting police commissioner. John Broughton says the activity allows police officers to showcase their talent. He says it also allows them to connect with the community and country they serve. Kaiso headquarters 2008 was won by spoiler – an officer attached to the drug unit. The unit was also recognized for what the organizers say was the most supportive division of the competition. This is an annual award presented for the first time in 2008.

The Saint Lucia national carnival bands association wants to recognize its new members. To that end – the association will present a new award at its annual prize giving ceremony to be held later this year. The award will be presented to the best new band in the just concluded carnival 2008. Dylan Pitcairn is the president of the bands association.

The initiative is supported by a former CDF executive director. Teddy Francis says the growth of carnival depends on associations doing their part to encourage expansion. He also encouraged other associations to step up to the plate. Three new bands played Mas this year. They were Atlantis, Toxic and Mosaic HD. Of the new participants – Atlantis scored the highest for the coveted band of the year award.