Another Female Implicated
Story By
Alison Kentish

The arrest of the Morne du Don resident prompted calls from law enforcement officials for a more stringent selection criteria for private security guards. Investigations into the location of the stolen goods led officers to Mathurin. She pleaded not guilty and was released on $1,000 bail. She is scheduled to return to Court on September 12th. The Officer is required to report to the CID every Monday between 7 am and 7 pm. Air and Sea Ports Authority has expressed concern about this incident and SLASPA is cooperating fully with the police investigation. SLASPA says it will continue to enhance its security at the ports and hold information sessions with the entire airport community.

The Air and Sea Ports authority said it is particularly concerned about the incident and SLASPA is cooperating fully with the police investigation. In a statement, the authority says it has held discussions with the contracted security firms to ensure systems are in place to prevent a recurrence. It says regular discussions will go on and security checks conducted to ensure the security of airport users and their property is not compromised. SLASPA says it will continue to enhance its security at the ports and hold information sessions with the entire airport community.

Home Affairs Minister - Guy Mayers - is talking tough on a proposed new policy. He also has some advice for the UK – get your drug problem under control. Mayers is speaking on the Airbridge policy the UK wants the region to adopt. Airbridge would mandate the region to detain and prosecute people who use the Caribbean waters to ship drugs to the UK. Mayers says it is a policy Saint Lucian cannot afford to enforce. The Minister says Saint Lucia does not have the capacity to execute Airbridge. Case in point - the

incarcerated individuals would be housed at the Bordelais Correctional Facility – a prison that is already taxed. Mayers says the policy works for the UK – not Saint Lucia. It is policies like Airbridge that has the Home Affairs Minister calling for dialogue. Mayers says policies in the developed world are rarely designed to benefit the region that is affected by them. The Minister recently attended the UK/CARICOM forum where he says he hammered that point to delegates. Operation Airbridge has already been implemented in Jamaica in a campaign both governments say was so successful the UK government wants to export it to another her former colony – Ghana.

Paulette Dawn Smith is the Senior Director of Jamaica’s National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training. She is also lending her expertise to local education officials. Smith says the new teaching strategy will prepare students better for the working world. The OAS has secured the services of Jamaican Productivity Company - HEART Trust - to help train vocational and technical teachers.

The Trust’s Chief Technical Director – Clover Barnett says St. Lucia’s teachers have been learning how to prepare their technical students better for viable employment in the near future. So far, only two Secondary schools are taking part in the project. Plans are underway to extend it to all Secondary schools.

Dr Bennet was one of the Tapion staff members who assisted the Washington team of four with the surgeries. She says the procedure will allow women to get back to their lives quicker following surgery. Tapion staff was singled out for their enthusiasm and dedication to learning the new procedure. There was one surgery performed on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday – on Wednesday there were two. These keyhole gynecological surgeries were performed at the Tapion hospital.

The bank was hoping to guide new student clients on financial management whilst at school. This is because the bank realizes that many students are unaware of what to expect when they go off to school. Bank of St. Lucia Branch Manager for the Waterfront – Cornelius Sidone says it’s also part of developing a relationship. Scores of student loan clients and potential clients came out for the forum. The bank has a large student loan portfolio – over seventeen hundred student loans valued at over sixty million dollars. Dana Jn Charles, a student at Grambling State University thought the idea excellent for students.

The exercise was to prepare students for university experiences for which they were not prepared. The Human Resource Officer for Training at ECFH – Martha Mathurin says for many students, this would be their first time away from home.  The Bank has made the student loan process easier – the interest rate has been reduced from ten-point-five to nine-point-five to eight-point-five percent. The repayment period has also been extended from ten years to fifteen years.

The Eastern Caribbean telecommunications authority says recently approved guidelines for a development fund will assist communities not benefiting from advancement in telecoms. The universal service fund imposes a levy on telecoms providers. These funds will then be used for development projects in underserved communities.
It will also extend access to basic telecommunications services. The guidelines were approved by the ECTEL council of ministers. ECTEL ’s new managing director – Embert Charles – says the fund will benefit communities in all member states.

The fund aims to promote greater telecommunications connectivity and access. It is financed by levies on the revenue of licensed telecoms operators and administered by the national telecommunications regulatory commissions of each ECTEL member state.

Digicel used a beach bar-b-que to thank all those the company says facilitated their sponsorship of Saint Lucia Carnival 2008. The event was held Oceanside at the Bay Gardens Beach Resort. Digicel Country Manager – Keigan Cox – says it was a fun Carnival – the company wanted to highlight those who made it possible. Carnival was mainly organized by the CDF under the stewardship of Teddy Francis. Francis says the first year of a three year initial deal with Digicel added great value to what was a great festival.

Digicel has signed a three year contract with the Saint Lucia Tourist Board for all their major festivals. That includes Saint Lucia Jazz and the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers. Tourist Board Marketing Manager – Ian Herman – says plans are already being made for the ARC 2008. The thank you event was attended by a number of people affiliated with Digicel Carnival 2008 including its tent – TOT – as well as band – Red International – and pan side – Pantime.

On Friday, the Hewanorra musical society will pay out $300,000 in royalties to its members. The annual distribution day is applicable to members who joined HMS before December 31st, 2007. Of that $300,000 - $47,000 will be paid directly to members in the form of allocations – the remaining $253,000 will be payments based on performance details provided by local radio stations and major live events. HMS general manager – Steve Etienne – says over 20% of profits will be paid out on Friday.

Royalties will be paid in the form of cheques from 1pm at the new HMS building. That office is located at Julian Charles road in Sans Souci. HMS has over 300 members. Etienne says royalty cheques will be better than last year because the quality of local music has grown. He says because the music is played more on radio stations and more performances are being booked – artistes are making more money.

Ailing Cuban President Fidel Castro who has survived over six hundred and eighty assassination attempts - will celebrate his 82nd birthday on August 13th. The St. Lucia Cuba Humanistic Solidarity Association has organized a special activity to observe Cuba Solidarity Day. The Association’s Information and Public Relations Director - Edgar Rossini Francois says Castro’s - and his revolution’s – impact on St. Lucia’s development has been profound.

The event will be held in Castries at the City Hall on August 13th from 3PM. Francois says it will be a celebration of all things Cuban. An invitation has been extended to members of the Association and the public to participate in the activity. Saint Lucia and Cuba have a longstanding relationship that has included the provision of Cuban scholarships to Saint Lucians for study in the Spanish speaking country.

Staff of the health and environmental safety department of sandals resorts is teaching young people the importance of caring for the environment. Sandals regency hosted wards of the holy family children’s home Thursday. The children were taught the value of recycling, composting and tree planting.

Sandals regional health and environmental safety manager – Christine Wilkinson – says the importance of environmental conservation must be taught to children at an early age. In 2001 sandals resorts joined green globe – an environmental organisation and certification program for tourism. Wilkinson says the resorts are following the necessary guidelines to Minimise negative impact on the environment. She says Thursday’s activity showed the children what it is to be environmentally aware. The environmental manager says sandals will continue to promote the ideals of environmental protection to the community.