White Sandwich Bread Halt
Story By
Alison Kentish

The Association says it has been seeking an increase in price since January – to no avail. Cadasse says after eight months of patience with the Ministry of Trade – the Association has decided to take matters into its own hands. She says her Association has given Government ten days notice of its intent. Cadasse says Government was given ample time to consider the Association’s request for a price increase. She says the Ministry of Trade has not taken the matter seriously. Cadasse says local bakeries have been producing white sandwich bread at a loss – and can no longer afford to subsidise production costs. She says Government has ten days to consider the Association’s position and the power to intervene and stop what would clearly be a blow to consumers.

An illegal development on Piton Mitan is the latest in a series of projects that has the National Trust asking – is Saint Lucia for sale? An Italian businessman is building what has been described as a palace in the PMA despite a seeming lack of approval from relevant agencies. Trust Director – Bishnu Tulsie –says there appears to be an agenda to sell the country particularly its coastline.

The National Trust does play a dual role in assessing potential projects. They do not have final say in either of those. The first is as a referral agency – the second is as a member of the Development Control Authority. Bus is the Trust doing enough to educate Saint Lucians and to alert its members about the danger they say the country is facing? Tulsie says they use the media and email to appeal to the public and their members. However – they can only go as far as their members allow.

The National Trust held a meeting with its membership over this past week-end. It is this meeting that will determine the way forward in fighting projects Trust Director – Bishnu Tulsie – says are endangering the environment.

The Saint Lucia Teachers Union says it will work closely with the Education Ministry to tackle the issue of sexual abuse in the school system. But the SLTU says the situation has been exaggerated grossly by education officials. It is a topic that has generated much media coverage after education officials said last year it received eight reports of abuse. Teacher’s Union President Julian Monrose says the number is much lower.

It is a concern the Education Minister says is not new. Arsene James says the issue has been around for decades and successive Governments have tried to address it. James says the Union must work with Government to stamp out the practice in the school system as some of its members are fingered in the allegations. Monrose says his Union is willing to work with the Ministry, but will not remain silent when the Ministry does wrong. He says the Union is mandated to protect its members’ interests and hold the Ministry accountable.

The 2008/2009 academic year begins officially on September 1st. The Union promises it will not defend any member found guilty of sexual assault. Monrose says members have been advised accordingly.

The Technical meeting was part of efforts to develop a policy to guide actions in schools and for approaching funding agencies. The situational analysis was conducted earlier this year by the Ministry of Education working with some international agencies. Sophia Edwards-Gabriel works with the Ministry of Education’s Focal Point.
She says the idea is to do less talking and engage in more action.

The Ministry is working with the Partnership for Childhood Development and UNESCO on this programme. The technical meeting incorporated civil society groups, faith-based organizations, various officials from the Ministries of Education and Health, and the National AIDS Programme Secretariat. The policies and strategic plan for the education sector is expected to assist in strengthening and accelerating the HIV/AIDS response.

Non-medical staff at the island’s lone mental health facility started day two of a two-day sickout Friday. The protesting workers include nursing assistants, janitors and other auxiliary staff. They are represented by the national workers union. The staff is protesting unsanitary working conditions. Golden hope has been plagued with industrial action over time, with issues ranging from flea infestation and poor working conditions to overtime payments.

Earlier this year, nurses at the facility staged industrial action saying they were fed up with the inhumane working conditions. The sick out was expected to continue through Friday.

The former Board, under Attorney Nicholas John, was forced to resign when Rufus Bousquet took over that agency. This came after Economic Planning Minister – Ausbert D’Auvergne quit, facing enormous pressure from elected member of his party, especially Bousquet. There are suggestions Bousquet asked the Board to resign because it was set up by his predecessor – a claim he denies. Dr. Alison Plummer convened her first meeting Thursday. Two members of the former Board have been retained – the

Managing Director of Eastern Caribbean Financial Holdings – Robert Norstrom and Pinkly Francis of the telecommunications company – Antilles Crossing. Also on the Board are Jacqueline Emmanuel – a former General Manager of the NDC and Jodi Boodhoo – the only Director with no prior involvement with the NDC. One of the first priorities of the new NDC Board is the appointment of a General Manager.

The deadline for applications expired two weeks ago. The new Board also discussed other matters affecting how the functioning of the Corporation in what insiders have described as a lengthy meeting. For now, five members will sit, but there are reports two other members could be added. An official announcement on the composition of the new NDC Board is expected shortly.

Joseph says the Minister did not keep his word to discuss the findings of the survey with his Association before making the results public. It is those results he says have turned the airport into an open season that is crippling his southern members. The Southern Taxi Association staged what Joseph says is the start of protest action in Vieux-Fort on Thursday. He says they did it with his full support and he is prepared to face any and all consequences.

Lucien Joseph says 55% of Southern Taxi Union business has been lost because of the open policy placed on the airport by the Tourism Minister. He says his Association will ensure that situation is retarded by any means necessary.

The new Seamen’s Union President has a daunting task ahead – trying to revive a Union that has been blasted by fellow bargaining agents and faced votes of no confidence from members. Former First Vice President – Esther St. Marie has been promoted appointed to the helm. General Secretary Cecilia Adolph says members demanded the position be filled to avoid the Union’s demise. She says the promotion of St. Marie from second in command to the top was the most logical option to stabilise the Union.

St. Marie says she will continue as the Union’s mobiliser – her goal is to convince as many of the Island’s employees as possible to join her Union. She acknowledges it will not be smooth sailing, but says the executive is determined to mend the broken Union. The Union has appointed its former 2nd Vice President to the post of 1st V.P. Augustin Joseph says his goal is to unite Union members. St. Marie has been acting President since the dismissal of Alexis Alcide earlier this year. She will remain in her current post until the Union’s next biennial meeting in February 2010.

Robyn and Ronnie Swain from Georgia are among the firsts guests to occupy the villas. The couple, celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary say the experience – and service – has exceeded their expectations. Mutton says demand for the suites has been encouraging. The villas are about $1,500 US dollars a night for an individual.

The seamen’s union has awarded five scholarships to members’ children who were successful at the 2008 common entrance examinations. The cheques were presented to the recipients on friday. Three of the scholarships were based on performance and two solely on need. Union president Esther St. Marie says the presentation is part of her union’s mission to assist its members. Scholarship recipient Trent Mortley-Herman will attend the Leon Hess secondary school in September. He says he will

take advantage of the opportunity. One of the recipients scored 90% in the exam and is one of two recipients who will attend the St. Mary’s college. The other students will attend the Leon Hess, Sir Ira Simmons and Corinth secondary schools.

The crisis center had been operating without a fax since its machine broke down. But now, with the help of telecommunications giant – digicel – the center has a replacement machine it will use to communicate with government agencies and corporate entities. Digicel also provided two phones – a mobile unit and a desk top. Crisis center director – Sandra Murray says those will help with programmes of the organization. The digicel country manager – Keigan Cox made the presentation to the crisis center.

development – Deborah Barley-Mathurin - says the service can be accessed at a cost of $10 weekly. These new  products are part of a us $400 million dollar investment that cable and wireless will be making in the region in the next 3 years.