Bus Fares will be Increased
Story By
Shannon Lebourne

The President of the NCOPT says consumers will be given enough time to adjust their budgets before the increases take effect. The Transport Minister described Tuesday’s meeting as successful and cordial. Joseph says although minibus drivers were not fully in favour with the fare increases proposed by the task force they were prepared to compromise.

The Transport Minister has also laid to rest fears that bus-drivers will not receive the second installment on the fuel rebate on time. Joseph says the $1.2M in gas rebates will be paid to the NCOP T on Wednesday.Joseph says he will address consumers on the bus fare increases as soon as the agreement is finalized.

The Officer in Charge of the Gros-Islet Police Department says there is a link between a robbery gang operating in Saint Lucia and the drug trade in Saint Vincent. George Modeste says goods stolen in Saint Lucia are being traded for drugs and other items in the neighbouring island. This follows arrests and recovery of a number of stolen goods linked to that gang. The goods were recovered by a police task force that included the Criminal Investigation Department of the Gros-Islet Police Department. That department wants the public to lay claim to the stolen goods so that charges may

be laid against a number of incarcerated suspects. These goods are valued at over $30,000 and include electronics, jewelry and cash. Police say the gang operated as far north as Gros-Islet and as far west as Laborie. They were based in Castries with members ranging from 19 to 32. Police are calling on the general public to be vigilant in securing their property. They also want citizens to be their neighbour’s keeper and report any suspicious vehicles and people in their communities.

While the TUF was strategizing, the national workers union was holding its own talks with the government. prior to Tuesday’s negotiation, the two sides agreed to have all fringe benefits proposal settled before dealing with general wage increases. This is consistent with the agreements reached between government and the other unions negotiating on behalf of public sector workers.

However, the NWU is not part of the trade union federation. The NWU says talks were smooth and productive, but the union was firm that negotiations must be completed within a reasonable period. The national workers’ union represents workers employed in town and village councils and daily paid and non-establishment workers employed with government.

The Trade Union Federation says the review of the Labor Code is a waste of time and money. The General Secretary of the TUF says there was enough consultation on the code which he says should have been enacted in its preset form. But Wayne Cumberbatch says despite its objections the TUF will participate in a review to ensure that the benefits already won on behalf of workers are not lost. He says instead of reviewing the document, government should have made it law and then make amendments if necessary.

Cumberbatch says the code has become increasingly important in light of escalating prices on consumer products. He says the present code protects workers from wrongful dismissal and makes reservations for severance pay and other benefits. The TUF General Secretary says this is necessary for employees facing many struggles on the job.

Cumberbatch says the code will also benefit workers because it makes arrangements for a minimum wage. At present there is no minimum wage but there is a Minimum Wage Act on the books. The TUF General Secretary says government needs to implement a Wages Commission urgently to police that law. The Labor Code was first passed under the Kenny Anthony administration just ahead of the December 11th General Elections. According to the Government’s schedule all Amendments to the proposed document must be submitted to the Attorney General by September 10th. Labor Minister Edmund has promised the code will be enacted by the end of the year.

The Owner of Total Construction Supplies got a call from his staff around 2:00PM that indicating that they might have received a fraudulent cheque. Timothy Mangal says the business has system of verifying and scanning cheques presented for purchasing items. In addition, ID’s are mandated. He says the police were called and they got there in quick time. They were able to nab one the people involved in the purchase.

Mangal says, at first glance, the cheque appears to be an authentic Manager’s cheque. However, he says he has followed coverage of the cheque fraud on the island in the local media and was aware of the process to follow. He’s hoping that this breakthrough can lead the authorities to apprehend the ringmaster. The business has been in operation for only three months. Mangal says when counterfeiters are successful, they set businesses back.

The OECS review was conducted in Geneva. Cato says a number of policies pertaining to all manners of goods and services were studied. Cato says this type of review is standard for all members of the World Trade Organization. All OECS countries are attending the trade policy review including Saint Vincent and Grenada.
The two day seminar ended on Tuesday.

Thinking of building or repairing a home or business? – The Pan American Health Organization wants you to look at their wind hazard maps before you get started. PAHO unveiled these maps to engineers and disaster personnel in the Eastern Caribbean including Saint Lucia this week. These wind hazard maps are specifically designed for the region. PAHO says awareness of wind direction will facilitate the construction of buildings that can weather natural disasters like hurricanes.

The maps are designed to be used by engineers as well as the ordinary layman. In fact – PAHO got involved in the project on the condition that it would be accessible to all people. The maps are free of charge and can be accessed on the PAHO web-site or through any internet search engine. The first in a series of three workshops on the wind hazard maps began in Saint Lucia on Monday. Similar workshops have been planned for the Bahamas and Latin American later in the year. A number of technical people from Saint Lucia attended the briefing including NEMO and ECTEL.

How about learning your history through poetry and music? That is the premise behind the “Brigands camp” – a production in time for emancipation day that will document Saint Lucia’s past. It is the brainchild of performance poet – ken hardy and his band the soul-dredz. One of the featured performers will be award-winning Saint Lucian poet Stephen Dantes. He says it will be an afro-centric event that looks at Saint Lucia’s past.

The performance is expected to uplift and educate ahead of emancipation day on august 1. Dantes says it will take a positive look at events that still shape the reality of black people. It will also use indigenous instruments and music like violins and the drums. Brigands camp will be staged on Wednesday July 30th at the lookout in Vigie. Showtime is 9pm. Tickets can be purchased at rent-a-car in Rodney Bay and at sunshine bookstore.