Christopher Gittens also known as Archelle is fighting for his life at hospital. The 19-year-old was shot multiple times as he was fixing his motorcycle near La Clery on Wednesday. Witnesses say a masked man walked up to Gittens with a firearm and discharged several rounds, hitting the young man three times, including his head. Assistant Police Commissioner – Andy Armstrong says the assailant is believed to have fled on foot after shooting Gittens. Polices officers were at the hospital monitoring Gittens’ condition. Up until news time, there were reports the young man we being moved to the Intensive Care Unit where medical professionals were working hard to keep him alive. The police want witnesses to come forward. Police

are still working on a motive for the shooting. Over the last few days, the police have received an increased number of reports of violence including two murders.

Police are investigation reports of another homicide. The police say Kenneth William john, also known as stinky was found lying in Castries last week. Assistant police commissioner – Vernon François says the 64-year-old man appeared to have been beaten badly. François says they have no direct motive for the killing at present, but they are calling on the public to assist with the investigation. Meanwhile, the post mortem on Adrian Paul of Palmiste was conducted Tuesday. It revealed that the man, commonly known as Smokey died from hemorrhagic shock secondary to gun shot wounds. François says Paul was wanted by Scotland Yard at the time of his death. François

says investigations into the murder are ongoing, and law enforcement officers are hoping to establish a motive shortly.

Eustace Monrose insists that WIBDECO condones acts of wrong doing. The Chairman of SLBC has been criticized heavily for not reporting his finding to the WIBDECO board during his tenure as the Chairman of the Audit Committee. However he says those claims are untrue. Monrose says in addition to reporting those matters to the board, he also recommended that an internal auditor be appointed to monitor the company’s operations. Monrose says the entire WIBDECO board should resign because the members have lost their objectivity by allowing the CEO to dictate what happens at the board level. He says WIBDECO was created to ensure the survival of the banana industry and to generate employment in

rural communities. However he says the current Directors have lost focus. The SLBC Chairman alleges that WIBDECO is creating jobs for the boys while banana farmers continue to struggle. At the center of the controversy is the hefty salary being paid to WIBDECO`s CEO. Bernard Conibert received an eighty percent salary increase, taking his earnings to over three million dollars for a three year period. The SLBC Chairman says that contract was awarded even after the late Sir John Compton had advised otherwise. Eustace Monrose also lashed out at the WIBDECO Chairman for what he says was a failed attempt to justify the CEO`s salary.

Monrose says his next move is to mobilize the stakeholders in WIBDECO to demand a forensic audit of the company’s operations. He says if WIBDECO has nothing to hide it should facilitate the audit. The SLBC Chairman says he will expose more ills of the WIBDECO operations in the coming days.

the Choiseul MP, one person engaged in that struggle – said his Party had to come together or face a humiliating loss at the polls. There are also those who compare the recent government upheaval to a similar situation within a previous Labour administration. This early 80’s government eventually collapsed under pressure from a then Opposition Sir John Compton. The Political leader says Sir John had the assistance of a warring faction within that administration – his Party never formed such an alliance.

The Prime Minister says all is well within his government now that Ausbert D’Auvergne is out – Rufus Bousquet is in and Marcus Nicholas is back where he started. Dr Anthony says Saint Lucians need to brace themselves for more upheaval in their government.

In a letter to Edmund Estephane, the union says the Diamonds International Manager – Hugh Jones has been frustrating its efforts at representing the workers even after a poll that should have resolved the issue of recognition. The fight to represent the workers has been dragging on for over three years, and it was thought that the issue would have been put to rest following the poll. But, not so, according to Grievance Officer at the National Workers Union – Lawrence Poyotte. Poyotte says the union has done its part, now it’s time for the other authorities to act. In its letter, the NWU says it has tried

to meet with Hugh Jones on several occasions, but it would appear that he is avoiding the union. The union won it recognition bid in a secret ballot poll supervised by the Labour Department. The union also claims that Jones has been terminating workers on the pretext that the company is restructuring. The NWU says it considers those firings reprisals for the workers decision to become unionized. It says the withdrawal Jones’ work permit is necessary because foreigners cannot be allowed to enter the country and flout the laws. The lawyers for Diamonds International say they had not seen the letter when we contacted them. However, Peter Foster has promised a response to the NWU’s correspondence after he peruses the document.

The gas rebate to mini-bus drivers was a temporary measure to offset the gas price increase pending a comprehensive review of the transportation sector. Already, some drivers are calling for the rebate system to be discontinued and for government to grant an increase in bus fares. The Public Relations Officer of the National Council on Public Transportation Linus St Claire says mini-bus drivers are dissatisfied with the present rebate system. The last bus fare increase was in 2005. One of the drivers demanding an increase is the President of the Grand Riviere Mini-Bus Association. Anthony Marius says the bus fare

increase is justified to offset a price increase in fuel, brakes and tires. He says the request should not be viewed as drivers being greedy. The PRO of the NCOPT says the rebate system is good because it protects legitimate drivers from pirates. Linus St .Clair says pirate drivers continue to steal into the profits of legitimate drivers. He says instead of discontinuing the rebate government should increase the amount.

Government’s gas rebate to bus drivers is scheduled to last until June 15th. Upon completion of the transportation sector review, government will meet with the National Council on Public Transport to determine whether an increase is practical.

The benchmarking initiatives are designed to encourage the Manufacturing Association and the St .Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association to work towards world class standards. Theses approaches are necessary in light of a changing global environment and increased competition brought on by new business trends. SLHTA President – Collin Hunte says the benchmarking tools will assist hoteliers to maximize their profits and contribute more to the economy and society. The President of the Manufacturing Association says the benchmarking initiatives will assist manufactures to increase their marketing capabilities. Royston Taylor says this is becoming increasingly important in light of new trading regimes like the Economic Partnership Agreement. He says the benchmarking tools will position manufactures to stay in business.

John Calixte of the National Authorising Office says there are many benefits that hoteliers and manufacturers can derive from the new trading regimes. Calixte says the B-TOOL will position small manufactures to compete with larger firms and take advantage of the available benefits. The benchmarking tools are funded by the European Union under its special framework of assistance programme. The initiatives are spearheaded by the Office of Private Sector Relations.

The Forestry Department wants it known that it is not anti-development. Assistant Chief Forestry Officer – Lyndon John – says Forestry supports development that supports a sustainable environment. John is sounding the alarm about developments on the North East Coast of Saint Lucia. He says his Department wants to ensure these projects do not dislodge the natural habitats of certain species. The Assistant Chief Forestry Officer is also asking of Saint Lucians – how do you want to develop. John says he is raising consciousness and encouraging Saint Lucians to demand a holistic approach to development.

One project currently under construction on the North East coast is the Le Paradis hotel and golf course in Praslin.
The National Trust says it is taking place in a protected area – these are places of physical, natural and cultural importance to Saint Lucia. National Trust Director – Bishnu Tulsie – says that development began wrongly and has had a profoundly negative impact on the environment.

Tulsie, like John is imploring Saint Lucians to get involved in protecting their natural environment. He says Saint Lucia only has its human and environmental resource – these two must work in tandem with one protecting the other.

The ministry of agriculture is conducting a biodiversity survey aimed at assessing and protecting the environmental resources of Saint Lucia. That survey is part of the EUSFA 2003 natural resources management program. Anita James is the biodiversity coordinator in the agriculture ministry. She says the study will ensure the correct growth of vital industries like fisheries and tourism. James is also expressing concern for what she says is a high level of deforestation along the east coast of Saint Lucia. In fact, she is calling on the forestry department to address and retard that deforestation. She says the survey will ensure

the sustainability of natural resources like the forest. Anita James says Saint Lucia is home to unique species that demand protection from the humans who inhabit the island with them. She says that legislation, one of the expected outcomes of the survey, should go a long way in demanding that level of protection.

Once again, cash flowed from the coffers of courts as the company donated over 35 thousand dollars to various charitable organizations Wednesday. The donations are in keeping with the company’s mandate to give. Recipients include the Tapion combined school, the salvation army, the Vieux Fort fishermen’s feast committee and the courts Babonneau steel pan orchestra. The orchestra was presented with a checque of 25 thousand dollars to assist with preparations for the upcoming panorama championship.

Courts OECS marketing director Lauraine Sidonie says the donations are in keeping with the company’s corporate responsibility to improve the lives of people where it operates. Finally, the winner of the courts comedy competition was presented with the first prize of two thousand dollars. Courts also presented a television to the ministry of tourism for use as a prize for the upcoming public speaking competition. The company has promised to continue contributing to worthy causes as long as it operates in St. Lucia.