One of the two people dressed in full white suites is not a police officer, yet she was allowed to take pictures on the crime scene and record innocent citizens. The young lady is the daughter of British Officer – Peter Davis, but Crime Superintendent – Joseph Eugene was in charge of the scene. Talk Show Host – Claudius Francis claims Eugene and Davis got into a verbal skirmish when Eugene questioned the young lady’s presence on the crime scene. Police Commissioner John Broughton confirmed that he authorized the young lady to be on crime scenes following a request from Superintendent Davis.

Broughton says the lady was not taking pictures for commercial publication and there is no evidence she contaminated the crime scene. He says she’s pursuing a photography degree and was carrying out research for her thesis. Broughton describes the clash between Superintendents Eugene and Peter Davis as a heated debate, but insists that suggestions the clash almost resulted in blows are exaggeration. He says he’ll not intervene because he expects the two senior officers to resolve their differences. However, the Commissioner hinted that the attitudes of some police officers have changed since December 2007.

Neither the Superintendent for Crime nor the Assistant Commissioner for Crime was informed that Davis’s daughter had been given permission to photograph crime scenes. John Broughton says he expected Superintendent Davis to communicate that information to his colleagues.

Reports are that over the past year the relationship between British and local officers has deteriorated significantly, to the point that a riot within the force might be imminent. The recent clash between Peter Davis and Joseph Eugene is evidence of that sour relationship.

Government says security personnel attached to the Ministry of Education will be paid. The Ministers of Public Service, Education and Housing met with the employees’ Union on Monday. Public Service Minister Lenard Montoute says the meeting was amicable and Government has agreed to restore the employees’ salaries. The employees used to work eight hours overtime per week, but Government revised their salaries to remove the extra hours. The NWU’s General Secretary says this action caused undue financial strain on the workers. Tyrone Maynard says he applauds the Government’s decision.

Negotiations between the Union and Government are not over yet. Another meeting is planned soon to finalise back pay for the 350 Security Guards. Maynard hopes that all outstanding issues will be addressed by mid March.

WIBDECO Chief Executive Bernard Cornibert says he will not be drawn into a confrontation. Eustace Monrose – the SLBC Chairman – accused Cornibert of making the personal decision to terminate a contract with his company. Monrose is referring to a decision by WIBDECO to stop purchasing bananas from SLBC. Cornibert says the decision to stop purchasing non fair trade bananas from the SLBC was made in 2007. He says that decision was communicated to the company and was supposed to take effect in January. Cornibert says the implementation delay was caused by WINFA – the company

WIBDECO will purchase these types of bananas from. He says it is a business and not a personal decision not to purchase from SLBC. SLBC employees received termination letters they took to the union, the CSA. That union says they want a meeting with WIBDCO whose decision they say led to the termination letters. Cornibert says he welcomes the opportunity to dialogue with the Union. At the same time – he is also assuring farmers who sell to the SLBC their livelihood is not in jeopardy.

WIBDECO says they are also interested in continuing to purchase non-fair trade bananas from SLBC. The local banana company says they have already begun the process to become fair trade certified.

Francis Cherubin is threatening to sue a driver whose actions he says left him hospitalised and unable to earn a living. Cherubin suffered serious injuries in a head on collision two weeks ago. The Marchand resident says he is distraught by the lack of compassion shown by the driver responsible for the collision. Cherubin says he agreed to the driver’s suggestion to settle the matter without the involvement of police. It is a decision he says he regrets – as the driver refuses to fulfill his end of the bargain. Cherubin depends on the help of family and friends to perform basic functions like bathing, eating and

sitting upright. He is also receiving therapy to regain the use of his legs. He says it is not just about money – he would settle for compassion and concern from the driver. Cherubin says he continues to suffer – the pain he feels, unbearable at times. Cherubin is expected to make a full recovery eventually, but has to continue therapy. His Parliamentary Representative has sourced a wheel chair for him, until he regains full use of his legs.

Alexis Alcide has been elected for a second consecutive term as president of the seamen waterfront and general worker’s trade union. The union concluded its week long biennial election of officers last Friday. Alcide says his focus is now on the enactment of a minimum wage bill. He is hoping that other unions view this issue as a priority for the island’s workers.

Alcide will serve two years at the helm. He says he will not run for a third term as president. The seamen’s union has a membership of 1,500 workers.

Agnes Francis says she and her staff worked exclusively on the Saint Lucia Music Awards for two months before the event. She says it was disheartening to hear the negative comments expressed by some after that effort. These comments range from protests over award winners to criticism of criteria and calls for judging transparency. The awards were produced by Accela Marketing with assistance from various organizations including the Cultural Development Foundation. The CDF position – they are not discouraged because such rumblings are par for the course in Saint Lucia.

Agnes Francis says a number of avenues were used to communicate the criteria for selection of winners. These included a press conference and publication of the rules. She says a judges’ report was prepared and will also be published. The organizers say the inaugural Saint Lucia Music Awards was an overwhelming success and met all its objectives. These included establishing relationships with record executives and providing regional exposure to performers and nominees. The show is expected to be ready for broadcast in two weeks.

The 2007 agricultural census highlighted a need to inform people on the importance of incorporating gender when developing and processing agricultural data to ensure people are placed at the center of development. In light of this, WINFA and the FAO convened a workshop to sensitize agricultural and statistical personnel. The workshop coordinator Rufina Paul says the market information being presently collected only reflects a small portion of the impact on humanity. Paul says with sustainable development and poverty reduction high on the agenda of most developing states, it is important to develop new mechanisms for collecting and using data. She says the present systems do not reflect common reality.

Paul insists that it will improve the Caribbean’s statistical capacity and developmental agenda if data collection is upgraded to incorporate gender. WINFA is responsible for ensuring systems are developed in all OECS member states to continue sensitizing people on the importance of incorporating gender when collecting and processing data.

Castries Central MP Richard Frederick says it was a project he pursued right after assuming office. He says the commercial sale of fish by the roadside was an unsightly aberration he wanted done away with. The Minister says an unused Japanese grant provided the funding to address the situation. Castries Mayor – Irving John – was equally expressive about the need for a Fisheries Complex.

The assistance comes from a Japanese Grant Assistance for Grassroots Project. That project assists developing countries with human security projects. Kazunori Haranda is the Japanese Economic Cooperation Officer. Chief Fisheries Officer Vaughn Charles says the facility will join similar ones throughout the country. He says with Saint Lucian fishers experiencing increased landings – such a facility was a necessity. The Saint Lucian government has committed to ensuring the completion of the project. The Castries City Council will oversee its construction.

The annual sea turtle nesting season has been reopened. The season runs from march 1st until November 31st. It is illegal for people to interfere with a sea turtle that is nesting. Nesting sea turtles, their eggs and hatchlings are protected throughout the nesting season and all year round.

People can be fined up to five thousand dollars for each offense, if found in breach of the fisheries regulation #9 of 1994.