The Tourist Board now has to engage in damage control following reports that the first Canada Next Top Model winner was attacked and injured while on the island.

The report in the Toronto Sun came as a surprise to many. Visitor and Public Relations Manager at the Board – Kirby Allain says those incidents are taken very seriously, and while the authorities hope for no such occurrence, there is no destination in the world immune to crime.

Police say they were informed about the incident and interviewed witnesses and other people who were in the area at the time of the attack. ACP Vernon Francois says based on those interviews on man was detained. Francois says the investigation is continuing. Allain laments an evident disconnect between the economic benefits of tourism and the socio-economic strata of some areas.

Allain says he is sorry to hear about such attacks on visitors, but people must help the police so they can help us.
The Police are still asking for witnesses to the crime to step forward. Some witnesses say the claims by the young lady were exaggerated.

Guy Mayers says his government will establish the legal and institutional framework to ensure that consumers are protected. The Consumer Affairs Minister says the instructional commitments are critical to facilitate the effective policing of consumer protection laws. He says existing institutional arrangements will be strengthened to allow government to execute its mandate in the interest of consumers.

Mayers says government is working with the Attorney General’s Chambers to complete the draft of the consumer protection bill. He says Caricom Consumer Protection Law was refined to ensure that the proposed legislation for St.Lucia complied with the Caricom model for harmonization.

He says the protection bill is scheduled to become law within the next parliamentary term. Mayers says a consumer protection board and a complaints tribunal will be developed to provide an avenue to deal with consumer complaints.

The Commerce Minister says there are provisions for the establishment of a consumer protection appeals tribunal to allow any party to appeal the decision of the consumer protection board. Mayers says all those provisions are in keeping with government’s commitment to ensure that the rights of consumer are protected.

The theme for the 2008 observance is, “Junk Food Generation.” On the eve of the celebration, consumer rights officers set up an educational booth on the ground floor of the Department’s building – to inform passers by of the importance of consumer rights knowledge. 

Information Assistant in the Department of Consumer Affairs – Damian Monrose – says this year’s focus is on healthy eating.

The Department is also celebrating its 10 year anniversary. Director Philip Mac Clauren says a lot has been achieved – albeit in the absence of adequate consumer protection laws. The Department has embarked on a major public awareness campaign on consumer rights. Monrose says that outreach programme will continue indefinitely.

Activities for the observance included a lunchbox challenge for children and honouring the contribution of three individuals to the consumer rights movement on St. Lucia.

Eustace Monrose says the Saint Lucia Banana Corporation is under threat. The SLBC chairman says they are coming from people who want to consume the company and its assets. This follows a decision from the Windward Islands Banana Development Export Company (WIBDECO) to stop trading with the corporation. The SLBC represents 60% of the farming population. Monrose says a recent meeting with these farmers in La Caye resulted in pledged support for the corporation. This despite the presence of what he says was detractors who came to make trouble.

The SLBC followed up its contract termination letter from WIBDECO with similar dismissal letters to a number of employees. While the company faces this financial crunch, the SLBC chairman says WIBDECO has entered into business with another company to provide a function the SLBC is poised to perform.

The WIBDECO chief executive - Bernard Cornibert - says this is a dead issue and he will no longer comment on it. Cornibert says his company will do what it has to do – that is trade with fair trade certified banana companies. And although the SLBC and other banana companies have applied for such – they have not received it.

in order to protect them. Dr Samuel Scott says using approved pesticides will make the crops exported from St.Lucia more marketable. The research and sensitization exercises are being funded by USAID. The Caribbean Trade Expansion Project was launched here in 2007.

During the Police Vibes programme on March 1, Albert Fregis claimed that British officers brought here eighteen months ago were deliberately trying to undermine local officers. Since then, the Superintendent was instructed to stick to the script highlighting the work of the police and refrain from using the show to wash dirty laundry.

The following week, Fregis announced that he would no longer host the programme saying he felt he was being muzzled by the Police Administration.

According to reports, he received a letter from Commissioner Broughton late Monday, indicating that he was being transferred to head the Traffic Department effective the following day. In an interview with the STAR Newspaper, Broughton said there was no attempt to gag Fregis in any way, just simply to point him in the direction of the intent of the show.

Further, the newspaper quotes Broughton as saying he received many public complaints about the need to increase road policing and directive to produce a comprehensive road policing strategy just before Christmas, has yet to be delivered. The acting Commissioner says he felt that was critical and since Fregis had not delivered, decided to transfer the Superintendent to the Traffic Department.

Broughton did not want to make further comments on the situation except to say that the Force wants to put the problem behind it and proceed with providing the best security to the people of St. Lucia. Broughton told us that the more he comments the more people look for holes in his statements – some intending only to make mischief. The Acting Commissioner says he thinks it best to refrain from commenting too much on internal police matters.

Fregis confirmed that he is challenging the transfer. However, the Police Superintendent says he does not wish to say much about the situation, though he’s adamant there is a lot more to say. As for the comprehensive road policing strategy alluded to by the acting Commissioner, Fregis says such a unit plan must follow a Corporate plan, which has yet to be rolled out. He says he informed the commissioner of that requirement, but a proposal for such a plan has not been approved. Fregis says he will stop speaking and allow the administration to handle the rift in the Force.

Danille Morille has been a Red Cross volunteer for almost two decades. She says her passion for volunteering stems from a desire to help others – particularly those affected by disaster. As the local Red Cross tries to bolster its volunteer programme, Morille says it is time for other young people to volunteer their time and skills to such a worthy Society. The Regional Red Cross is assisting the local Society in its Volunteer Training Programme. The Capacity Building Officer for the Caribbean says Red Cross has recorded a marked difference between volunteers of the past and present. Mary Lee Ellis says people now have less time to volunteer – but more skills.

The Director of the St. Lucia Red Cross Terry Gaillard says Red Cross volunteers benefit significantly from the experience. She is appealing to nationals to donate their time and skills to the Society. Twenty volunteers participated in the three-day training. It is part of ongoing training organised by the local Society. Red Cross boasts 186 Societies Worldwide and sixteen in the Caribbean.

The Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort has received recognition for good corporate citizenship on an environmental and cultural level. Operations at Windjammer were assessed and the hotel was presented with the green hotel certification seal.

Guido Bauer says the Green Certification means that Windjammer practices responsible and sustainable environmental and social practices.

The certification can be used to market the hotel and St.Lucia as a green tourism destination. The Manager of the Windjammer Hotel Richard Mark says this recognition certifies the hotel as one that delivers to international standards. The Environmental Officer at Windjammer Landing Tyrone Deriver says the hotel is now faced with the challenge of maintaining the Green Hotel Certification. The Green Hotel Certification is expected to enhance the environmental, social and economic performance of Windjammer Landing Resort.

How would you like to drive away in a brand new Topaz Gold Subaru Legacy? Digicel customers will get a chance to do just in the telecoms company’s latest promotion. Digicel Marketing Rep Kerchelle Jn Charles says both pre and post paid Digicel customers are eligible to text for a chance to win.

Digicel will begin its 5th year of operations in Saint Lucia in April. Company Media Liaison Sharon Williams says this latest promotion is part of activities to mark that occasion. A road show on Saturday will be the first in a series aimed at publicizing the “Win a vroom vroom” promotion. It will begin in Gros-Islet and go around Saint Lucia where various prizes including handsets and phone credit will be given out.

The Taiwanese government intends to fund five or six St. Lucians through its scholarship programme. The Embassy here says the idea is to expose St. Lucians to Taiwan’s education system that has placed that country on a strong economic footing. One-hundred-and-sixty-five colleges and universities provide training on the Asian country.

Ambassador Tom Chou says the scholarship will provide an opportunity for locals to expand their global view through Baccalaureate, Masters or PhD programmes.

Applications are being accepted now, but the deadline is March 31. Those could be sent to the Taiwanese Embassy or through government. Chou says candidates for the programme will be chosen in quick time. The Taiwanese will provide successful candidates with a stipend equivalent to around twenty-five hundred EC dollars. For the first year, all the students will spend time learning the native language – Mandarin. Successful candidate will leave the island for Taiwan in august this year.

Sir Arthur Lewis community college and the Castries Comprehensive secondary school have received assistance for a resiliency project from the organization of American states. The OAS presented the college with a computer on Thursday, to aid the project, meant to assist students in the transition from high school to college. The project was designed by Dr. Suzanne Newbold of the college of the Bahamas. It is being implemented in four countries including St. Lucia. The goal is to help students make a successful academic transition from high school to college. Dr Newbold says it also helps students mentally, through the provision of professional and peer counseling.

Sir Arthur Lewis community college and the Castries Comprehensive are the pioneers of this project. This first phase will serve as a blueprint for expansion to other education institutions.