Guard says Broughton’s leadership style has broken down the morale of the general membership of the force to the point where work is being affected. He has also issued a challenge to the public. Guard says lawmen voted in two separate polls and each time, over eighty percent of respondents wanted Broughton removed as Acting Commissioner. He says the sample size of the poll was 1/8 of the membership of the Welfare Association. This is not the first call for John Broughton to be sacked as the Acting Commissioner of Police.

Media report says a female resident of grace in Vieux Fort was shot while at home on Wednesday evening. Jeannine Louis was brought to St. Jude hospital nursing a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The report says Louis is in stable condition, but she remains at the hospital under observation. According to the report police were in the grace community inquiring about Louis and her whereabouts earlier Wednesday. The news report says the mother of two was inside her home, when she heard someone call out to her from outside. She was reportedly shot in the abdomen upon opening the door. An official report on the incident is yet to be released by law enforcement.

UWP officials were deferring to their Leader and Prime Minister – Stephenson King to provide details on their discussions. However, the Prime Minister chose not to comment fueling further speculation about a crisis in the government. Sources close to the meetings say Choiseul MP – Rufus Bousquet will be back in Cabinet very shortly and Ausbert D’Auvergne’s power curtailed greatly. UWP Chairman – Karl Daniel denied that the meetings that started Monday, were about the Economic Planning Minister. It is clear though, that some of the elected members are uncomfortable with D’Auvergne’s influence in the

government but Babonneau MP – Ezechiel Joseph maintains his party is united. As if thoroughly briefed on how to respond to question regarding the future of Bousquet and D’Auvergne, all the UWP officials were saying the same thing – any change in the composition of Cabinet is the prerogative of the Prime Minister, solely. Bousquet says the Prime Minister needs time to make tough decisions, but King does not appear to have much of that, as they have given him a timeframe in which to act.

Sources close to the negotiations say decisions to end the impasse will be made by next week. There are reports that Micoud North MP – Jeannine Compton threatened to resign if Bousquet is readmitted into Cabinet but that claim has been denied.

Three local politicians received training in various aspects of leadership at a special conference held in Washington recently. The Gros Islet representative – Lenard Montoute, member for Castries East – Phillip J Pierre and Castries Central MP – Richard Frederick attended the conference with the theme “a new paradigm for world leadership”. Frederick says the lessons from the conference will position people like himself to understand what it takes to be a good leader. The conference also presented the local politician with an opportunity to meet and speak with former us president – George Bush senior.

Public service and human resource minister – Lenard Montoute is in the United States visiting with institutions of higher learning. Montoute was at Grambling state university in Louisiana earlier this week. Now, he is at Midwestern state university in Wichita Falls, Texas. The Human resource minister is trying to secure more training opportunities for St. Lucians through tuition waivers and other cost cuts. Montoute was meeting with officials of the two institutions to discuss exactly how the assistance programme will run.

NYC President - Marvin Edgar – says he still wants an apology. That apology follows what he says was the “childish and vindictive” decision by the Ministry of Youth and Sports to not have him address the National Youth Awards. Event organizer and Department Director – Fortuna Belrose – says no apology is forthcoming since there was an absence of malice in that decision. And although a meeting has been scheduled between the parties – Edgar is standing firm. The President of the SLP Youth Organization – Jadia Jn Pierre- has weighed in on what she is another chapter in the contentious story of the NYC and the United Workers Party.

She has called on the Ministry to step up and take responsibility for what she says was a deliberate snub of the NYC President. Edgar says he assumed he would address the award ceremony because that had been the norm since the existence of the NYC. He admits his lateness at arriving at the ceremony – a situation the organizer says made his inclusion in the program impossible. He is also cognizant of his failure to verify his presence on the program beforehand. It is a communication breakdown – both young leaders acknowledge and explain.

The NYC was represented at the podium by its First Vice-President – Tracy Dolcy. In the past two years, Edgar also addressed the National Youth Awards in a similar capacity. He says on both occasions – he spoke because of the resignations of two separate NYC Presidents. In other words, as the elected Second Vice-President – he was representing the NYC President.

says there must be more private sector support for the festival to continue recording growth. Notwithstanding, Chastanet says history might be created at the festival this year. He says the organizers have spared no effort trying to increase numbers for the main stage shows. The Tourism Minister says the festival will remain among the best in the world because of its unique main stage venue. St .Lucia Jazz is now in its seventeenth year.

Jazz action shifted to the greens of the St .Lucia golf and country club on Wednesday for the forth annual Desmond Skeete jazz on the green tournament. Patrons were treated to the sounds of Ronald “boo” Hinkson, Roger Ackers and Jazztet. The event also saw participation from several local and international golfers who came to play, but more importantly celebrate the contribution of skeete to Saint Lucia Jazz.

Desmond Skeete is a former director of the Saint Lucia tourist board and a huge supporter of Saint Lucia Jazz. Golf and country club CEO - Lawrence Samuel - says the intent was to remember Skeete`s contribution towards development in St .Lucia.  25 thousand dollars was donated to the St. Lucy’s home from the proceeds of the tournament. Organisers of the annual event are hoping to collaborate with the tourist board to enhance the product in the coming years.

The Managing Director of Super J attributed last year’s successes to the team’s hard work. Andre Chastanet highlighted new developments within the four year old organisation, which included significant remodelling at some Super J stores. While noting the positives the Managing Director also called for staff to become more efficient, more productive and to eradicate complacency from the organisation. Chastanet says the construction of a mega warehouse style store will be a beacon for the rest of the region. The Chairman of CFL Michael Chastanet also had high praise for the staff. He noted the challenges facing the industry during the last year brought on by the global food crisis.

The programme also included an awards presentation during which staff was recognised for outstanding performance and completion of various training programmes organised by CFL’s Supermarket Career Institute. The distribution of bonus cheques was among the highlights of the day’s activities. A very festive Mr and Ms. CFL pageant completed the May Day programme with the title being captured by the Super J waterfront store

Jamaican Gospel Singer – DJ Nicholas infused his traditional Reggae into his performance, sending the crowd into a frenzy. He started his Gospel music career around eight years ago and has big plans for the future. Organisers might have been disappointed with the attendance, but they were satisfied that the artiste put on a good performance.
With preparations for the main stage for St. Lucia Jazz in full throes, there was satisfaction that the Festival was able to kick off with praise.

Solefood includes the reigning Soca Monarch Teddyson John on drums. The band has played a number of events this Jazz season including Tea Time Jazz and will open the Friday night show at Pigeon Island. Saint Lucia Jazz continues Thursday evening with the first Pigeon Island showcase featuring Dianne Reeves, the Juillard Quintet and Jacques Schwarts-Bart. That show kicks off at seven. Jazz on the Square ends on Friday with afternoon performances from Michel Henderson and Giraldo Piloto & Klimax.

The Red International Carnival Band has unveiled its 2Kgreat portrayal, “Simply Beautiful.” In a Wednesday evening press launch that did not see much press traffic – the band that hit the Saint Lucia road four years ago gave a hint of what is to come for Saint Lucia Carnival. Among the new is a band jingle – Code Red – it was composed by the producing duo of Penn and Ace. Sang by Iwer and wtitt There is also the Carnival Jump Off – Red Ignite- a concert slated for this coming Saturday at the old Coco Cabana grounds. The band also expects to grow from 624 revelers in 2007 to 700 in 2008.

An ex-tempo clash between Trinidadian and St .Lucian musicians formally opened the cabaret upstairs Prio`s country palace on Tuesday. The musicians were competing for the bragging rights as the first ever cabaret ex-tempo king. Trinidad’s ex-tempo king had his way with most of the local boys – gypsy overcame the likes of tricky, prince and hammer before clashing with Iz-I hall. Hall – St. Lucia’s extempo ruler put up a good fight, but he was forced to surrender to the lyrics of gypsy. The clash got fiery and sometimes personnel when invader and gipsy went at it head to head. By the end

of the clash most patrons felt that gypsy had outdone the locals. Iz-I hall was voted the winner the last time Trinidadian and St .Lucian musicians clashed in an extempo competition.