The Force Is Being Manned
Story By
Clinton Reynolds

the police. The Acting Commissioner says the rumours are disconcerting and create unease in the public. However, he says he has not been given marching orders as some are speculating. The Prime Minister says the Ministries of Home Affairs, Tourism and Commerce have been meeting to discuss the security situation on the island. He says the government will come up with a comprehensive plan for the island’s security – but whether that plan will include Broughton and the other British Officers, the Prime Minister would not say.

Passengers will begin paying higher bus fares as of Monday September 15th. That’s the word from the Transport Ministry who last week met with the National Council on Public Transport to finalize the new rates. The new fares do not apply to all routes. There is also a schedule to determine who gets charged and at what time. PS in the Transport Ministry – Allison Jean – says the new rates are law not a suggestion. Announcement of the increase comes as bus drivers were expressing deep agitation. They wanted the Ministry to deliver

on its word to implement the increase by Monday. Anthony Marius – the PRO of the Grande Riviere mini-bus association was one of the anxious public bus operators. The PRO of the National Council was also anxious that the new fares take effect on Monday. Linus St Clair was not optimistic drivers would cooperate with a delay in implementation. Allison Jean says customers need to be vigilant to ensure they are charged the correct fares. These fares are expected to be displayed on every public bus. Jean says drivers who charge more than the stipulated price for their service will be liable for prosecution.

CARICOM. Prime Minister Stephenson King says the goal is to ensure regional integration. Any new regional body would require new governance arrangements, implying ceding elements of national sovereignty. Dr. Gonsalves says this process is covered in a draft policy available online. Former St. Lucian Prime Minister Dr. Vaughan Lewis and Trinidadian diplomat Dr. Cuthbert Joseph are heading a committee responsible for hammering out the details of the political union. Another St. Lucian – CARICOM’s representative in Haiti – Earl Huntley is a member of that committee. Although the details are yet to be fleshed out, the Leaders agree the objective is not to form a classic political union, but to copy the economic arrangements of the European Union – and ensure each Island retains its sovereignty.

CARICOM Heads have agreed to sign onto the Economic Partnership Agreement with Europe later in the year. They were due to sign on September 2, but Prime Minister – Stephenson King says some grey areas needed to be clarified. The Heads are trying to work out a mechanism to allow other countries to sign and provide an opportunity for Guyana. The South American country says the EPA is bad for the region, and says he will sign a goods only agreement.

King claims his statements concerning signing have been misinterpreted. The Prime Minister says there were three areas of concern for St. Lucia – ensuring safety nets for bananas; the fear that St. Lucians would be marginalized and the creation of an uneven playing field in government procurements. King says now, those issues have been addressed. Sections of Civil Society have expressed concerns about the EPA. However, the Prime Minister says these groups have not made any recommendations on a better way.

The OECS Bar Association hosts its Annual Law Fair and Meeting in the same territory where the Court of Appeal officially opens the Law Year, and this time it is on St. Lucia. The two-day meeting includes discussions on various areas of the law and a legal book fair. It also includes presentations by international publishers of legal text. The Association’s President – Nicole Sylvester says it is a time of self-development for attorneys.

President of the St. Lucia Bar Association – Andy George says the turnout by local attorneys was disappointing, but the event was well attended by regional and international legal practitioners. A book on Caribbean Civil Court Practice was launched at the fair. It is the only text that contains all Caribbean rules of procedure and case law. The author – David di Mambro says the book will assist Caribbean attorneys and magistrates – putting procedure and cases at the tip of their fingers.

Participants are from the OECS as well as the Netherland Antilles, Canada and the United Kingdom. The 2008/2009 OECS law year will commence officially here on Monday.

Growth in the tourism industry retracted during the summer months as has become custom. Despite this - the Minister expects the industry to end the year on a high note. The company that is looking to re-brand Saint Lucia is Future Brands. Tourism is the single largest industry in the country – it is also the second largest employer.

Sandals Grande and Almond Morgan Bay employees received free pap smears, diabetes and hypertension testing and nutrition advice on the job Friday. The day’s activity comes ahead of Caribbean Wellness day – which will be observed on Saturday. The mini-health fair included nutrition talks, diabetes, hypertension and blood glucose testing. Saint Lucia Nurses Association President – Alicia Baptiste says her association targeted shift workers – who usually do not have time to visit their local clinics.

Staff turned out in droves to take advantage of the makeshift clinic set up in the hotel’s ballroom. The Resort’s Assistant Financial Officer - Marcella Preville took part in the day’s health activities. Preville says the initiative should be emulated by other businesses. The Region will celebrate Caribbean Wellness Day on September 13th.
The observance was one of the decisions taken when CARICOM Heads met in Trinidad and Tobago in September 2007. It was aimed at designing a plan to stop the epidemic of chronic Non-Communicable Diseases.

Super J will also reintroduce the Gold Citizens programme where seniors with an NIC gold card will qualify for further discounts at all stores. The programme was started by the NIC in 2004. The NIC Communications Manager Augustine Louis says the Super J initiative should be applauded in light of skyrocketing food prices. The company’s Customer Service Manager Claudia Niles says customers can expect to benefit from several promotions this weekend.

Niles says during the customer appreciation weekend a festive atmosphere will be created at all outlets including entertainment during the peak hours. She says customers can also expect deals on selected items, tasting, giveaways and instant wins all weekend long.

ECFH Scholarship
Story By
Shannon Lebourne

18 students have benefited from the ECFH scholarship program for employees, while six students have received scholarships under the shareholders program. The scholarships were presented first in 1993 – by the then National Commercial Bank. ECFH has continued in the tradition of youth development and has extended the program to children of shareholders. The Group’s Managing Director – Robert Norstrom says the ECFH devotes a lot of time to youth educational development.

Featured Speaker – Thecla Deterville reminded the students of the requirements for maintaining the scholarships. She says the scholarships are an investment. The scholarships build on the Company’s goal of “enriching lives.” EFCH investment in the scholarship program to date is $60,000.