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| Thursday, October 29, 2009 1:27 PM |
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News Stories- October 29th 2009
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The Search Continues
Story By
Carmy Joseph |
The search for a missing toddler from Dennery entered a new phase on Wednesday. Three year old Deshaun Justin Johnny disappeared from the Fond D’Or Heritage Park on Thursday during an outing with the Roving Caregivers. Crime Chief Vernon Francois says a number of Police units including 64 recruits are part of the investigative search of the area. He says this is a higher level search than what has taken place since the three |
year old went missing. Rumours continue to circulate about the whereabouts of the toddler. Some have even said Johnny has been found – dead with no genitalia and tongue. And still others accuse the family of selling or hurting the young boy. Francois and the family say they are focused on the search – not on rumours.
The Crime Chief says the Police intend to recover Johnny or the story of what happened to him. He says at this point – Police still believe – six days later the toddler could still be found alive. A visibly distraught Mathurin says her family has received daily support and is heartened by the presence of so many officers. At the same time – they have also been treated badly by certain members of her community. She says her family needs to find her grandson alive or know what happened to him.
At press time – the Police still had not recovered the young boy. The investigation into his whereabouts continues. |
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Government Responds To Walk Out
Story By
Carmy Joseph
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Government Press Secretary Darnley Lebourne has released a statement on yesterday’s walkout by the SLP MP’s. Labeling the move “theatrics” – Lebourne says it was clear the motive of the Opposition on Tuesday was to derail the tabling of the resolution by Prime Minister Stephenson King. The release continued - having failed in this effort, the Opposition led by Dr. Kenny D. Anthony sought to cloud the focus of the debate to |
matters on the periphery of the three substantial items contained within the resolution. Indeed the publicizing of the Commission of Enquiry Report represented a “Day of Reckoning” for Dr. Anthony and the St. Lucia Labour Party – similar words were used by the Prime Minister who introduced the resolution that was later made into a motion.
Lebourne also stated St. Lucians will note as well the conspicuous absence from yesterday’s sitting of the former Minister of Tourism who was the only other member of the elected opposition parliamentarians who was in office during the egregious acts of maladministration under the leadership of Dr. Kenny D. Anthony.
Finally in the release the Press Secretary says the Government is making arrangements to have the report accessible through the Government of Saint Lucia’s website in the coming days |
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Kenny Talks Authority
Story By
Winston Springer |
Opposition leader Dr. Kenny Anthony says the present United Workers Party government has no moral authority to rebuke the former Saint Lucia Labor Party administration. While speaking to the SLP party faithful on the Castries Market Steps Tuesday night, Dr. Anthony says the alleged legal troubles of the current government disqualifies the King administration from passing judgment. |
Dr. Anthony also referred to the leaked correspondence sent by Attorney Peter Foster to Kenneth Monplaisir QC over the consent order in the Richard Frederick customs vehicle case. The Opposition Leader read the letter in its entirety saying he was not perturbed about being in contempt of court since the document was already in the public domain. Citing the letter - Dr. Anthony accuses the Prime Minister of attempting to pervert the course of justice in the court matter. He alleges the Prime Minister attempted to unduly influence the granting of the consent order releasing the vehicles.
Dr. Anthony also defended his track record and stewardship as Prime Minister conceding although there were misjudgments – there was no maladministration. The Opposition Leader also indicated his desire to move on as he had grown weary of the constant chatter about the Rochamel affair.
On Tuesday the opposition walked out of the House of Assembly in protest after Dr. Kenny Anthony was denied an additional one hour to complete his retort of the Ramsahoye commission of inquiry report The government attempted to pass a resolution in the house which was amended to a motion condemning the Dr. Anthony administration based on the findings of the commission of inquiry. But Dr. Anthony called the move unlawful citing the separation of powers in the constitution which delineates the specific authority of the three branches of government.
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FCCA Conference Opens
Story By
Lovely St.Aimee |
Tourism officials agree – in spite of challenges - the island in the last two years, has recorded substantial increases in cruise passenger arrivals. Chairman of the Cruise Lines International Association Marketing Committee, Richard Sasso, says St. Lucia has demonstrated its commitment to the cruise industry through its interest in hosting executives here to have a first hand experience of the destination. |
The FCCA’s mandate is to foster a better understanding of the cruise industry and to develop cooperative relationships with destination partners at both the public and private sector levels. President of the FCCA, Michele Paige, highlighted the benefit of the cruise sector to the island’s economy.
Tourism Director Louis Lewis says the government has recently designed new plans for the re-development of the city. He says they revolve around the development of the ports, thus highlighting the major role the cruise sector will play on the island’s economy. The 16th annual FCCA Conference will be hosted until the 30th of October at the Almond Smugglers Cove. |
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Jet Blue Is Here
Story By
Winston Springer |
JetBlue Airways touched down at the Hewanorra International Airport on Monday on an inaugural flight from New York's JFK International Airport. Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister, Senator Allen Chastanet says the new service, complements existing airlift to the island. |
Minister for Communications and Works, Guy Joseph says the introduction of Jetblue is a boon for the island during a global recession which has adversely affected the travel and tourism industries. Prime Minister Stephenson King called the inaugural flight an historic moment and a new beginning. King exhorted the business sector to use the increased airlift capacity to maximize the investment opportunities facilitated by air travel.
JetBlue will operate the Airbus A320 aircraft in the Saint Lucian market. The airline has launched services in other Caribbean markets, including Barbados and Kingston and Montego Bay in Jamaica. |
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Caricom Stats Meeting
Story By
Carmy Joseph
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The high level meeting of statisticians is part of efforts to improve the quality and uniformity of statistical data in the region. The gathering is being hosted by CARICOM and organized by the Department of Statistics in Saint Lucia. CARICOM Deputy Secretary General - Ambassador Lolita Applewaite – says the importance of statistics for small vulnerable states is heightened by the current global economic |
crisis. She says the deliberations will focus on strengthening and harmonizing the work of statistical agencies across the CARICOM region. Saint Lucia Prime Minister Stephenson King says reliable statistical information helps policy makers make the crucial decisions that impact the national and economic development agenda of a country. He says the importance of such a precise science cannot be underestimated.
The Prime Minister says statistical data has tangible applications in the real world. Case in point - information provided by the statistics department was used in the execution of programs to alleviate poverty under the social development fund here in Saint Lucia. The CARICOM region is also preparing for the 2010 census which Prime Minister King says his country will support earnestly. Three major meetings are being held in Saint Lucia.
The thirty fourth meeting of the standing committee of the Caribbean Statisticians, the seventeenth meeting of the regional census coordinating committee and the second regional seminar on statistics. |
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Touloulou Ball
Story By
Lovely St.Aimee |
In French Guiana the touloulous rule carnival. Women take on the character of Touloulous by disguising from head to toe and making their way to the night clubs where they play out scenes of mystery and seduction. Director of the Folk Research Centre, Kentry Jn Pierre, says the aim of the exhibition and ball is to forge closer links and a better understanding between Saint Lucia and its French Creole neighbours. |
As part of its week long activities to mark Creole Heritage Month, the Alliance Francais is also hosting a Music and Poetry night at the Pyramid. The Bal Touloulou to be hosted at the Gaiety on Saturday, will see performances from several French acts and appearances by at least twenty |
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Super J Cancer Walk
Story By
Lovely St.Aimme
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Yoplait and Super J will team up for the second Yoplait/Super J Cancer Walk this coming Sunday November 1st. Super J Marketing Manager, Sancha Raggie James, is urging St. Lucians to come out and support the worthy cause.Last year’s event drew a large crowd and together with the pink lid campaign helped raise over sixteen thousand dollars for donation to the St. Lucia Cancer Society. |
This year’s walk will begin at 6AM at Caribbean Cinemas and end at Pigeon Island. Registration is still ongoing at all Super J branches and at the St. Lucia Cancer Society.
Public Relations Manager Sariah Best Joseph, says registration for the walk has so far been very exceeded numbers for last year. The money donated by Super J last year was used to fund treatment for a number of cancer patients. |
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