Prudent And McDonald Respond
Story By
Carmy Joseph

Like Peter – the Prime Minister denied knowledge of Therold Prudent and Frank Mc Donald. Speaking earlier this week – the Prime Minister dismissed the resignation of both men from his United Workers Party as a “non-issue.” Prudent and Mc Donald say they resigned from the Party on January 4th because they were dissatisfied with the leadership of the Prime Minister – they accused him of straying from the mandate that got the United Workers Party elected in 2006.

Therold Prudent says his mother - as a founding member of the United Workers Party birthed him Flambeau. His history with the Prime Minister – according to him – is just as long. He says he has served with and under Stephenson King – and here in this youtube video you can see both men embracing at an event to honour Sir John Compton in New York.

McDonald dismisses the Prime Minister’s statement as a political ploy. He too says he is intimately acquainted with the Prime Minister. There are those who say McDonald fell out with the Party after the US Ambassador Post he was promised was handed to Dr Keith St Aimee. It is a charge he denies.

Both men claim to have been active in political circles here and abroad for many years. McDonald is a former Executive member of the UWP. And - despite resigning from the Party they both served for decades – neither have ruled out a political future somewhere else.

UWP Chairman Karl Daniel has also denied knowledge of both men. He also labels their resignations “media ploys” since according to him the General Secretary of the Party has yet to receive a resignation letter from either man.

CARICOM Ambassador to Haiti and Director of the CARICOM office there – Earl Huntley says there is need for a coordinated response to the rebuilding effort in Haiti. Huntley and a combined CARICOM and CDEMA team travelled to Haiti on Friday for a 36 hour assessment of the country following Tuesday’s earthquake. A former Permanent Secretary – Huntley has been stationed in Haiti for over two years.

He says his experience with the country thus far points to the need for a coordinated response in rebuilding what once stood. Huntley says one positive thing that might come out of this tragedy that has left total destruction in its wake – is a new and better Haiti. CARICOM countries including Saint Lucia say the response to the crisis in Haiti will be based on the assessment expected to end on Sunday.

The Prime Minister’s Press Secretary, Darnley Lebourne, says government views as urgent the need to respond to Haiti’s present condition. He says the initial sum of half a million dollars from the Prime Minister and his Cabinet may be revisited after a fact finding mission to Haiti.

Leborne says given what the international aid agencies have termed a logistical nightmare for getting aid into Haiti, it is advised that monetary donations rather than food items and clothing be made. The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) has already made an appeal to the public for assistance in the wake of the disaster.

People wishing to make contributions can get a list of the six commercial banks that are accepting donations as well as account numbers from the Government of Saint Lucia website, www.stlucia.gov.lc.

When our cameras arrived on Friday afternoon – Police officers were leading the man accused of snatching a tourist’s purse to the holding cell in Castries. Numerous calls to our offices stated the individual had climbed the building that houses the main S&S store in Castries and was being chased by officers who had done the same.

We understand that passerby administered their own brand of justice to the accused thief who apparently used the truck parked near the store to climb to the top of the building. But this was not the only robbery attempt in Castries today. Another tourist was also robbed and attacked by Wilton’s Yard –so badly was the victim injured – he had to be taken to the Victoria Hospital by ambulance for treatment.

The Organization for National Empowerment has delivered another scathing assessment of the Stephenson King administration’s management of escalating crime and violence on the island. ONE party Chairman, Peter Alexander has described the Internal Security Minister’s challenge to law enforcement to cut the crime rate by fifty percent this year as ludicrous and unrealistic. He has called on the senator to recant and set crime fighting targets and goals based on the timely release of statistical data.

Alexander has offered what he calls a 6 point plan to restore law and order in St. Lucian society. He says the government must do some house cleaning as well by dismissing any official within its ranks with a criminal record.

The ONE chairman wants sweeping reforms in the criminal justice system from the court to the jail house. Alexander has called for a comprehensive review of the Bordelais correctional Facility and a greater emphasis on rehabilitation to slash the rate of recidivism, a more effective parole board and a regional summit by heads of government on crime. However, Former Police Commissioner, Cuthbert Phillips says the police simply need to win the hearts and minds of a complicit general public that looks the other way.

Phillips says he supports a crack down on crime. But he suggests the long term solution lies in poverty reduction through education and economic prosperity especially in the poorest neighborhoods. Prime Minister Stephenson King has acknowledged there is a need for what he calls “social engineering” to change the mindset of the population towards crime and violence.

Minister of Physical Planning and MP for Castries Central, Richard Fredrick, says the space had been identified as prime property in the City, certainly a place deserving of an aesthetically appealing structure. For years small vendors had operated on the side of Coral Street - to facilitate the construction phase of the project. The Minister has guaranteed they will now be relocated and charged reasonable rent.

Fredrick also disclosed a reinstitution of Lion’s Park is high on his government’s agenda. He says the government is prepared to invest over half a million dollars to rehabilitate the park as a recreation area to be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. Meanwhile, the Deputy Town Clerk, Vaughn Louis Fernand, says other small projects are proposed for the city.

Louis-Fernand says the aim is not to chase people out of the city but to work with them to bring vending to an acceptable standard. He says the CCC will soon meet with vendors to discuss plans for the City of Castries.

Louis- Fernand says the people of Castries must demonstrate their pride by working together for the good of the City. He says it is time to give St. Lucia a city truly befitting a leading tourist destination. Prime Minister, Stephenson King and Richard Fredrick performed the official ribbon cutting on site at Darling Road.

Surgical operations at the makeshift St. Jude Hospital has become a rarity after much of the medical facility’s tools went up in smoke in the tragic fire of September 2009. The hospital’s sterilizer was one of the tools lost in the blaze that gutted the entire surgical wing and operating theatre at the historic institution. On Thursday, after dropping anchor in the Castries harbor, the cruise vessel Carnival Victory handed over that piece of equipment to the Hospital.  

Medical Director at the St. Jude Hospital, Dr. Cherry Poyotte explained the importance of the donation. Dr Poyotte says the hospital could not perform surgical procedures because of the absence of a sterilizer. He says the main health care facility in the north had to rely on the Victoria Hospital to decontaminate its medical tools.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Felix St. Hill received the donation on behalf of the government and people of Saint Lucia. He says the tremendous goodwill extended to the St. Jude Hospital in the wake of tragedy has exceeded the expectations of officials.

Meanwhile - Dr. Poyotte says day to day operations at the George Odlum stadium are improving. He says the hospital expects to increase its capacity t0 60 beds at the present location very soon. Prime Minister Stephenson King is scheduled to make an important announcement on the commencement of the reconstruction of the damaged Hospital this month.

As part of activities for Nobel Laureate Week the homecoming committee will facilitate a video youth conference to encourage youth in the Diaspora to discuss ways in which they can contribute to the development of St. Lucia. Aretha Regis is a member of the homecoming committee that was formed last year to encourage nationals to come back home.

She says the activity addresses expressed concerns from youth who often say they are left out of the development agenda of the country. Regis says the conference will provide a platform for St. Lucian youth to reflect on issues affecting them and how they can strive for the standard of excellence attained by St. Lucia’s two Nobel Laureates. The Youth Video Conference will be hosted on January 18th at ECCB.

Twenty young persons from St. Lucia will participate in the video conference while an estimated 200 youth from the Diaspora will actively engage each other on over coming challenges that affect St. Lucian society.

Known more for his smooth vocals and the international quality of his music - on Friday Shayne Ross was appealing to the humanity in all St. Lucians. He was urging them not to turn a blind eye to the suffering of the Haitian people. West Indies cricketer Darren Sammy who is sponsored by Digicel says this latest gesture by the telecoms company demonstrates the vested interest they have in the Caribbean. He says like the rest of the world, he too has been deeply affected by the images of devastation and desperation in Haiti.

Digicel has pledged an initial five million US dollars to the relief effort in Haiti and through its texting platform customers can make their contributions by texting HELP to 5151. Text messages cost one dollar.

Government wants an organized and coordinated response to the earthquake in Haiti. It will be one framed within CARICOM as Haiti like Saint Lucia is a member of the regional organization. Earl Huntley is the CARICOM Ambassador to Haiti – the Director of the CARICOM office there. He says to date all members of that office have been accounted for save for the receptionist. Huntley will leave for the earthquake ravaged country on Friday as part of a CARICOM team that will include CDEMA.

Press Secretary Darnley Lebourne says this disaster in Haiti has again highlighted the need for an emergency/disaster fund for the Caribbean region. Lebourne says although Caribbean countries can presently access the Trinidad government funded Petroleum Fund in time of such crisis – there needs to be a fund that is specific to this type of need. It is a call supported by Huntley.

The government has also called on Saint Lucians to provide generous assistance for Haiti. Already one local firm has donated financially to the relief effort in Haiti. Senior Manager – Marketing and Corporate Communications Manager – Maria Fowell – says the company has also facilitated monetary donations through one of its subsidiaries.

Hundreds of thousands of people are feared dead following a Tuesday earthquake in Haiti. The 7.0 disaster left immeasurable damage in the capital Port-au-Prince including to the airport, road and telecoms network.

The government is inviting donations to the Haiti Earthquake Aid Appeal Fund.
Issued through NEMO – that fund will facilitate monetary donations to for earthquake relief in Haiti.
It can be accessed at six banks – Bank of Saint Lucia Account # 901029840 – First National Bank Account # 6002153 – RBTT Account # 7076300 – First Caribbean International Account # 02-1804460 – Royal Bank of Canada Account # 1002005 and Bank of Nova Scotia Account # 32816.
The government is urging a national approach for all monetary donations to facilitate the money getting to the people of Haiti.