force. Former Police Commissioner Cuthbert Phillips says the law mandates the St. Lucia Police Force has a clear cut second in command. He believes the absence of an assistant to Police Commissioner, Ausbert Regis is untenable.

The Internal Security Ministry has also dismissed reports that an heir apparent has been singled out for the job.
Senator Guy Mayers says while he understands the public’s frustration with appointing a Deputy – this is the third time the job has been advertised – the appointment will be done by the book.

Phillips agrees the appointment of a deputy police commissioner is a policy decision for the government. While he does not want to be drawn into the politics of the issue, he says the authorities waited too long before embarking on a search for a candidate to fill the post.

Digicel has donated a back up generator to the Saint Jude hospital. The telecoms company handed over the piece of equipment that cost over 130 thousand dollars on Tuesday.

This not the first intervention the US military has undertaken with the Police – they have trained tactical units of the police force like the Special Service Unit. Meanwhile - Major Edward Harvey praised the Marine Unit saying he was impressed with the unit’s interdiction of illegal drugs and weapons at sea.

Commissioner Regis says the marine unit is the first line of defense in the war against the illicit narcotics trade and gun-running. He advised the contractor to erect a structure that would stand the test of time and serve the police force in good stead. Contracts for the work were awarded to Construction & Industrial Equipment Ltd, a St Lucia company - work is scheduled to be completed by October.

The pier in Castries was out of use due to severe damage and the site in Vieux Fort was badly damaged by marine borer attacks. Officials say the dilapidated piers in their current state also pose a significant hazard to both vessels and members of the marine unit.

with a letter from their attorney. The two parties parted ways late last year ending a partnership that spawned a number of hits including “Pressure Boom” and “Wheel and Come Again. The contents of that letter are being intensely debated in both music and legal circles by people who say the record company is seeking to keep Ricky T from performing in Trinidad. It is a claim denied by the SLU Records CEO - Irvin ‘Ace’ Locktor.

HTS News has obtained a copy of the letter that was copied to Caribbean Prestige Foundation – the organizers of the Trinidad competition. In it – the attorneys representing the record company appear not to be in sync with what Loctor says. In one paragraph the attorney writes - “…our clients would like to expressly state that they have not and will not grant to the captioned individual – meaning Ricky T - authority to perform the above mentioned intellectual property – referring here to the song “Jumbie.”…”

The letter goes on to state that legal action will be taken against both the promoters of the show and Ricky T if he does perform. Loctor remained adamant his company did not mean what it appears his attorneys did.

ECCO General Manger Steve Ettiene says if there is a contract that binds Ricky T to SLU Records in terms of his performances, then that contract must be honoured. However Ricky T’s current manager - Ian Sanchez, says no contract exists and according to Ricky T he has paid the record company all money owed to them for the song. In any case - Etienne says the controversy surrounding Ricky T’s performance may work to his benefit.

Etienne says as a member of ECCO and because he is scheduled to perform in a competition that is sanctioned by the copyright body – Ricky T is free to perform “Jumbie.” His management team says the Tizzle – reigning Power and Caribbean Soca Monarch – will do just that on Sunday in Trinidad.

CSME Consultancy
Story By
WInston Springer

in the CARICOM Single Market. Mc Clauren says CARICOM is creating the enabling environment to strengthen the organizations’ response to aggrieved consumers in the free market. The Consumer Affairs Director says the consultancy will also seek to make the consumer watch dog agencies more proactive in protecting consumers from recalled goods and defective products.  

Courts For Haiti
Story By
Lovely St.Aimee

Courts has launched the ‘You Can Make A Difference Campaign” across the region in the 11 countries in which it operates. The company has pledged its 118 branches as collection centres where the donations of canned food items will be sent to Haiti through local and international Emergency Aide Agencies. Courts OECS Regional Director, Malcolm Burns, says the company is committed to assisting Haiti in its time of need.

Burns says the company is aware of the logistical issues associated with getting supplies into Haiti – this is why the company will also match cash donations made by its employees to the relief effort. Collection bins have been placed at all Courts branches island-wide and the public is encouraged to bring their canned donations in no matter how big or small.

Lady Leen says twenty years after placing third in her first ever Calypso Monarch she’s in a celebratory mood. She says she is also glad to have blazed a trail for women in Calypso.  Although she never won the Calypso Monarch – Lady Leen was followed by three women who later did – Lady Spice, Jany and Menelle.

The performer says she’s most inclined to sing social commentary and especially seeks to highlight women’s issues. She says she longs to see the empowerment of all women and a coordinated effort by females to come together and represent their issues.

Arthur Lewis Lecture
Story By
Lovely St.Aimee

transition of the OECS economies from agriculture to services. The national portrait gallery-an exhibition of portraits will also be declared opened on Thursday at the national archives. Nobel laureate week then continues on Friday with a arts and craft showcase and a wreath laying ceremony on Friday.

New Book is launched
Story By
Carmy Joseph

The launch was the UWI Open Campus’s contribution to Nobel Laureate Week. Head - Veronica Simon – says it was done to encourage young writers like Weekes. She lamented the death of literature in the modern society as the reason why such encouragement was necessary.

Weekes was educated in Saint Lucia and the UK where she obtained a degree in English and Film. She is the niece of noted Saint Lucian writer and actor Travis Weekes. He says her influences are broad and range from Robert Lee to Jane and Kendall Hippolyte. The novel, “Love Me” is available for purchase at Sunshine Bookstore.

decision was made to allow the historic maneuver which originated in Mediterranean Ports many years ago. History was made in Port Castries when the Costa Mediterranea was allowed to perform this maneuver, making this a proud moment for SLASPA and the Pilots of Port Castries. For the passengers this style of docking means convenience as their ship was anchored less than 100 yards from the docks. Under normal circumstances the Costa Mediterranea would have anchored half a mile outside Port Castries. The captain and crew on board the ship were pleased with the effortless handling of the ship on Friday and praised local authorities for their response in ensuring the convenience and safety of cruise passengers.

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 # 2001483.
The government is urging a national approach for all monetary donations to facilitate the money getting to the people of Haiti.