STAR Monthly Review - April 30th, 2021

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MONTHLY REVIEW APRIL 30, 2021

CABOT

Did NIC Drop Gold Ball?

INSIDE: Stay Healthy Supplement!

Female Flesh For Sale

by Rick Wayne

C

atherine was first to be pulled out of the cold water. She’d always been somewhat on the heavy side, normally tipping the scales around 180 pounds. Now, her belly grotesquely bloated by the sea water she had swallowed in her desperate efforts to cheat fate, she might easily have weighed over two hundred pounds.

Displaying hardly any emotion, a crew member of the Carib Gas tanker expertly lashed a rope around the young woman’s wrists and without looking up gave the signal to start hauling. An eyewitness would later say: “Catherine looked like an old drum as they pulled her up the side of

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the ship, an oil drum that somehow had become tangled in bits of colored cloth.”

By a different account: “They lowered Catherine onto the ship’s deck and the captain hollered for someone to bring up a machine to give her air. Then two other men lifted her onto a drum and tried to squeeze the water out of her. I really couldn’t bear to watch. I went down to the kitchen for some coffee.”

Some 30 minutes after Catherine was fished out of the sea on Friday, June 13, she was laid on her back for the very last time. She had only recently turned 17. On the remembered day Paula had got out of bed in particularly high spirits. As she set about her ritual morning ablutions, dabbing a cautionary extra drop of cheap perfume here and there in preparation for her 10.00 a.m. appointment on the Carib Gas, she happily sang “Do Dem Back,” Calypso Rose’s most recent hit. By 9 o’clock she was ready to join her friends: Agatha, 19; Pauline, 25; Berthia, 30; Catherine and Dorothy, 20. The young women had often serviced visiting ships, individually and as a team.

Premier John Compton was delivering the keynote address at the opening of the

spanking new Hewanorra Air Terminal two days later when Paula’s body was taken ashore by a group of fishermen.

The premier was saying something about “eradicating pestilence, disease and poverty from our shores” when Paula’s lifeless form was hauled from the water not far from where he stood. A fishing crew from Choiseul had stumbled upon the floating corpse “somewhere near the Vieux Fort coastline.” With no idea of the body’s identity the fishermen had decided to tow it ashore for a proper burial.

Two months after the love vendors had together set off to work on the Carib Gas, the bodies of Agatha and Dorothy are still missing. There have been reports of floating bodies “way, way out to sea” but none sufficiently persuasive to merit serious investigation.

Pauline will “never forget” the day she saw her friend fighting for her young life, a fight as one-sided as a bigot’s argument.

While the ladies had graduated with honors from the universities of the street, one thing they had never learned: all were non-swimmers!

“We were on the dock at about 9.30 on the Friday morning,” Pauline easily

recalled. “The customs guard stopped us.

He said he would not allow us on board the Carib Gas. But the boatswain said it would be alright and we started getting on the tanker. Then the customs man began to fuss and the captain had to come out. He told the guard it was his damn ship and we were his guests and he would not be told who could or couldn’t come aboard. We all got on and the girls started following crew members to different areas. I ended up with the boatswain.”

Pauline recalled it was about 7 p.m. when her client said the ship would be moved from its dockside anchoring to another position about a mile away. She set out to get the other five girls together.

“By the time I got to all of them,” she said, “the tanker had already moved away from the dock. We continued having fun until around twenty minutes to eight.

That’s when the boatswain told me the ship would soon be pulling out and we had better start getting ready to go home.”

Pauline got her friends together, she said, while the boatswain lowered a dinghy from the tanker.

“I was first to get on board after the man,” Pauline went on. “When we were

. . . $20 A Piece! all aboard, the six of us and the man, he asked me to unfasten the rope that attached the dinghy to the tanker. While I was doing so he tried to get the outboard motor started. None of us was wearing a lifebelt—not even the man. Before I could untie the boat, and before the boatswain got the motor started, one of the girls shifted from her position to the side of the small boat. Before you could say ‘help’ the dinghy had overturned and the girls were screaming; ‘Lord help us. Please, Lord, please save us!’ Some of us tried to hold on to the man but he pushed us away. He said we should hang on to the side of the dinghy. He was only interested in his boat. Berthia splashed toward the tanker and while I was hanging on to the dinghy I saw her scrambling up the Jacobs ladder. I turned and saw Paula fighting for her life. Her blouse covered her face and I knew she was in trouble. I’m not a good swimmer, there was nothing I could do for her. All this time, I’m screaming. I never saw the boatswain attempt to help the girls. I don’t know when Paula drowned.

One minute she was there, then the next

. . . gone. It was by now quite dark. I finally made my way to the tanker.”

A search by the ship two hours later resulted in the discovery of just one body: Catherine’s. “I watched them pull her up by her wrists. I presumed she was alive. The captain hollered for a machine to give her air. I couldn’t bear to watch. I went down for coffee.”

Pauline has since found other means of survival. If only she could as easily get over the psychological effects that have turned her into an insomniac. “I can’t sleep. I have horrible nightmares,” she said. “Sometimes I start to tremble all over and can’t stop. I am through, through with that other life.”

It turns out that Pauline managed to save not only her life but also her earnings on that night of death. “I put the twenty dollars inside my bra just before we got on the dinghy with the boatswain,” she sighed.

Berthia, too, has decided on a less precarious existence. Nevertheless, it’ll be some time before the scars disappear from her nervous eyes. It speaks volumes the

way she hugs herself ever so tightly when she relates details of the night she’ll never forget, when it seemed she was alone in the world with no one to hear her screams and her desperate pleas for a Jonah and the whale kind of miracle.

As I write an inquest is scheduled for August 13, at which it is expected, by this reporter, at any rate, some outstanding questions will be answered. It’s alleged the ship’s captain made certain demands on Pauline shortly before he left Vieux Fort, hardly an hour after the discovery of Catherine’s body. Then there’s the matter of the unavailability of lifebelts.

Dare I hope this Christian society will forget at least until after the inquest what the victims did for a living and instead keep in mind they were as human as the rest of us, also deserving of justice? A story from a long time ago comes to mind: I am at a school retreat at the Catholic church in Castries. A visiting priest is in the pulpit recalling a wartime experience.

Angrily he spits out the name Stalin, whom he tells his young audience “lived like a yellow dog . . . and now has died like only

a dog deserves to die . . .” I remember thinking at the time of my dog Frisky at home and praying to God all was well with her. I need add that after hearing the remembered sermon that never once included the words love, charity, forgiveness my attitude toward men of the cloth was never the same.

Four young St. Lucian women died in horrifying circumstances while trying to stay alive the only way they knew how.

There are many lessons to be learned from this sordid and tragic story. May we never forget them!

Article 1 of the Declaration of Social Progress and Development as proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly 1969: “All people’s and all human beings without distinction as to race, color, sex, language, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, family or social status, or political or other conviction, shall have the right to live in dignity and freedom and to enjoy the fruits of social progress . . .”

The preceding was first published in the Vanguard newspaper on August 9, 1975.

APRIL 30, 2021

THE STAR

03

Some Questions for the National Insurance Corporation

Did the National Insurance Corporation pass up on the opportunity to turn the pictured property into a gold mine for contributors?

by Alcide Elcock

O

ne may argue that the National Insurance Corporation (NIC) is too conservative and too risk averse to have sought a joint venture with Cabot. If risk aversion is what guided their decision, why were they less risk averse than other legitimate financial institutions? After all, the NIC’s chairman claimed the reason the developers didn’t secure funding from the commercial banks was that these institutions were too risk averse. Can we imagine commercial financial institutions thinking an investment too risky to finance, but a conservative and risk averse NIC thought the reverse?

What then is the risk threshold of the NIC? They would amend their investment guidelines to give loans, but not to permit joint ventures? Moreover, if the NIC would believe the investment too risky to expose itself to within a joint venture, why would

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it think the development would turn over a return able to finance the debt/loan? Was it counting on the developer to default and then acquire the asset it held as security?

Would such a scenario not be lengthy and costly? Would it not make sense to have waited a few months and purchase the asset outright? After all, the NIC is not a bank. Are we to also believe that the developers would not be willing or able to purchase that land at a value nearing its market price? Would such a purchase price make the project not viable, thus justifying the skittishness of financial institutions?

Would that then not further justify why the NIC should have held out for a few more months to purchase?

Are we to assume the Cabot developers would not want to accept NIC as an equity partner, if they would contribute over $90 million (the market value of the land) to the project? If Cabot did not need or want an equity partner,

it presupposes it had the necessary financing for the project and thus did not need NIC funds. Surely, Cabot was not doing this for the benefit of NIC. Could they not secure a loan at a lower than 5% interest rate? So why did they turn to the NIC? This takes us full circle as to the Board, acting in the best interest of the NIC. (See pages 12-13) If the NIC has amended its policy guidelines to give loans, given their relative liquidity, should this be interpreted as they are now competitors to commercial banks or other financial institutions?

Should they now be thus regulated?

Can contributors turn to them to secure or finance mortgages? Or is their loan portfolio defined so narrowly as to exclude a particular set and accommodate an even more exclusive group?

Some are attempting to dance on a needle’s head, calling it an investment.

It is important to recognize that there

is a world of difference between a loan and an investment. Loans are moneys borrowed from a bank or financial institution repayable along with an interest rate within a fixed amount of time. Investment is an expenditure that will yield revenue in the future, and hopefully amortize itself through that revenue.

Therefore, while loans are liabilities, investments are assets. That the NIC was initially defensive and may have tried a CYA press conference, they have only further exposed what they sought to hide. If they misstated the situation of the developers, the question is why? If they accurately reported on the situation of the developers, again, their logic is undermined.

Now that we know the NIC gives loans for touristic purposes, something most were oblivious of, has the Board engaged in business outreach or public education so people can know the institution really is “working for the benefit of us all?”

APRIL 30, 2021

THE STAR

05

Only Fools Buy Fool’s Gold!

by Anthony Antoine

I

ron pyrite is a shiny mineral composed of iron disulfide. It looks somewhat like real gold, so it came to be called fool’s gold. In finance, any flashy but ultimately worthless investment is generally referred to as fool’s gold. Associated with fool’s gold is the greater fool theory, wherein a speculator may acknowledge that a particular investment has no inherent value, but buys it anyway on the premise of anticipated price gains, because there are greater fools willing to pay a higher price. These concepts have applicability well beyond the world of finance. Our elderly folk understood that very well, and it’s reflected in their admonishment: “Ou we jaunne, ou pwend pou beurre.” [You see yellow and you take it as butter] Allen Chastanet and some of his surrogates exemplify in concrete form, the concepts.

In fact, they tried to issue a buyers beware or disclaimer, albeit subliminally.

They chose to celebrate the first anniversary of their electoral victory with a big gala, under the theme “All that glitters.”

Attendees and others were to complete the thought by recognizing it is not gold.

A random selection and examination of policy actions pursued by Allen Chastanet to date will illustrate the fool’s gold that have been and is being sold.

Wily sales and marketing personality that he is, he deployed a catchy election slogan: “Five to Stay Alive.” Included in the “five” was the immediate reduction and ultimate elimination of the dreaded Value Added Tax (VAT). Even at the time of publication of his party’s election manifesto, he had already admitted to a small gathering in Gros Islet that VAT is the best and most effective tax in the world. Yet, he was promising the general population that he would replace it with a more creative and less onerous means to raise the required revenue. Fool’s gold.

Upon assumption of duties as Minister for Finance, he was advised by the IMF and other financial agencies that it was foolhardy to reduce the VAT as it would lead to significant loss of revenue. For political reasons, he persisted in lowering the rate. The 2.5% rate reduction was too low to be meaningful for most consumers, but significant enough to adversely affect government revenue performance.

For instance, to save $25 on groceries, the largest VAT-able category in most household budgets, they would have to spend upwards of $1000. Most households spend well below that amount on monthly groceries. In any event, the grocery items consumed primarily by poorer households were already either zero-rated or VATexempt. Thus the 2.5% reduction had no positive impact on them.

Of course the revenue shortfall from the VAT reduction needed to be recovered,

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Prime Minister Allen Chastanet: Some describe him as a fantasy monger, others as a visionary most needed at this time!

so another golden product needed to be deployed and sold. Included in the “five to stay alive” was a promised 50% reduction in vehicle license fees. When time came to deliver on that commitment Chastanet reneged. He offered instead to reduce fees by 50% of the last fee hike.

To appreciate the magnitude of the chicanery it must be recalled that as a means of getting road users to contribute to financing road development, the SLP administration in 2015/16 raised the annual vehicle registration fee. The extent of the fee increase depended on the

curb-weight of the vehicle, and ranged from $100 to $200. Thus all Chastanet would offer was a reduction of the annual fee by $50-$100, or by sums ranging from $0.96 to $1.92 per week. However, the ruse was revealed when he imposed an excise tax of $1.50 per gallon of fuel, ostensibly to finance road construction.

On average, most vehicle drivers would consume between 8-10 gallons of fuel per week. Thus, with one hand he gave vehicle owners between $0.96 and $1.92 per week, and with the other extracted between $12 and $15 weekly from them.

Those who imagined they were replacing Kenny an’ Tony for better, now had on their hands Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde-ous.

For further illustration of his financial sophistry, it should be recalled that soon after the elections he signed a Framework Agreement with Desert Star Holdings to develop “The Pearl of the Caribbean.” It would be spun as “Delivering Southern Hope” when in fact it would be Destroying Southern Hope, as hundreds of acres of land is alienated from the locals and sold or leased to a foreign investor at rates unimaginable by a local investor. The

investor obtained lands at peppercorn rates of $1 per acre, for a 99-year duration.

In some imaginations the “Pearl of the Caribbean” will include a marina, a racecourse, hotel resort, villas, apartment buildings, entertainment and leisure facilities. Curiously, the government of Saint Lucia is to reimburse the developer for costs associated with the project, yet, as per the framework agreement, it is not a partner.

Consistent with the greater fool theory, there are those who are seeking reward, who upon analysis of the Framework Agreement thought it a bad deal and could point to no redeeming aspect in it. They are part of the chorus of hagiographers who are calling the PM visionary, yet none of them have commended the signed agreement. Then again, maybe they are being tongue in cheek, recognizing that his vision is quite blurry. Forget for the moment that the previous government had reached an impasse with the developer over the proposed terms, and that in less than six weeks of formation of his Cabinet the agreement was signed. Yet, based on the optical illusion which the renderings have provided, they feign elation with the project. An acknowledged loss-leader racecourse was prioritized ahead of healthcare, and now is inactive after just a single show. Can anyone expect the poisoned tree to bear good fruit?

In much the same way that he facilitated a foreign developer to acquire

land in the south, on terms unavailable to locals, the same was done in the north of the island with the Cabot development.

Some may wish to make a distinction on the basis that the lands in the north were not locally owned, and that the NIC got a $2.4 million return on the investment.

Those who make that argument are either myopic or are looking for the greater fool.

To be pellucid: the Cabot developers have not behaved improperly in their pursuit of the financial arrangement. They pursued only what was in the best interest of their company. They do not have the same duty to Saint Lucian interests as do the Prime Minister and the Board of the NIC. (See pages 12-13) The Chairman of the NIC has indicated that it was the PM who initiated discussions with them about Cabot. But directors of the NIC have a fiduciary duty to secure the best interest of the corporation and contributors. Had the NIC not been previously interested in the purchase of the referenced lands and the developers came to them to secure financing of the purchase, their decision would have been worthy of support. However, having tried themselves to purchase the property, it is risible to applaud the NIC for gaining $2.4 million after twenty months, when they could have waited less than five months to gain a return of over $50 million, by holding out to purchase the lands themselves.

Those pointing to the fact that the

lands are undeveloped and questioning where the funds to meet the infrastructural cost of developing the land would come from had NIC purchased it are either willfully or woefully ignorant. The Chairman of the NIC himself, in attempting to rationalize the loan granted, emphasized how small a portion the amount represented in terms of the entity’s asset base. The NIC has hundreds of millions in cash deposits available to it. If the NIC did, as it claimed, a due diligence and determined that the project was viable, given their leverage in the land purchase, they would have satisfied their fiduciary duty by pursuing a partnership with Cabot through a joint venture.

The COVID pandemic laid bare the foolery of prioritizing the completion of the DSH racecourse ahead of the Saint Jude Hospital. Notwithstanding the disputed stage of completion or even the extent of remedial works necessary to bring the construction to completion, the indefinite suspension of works on the hospital was injudicious. The very audit which was done to give cover to the initial decision concluded that the stopped facility could have been made good and satisfy healthcare requirements.

Having stopped construction for nearly three years, the PM decided to build a new hospital on the same site as the stopped facility. Several elements of that decision demonstrate why it represents fool’s gold.

While it might have been thought to be

politically opportune to stop construction, the cessation was way too long. The hospital could have long been completed, commissioned, and chiefly, available for the proper management of the pandemic in the south. The delay and new build has translated to increased cost of delivering a heath facility, as remedying the identified defects would have been far cheaper.

Moreover, the footprint of the built facilities leaves virtually no room for future expansion of the hospital.

The PM, among others, floated using the old structures for a medical school.

As interesting as this idea may at surface level seem, it raises far more troubling questions. Does the government already have a medical school in mind to occupy the buildings? Will they give up the buildings at peppercorn rates to the operators? Will the school gain admission privileges at, or will their students be able to do rotations at the hospital? If the answer to any of those questions is no, it will illustrate the absence of thought in such a suggestion. If the answer to any of them is yes, it will expose the inequity and lack of transparency in the decision making of the administration.

These examples were randomly chosen, yet a clear pattern emerges why his policies are not advancing the general wellbeing of Saint Lucia. If other examples are chosen, they would similarly confirm that either Allen Chastanet is selling the people of Saint Lucia fool’s gold, or he himself is the embodiment of fool’s gold.

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HAPPY LABOUR DAY ST. LUCIA! From The Management and Staff of

Buckeye Terminal St. Lucia Limited Cul De Sac

St. Lucia, WI

Tel: (758) 456.1600 APRIL 30, 2021

THE STAR

07

Speaking of Rogues’ Galleries

Some people will do whatever it takes for a position of authority—even if it means taking on the appearance of rogues!

by Cockadoodle Doo

A

s we move into yet another phase in the political life of this land that gave us birth, please Saint Lucia don’t let the shenanigans force you to hang your head in shame. All is not lost.

In fact, it is not a bad thing; it’s good that the opposition forces, official and selfappointed, seem to be coming en masse out of their cob-webbed hiding places.

We see and hear them increasingly on our TV, at press conferences, among the Constitution Park loiterers, in Parliament, on Facebook, on Zoom.

I say it’s a good thing because whenever they open their mouths, they unwittingly provide us with opportunities to make educated comparisons between them and the members and supporters of the governing party. Again I say it is good, because whenever they bring on their characteristic shouting and vulgarities, their hyper hypocrisy and outright lies, their blatant reworking of history and their general vacuity, we easily observe the glaring differences between them and the governing party, and once again we the supporters cannot help but be extremely thankful for the sake of our beloved Saint Lucia that they are where they are, on the periphery.

Witness the current Rogues’ Gallery’s

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leading culprits: first, there’s the déclassé, sans visa mad bull who has convinced himself he is leading some kind of charge. Are we to believe his sheepish followers also include the informed Dr Kenny Anthony, the former PM who once unforgettably declared him a most dangerous prospect for local politics? Can you imagine Dr. Anthony under this man’s thumb, dancing to his tune? I certainly cannot!

Then there’s the present leader only in name and his toxic, by no means hilarious, highly concerning second in command. Are these people so desperate that they will embrace help for their cause regardless of source, regardless of history? Will they submit to the selfdescribed king of Castries Central, despite what they know that everyone else knows they know?

Coming from another direction to join in quite prominently, we have the formerly comatose, now recently awakened (sort of) National Trust with its own several suspects. For years the Trust sat by almost invisible, doing nothing. Not even broken signs could they mend on the one property which was bringing them good money. An embarrassment, really.

As the PM observed from early days, the director is no manager—but should be.

No managerial skills to talk of. Clearly

a square peg etc. But he has been there for decades collecting a very healthy salary. Most Saint Lucians can see for themselves the Trust needs a competent person at its helm. All those years he has been in the driver’s seat. What has he done for his adopted home? No wonder, when asked during a television interview to name any projects the Trust had undertaken in the last three years, then 10 years, memory failed.

But the director seems also to be delusional. It was most embarrassing to realize he thinks he and his cronies are pushing back against the government’s plans for the old “Royal Goal,” not the Royal Gaol, mind you. The director of the Trust repeatedly condemned the demolition of the “goal” for a good hour over Zoom before he was corrected. Unbelievable? Ah, but true!

As for the new directorate. Alas!

Birds of a political feather. There’s also the wannabe historian who tells us about things that “more than likely would have happened.” That’s not history, that’s convenient speculation. Your exhalations lack credibility. For instance: “It’s more than likely that the gaol was built by slaves?” Whaaat? What did your research tell you? If you live to criticize your nemesis who has permanent resident status in your head, then you must get your

declarations right. You and the Trust again seriously erred in the matter of Cabot. The respective experts have so pronounced.

We must not forget the junky “journalists”: Let us identify a small sample. There is the bespectacled female prevaricator, complete with equally false tresses; there is the recently freed cockalorum, and there is Crazy Christo, the insane creative himself. The first has not an iota of journalistic skill. Not one ounce.

She tries in vain to copy Bowtie Man’s engaging style. The cocky cockalorum has no pride; quite shameless. And at this point the Insane One really seems to be losing it.

He can’t wait for another chance at the fat salary he once was paid for doing nothing that might be described as creative, save by himself.

There are a few more in the Gallery, of course, but for now we’ll end with the latest ranter. Another one who was drawing another fat salary in Cuba for doing only heaven knows what. He’s back, with his usual aggressiveness. Since the Cubans are not taking him on he has become more restless, more vicious, not to say more than ever angry. He cannot wait to get into the Parliament of St Lucia. Of course, most of us know he stands not a chance.

But then let’s double up our efforts to keep him where he belongs. In the political wilderness, where else?

Acne More Than Just The Power Behind A 4-Letter Word Your Smile

by Dr. Desmer Destang

O

F

ace it: we hate acne of any type. Teenage, hormonal, cystic, pimples, comedones are all terms we hear when describing this horrible condition. But on dark skin, acne is especially troublesome since the breakouts leave skin with dark spots and scars that take forever to fade. So what causes this? The skin is a large complex organ made up of a number of cells.

One of the most powerful skin cells is called the melanocyte that produces melanin. Melanin not only gives skin a beautiful brown color, but it is also a powerful antioxidant involved in the skin’s immune system.

When you get inflammation from acne, these cells go into over-drive and produce melanin way in excess of what your body needs in an attempt to help reduce this skin inflammation. What happens next are these persistent dark spots on the skin left after the pimple heals.

To fade these is not easy, since breakouts need to be down-regulated for an extended period, and this is best done with stronger prescription medical grade acne-ceutical skin care.

Melanopeel medical grade skin care protocols are world-renowned, and embodies everything anti-acne and everything needed for effectively fading abnormally dark spots on the skin.

Melanopeel expertly understands that fourletter word A-C-N-E better than anyone else. Available exclusively in St. Lucia at the Dermalogics Clinic. Call or WhatsApp (758) 722-6869 to schedule your clear-skin transformation today!

rthodontics is one of the oldest dental specialties which involves movement of the teeth and modification of the growth of the facial bones.

Called orthodontics and orofacial orthopedics, specialists train for several years in order to perform dental and jaw modification. This cosmetic field has remained in demand because of the power behind your smile. Spaces, crooked teeth, protrusions and open bites are all too common.

Depending on the severity, a less-than-thanideal smile can make you feel self-conscious and not let you express yourself to the fullest. Especially in today’s social media selfie world, the pressure is on to have a beautiful smile. This is where we come in—we straighten smiles, reposition teeth, and change facial structures. Using braces, at Caribbean Smiles Orthodontics’ Dr. Destang has for the last two decades straightened and improved even the most

complex of bites. Facial assessment and moving teeth to aesthetically match a patient’s facial structure is our primary aim at Caribbean Smiles Orthodontics. With this approach, we use the art of orthodontics to aesthetically enhance a more beautiful you, and give you the power behind a fabulous smile.

APRIL 30, 2021

THE STAR

09

The Missing Deputy Speaker: Martinus

Years in the making, the deputy Speaker trial has been heard by a judge.

Pictured (left to right): Martinus Francois, House Speaker Andy Daniel and Dexter Theodore QC.

Joshua St. Aimee

A

fter much back and forth, the long-awaited Martinus Francois versus Andy Daniel trial was held on Tuesday March 30, 2021. Centered on the failure of the House of Assembly to elect a Deputy Speaker, the case was filed in 2019. Shortly after 9:00 a.m. the parties to the matter began entering the high court’s virtual waiting room via Zoom. Present were presiding judge Justice Rohan Phillip, claimant Martinus Francois, House Speaker Andy Daniel and defense attorneys Dexter Theodore QC and Seryozha Cenac.

Wasting no time after procedural matters were dealt with, Francois requested to cross-examine Daniel.

Theodore asked for and was granted a private minute with the Speaker. The trial resumed shortly after 10:00 am. Daniel, his right arm raised, was sworn in as a witness.

In response to a series of questions, Daniel testified that since he became Speaker he has called on the House to elect his deputy during numerous sittings—most recently on April 29, 2020.

In addition Daniel indicated that he has had many informal discussions with members of parliament on both sides, enquiring

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as to whether they were ready for the election. Daniel told the court that during his tenure there have been times when he was off-island, but this had not affected his duties since his travels were always in his capacity as Speaker.

“Has there ever been a need to have somebody deputize in your absence?”

Francois asked.

“No sir,” Daniel responded.

“What if something were to happen to you?” Francois asked.

“That’s for the House to answer, sir,” said Daniel.

Theodore interjected at that point, charging that this question was too hypothetical and therefore improper.

Francois had no more questions and the defense declined to re-examine.

Francois then began his submissions.

The nearly 3-hour presentation was bedeviled by internet issues, with the attorney losing connection on several occasions. He commenced by noting that March 30, 2021 marked three years and ten days since Daniel was appointed Speaker. He lamented that the House had proceeded without a deputy since July 25, 2016—in his view in breach of section 36.1 of Saint Lucia’s Constitution, that reads in part: “If the office of Deputy Speaker falls vacant at any time before the next dissolution of Parliament, the House shall, as soon as convenient, elect another member of the House to that office.”

Francois cited a Dominica precedent that stated the court has a duty to act when any authority acts in non-conformity with any of the laws. He explained that section 36.1 has two legs and entails a mandatory provision which cannot be ignored. The first refers to electing a Deputy Speaker after a general election, and the second when a vacancy has arisen. The latter is the current scenario.

To explain “the mandatory provision” he relied on section 17 of Saint Lucia’s Interpretation Act—which states in part that where an enactment confers a power or imposes a duty, “the power may be exercised and the duty shall be performed.”

“The House shall elect,” Francois stressed. “It doesn’t say the House may elect. Shall speaks for itself. Any law student knows the legal meaning of the word shall, or they would never pass their law exams!” He further noted that the second leg of section 36.1 does not prescribe any period but merely states “as soon as convenient.” Therefore, he told the court, section 36.10 of the Interpretation Act must apply. It reads in part that “An enactment . . . authorising the doing of anything but not prescribing or limiting the period within which that thing is to or may be done, shall be construed as . . . authorising that thing to be done with all convenient speed.” By no stretch of the imagination can three years and ten days

Francois makes desperate plea to Court! be considered convenient speed, Francois declared.

The attorney referenced John Compton, Allan Louisy and Kenny Anthony whom he said were “Saint Lucia’s Founding Fathers.” He stressed that all had Deputy Speakers during their tenures, even when Sir John held only a 9-8 majority in 1987. He also reminded the court of the August 29, 2011 resignation of Marcus Nicholas as Deputy Speaker, and the post-resignation sitting on September 13, 2011, when Speaker Rosemary HusbandsMathurin came under pressure from the Anthony-led Opposition.

Francois had high praise for Husbands-Mauthurin for her handling of the situation. A Speaker, he says, does not have to beg MPs or talk to them informally but must simply apply the law.

The attorney speculated that if the election was not included on the Order Paper of the next sitting, Husbands-Mathurin would have adjourned the House. As it turned out, Francois said, then prime minister Stephenson King dissolved Parliament shortly thereafter—saving the need for a Deputy Speaker to be elected.

Francois said: “The claimant is asking this court to return the House of Parliament to the status quo before this aberration.”

He noted that he was not asking for laws to be repealed. Instead, he asked the court to remedy the situation by declaring the situation unconstitutional.

“The court is the guardian of the Constitution,” he added. “If the court doesn’t do it, nobody else will. The Constitution is the living embodiment of the rule of law. I’m asking this court to construe the meaning of section 36.1 and make a declaration of unconstitutionality.”

The trial then adjourned for lunch. When it resumed around 2:15 p.m. the defense’s main argument was that this matter was non-justiciable. Lead defense attorney Dexter Theodore began his presentation by citing section 35. 3 of the Constitution: “No business shall be transacted in the House, other than the election of a Speaker, at any time when the office of Speaker is vacant.” He told Justice Phillip that section 35.3 spells out a “consequence” whereas section 36.1 does not. He explained that an impasse had occurred: all government MPs are ministers and therefore cannot be appointed Deputy Speaker. At the same time, members on the opposite side have maintained that there exists a “constitutional convention” that members of the opposition are not to serve in the position. “This is a proceeding in

Parliament which is non-justiciable,” Theodore declared. “The court cannot inquire into it. It is for Parliament to regulate that procedure . . . It is our respectful submission that until there is a change in that factual matrix [impasse] it is not convenient to elect a Deputy Speaker.”

He said “shall” does not always mean that a thing is mandatory and could not be construed without reference to its context. Relying on Standing Order 3 and section 36.1, he stressed that there are three considerations for the election: the individual cannot be a Cabinet member or a Parliamentary Secretary, and they must also be willing to serve. He asked: “So where does that leave us?” Theodore explained that while the Constitution says the House ‘shall’ elect a Deputy Speaker, it also imposes conditions that make such an election impossible at this time. Therefore, it would be “farcical” for the court to construe this provision as a mandatory one. He declared that “reasonable time” is dependent on the circumstances of a particular case. “So it’s not whether there are three years and ten days, but whether in the circumstances of the case, it has ever been convenient for

the House to elect a Deputy Speaker.” Said Theodore: “It would appear something needs to be done about the impasse but that something certainly is not up to this honourable court.”

To force an election, Theodore said, would simply be “undemocratic and therefore unconstitutional.” He asserted that no member of the House is under a constitutional obligation to make, accept or second a nomination. “It is our respectful submission that it would be wrong for this honourable court to attempt to make an order along the lines being suggested by the claimant.”

In his closing remarks, Theodore stated that despite the non-election the constitutional function of parliament has not been hindered in any way. Further, that it has not resulted in any accountability issues, and many pieces of legislation have been enacted despite the circumstances.

Until such time an MP is willing to serve, said Theodore, “it will not be convenient to elect a Deputy Speaker.”

At the conclusion of the trial Justice Phillip announced: “The decision of the court is reserved to a date to be notified by the court office.” At the time of publication the parties were still awaiting the judge’s decision.

Happy

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It is in our DNA. We provided Confidence in Uncertainty. Dependability In Disruption.

APRIL 30, 2021

THE STAR

11

From Gros Piton to Jalousie to

by Rick Wayne

O

nce again in Saint Lucia it’s the season of elections. Even a firefly failing to stop at a red light after 8 p.m. can trigger bonfires of enmity.

There have been times when for several months normal life was sacrificed on the straw altars of shortsighted, selfish, overambitious one-trick ponies desperately seeking to lively-up lackluster political campaigns.

In 1994 a beleaguered prime minister had described a televised speech by the president of the Chamber of Commerce as “a savage attack” on his administration— a smokescreen intended to cover up both the lady’s surreptitious relationship with the leader of “the criminal group known as the Banana Salvation Committee” and a selfish conspiracy to kibosh announced government plans to permit the American chain K-Mart to set up shop in Saint Lucia.

The ostensible “criminal association” was also blamed for crucial bridges blown up in the dead of night and for never substantiated “sustained attempts on the life of the prime minister.”

On the afternoon of October 7, 1993, riot police at Grand Rivière opened fire on disgruntled farm workers associated with the Banana Salvation Committee and the day’s opposition party after they hijacked a section of road and disrupted deliveries to a banana boat in the Castries harbor. The police claimed they were attacked with rocks when they sought to clear the route of impediments to traffic. Two men in their early twenties died where they fell under a hail of bullets. Sixty other men, women and their curious children suffered serious injury. The prime minister’s mindless reaction minutes after the incident further stoked the fires of rebellion: “The hooligans got what they deserved . . . the police had little choice but to defend themselves.”

But before all of that was the gamechanging 1979 incident in the island’s capital a mere two weeks following a general election campaign at the center of which was the issue of independence from Britain. The thrashed United Workers Party was holding a ritual post-election thank-you rally in William Peter Boulevard, then the city’s commercial center, when they were stormed by soused supporters of the victorious St. Lucia Labour Party.

Almost every show window in the vicinity was smashed and looted—with no police intervention. The election casualties were lucky to escape with their lives. Three leading members were seriously hurt by

12

APRIL 30, 2021

THE STAR

stone throwers. Others were drenched by a rainstorm of human feces tossed from all directions at their makeshift platform.

Politics in Saint Lucia would never again be the same!

Of course the ominous writing had long been on the wall, but of what use was that to the deliberately dumb and their illiterate apostles? On June 12, 1989, I received a letter from a man named Mark Woods who described himself as “factotum for Island Ventures Limited,” based in Laguna Niguel, California. This was in response to my story a short time earlier published in the STAR about a developer who had already received the government’s approval in principle for his project, despite it included the decapitation of the island’s most revered landmark— Gros Piton.

In his letter Mr. Woods sought to assure me that “from the beginning we have had only one objective: to bring the Gros Piton Resort, the Amerindian Cultural Center and aerial tramway as well as the Soufriere Plantation Spa, golf course and waterfront village, to fruition for the benefit of your island.”

During the previous two years he had been “encouraged, praised and supported at numerous meetings with government and through letters from the prime minister, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism and the Soufriere Tourism Development Program . . . and rightly so,” he observed, “because the Gros Piton and Soufriere projects may well be the lifeline and turning point for all of St. Lucia, providing thousands of jobs and placing millions of badly needed dollars into the St. Lucian economy.”

Woods warned me there was a great deal at stake. “What a pity it would be for government and all St. Lucians,” he wrote, “if this tremendous opportunity is lost because of misguided people with emotional opinions based on innuendo, not facts. I pray you will use this information wisely, should you choose to publish it, and I will look forward to meeting with you for a more detailed interview once the Environmental Report is released.”

I had read barely half of the above cited letter when another urgent missive reached me, from the same source: “Dear Rick, believing you to be a man of integrity and as you said, ‘doing what is right,’ I ask that you please disregard the letter you asked me to send you. To publish the letter will ruin all chances of having the projects succeed. Please call me so I can explain.”

I needed no explanation. That Woods had copied to both the PM and to his tourism minister his letter to me proved his naiveté and how little he knew about local politics. Worse, he had also sent me copies of letters dated 21 March and 11 April 1989, signed by the prime minister and his Cabinet colleague—both approving his envisaged Gros Piton project even before Cabinet had green-lighted it. My related

CEO Kristine Thompson shed new light on the issue of the local Cabot development, including that the property had never belonged to the Saint Lucia government, and had been in receivership without buyers for almost a decade when her company purchased it from a bank in Canada!

reports in the STAR attracted the attention of then overseas-based Derek Walcott, who wrote several articles strongly condemnatory of Woods’ proposals, one in the form of a poem entitled “Litany of the Pitons,” wherein he famously dismisses the government’s desperate justifications as “the argument of whores.” Shortly before Woods first contacted me, the prime minister had told a BBC interviewer in London: “This whole eco-tourism thing is a fad that soon will go away.”

What Mark Woods finally failed to get off the ground, Scotsman Lord Colin Tennant of Glenconner, a relative of the Queen of England, lifted to the heavens.

He started with the purchase of Soufriere’s 338-acre Ruby Estate in 1976, for EC$600,000. Following the controversial passing of his son in 1982 Tennant acquired Jalousie, owned by an elderly American woman, for US$1.8 million.

With much assistance from his friend the island’s prime minister, to whom he had been introduced by the prime minister of St. Vincent, Tennant constructed Jalousie Plantation Resort. There were no protest gatherings to speak of, scant

press coverage, no chaotic interventions by the National Trust, the Archaeological Society and other related institutions. With financial backing from filthy rich overseas friends invited by Tennant to sample aboard a luxury yacht the bewitching Jalousie atmosphere by day and by starry night—Prince Charles was among the specially invited—the Scotsman went to work on his dream replacement for Mustique, legendary hangout of the rich and famous, inclusive of such as Princess Margaret and various other blue bloods, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Naomi Campbell and several of the day’s A-list movie stars. Alas, it seems Tennant’s fellow shareholders in the Caribbean Shangri-la considered him too much the eccentric bon vivant and too little the businessman, and bought him out.

In 1991 Tennant met Prince Abolsath Mahvi, a Miami-based son of the doomed Shah of Iran. He would soon hand over to Colin Tennant US$500,000 in exchange for 320 of the 480-acre Jalousie property and ten percent of the resort. It wasn’t long before overseas environment activists started taking interest in what was going

Denier Riviere to Cabot to . . . on undisturbed behind the barbed-wire fences at Jalousie Plantation, among them Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of the famous Jacques Cousteau, who published several protest articles in this newspaper.

Cousteau revealed that in 1985 the Saint Lucia government had requested of the OAS technical advice on how to develop the Gros Piton area. “Recognizing the outstanding natural features of the Pitons as an international attraction, the OAS recommended keeping this jewel as a centerpiece through the establishment of the Pitons National Park, a reserve that would attract tourists to its landscape, nature trails and underwater scenery. The OAS projected cost for creating the park at roughly US$1.6 million, likely to be raised from international development sources, and estimated US$8 million in annual income to Soufriere by the park’s third year. It also predicted the creation of four hundred permanent jobs.”

Still by Cousteau’s account: the OAS study concluded that a private hotel and villas between Gros and Petit Pitons, then contemplated by outside investors for the Jalousie area, would be “incompatible with the park and that the success of small hotels, villas and guest houses, as well as other tourism-supporting small businesses, would be doubtful in the absence of the park. What is at play now in Saint Lucia are two alternative philosophies likely to come into increasing conflict as the world’s underdeveloped places become fewer . . . Only time will tell which strategy does the most good for the people of Soufriere, home and the Pitons.” Time has certainly spoken since. A lot. Alas, to deaf ears mainly!

Pointless revisiting the more recent political football matches with land as the ball—for the most part, privately owned, including the Heritage Site in Soufriere that comprises property never properly acquired but nevertheless effectively government controlled. Surely we’ve not forgotten the gruesome details. In all events, there are the grotesque relics at Paradis and elsewhere to jog the memories of convenient amnesiacs. Plus ça change, plus c’est la meme chose!

And so we come to the most recent Lilliputian war, initially declared by political chameleons on the purchasers of property previously owned in turn by Germans, Italians and other non-nationals. Once known as Lavoutte, the area has been renamed Cabot for its current owners, a highly successful Canada-based company especially famous for its golf courses.

The land had been in receivership for a decade or so when Cabot bought it and soon afterward started developing it—at a time when a general election was two years or so away and the previously somnambulant National Trust never more aggressively proactive. Hardly a day went by without a TV story starring the statutory body in open contention with the prime

minister. There were so-called “citizen demonstrations,” people marches and rallies under a variety of names but of the same mindset, replete with provocative placards, some with appropriate authority, others not. Of ostensible concern were artifacts reportedly at the site that some claimed were of such historical importance as warranted preservation. Similar cries were heard in relation to Jalousie and other local projects, but not nearly as noisy or as sustained. It seemed the aggression intensity depended on which party formed the day’s government.

It turns out that the folks behind Cabot had in relatively recent times engaged the services of a well-respected archaeologist, on the recommendation of none other than the Trust’s president. He found little that might usefully be preserved. Earlier digs dating back to the late 50s and early 60s had uncovered ancient pottery and other artifacts, but by all the evidence little if anything was done over the years that might’ve protected other hidden archaeological treasures.

Two weeks ago, the noise having somewhat abated in the COVID atmosphere, I took the opportunity to invite Cabot’s ebullient CEO Kristine Thompson on my TV show TALK, perchance she might shed light on the history of her company’s investment in Saint Lucia, much of it having been rendered confusing by wellintentioned but ill-informed folk with a genuine interest in local archeology, a large number of well known roro addicts, opposition-party campaigners, professional mischief makers, xenophobic nut-jobs, and others with not so secret personal gripes against members of government.

Their latest target is the National Insurance Corporation. Why had the NIC extended to the company a loan of EC$27 million? Why had the corporation not been as generous to local business people who might’ve bought the property for the purposes of “low-cost housing for our poor people?”—this last accusatory question from at least two individuals associated with the government’s official opposition.

Kristine Thompson proved a hit with the show’s audience, at least two of whom thanked her for clarifying a previously troubling issue. It emerged that much of what Thompson said had two years earlier been revealed during an NIC press conference to announce the corporation’s involvement in the proposed Cabot development. At the recalled meeting it was underscored that “except for the director of the NIC, all the directors of the board are independent of the corporation.” Also, that although ministerial responsibility for the NIC falls to the Minister of Finance, “the board has never been instructed as to its decisions. It is an entirely autonomous body guided by the experience and expertise of its members.

That is not to say there are not occasional consultative meetings with the minister

A victim of the Denier Riviera incident is laid to rest

through the chairman.”

The NIC is properly authorized by Section 21 of its governing act to invest surplus money in “appropriately secured loans.” In the instance at hand, the loan is “100% secured and is structured in a manner that would cause the NIC no exposure during the currency of the loan with a maximum repayment of 12 years.

The security held by the NIC includes a first mortgage debenture on Cabot’s fixed assets including 360 acres independently valued at some EC$91 million in 2018.”

Kristine Thompson confirmed during her appearance on TALK that in consequence of protest demonstrations here and several uninformed attack articles published on social media that unfairly cast her company in light most unflattering of its hard-earned public image, shareholders had decided to repay the NIC loan ahead of time. The corporation received in return for its investment EC$2.4 million instead of an anticipated EC$9.3 had the arrangement ran its full course.

As for those who suggest the NIC might’ve acquired the property when it was in receivership then set out to find investors in a development similar to Cabot’s, the NIC reminded this reporter of its raison d’être that does not include the proffered suggestions. Moreover, NIC could not have partnered with Cabot since the company was not looking for equity partners. They already had partners in Canada and the U.S. for the equity required for the development— inclusive of a world-class golf course, resort amenities, a luxury boutique hotel, four bedroom villas, not to mention a beach club and fitness facilities. In all events, had NIC come aboard as a partner the loan would’ve been unsecured equity capital, with no fixed rate of return. The NIC investment portfolio would probably not allow unsecured equity investments in private companies. The risks are too high. By Thompson’s account, the Cabot resort is expected to be operational next year. In the circumstances, and with elections looming, it appears opposition to the Cabot resort development will have to find a new dead-horse to flog!

APRIL 30, 2021

THE STAR

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THE STAR

15

Was Race Ever Not An Issue In Local Politics?

by Mark Joseph

O

ur socio-political history is littered with inconvenient, uncomfortable and downright ugly truths many among us would rather forget. Whenever such truths are raised, some quickly try to deflect or suppress the discussion, forgetting the lesson that undiscussed issues don’t simply go away, they merely take cover in the subcutaneous to ulcerate like a canker-sore. The issue of race and its derivatives is one such problem that has littered our history. Yet, fearful that we are indicted for our inaction or complicity in the perpetuation of the problem, many of us would rather avoid the subject or treat it as a novel issue.

During a recent talk show appearance, Peter Josie expressed an uncomfortable truth about our historical attitude to people with a “ti-koule-wy-a-yi.” He, however, indicted himself by embracing the assumptions on which that exaltation was predicated, and for ignoring its manifested negative consequences. Given that he expressed the view to negate

Philip J. Pierre and to ennoble Allen Chastanet, those sympathetic to Pierre have, rightfully in my view, not cowered, but positively affirmed Pierre’s black skin.

Some opponents have conveniently used this affirmation to suggest and decry the introduction of the “race card into our politics.” Of course this is farcical, for race has always been a feature of our politics, if not our lives. Permit a brief guide through our history to illustrate the role of race in shaping our political discourse, uncomfortable though it may be.

The trans-Atlantic slave trade laid the foundation for our political and social system, regulated as it were along race and class lines. These two variables were so closely intertwined as to be indistinguishable. In our early history, an exclusive white owner-planter class dominated over darker-skinned people— with the mulatto or mixed population just below the whites, and the majority black population (both freed and enslaved) occupying the lowest rungs of the sociopolitical hierarchy.

Following emancipation a new round

HAPPY LABOUR DAY TO THE PEOPLE OF ST. LUCIA! from

The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) 16

APRIL 30, 2021

THE STAR

of indentured servitude was introduced, adding newer permutations in the racial/ colour spectrum on the island. With no free labour available and less control over the labour market, some whiteowned plantations went bankrupt. Their bankruptcy led to significant return migration to Europe and created the condition for the upward mobility of a group of lightly coloured and minimally black elements into the newly vacated seats of political power. The original basis of their privileged classification, lightness of skin colour, would gradually shift to include less rigid criteria, such as educational, occupational, and economic status.

In any event, the transformation of the middle-class elite into national leadership positions was not without constant, serious, and occasional deadly struggles, largely characterized by confrontations with the traditional white power structures.

The attainment of political power and some autonomy by the brown and black elite did not destroy the foundations of white domination. Economic power was

still in the hands of the expatriate white ownership classes.

While the black former slaves were denied support, the lighter-skinned indentured servants were afforded credits and loans to go into more lucrative self-employment and business ventures.

The colonial office granted the lighterskinned ethnicities more favors and facilities to succeed in wealth creation, while every opportunity was taken by the planter classes to force blacks back into plantation labour. Theories professing the universal superiority of whites were used to justify the subordination of blacks in the plantation hierarchy. The middle classes, based on their own pompous and patronizing arrangement of shades of skin colour, reinforced the white racial order by championing their own presumed superiority over the black populations.

That race significantly contributed and continues to contribute to the structuring of our society, economy, and political culture does not necessarily mean that the racial factor is always obvious. Sometimes it operates at the subterranean, and can be

gleamed from the coded language used in its reinforcement. Its influence has been so pervasive—directly or indirectly, and consciously or unconsciously— though not exclusively, in shaping people’s activities and relationships. Even today, in local households far removed from the royal family, there are concerns over the complexion and hair texture of progenies.

Traces of self-negation remained unmistakable, even among Black power activists of the 1970s. Rick Wayne’s “Odlumandjosie” gorgon, though feared as black-power activists, conscious of our racial antipathies towards the dark skin, re-christened a political opponent, Ferdinand Henry, “Star-Black”—an intended pejorative, not a compliment.

Thus Peter Josie was keenly aware of the significance of his comment about Philip J. Pierre not having a “ti-koule-wy-a-yi.”

Before Mikey Pilgrim became Saint Lucia’s Che, with his light skin and long flowing dark mane, he was “Ti Jezi.” Pilgrim approximated the image of the Jesus Christ to be found in most households. It is thus unsurprising that he would win what at the time was a record number of votes for a candidate in our general election.

It is not only one party that has stoked or tried to capitalize on the racial undercurrents in the society. In 1996, leading up to the 1997 general elections, Sir John Compton, in his attempt to stanch the flow of support to Kenny Anthony and the SLP, declared that he had “fought

The author of this article reminds the leader of the opposition that “not all skin folk is kin folk!”

the Barnards for far too long” to permit one of them to become Prime Minister of this country. Compton was trying to remind the electorate of his fights during the colonial period in the Dennery valley with plantation owners closely related to Kenny Anthony. More critically, Compton was trying to associate Anthony with the plantation-system of control.

Allen Chastanet, upon assumption of leadership of the UWP in 2013 attempted the same. Chastanet referenced Kenny Anthony’s family history and claimed that Anthony was practicing “plantocracy economics.” The racial subtext of the quip was unmistakable, though some tried to ignore it. Of course there was push-back; Chastanet’s own ties to the plantocracy

was highlighted.

Whether to assuage their guilt or reduce their dissonance, some have pointed to their similarity of complexion and familial ties to the plantation system, to suggest that there is no difference between Chastanet and Anthony. Such a conclusion is both unfair and incorrect.

Among the black community in the U.S. there is a saying that “not all skin-folk is kinfolk.” This means that similarity of colour does not automatically translate to similarity of values and allyship. Whatever the similarities between the racial or ethnic backgrounds of Allen Chastanet and Kenny Anthony, their struggles and alliances for and with the working class, and the hence darker segments of the population, are incomparable. Chastanet has absolutely no connection with the struggles for betterment of the working class, and I need not dilate on Anthony’s long history in that struggle.

Chastanet’s ascension to the leadership of the UWP led Philip J. Pierre to comment on and ask that people take note of the “poster boy of the economic class.”

Pierre was reminding the population of some historical antecedents, and warning against being disempowered. The racial subtext was apparent, but this time caused much discussion in some media outlets.

Ahead of the 2016 elections, with a clear understanding of the phenomenological value of whiteness in this society, Chastanet and his team engaged in some symbolic manipulation.

Costumed as a priest or some messiah, Chastanet successfully launched his bid to secure the Micoud seat.

Guy Joseph would attempt to force a reckoning with our use of the term “coolie.”

The term, though defanged of its venomous origins, had been in wide usage in our normal discourse. When a senator used the term to refer to Joseph, it rightly drew his rebuke; though an opportunity was missed to call for a cessation of use of the term, especially in parliament.

Josie’s most recent stirring of the pot has not led to Chastanet distancing himself from either Josie or his expressed sentiments. As if to validate Josie’s view, a highly visible and vocal supporter of the Prime Minister took to social media to express his preference for a white leader over one who is black.

In a stark departure from the historical norm, Pierre and his supporters have inverted the practice of lowering the head when one’s blackness is brought up or castigated. They have instead acclaimed his blackness, entreating others to do the same.

It must be acknowledged that there is tremendous power in the ability to name things. Thus to quickly reinforce the social and racial/colour order, some are trying to suggest that the “race-card” is now being introduced into our politics and that it should be rejected. Sadly, those making that argument are ignoring how race has always been used to keep a certain group in check, and are merely trying to maintain the status quo.

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APRIL 30, 2021

THE STAR

17

‘FOOLISH VIRGINS’ Review by Darrel Montrope

S

ome texts serve as a jigsaw piece.

Unfortunately, in some instances, one does not have the original box to glimpse at to truly know how the interlocking pieces of the mosaic are to be assembled. This is particularly so with text covering historical periods. Moreover, with the passage of time, as memories fade and are replaced with myths, as key figures move to the great beyond, unable to right or re-write their records, great care must be taken as to the pieces chosen to assemble the puzzle or desired image.

Of course, some pieces may continuously elude, and the image never quite completed. However, some pieces are essential to assembling that jigsaw, for without them a central image cannot be formed. For those interested in Saint Lucia’s political history, particularly the five years preceding and the five years after Independence, or the decade spanning 1974-1984, as a text Rick Wayne’s ‘Foolish Virgins’ is an essential piece of that jigsaw.

The book’s title is an interesting and curious selection. Virgins usually symbolize purity, innocence, and an un-jadedness worthy of admiration and veneration. Think of the role played by the Virgin Mary in our “Christian society.” In the more secular context, virgins could also represent inexperience. However, when the word is prefaced by the adjective “foolish” the sound and imagery is seldom symphonic, but rather discordant.

In the good book, the Holy Bible, Jesus tells of the parable of ten virgins awaiting a bridegroom, five wise, five foolish. ‘Foolish Virgins’ leaves it to readers to discern for themselves the wise from the foolish. In fact, the designation of wise or foolish to the virgins may well be rorschachian, saying more about the attributor than the attributed. For that matter, the virgins may not be virginal after all, but harlots clothing themselves in the language of piety and progress.

It is good counsel not to judge a book by its cover. However, at times, covers can be great at revealing as they are at concealing. The image that covers ‘Foolish Virgins’ turned out to be portentous. It features Allan Louisy and George Odlum, the light striking them at different angles. Louisy is facing the sun, his expression fully lit. The sun is at Odlum’s back, his face in silhouette. Perhaps the photographer was channeling William Blake’s wise and foolish virgins. In the painting, the wise virgins are positioned on the left, elegant and luminated; the foolish, captured in dark tones, are placed on the right. As previously intimated, Rick Wayne’s text makes no declarative statements as to who are the wise or foolish virgins, so one has to read deeply

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to decipher, and even then . . .

Now for what’s between the covers.

There is much emotional arousal, even embarrassment when at the big moment the promised dynamite fails to launch. The book’s first two chapters serve as a warmup (foreplay?) retracing and expanding on ground covered in a previous piece of the jigsaw—the earlier reviewed ‘It’ll Be Alright in the Morning,’ by the same author. The expansion covers the tension confronted by the John Compton-led UWP administration in the aftermath of the 1974 general elections and the build-up to Independence Day, February 22, 1979. We are told of the several ominous message delivered to Premier Compton—and ignored.

Among them his government’s neglect of agriculture, unreliability of the water supply, abuse of inner-city youth aka Rastafarians, that led to regular night-time bombings in

the island’s capital, which some suspected was orchestrated by George Odlum. The country was not in harmony with the timing or implications of ‘independence.’

The action intensifies from the third chapter as it commences the immediate post-independence period and the imminent general election. Stories are told of the application of plasters to cover political fissures, even while others are intent on ensuring the wounds— ambition and suspicion induced—are never healed. We learn of how ‘Daddy Compton’ transmogrifies into ‘de devil dere,’ the personages that would do electoral battle and the mood: the country; violent thoughts, if not tendencies, always bubbling just below the surface. We are taken through the anguish of the party that led the country to Independence only to lose the subsequent general election, and

the public that had been made to feel like shit returning the favor in the worst way.

We learn, too, of the deals negotiated away from the public’s eye to give shape to the Cabinet, and how, once power has been tasted, the reneging on those agreements. The book takes us through some of the chess moves to get the original agreement honoured, and the new opportunities created for others to resurface. Previous politically conjoined twins become opponents, though we don’t get to know the surgical procedure employed.

1979 promised so much: A bloodless revolution in neighboring Grenada toppling a despotic Eric Gairy; a burgeoning international non-aligned movement held the hope that countries, particularly small states, would have no need to formally align themselves to the global superpowers and thus able to pursue their self-determined development path. Within that context, the SLP produced a manifesto so pregnant with exciting ideas for a new Saint Lucia that the people happily paid for their copy. It turned out that the pregnancy was ectopic. A leadership struggle guaranteed the exciting ideas were stillborn. Saint Lucia would in the span of three years have five Prime Ministers and two general elections.

Mark Twain said: “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; truth isn’t.” The twists and turns in ‘Foolish Virgins’ can at times seem fictional as the characters, despite their lofty titles and positions, reveal human conditions that we don’t always care to acknowledge: unchecked ambition, conceit, envy, vanity, self-righteousness, vengefulness. The book is 256 pages long, broken up in fifteen chapters. The writing style is plain, unforced and alluring. It is layered, and like an onion may create digestive problems in some readers as the clay feet of their heroes are exposed.

One character emerges like a colossus astride that narrow political landscape. Those who resented being underlings or feared they would be deemed children of lesser gods, conspired, collaborated, or steeled their resolve to thwart his ambition—as if it were a grievous fault. Maybe because of his dimensions a complete image could not be had, and so we have to settle for the silhouette. Hopefully another text will shed more light on him, thus allowing for a more complete assessment.

Readers may rest assured that having read ‘Foolish Virgins’ their hymen of innocence about the covered era will be ruptured. Read the book and welcome yourself to an awakening!

HEALTH

National Health Insurance (NHI) a Reality

S

aint Lucia may finally see the first phase of a National Health Insurance (NHI) program as early as the end of this year. The implementation of National Health Insurance will mark a major milestone in the island’s health care system. Through the NHI, the government of Saint Lucia aims to make healthcare more accessible to all segments of the population, facilitating more inclusive health coverage.

Health planner in the department of Health & Wellness, Lauren James, explains the first phase of the NHI system will include an essential package of health services at the primary care level geared at tackling non-communicable diseases.

“What this will attempt to do,” she says, “is have persons be able to access healthcare when they need it without having to think, “Hey, do I have money to pay for this, do I have money to pay for that? That way persons can be more proactive about their health by seeking care when they need it.

“In the first phase we are looking at a package of services where we are targeting more or less chronic diseases

which have been affecting the country at large for example diabetes hypertension, we have the screening for cancer and other care areas.”

National Health Insurance is a means to achieve universal health overage in St. Lucia. Universal health coverage means all people have access to the health services they need, when they need them, without enduring any financial hardship or paying for health care out of pocket.

“What we envision is where persons would pay a premium every month or whether it be every year or every month” Lauren James said, “and they would access health care and not have to pay out of pocket. Normally I have an insurance package but would have to pay for the service out of pocket and then claim from my insurance company. What we are looking for is to move away from that to have the insurance companies reimburse

the providers. That is the method where you pay your premium and then whenever you need the care you access and don’t pay.”

The development of National Health Insurance is a component of the Health System Strengthening Project funded by the World Bank. US$5.5 million secured from the World Bank-funded project is dedicated to the development of an NHI system in St. Lucia.

Peter & Company Distribution World Health Day 2021 Peter and Company Distribution (PCD) Limited recently hosted activities in commemoration of World Health Day on April 7th 2021 as part of our ongoing “PCD Know Your Numbers Health and Wellness Community Outreach Program”. Given that the ethos of this program is to bring awareness to our communities on proper health and wellness management practices through products, education, screenings and tools, it was a fitting complement to this year’s World Health Day theme of equal access to vital health care.

Spearheaded by the Human Resource Department, with all Covid-19 protocols observed, Health Clinics were set up at PCD’s Sales and Distribution Centre, Cul-de-Sac, PCD Food Mart, Vieux Fort, PCD Food Mart, Bois D’Orange and Wet and Cold Express, Castries from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Over 178 customers and employees benefitted from these vital screenings, which are among the key health indicators we all need to measure and manage regularly to take charge of our health along with a balanced diet and regular exercise.

These clinics were manned by health professionals and afforded our customers and employees the opportunity to get their blood sugar and blood pressure levels checked.

Wellness Packages were also distributed to our team members throughout the organization consisting of fruit plates, granola, bars, water, Vitamin C sachets and other healthy snacks.

Peter & Company Distribution was originally founded in 1891 and is one of St. Lucia’s oldest and most distinguished distribution companies serving the island for over 128 years as the premier distributor of some of the world’s leading and most iconic brands.

The company is a 100% wholly owned subsidiary of Caribbean Distribution Partners Ltd., a 50/50 joint-venture between Agostini’s Limited and Goddard’s Enterprises Limited (GEL) and operates three core business units. The Food, Household, Pharmaceutical and Consumer division, the Wines, Spirits, Tobacco and Brewery Division and the Retail Division which includes Wet & Cold Express, PCD Foodmart and PCD Wines and Spirits.

Please visit http://peterandcompanydistribution.com/ for more information on PCD and its brands.

A series of Virtual Mental Health Sessions were also conducted with Ms. Francisca Plummer, BACP Accredited Psychotherapist under the theme: “Stress Management and Protecting Our Mental Health.”

Four (4) very fortunate, randomly selected employees each received a complimentary follow-up, personal consultation with Dr. Francisca Plummer.

A virtual “Socacize” aerobic workout session was hosted by Regional Master Trainer Shani Victorin with the PCD Team for a truly wellrounded approach to physical and mental health and wellness.

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HEALTH

PAHO Director cautions vaccines alone will not stop COVID-19 surge W

arning that COVID-19 vaccine deliveries to the Americas have slowed, Pan American Health Organization Director Carissa F. Etienne urged countries to employ a “comprehensive strategy” of not only immunization but also of public health measures to curb the pandemic.

“I cannot stress this enough: for most countries, vaccines are not going to stop this wave of the pandemic,” Dr. Etienne said during her weekly media briefing.

“There’s simply not enough available to protect everyone in the countries at greatest risk. Therefore, we need to stop transmission by any means possible with the tools we have at hand. This will require comprehensive strategies to both accelerate the rollout of vaccines and control the virus using proven public health measures,” she added, referring to wearing masks, social distancing, and hand hygiene.”

Since March 2021, PAHO’s Revolving

Fund has helped deliver more than three million doses of COVAX-procured vaccines to 28 countries. The Revolving Fund negotiates, purchases, and arranges logistics for shipment of vaccines to the 36 countries that participate in COVAX. So far in the Americas, more than 247 million COVID-19 vaccines have been administered, including through deals countries made individually with vaccine producers.

In the past few weeks, Dr. Etienne said, constraints on producers of COVAX vaccines have slowed deliveries and supplies are not expected to normalize for a few more weeks. “In the meantime, we cannot rely on vaccines to control transmission,” she said.

At Rodney Bay Medical Centre, we deliver care in a relaxed, “PAHO is committed working stress free environment.

Ourto highly trained,with fully licensed and member states to secure vaccinecare to the entire registered physicians delivermore comprehensive familyfor in aour friendly, supportive doses region as soonmanner. as they are available to complement what countries Urgent Care Immediate treatment ofdeals everyday have already purchased via bilateral minor medical emergencies such as: and through the COVAX Facility.

We will be NO • Strains, Sprains & Fractures

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Immediate treatment of everyda minor medical emergencies suc • Strains, Sprains & Fractures • Coughs, Colds & Sore Throat family in a friendly, supportive manner.

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countries at every step of the way, providing technical support to troubleshoot roadblocks, increase surveillance and Comprehensive Care monitor the safety and impact of COVID Diabetes & Hypertension Advanced Technology • WellTechnology & Sick Baby and Child Care Advanced & Consultant Specialists & Consultant Specialists vaccines.”

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Americas.

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“Since the pandemic began,” • Full Services Laboratory Within Integrative Medical Services • PromptSatya referrals to Walking Distance of she noted, “57 million cases have been Consultant Specialists: Patient centered healing at best ALLits major Pediatrics, Orthopedic Specialist Pharmacies reported in the Americas, with more than Anti-aging and regenerative medicine Day Surgery Unit, ENT Unit, Dermatology, Certified Health Coach addressing underlying causes and 1.3 million deaths.” promoting primary preventive care.

Exclusive Integrative Functional Medicine Using an&Integrative approach to She also cautioned: “We are not acting emphasizeMedical “patient -focused care” Satya Integrative Services rather than "disease-focused " Patient centered healing at its best like a region in the midst of a worsening management.

Anti-aging and regenerative medicine addressing underlying causes and outbreak.

Despite on-going transmission promoting primary preventive care.

Exclusive Using an Integrative approach to in many places, restrictions have relaxed. emphasize “patient -focused care” rather than "disease-focused " OPENING HOURS: management.

Crowds are back, and people are gathering indoors and taking public transportation, Mon-Fri: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. often without masks.”

She said new, highly transmissible Sat: 9:00 a. m. - 1:00 p.m. Sun & Holidays: Closed variants are also fueling acceleration.

Describing South America as ‘the Rodney Bay Gros Islet Highway, continuing epicenter,” Dr. Etienne reported P.O. Box RB2305 that new COVID-19 cases are sharply T: 758-452-8621 / 453-6582 C: 758-484-8621 increasing in Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and some areas of Bolivia.

F: 758-452-0785 E: ihcmedicalclinic@gmail.com Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile E: reception@rodneybaymedicalcentre.com are experiencing continuing increases in infections. New variants in the Guyanas Now offering After-Hours Call Out Services for our Patients. have driven a rise in cases in French • Acute & Care, includingand Management of •Chronic Stomachache Nausea Diabetes & Hypertension Asthma Nebulization • Well &• Sick Baby and Management, Child Care • Breastfeeding Management Covering IV Fluids and more...

• Treatment of Dehydration, All Your • Well Woman Care including Family’s Pap Smears & Breast Exams Health Needs • Men’s Wellness • Immunizations & flu Vaccines • Food Allergy Testing • Acute & Chronic Care, including Management of • Complete Medical Physicals and more...

• Men’s Wellness • Immunizations & flu Vaccines • Food Allergy Testing • Complete Medical Physicals and more...

• State of the Art Equipment • Digital X-ray, Ultrasounds & Mammograms • Full Services Laboratory Within • Prompt referrals to Walking Distance of Consultant Specialists: ALL major Pediatrics, Orthopedic Specialist Pharmacies Day Surgery Unit, ENT Unit, Dermatology, Certified Health Coach

Anti-aging and regenerative medicine addressing underlying causes and promoting primary preventive care.

Using an Integrative approach to emphasize “patient -focused care” rather than "disease-focused " management.

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APRIL 30, 2021

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Comprehensive Care Guiana and Guyana.

Acute & Chronic New infections• are increasing in Care, Cuba,including M Diabetes & Hypertension Puerto Rico, and smaller Caribbean islands • Well & Sick Baby and Child Care such as Curacao, Bermuda, and Aruba.

• Breastfeeding Management Cases also continue to increase in Canada.

• Well Woman Care including Dr. Etienne offered about Exams Papreassurance Smears & Breast the safety of the four vaccines authorized • Men’s Wellness

by WHO—the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, two • Immunizations & flu Vaccines versions of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, • Food Allergy Testing and the Janssen vaccine.

All have proven • Complete Medical Physicals and to be safe and effective. Rare reports of blood clots are under review by regulatory Advanced Technology agencies, which are expected to makeSpecialists & Consultant recommendations soon.

• State of the Art Equipment • Digital Ultrasounds & Mam “In the meantime,” she X-ray, said, “it’s • Full Services Laboratory important to continue to administer • Prompt AstraZeneca vaccines where referrals they are to Consultant Specialists: available,” she said. “Almost 200 million Pediatrics, Orthopedic Specialist people around the world have received Day Surgery Unit, ENT Unit, AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine, and the Health Co Dermatology, Certified reports of adverse effects are very rare.

These vaccines canIntegrative save your life and&theFunction lives of your friends and family.”

Satya Integrative Medical Serv Dr. Etienne also addressed the eruption Patient centered healing at its of the La Soufriere volcano in Saint Vincent and regenerative medic and the Grenadines,Anti-aging reporting that PAHO addressing underlying causes and has deployed five public health experts to promoting primary preventive care respond to the emergency coordination Using aninIntegrative approach to “patient has -focused care” with the Ministry ofemphasize Health. PAHO/WHO rather than masks, "disease-focused " also shipped 150,000 medical other management. personal protective equipment, medical supplies, and test kits to the islands.

HEALTH

PRESCRIPTION FOR YOUR SPIRITUAL HEALTH

By Vincent E. Emmanuel Pastor of Northern District (SDA)

C

ommence with some pertinent question to arouse the mind: Who can bear our burdens when the stresses of life weigh us down? Who can handle our guilt when we are filled with condemnation?

Who can handle our worry and anxiety?

Who, indeed, can give us security? Is there a refuge in the time of storms in our life?

In the trauma of life, is there a place of security we can run to?

Revelation 1:5 says: “The faithful witness, the first-born from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.”

Yes, Jesus went into the grave, He can comfort men and women whose hearts are broken by death. He is ruler over the kings. His power and might are supreme in the universe. Indeed, Jesus is revealed in the book of Revelation as, “the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” and forever present help in crisis. Jesus is the one who can bear our guilt, relieve our anxiety and certainly He is a stress reliever in all our situations of life.

Does the bible give us any specific instruction about our own physical lifestyle?

Does God have a plan of physical, mental and spiritual survival outlined in scripture?

Do our lifestyle choices really make a difference in our daily operations? Are the diseases that are plaguing us in the 21st century merely a matter of chance? Is God some kind of celestial dictator who points His finger at you and says your time is up?

Is health like rolling the dice? And when your number comes up will you feel doom?

Is health a matter of chance or choice?

Dr. Neil Nedley tells a fascinating story of monitoring a patient who was taking a treadmill test. As he stood by the treadmill the patient looked at him and said: “Doctor, I really don’t think my lifestyle makes much difference at all. We each have a time we are going to die; that time is set and there is nothing we can do about it. When God calls your number, it’s up and your life is over.”

Dr. Nedley explained to his patient that some people can bring about premature disease and death by their lifestyle choices.

He went on to assert that our choices can either add years to our lives or subtract years. Moreover, more scientific research indicates that our physical health is a matter of choice and not a matter of chance. The overwhelming amount of medical evidence clearly demonstrates that our daily choices affect our likelihood of living a long and healthy life. Thus, I am convinced that the devil is anxious to destroy our health and God wants to build it up.”

The Bible seems to present two opponents in this titanic struggle between good and evil. Revelation 12: 9: “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world . . .” One of Satan’s ways of controlling human beings

is to deceive them that certain lifestyle practices give them freedom, when in actuality they lead them into bondage. He leads people into the bondage of drugs, tobacco and alcohol.

When people become enslaved by their addictions, Satan deceives them into thinking they are happy and subsequently they have the illusion of happiness when they are really in bondage to tobacco, sexual immorality, drugs or alcohol. Thus, the Bible candidly posits that our body is not a fun house; meaning, it is a temple for the dwelling of the Holy Spirit.

In 3 John, verse 2 the Bible clearly states: “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” And so some people say: “It really doesn’t matter what you eat or drink or how you live your physical life because God is only interested in your soul.” Is that so? Does the scripture teach a separation between soul and body in God’s economy? Notice, this theory is a Greek idea, called Greek dualism, which propagate the concept that whatever you do to your body can’t affect your soul. Whereas, the Bible teaches that we are whole persons and God wants to save us completely, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. In fact, God’s last day message is: Revelation 14:7 “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

Hence, in the judgment hour, in the last days of earth’s history, God calls us to give glory to Him. He calls us to live in harmony with the health laws he has placed in our bodies. God longs for us to be healed holistically. And so what does it mean to glorify God? Or how do I give glory to God? The apostle Paul answered those pertinent questions in 1 Corinthians 6:20: “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” Hence, the scripture encourages us to glorify God in our physical bodies, which is bought with a price and the price is the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

• He’s purchased our mind.

• He’s purchased our spiritual life.

• He also purchased our body.

Thus Bible says at 1 Corinthians 10:31: “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Thus, we glorify God or dishonor Him in the way we treat our bodies. In Romans 12:1, the apostle Paul is very succinct when he asserts; “therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” It’s a spiritual act of worship to eat for God’s honor and glory and also it is a spiritual act of worship to refrain from tobacco, alcohol, addictive drugs, and to refrain from immorality.

Observe, my dear friends, God is calling for a people who are completely committed to Him. He is calling for a people who are dedicated mentally, physically and spiritually to Him. I thank God that He calls Christians from any lifestyle practices that destroy them.

Beckman Research Institute is a premier center for pioneering biomedical research in the United States. They say— it is estimated that cigarette smoking kills over one million people each year and according to Cancer Research UK: “Smoking is the single biggest cause of

cancer in the world.” In the UK, smoking kills five times more people than road accidents, overdoses, murder, suicide and HIV—put together. Studies from Europe, Japan and North America have shown that nine out ten lung cancers are caused by smoking. Tobacco smoke contains about 70 different cancer-causing substances.

Hence I can safely say that Jesus is stronger than enslaving physical habits and we can present our bodies to Him as a living sacrifice.

Of alcohol Shakespeare said: “O God! That man should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains.” Also in Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Jesus wants you to have an abundant life, a life of freedom from worldly excesses. Come to Him today and tell Him you want to give up alcohol, tobacco, unclean foods. For Jesus urges us to present our bodies and minds to Him; subsequently He will give us power to do what we never thought possible. God is gathering a group of people that He will preserve as a testimony for the world that His way of life is best. Would you like to say, “Jesus, I’ve given you my body, soul and spirit today?

Anticipating Your Needs, Partnering for Solutions! This tagline is our commitment to you. We understand the anxiety that comes with knowing that either you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a life threatening illness. Unfortunately, in so many instances you simply do not have the finances to get the treatment needed.

Our strategic partnership with MediGence makes treatment affordable, giving you a fighting chance and helping you live the best life you can whilst you fight the numerous ailments that challenge you.

We have designed Group Medical Plans starting at XCD$56.00 monthly, that allow you to afford the care that you need to arm you in your war against illnesses that threaten the quality of your life or that of your loved ones.

We want you to focus on getting the treatment you deserve, getting well and on nothing else. We want you to have a peace of mind. Let us add to your arsenal in your fight against illnesses that seek to deprive you of the lives that you should be living.

Speak to your HR Department to schedule an appointment with us.

Contact us at 758-484-8540 or via email at kadia@wjmontgomery.com or helpdesk@wjmontgomery.com

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21

HEALTH

Health Features Prominently in Prime Minister’s Budget

T

he year 2020 was unprecedented and thrust to the forefront the issue of the nation’s health and our readiness to deal with a health emergency. No surprise that the prime minister focused a greater part of his Budget presentation on the issue of Health and Saint Lucia’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some excerpts: Measures to address public health crisis

• We secured technical support from the government of Cuba to strengthen and assist our local medical personnel. A total of 110 doctors and nurses was added to our complement of staff.

• We secured grant aid from UNDP, Japan and Republic of China (Taiwan) for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and medical equipment and supplies.

• We established seven quarantine facilities.

• We facilitated the initial transition of

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the OKEU Hospital.

• We facilitated the conversion of the Victoria Hospital into a respiratory clinic.

• We expanded our testing and contact tracing capacity.

• We initiated the rollout of the vaccination program, which to date has enabled 23,257 individuals from our eligible population to receive the first dose of the vaccine and with the arrival of our first COVAX batch they will soon receive their second.

Health Infrastructure Update: During the new financial year, we will witness several critical milestones in our efforts to significantly enhance the quality of our health care infrastructure. OKEU Hospital will be fully transitioned and St Jude Hospital will be completed. Residents of Anse la Raye, Micoud and their respective environs will finally be able to access better quality and an increased range of

services with the opening of their wellness centers.

Work on the construction of the Dennery Polyclinic and Soufriere Hospital will gather pace. My administration has ensured that our citizens from the north, south, east and west have top quality care facilities. We are almost at a stage where our network of public health facilities will be located within close proximity (no more than three miles) to our people, where they live and work.

Affordable Health Care/ National Health Insurance: Our work is not completed. We continue to implement policies designed to institute more efficient sector management practices, standards and regulations. We will continue to ensure that we have a cadre of health care personnel with the requisite capacity and skill sets to facilitate delivery of worldclass services. While we pursue all of

these important initiatives, we recognize the need for our citizens to access affordable quality health-care services.

The relevance and urgency of instituting National Health Insurance cannot be overstated. We have conducted extensive consultations with all the relevant stakeholders on subjects ranging from the basket of services to the appropriate financing modality and operational and administrative options. The time is now.

We have to bite the bullet. With World Bank support, it is our intention to operationalize our national health insurance program before the end of this fiscal year. It is a daunting, some may say impossible, challenge—especially in the current economic climate. But we must summon our experiences of this past year. Together, our collective resolve to be our brother’s keeper and our spirit of shared sacrifice will enable us to persevere and overcome.

HEALTH

How to stay mentally healthy during COVID

by Naomie JnBaptiste

S

ARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19), was first identified during an outbreak of respiratory illness cases in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, in 2019. It was initially reported to the World Health Organization (WHO), on December 31st 2019, and one month later, the WHO first declared the Covid-19 outbreak a global health emergency, then a global pandemic, on 11th March 2020.

Who would have thought that more than one year later we would still be actively experiencing the impact of this dreadful disease that has affected lives and livelihoods worldwide? Most people survive the infection, but unfortunately some don’t.

Out of those who survive, some develop post-Covid disease, which is the persistence of symptoms for more than four weeks.

Generally, we tend to ignore the effect that this disease has had, and continues to have, on the mental health of people globally, including St. Lucia. It has been said that the real pandemic is the impact of coronavirus disease on mental health, as it represents a source of psychological trauma for far too many.

Trauma can be described as an unexpected event that causes emotional shock, threat of harm, or threat to personal integrity/safety. Persons can be exposed to the event by experiencing it themselves, witnessing it on others or learning of the event. The trauma can be acute (brief impact), prolonged and/or repeated.

The uncertainty created by Covid-19, is a source of stress for both children and adults. Coronavirus disease has had negative psychological outcomes, not just on persons directly infected, but also on their loved ones, acquaintances, and even persons with no connection to the afflicted.

People are stressed and struggling to cope behind closed doors, and feel alone and isolated, as their movements are grossly restricted in order to curtail the spread of this disease. People worry about themselves, their loved ones and/or their livelihoods. Schools, homes, workplaces, and almost every sector have been affected.

Social distancing is new to many, especially young people who are often hugging each other. Social interaction is necessary for growth and development of children and youth. Smaller children, unlike adolescents, are heavily impacted as they are not able to, or generally do not, use gadgets to communicate, and their interactions with peers are mostly face to face. Adolescents and youth miss out on events like prom, college life and connections, graduation from college; events that they had been looking forward to, for practically all their life.

The negative psychological consequences of Covid-19, are similar to the common reactions to trauma exposure:

• Fear and anxiety, including panic attacks, which are brought on by specific triggers and cues. Increased physical reactions, evidenced by irritability, palpitations, impatience, freezing.

• Avoidance of people, places and situations, feelings of numbness.

• Grief. People grieve about losses, whether it is a person, property, privilege, a way of life or a job.

• Insomnia: insomnia can be isolated, or can exist in the course of a mental illness.

• Unexplained anger and/or rage.

• Guilt and shame can be on many levels, without justification.

• Depression, suicidal thoughts/ behaviours.

• Sexual difficulties.

• Alcohol and drug use.

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Develops in response to prolonged or repeated exposure to trauma, in the context in which the individual has little, or no chance of escape. This can be evidenced by re-experiencing of the trauma, with symptoms like unwanted thoughts, flashbacks and nightmares.

What are the symptoms and signs of depression?

• Feeling sad or down for long periods of time.

• Loss of interest in everyday activities or things one used to enjoy.

• Fatigue/loss of energy.

• Social isolation.

• Changes in appetite and/or weight.

• Changes in sleep pattern.

• Changes in physical activity.

• Loss of ability to concentrate.

• Feelings of guilt/worthlessness.

• Suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

• In children, depression may be difficult to diagnose, due to the presence of symptoms like anger, defiance, a decline in school grades, promiscuity, among others.

Practical ways to cope

• Keep in touch with family and

friends, especially people from your close circle. The contact does not necessarily have to be person to person.

• Use social support. Always feel free to talk about what you are going through.

• Always remember that you are not alone; everybody else is going through this.

• Follow guidelines from a credible source: WHO, CDC, MOH. Be mindful of the dissemination of misinformation.

• Don’t overburden yourself with news. Choose times to listen to it.

• Place yourself on a diet from social media.

• Self-care is very important: exercise, go for walks, healthy diet, take time to meditate/pray, good sleeping habits (6-8 hours per night).

• Be gentle on yourself.

• Don’t compare your life to that of your friends as seen on social media.

• Help others, as that can bring gratification: listen, make someone smile.

• Be kind to the people around you.

• Do not use alcohol and other drugs to cope.

• Seriously consider taking the vaccine. Explore the benefits versus the risks, then make the decision.

Emergency Support Services for concerns regarding mental health:

• Suicide Prevention Helpline 203

• Go to the hospital or call emergency police number” as the final step.

Dr. Naomie Jn. Baptiste is a specialist in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

TENDER NOTICE Available for Tender: •

2012 Kia Sorento

• 2014 Toyota Hiace • 2010 Mit.Pajero • 2009 Toyota Coaster • 2020 Kia Sportage • 2008 Nissan Civilian • 2018 Mini Countryman • 2014 Hyundai Tucson • 2017 Suzuki Jimny • 2016 Ford Ecosport

Tel: 286-1200 • 452-4272

APRIL 30, 2021

THE STAR

23

DON’T SAY YOU WEREN’T WARNED. THE WORST IS YET TO COME.

BE PREPARED! Read Rick Wayne’s

Lapses & Infelicities GET YOUR COPY AVAILABLE ON

OR YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE

TENDER Invitation for Expression of Interest and Consultancy Proposals The Department of Health and Wellness invites submissions of Proposals for a Consultancy to develop a national tobacco control policy and action plan in Saint Lucia. This project is funded by a grant received from the Bloomberg Grant Initiatives through its subsidiary organization, The Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (the Union) and implemented by the Substance Abuse Advisory Council Secretariat, of the Department of Health And Wellness. The details of the Tender are available on the new Electronic Government Procurement (EGP) Portal.

Submission of Technical and Financial Proposals Technical and Financial Proposals should be submitted via the Electronic Government Procurement Portal using this link: https://in-tendhost. co.uk/goslprocurement/aspx/Home The deadline for submissions is Monday May 31st, 2021 (three weeks after advertising date). The portal will not receive proposals after this date. The deadline for clarifications is May 21st, 2021, to be submitted through the EGP. Instructions for submission of EOI’s and Technical and Financial Proposals are provided in the Proposal Manual for this consultancy, available on the EGP. For further information please contact the Substance Abuse Advisory Council Secretariat, Department of Health and Wellness at telephone 1 758 4530038, or via email: Substance.Abuse@govt.lc

24

APRIL 30, 2021

THE STAR

Civil AviationCivil (Air Navigation) (Licensing ofServices) Air Services) Aviation (Air Navigation) (Licensing of Air Regulations Regulations SECOND SCHEDULE (Regulation 6) PUBLICATION, BY BOARD, OF PARTICULARS OF APPLICATION(S) TO OPERATE SCHEDULED AIR SERVICE(S).

In accordance with the provisions of regulation 6 of the Civil Aviation (Air Navigation) (Licensing of Air services) Regulations, the Air Transport Licensing Board hereby publish the prescribed particulars of the undermentioned application(s) to operate Scheduled Air Service(s) in, to and from Saint Lucia.

Any representations regarding, or objections thereto, in accordance with regulation 7 must be received by the Board within 14 days after the date of the first publication of this Notice; and any Notice, requiring the holding of a Public Inquiry must be received within 14 days after the date of the first publication of this Notice, in the Third Schedule.

PARTICULARS OF APPLICATION(S) TO OPERATE SCHEDULED AIR SERVICE(S).

1. Applicant……JetBlue Airways Corporation. th

2. Date of First Publication of Application…...30 April, 2021 3. Route applied for ……Newark Liberty International Airport – Hewanorra International Airport Saint Lucia 4. Purposes of Service :….. (Passenger, Freight, Mail) 5. Particulars of Route it is desired to operate.

(1) Point of Departure:..…………………. Newark Liberty International Airport - USA (2) Point of Final Destination: …………… Hewanorra International Airport - Saint Lucia (3) Intermediate Points of Call (a) For Traffic Purposes: ………. N/A (b) For Non-Traffic Purposes:…..N/A (c) Weather Alternates : ………. Grantley Adams International Airport - Barbados.

6. Frequency of Flights: … Two Flights Weekly.

7.

Provisional Time Table.

Flight # From To B6 2199 EWR UVF B6 2200 UVF EWR

Dept Time 08:40 14:55

Arr. Time 13:27 19:47

Frequency Tuesday & Thursday Tuesday & Thursday

8. Type(s) of Aircraft…. A320 150 / 162 seats, A321 159 /200 seats, A321-271 NX / 160/200 seats, ERJ-190 / 100 seats.

Mr. Desmond Knight Chairperson Air Transport Licensing Board

Did You Know?

Corporations Have Standing:

Trees Do Not A

plaintiff has standing if it is the proper party to request that the court hear and rule on a legal controversy.

Three overlapping requirements generally must be met: 1) The plaintiff must have suffered or is imminently likely to suffer an injury. One cannot sue a logging company on behalf of an injured tree, or the federal government over a general objection to its misspending of monies.

2) The defendant must be the cause

of the plaintiff’s injury. A plaintiff lacks standing if its injury cannot be traced to the defendant’s behavior or if it resulted through a third party not named in the suit.

3) The injury must be redressable through the court. A favorable ruling by the court must be likely to benefit the plaintiff. The court cannot act, for example, if the plaintiff seeks redress from a party not involved in the suit.

THE COMPANY Come be part of a team with Unicomer Group!

A dynamic and fast paced retail organization spanning 24 countries, with over 1000 stores and 16000 talented and engaged retail professionals across Latin America, the Caribbean and USA. THE POSITION We are looking for Dynamic, innovative and serious Debt Collectors to drive and contribute to Unicomer’s Credit Department Portfolio.

The successful candidates will have key accountability as follows: • • • • • •

Keeping track of assigned accounts; Planning Course of action to recover outstanding payments; Locating and contacting customers to inquire of their payment status; Receiving outstanding payment and issuing of receipts to customers as required; Undertake authorized collection of goods and issuing of receipts; Recovering money owed in as little time as possible.

THE CANDIDATE Minimum Requirements • • • • • • • • •

Five CXCs including English and Mathematics.

Ability to work with targets and tight deadlines.

Working knowledge of Microsoft Office.

Excellent communication and people skills.

Excellent negotiating and persuasion skills.

Must be polite, compassionate and assertive.

Confidential.

Customer Oriented.

Must be in possession of a valid driver’s license and a vehicle.

WHY SHOULD YOU APPLY? • •

Attractive Remuneration Excellent growth opportunity

LOCATION? •

St. Lucia

INTERESTED? Please join us! Send your completed Application and CV to Hr.unicomerlc@gmail.com.

Deadline for receiving applications is 8th May 2021.

ELECTORAL NOTICE Revised Lists of Electors The public is hereby notified that as from Tuesday March 31, 2021 the Revised Lists of Electors for the seventeen (17) Electoral Districts will be published within the various Electoral Districts.

These lists are made available for scrutiny by the public, during which process they may make claims for the inclusion of any name(s) omitted from the lists and also to raise Objections to the inclusion of any name(s) which should have been excluded therefrom, from April 12, 2021 to April 30th, 2021.

Claims and Objections are to be submitted on the prescribed Forms (No. 7, 10, 12 and 13), to the Office of the Chief Elections Officer on High Street in Castries and the Sub Office in Vieux-Fort between the hours of 9:00 am and 12 noon Monday to Friday.

The Forms are also available at Sub-Post Offices, Public Schools and Police Stations around the island on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.

Both the hard and electronic copies of the said lists will be available for sale to the general public at the Electoral Office on High Street in Castries from April 12, 2021.

Dated this 31st day of March, 2021

APRIL 30, 2021

THE STAR

25

ELECTORAL NOTICE For public buildings, Registration Centers and other places where the Revised Lists of Electors for the respective Polling Division of the Seventeen Electoral Districts, are to be posted accordingly:-

1.

ELECTORAL DISTRICT - GROS ISLET - A

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15)

GROS ISLET COMMUNITY CENTRE GROS ISLET FIRE STATION GROS ISLET POLICE STATION GROS ISLET YOUTH & SPORTS CENTRE GROS ISLET LIBRARY VOLNEY’S GAS STATION - REDUIT MOTHERS’ AND FATHERS’ GROUP – LA FEUILLE MONCHY COMBINED SCHOOL MONCHY HEALTH CENTRE MONCHY SUB POST OFFICE GRANDE RIVIERE HEALTH CENTRE GRANDE RIVIERE SCHOOL PRINCE SUPER MARKET - CORINTH CORINTH SECONDARY SCHOOL GLACE MOTORS AND SUPERMARKET - MARISULE

2.

ELECTORAL DISTRICT - BABONNEAU - B

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17)

ST CROIX GAS STATION BALATA COMBINED SCHOOL BABONNEAU PRIMARY SCHOOL BABONNEAU PRESBYTERY BABONNEAU SECONDARY SCHOOL GARRAND POST OFFICE LA GERE HEALTH CENTRE LA GERE COMBINED SCHOOL WIGGINS DANCE HALL - LA GERE BOGUIS COMBINED SCHOOL DES BARRA COMBINED SCHOOL BABONNEAU HEALTH CENTRE BABONNEAU COMMUNITY CENTRE BABONNEAU POST OFFICE FOND ASSAU HEALTH CENTRE FOND ASSAU POST OFFICE FOND ASSAU COMBINED SCHOOL

3.

ELECTORAL DISTRICT - CASTRIES NORTH - C

(1)

CAMILLE HENRY COMBINED SCHOOL L’ANSE ROAD SIR GEORGE F. L. CHARLES AIRPORT - VIGIE RAMON’S SERVICE STATION - VIDE BOUTEILLE VIDE BOUTEILLE CULTURAL CLUB LA CLERY HEALTH CENTRE

(2) (3) (4) (5)

26

APRIL 30, 2021

THE STAR

(6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12)

VIDE BOUTEILLE SECONDARY SCHOOL HILL SIDE PLAZA - LA CLERY CASTRIES COMPREHENSIVE SECONDARY SCHOOL GABLE WOODS MALL - SUNNY ACRES DAME PEARLETTE LOUISY SCHOOL - UNION UNION AGRICULTURAL STATION MORNE-DU-DON COMBINED SCHOOL

4.

ELECTORAL DISTRICT - CASTRIES EAST - D

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17)

BOCAGE SECONDARY SCHOOL BOCAGE SUB-POST OFFICE HUGH’S RUM SHOP - CACAO TEXACO GAS STATION - GUESNEAU TI ROCHER HEALTH CENTRE TI ROCHER SUB-POST OFFICE TI ROCHER COMBINED SCHOOL ENTREPOT SECONDARY SCHOOL ENTREPOT HUMAN RESOURCE CENTRE MARCHAND POLICE STATION MARCHAND PRIMARY SCHOOL MARCHAND PARISH CENTRE MARCHAND POST OFFICE BRANDFORD’S SHOP - MARCHAND PAVEE DOMINO CLUB POLICE CREDIT UNION - UPPER BRIDGE STREET POLICE HEADQUARTERS - UPPER BRIDGE STREET

5.

ELECTORAL DISTRICT - CASTRIES CENTRAL - E

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

ANGLICAN ANNEX - TRINITY CHURCH ROAD CASTRIES HEALTH CENTRE CASTRIES MARKET R.C. BOYS’ PRIMARY SCHOOL CENTRAL LIBRARY GENERAL POST OFFICE THE REGISTRY (BOTTOM FLOOR OF HIGH COURT BUILDING) CASTRIES CITY COUNCIL CARMEN RENE GOVERNMENT SCHOOL C. S. A. CENTRE ST. LUCIA GENERAL TRANSPORT CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY GAS STATION PAUL’S GAS STATION CANON LAURIE ANGLICAN SCHOOL

(8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13)

(14) (15) (16) (17)

MORNE DU DON LODGE ROSE HILL COMMUNITY CENTRE THREE CORNER RESTAURANT - LASTIC HILL BENE PERSE TEMPLE - CEDARS

6.

ELECTORAL DISTRICT - CASTRIES SOUTH - F

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14)

BANANA SHED - LA TOC ROAD SIMON JOSEPH’S RUM SHOP - FAUX-A-CHAUX FAUX-A-CHAUX COMMUNITY CENTRE VICTORIA HOSPITAL TAPION HOSPITAL TURNING POINT CICERON SCHOOL CICERON COMMUNITY CENTRE CICERON SUB POST OFFICE GLADSTONE’S RUM SHOP - TI COLON LA CROIX MAINGOT HEALTH CENTRE FIRE FLY DANCE HALL - LA CROIX MAINGOT CHICO’S SUPERMARKET - MARIGOT MARIGOT COMMUNITY CENTRE

7.

ELECTORAL DISTRICT - ANSE LA RAYE/ CANARIES - G

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19)

ROSEAU PAY OFFICE JACMEL COMBINED SCHOOL DARIAH’S RUM SHOP RICHARDSON’S SHOP – MORNE D’OR DURANDEAU HEALTH CENTRE DURANDEAU SUB-POST OFFICE HILTON JOSEPH’S SHOP - DURANDEAU LILBURN’S SHOP - DURANDEAU ANSE-LA-RAYE POLICE STATION ANSE-LA-RAYE SUB-POST OFFICE ANSE-LA-RAYE HEALTH CENTRE ANSE-LA-RAYE COMMUNITY CENTRE ANSE-LA-RAYE SUB-COLLECTOR’S OFFICE CANARIES POLICE STATION CANARIES COMBINED SCHOOL CANARIES HEALTH CENTRE CANARIES SUB-POST OFFICE ANSE-LA-VERDURE SHOP BELVEDERE SHOP

8.

ELECTORAL DISTRICT - SOUFRIERE - H

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13)

SOUFRIERE COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL SOUFRIERE BOYS’ SCHOOL SOUFRIERE PARISH HALL SOUFRIERE LIBRARY VALENCE RIVIERE’S SUPERMARKET SOUFRIERE TOWN HALL SOUFRIERE POLICE STATION SOUFRIERE SUB-COLLECTOR’S OFFICE GAS STATION - BAY STREET - SOUFRIERE ETANGS COMBINED SCHOOL ETANGS HEALTH CENTRE MR. HARRISON ANTHANIZE - TORAILLE FOND ST. JACQUES INFANT SCHOOL - PETIT BOUGH (14) FOND ST. JACQUES PRIMARY SCHOOL ST. PHILLIP (15) BOUTON COMBINED SCHOOL

9.

ELECTORAL DISTRICT - CHOISEUL - I

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18)

DELCER COMBINED SCHOOL MONGOUGE COMBINED SCHOOL MONGOUGE HEALTH CENTRE CHOISEUL POLICE STATION CHOISEUL POST OFFICE CHOISEUL HEALTH CENTRE CHOISEUL SECONDARY SCHOOL - LA FARGUE DACRETIN COMMUNITY CENTRE MR. POLIMUS CHARLES DANCE HALL - BELLE VUE ROBLOT COMBINED SCHOOL DEBREUIL SUB POST OFFICE DUGARD COMBINED SCHOOL CAFEIERE LONDONDERRY SUB-POST OFFICE HANG OUT BAR - JERTRINE SALTIBUS COMBINED SCHOOL SALTIBUS POST OFFICE PIAYE SECONDARY SCHOOL

10. ELECTORAL DISTRICT - LABORIE - J (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14)

AUGIER COMBINED SCHOOL AUGIER SUB-POST OFFICE PETIT BOUGH AREA MARIUS GARAGE - LA CROIX - LABORIE LABORIE HEALTH CENTRE - LA CROIX LABORIE POLICE STATION LABORIE VILLAGE COUNCIL LABORIE GIRLS’ PRIMARY SCHOOL LIBRARY LABORIE BOYS’ SCHOOL - CITRUS GROVE LA GRACE COMBINED SCHOOL BANSE SUB-POST OFFICE TEASER’S DANCE HALL - BANSE BANANA BOXING PLANT

11. ELECTORAL DISTRICT - VIEUX FORT - K (1) (2)

VIEUX FORT TOWN HALL VIEUX FORT LIBRARY

(3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13)

VIEUX FORT PRIMARY SCHOOL FISHERMEN’S CO-OPERATIVE OFFICE VIEUX FORT INFANT SCHOOL VIEUX FORT POLICE STATION SUB COLLECTOR’S OFFICE HEWANORRA AIRPORT TEXACO GAS STATION JULIAN’S SHOPPING MALL MASSY - NEW DOCK ROAD PLAIN VIEW COMBINED SCHOOL - LA RESSOURCE TEXACO GAS STATION NO.2

12. ELECTORAL DISTRICT - VIEUX FORT NORTH - L (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13)

GILLETTE PRINCE DANCE HALL - VIGÉ VIGÉ COMBINED SCHOOL EAU PIQUANT SUPER MARKET PIERROT SUB-POST OFFICE PIERROT COMBINED SCHOOL BELLE VUE COMBINED SCHOOL BELLE VUE SUB-POST OFFICE MOONIE’S RUM SHOP - BELLE VUE MRS. FRANCES KING SHOP - GRACE GRACE COMBINED SCHOOL GRACE SUB-POST OFFICE ELIZABETH PATRICK SHOP BEAUSEJOUR AGRICULTURAL STATION

13. ELECTORAL DISTRICT - MICOUD SOUTH - M (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15)

MOREAU SUB-POST OFFICE RHODA BICAR’S SHOP - DUGARD DUGARD COMMUNITY CENTRE TI ROCHER COMBINED SCHOOL TI ROCHER COMMUNITY CENTRE MR. EVERARD JOHNSON’S SHOP - TI ROCHER LA COUR VILLE COMMUNITY CENTRE ANSE GER SECONDARY SCHOOL ANSE GER MOTHERS’ & FATHERS’ HALL BLANCHARD COMBINED SCHOOL DESRUISSEAUX SUB-POST OFFICE DESRUISSEAUX HEALTH CENTRE DESRUISSEAUX COMBINED SCHOOL DESRUISSEAUX PARISH CENTRE TEXCO GAS STATION - DESRUISSEAUX

14. ELECTORAL DISTRICT - MICOUD NORTH - N (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13)

PRASLIN COMMUNITY CENTRE LIVE AND LET LIVE DISCO - PRASLIN MON REPOS COMBINED SCHOOL MON REPOS SUB-POST OFFICE MON REPOS HEALTH CENTRE MON REPOS GAS STATION MR. HILARY CHARLERY’S HOUSE - PATIENCE PATIENCE SUB-POST OFFICE LA POINTE COMBINED SCHOOL HIGHWAY GAS STATION MICOUD POLICE STATION MR. MAURICE DANTES RUM SHOP - MICOUD MICOUD HEALTH CENTRE

(14) MICOUD COMMUNITY CENTRE (15) MR. LENNIE HENRY’S GAS STATION

15. ELECTORAL DISTRICT - DENNERY SOUTH - O (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11)

LA CAYE DAY CARE CENTER LA CAYE HOUSING AREA DENNERY POLICE STATION DENNERY COMMUNITY CENTRE SUB-COLLECTOR’S OFFICE DENNERY INFANT SCHOOL CLUB OF STARS DISCO - DENNERY BY PASS

BY PASS RESTAURANT - DENNERY GAS STATION - DENNERY DENNERY SECONDARY SCHOOL DENNERY FIRE STATION

16. ELECTORAL DISTRICT - DENNERY NORTH - P (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14)

GRANDE RIVIERE SUPERMARKET GRANDE RIVIERE SECONDARY SCHOOL MABOUYA VALLEY POST OFFICE RICHFOND GAS STATION RICHFOND COMBINED SCHOOL DERNIERE RIVIERE COMBINED SCHOOL DERNIERE RIVIERE SUB-POST OFFICE GEORGE JN. BAPTISTE SHOP - DERNIERE RIVIERE LA RESSOURCE COMBINED SCHOOL LA RESSOURCE HEALTH CENTRE LA RESSOURCE COMMUNITY CENTRE AU LEON POST OFFICE DESPINOZE COMBINED SCHOOL LA RESSOURCE CREDIT UNION

17. ELECTORAL DISTRICT - CASTRIES SOUTH EAST - Q (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22)

SIR ARTHUR LEWIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE MORNE FORTUNE DEGLOS - BOXING PLANT MR. DELMAR’S DANCE HALL - TROIS PITON TI ROCHER COMBINED SCHOOL FORESTIERE COMBINED SCHOOL FORESTIERE BOXING PLANT FAR HORIZON DISCO - FORESTIERE MR. RUDOLPH WEEKS RUM SHOP - MARC NICHOLAS THOMAS SHOP - BEXON BEXON SUB-POST OFFICE FARMERS AND FARM WORKERS UNION - MARC L’ABBAYEE COMMUNITY CENTRE MR. GEORGE ROBERT CHARLES – SARROT BEXON COMBINED SCHOOL BEXON HEALTH CENTRE BEXON PARISH CENTRE MR. GHIRAWOO’S SHOP - ODSAN LA CROIX MAINGOT HEALTH CENTRE GONZAGUE JOSEPH RUM SHOP - LA CROIX MAINGOT MR. IGNATIUS DARCIE’S RUM SHOP BARRE DENIS BELAIR COMMUNITY CENTRE ODSAN COMBINED SCHOOL

APRIL 30, 2021

THE STAR

27

6 ft APART

SAINT LUCIA WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER AGAINST COVID-19 6 ft

6 ft

APART

APART

COVID-19 SAFETY STEPS to keep us all healthy STAY HOME IF YOU DON’T FEEL WELL

6 ft

6 ft

APART

APART

STAY 6 FEET AWAY FROM PEOPLE 6 ft

APART

WEAR A MASK 6 ft

6 ft

APART

APART

ALWAYS COVER YOUR COUGHS AND SNEEZES WASH & SANITIZE YOUR HANDS OFTEN 6 ft

6 ft

APART

APART

6 ft

APART

6 ft

APART

6 ft

6 ft

6 ft

APART

APART

APART

● ● ● ●

Stay Stay Stay Stay

Safe Healthy Focused United

Together we can win this war.

Visit covid19response.lc

APRIL 30, 2021

A message from the Office of the Prime Minister

THE STAR

Printed and published by STAR Publishing Co. (1987) Ltd., Rodney Bay Industrial Estate, Massade, Gros Islet, P.O. Box 1146, Castries, St. Lucia, W.I., Tel: (758) 450-7827 Email: info@stluciastar.com Website: www.stluciastar.com