That's It More Quit!

SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2019

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That’s It More Quit!

Nothing Personal.

It’s Just Business.

INC

STAR Businessweek:

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(An over-my-shoulder look at life)

april 13, 2019 THE STAR

SAINT LUCIA TO BENEFIT FROM AGREEMENT BETWEEN TAIWAN (ROC) AND THE PAN AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

Smiles and tears

By Michael Walker

W

ay back in the 1970s, we spent several weeks each year as holiday guests at the Halcyon Days Hotel outside Vieux Fort, always at Christmas and usually once or twice during the rest of the year. The kids were quite small, at least at the beginning of the decade, but by the end of the seventies they were, of course, ten years older. They viewed the hotel as their second home. The staff was pretty fixed— we met the same faces year after year and the management became a reliable fixture.

Arriving on the double-decker bus from the airport after a long and fairly arduous journey was like coming home. We always had the same two adjoining rooms on the ground floor and were pleasantly amused to find the small imperfections we had complained about on the previous visit remained unfixed.

They added a sense of permanence to the experience. The sliding glass doors were secured by a piece of wood that you had to diligently place along their base each night to stop them from being opened. I cannot recall ever locking the doors to the outside corridor.

Yes, that’s how secure we felt way back then.

Martin, the younger of our kids, found his home in the table tennis hall and, with the help of the staff, became quite a proficient ping pong player. My wife and I played tennis most days but the sun was pretty horrendous.

And then, of course, there was the ninehole pitch and putt course that we lovingly referred to as the Golf Course. Neither of us was particularly good at the game but I must admit, to my chagrin, that my wife could strike the ball much better than I could. Her problem was that, like most golfers, she

suffered tremendously after each bad shot, no matter how well she was playing otherwise.

Golfers have the potential to be such miseries even though they are basically playing against themselves. Anna, of course, spent her time with the horses.

Every day seems to have been full of joy. Our plan included breakfast and the evening meal. During the day the kids took care of themselves; Martin had his milk-shake account while Anna was more moderate in her diet. Breakfast was the main meal of the day. Year after year we were waited upon by Therese and her friends. We got to know them all well and through the years became firm friends. When Rudolph, Therese’s husband, was killed in a roadside accident we suffered with the family and did our best to support the grieving widow and her two young sons who grew up to become fine young men, a credit to their father.

Mike and Mary were also guests and our two families spent most days in close proximity during the vacations. They had arrived in America as penniless refugees from Hungary and went on to become quite wealthy residents of Long Island. Mike designed air conditioning for skyscrapers and Mary made her money in real estate. After they retired to Florida they stopped visiting Saint Lucia but by then we had moved on to live in our own home at Cap. On one memorable Old Year’s Night their room had been set afire by renegade fireworks misdirected from the pool area. No one was hurt although the material damage was quite substantial. The funny thing was that when they visited us years later at Cap, they stayed at the Cariblue Hotel—now the BodyHoliday—where their room was once again set on fire by rampant, renegade pyrotechnics on the very last day of the year.

DASH Donates to the Child Development & Guidance Centre for the Fifth Time

D

ASH, the Independence Charity Colour Run, has officially wrapped up yet another year of the seamless combination between family, independence, fun and love and charity. The group made its official charity donation to the Child Development & Guidance Centre—DASH’s charity of choice for the past five years— earlier this week.

Director Dione Benn attributed the 2019

successes of DASH to sponsors, participants and the commitment of the DASH executive team. “We are happy to be here to be able to give back and we credit this solely to the generosity of our sponsors and the dedication of our participants who come out with us every year. We look forward to 2020 where it is going to be bigger and better,” Benn said.

2019 saw the largest participant numbers in the

DASH history, with thousands coming from community groups like the National Youth Council and schools from across the island, with corporate groups, individuals and charity clubs all gathering together.

Dr. Kim Gardner, Director of the Child Development & Guidance Centre, expressed sincere thanks to all those who continue to support this outstanding event.

“This is our fifth year

The official signing signified stronger relations between Taiwan and Saint Lucia and additional support to the agricultural industry.

T

he Embassy of Saint Lucia to the United States participated on April 10 in a signing ceremony between the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) and the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) that will, amongst other things, support small-scale urban agriculture in Saint Lucia. H.E. Anton Edmunds, Saint Lucia’s Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States, during his intervention, commented, “We view this new initiative as a sign of Taiwan’s deep and continued interest in Saint Lucia’s economic development, particularly as it of partnership and we are very grateful for our history and partnership,” Gardner said, adding, “The financial contributions have gone a long way in helping children with disabilities in many ways.”

For 2019, Gardner noted that the funds received would be directed to the aid of children at the Dunnottar Multiple Disability Centre. “It will go towards adaptation of that facility, to making it more accessible for children with wheelchairs and additional needs. So, we are very happy that it will allow for many children to attend school and help them reach their fullest potential,” Dr. Gardner said.

Among those in attendance at the simple presentation ceremony was principal of the Dunnottar Centre, Antonia Joseph. She cited her first encounter with the DASH team in early February when the group, in partnership with Unicomer Courts and The Cell made an impressive donation

relates to supporting some of our most vulnerable sectors."

The support from Taiwan to PADF will support Urban Grow, a project under the SYNERGY programme, designed to assist residents of Castries Central become engaged in growing and eating healthy foods, while building strong communities.

Urban Grow will initially develop 2.16 acres of farmland for commercial and recreational farming with at least 30 persons directly benefitting during the first phase. Models for farming within the inner city communities of Castries Central will also be explored.

Urban Grow is the brainchild of the Member of Parliament for Castries Central,

Sarah Flood-Beaubrun.

Saint Lucia has enjoyed strong relations with Taiwan since re-establishing diplomatic ties in 2007. The level of bilateral cooperation throughout this 12-year period has spanned a cross-section of areas including agriculture, health, human resource development, community development and empowerment, sports, infrastructure and ICT.

PADF is the oldest and largest foundation in the Inter-American system, established in 1962 to promote sustainable development, democracy, human rights and disaster assistance directed to vulnerable populations in the Americas.

DASH Director Dione Benn (left) makes the official 2019 presentation to CDGC Director Dr. Kim Gardner.

of technology equipment to the school to aid in its efficiency of helping the children to reach their fullest potential.

Joseph revealed that the funding received would also allow for some children to attend school full-time. “I would like to thank you for your continued support and hope that

in the future you will continue to partner with us and assist our most vulnerable students,” the principal said.

Others present at the ceremony were DASH Directors Robberta Rose and Abeera Larcher, as well as Director of Hashtag Communications Limited, Alex Holder.

THE STAR

april 13, 2019

comment

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03

The WiPay Brouhaha:

Three More Call It Quits whiz kid. The minister and Wayne were hardly strangers.

They had last met at the launching of a WiPay branch s we move forward as a in Saint Lucia a month or so country, it has become earlier. increasingly evident

Also present at the that we cannot continue to launching were top honchos of operate using traditional WiPay headquarters, as well models and systems. The rate as the directors of the Saint of technological advancement Lucia branch: Dunstan Du and the easy access to these Boulay, his son Richard, and tools have rapidly changed businessman Pinkley Francis. the demands of the population Yesterday, I sat down with them when conducting business perchance to clear some of with any entity, including the exhaust generated by the government. Technology recently reported resignation has been injected into every of Ubaldus Raymond from aspect of our lives, causing the government—a move a significant shift in the way conceivably related to the we do business, socialize and dissemination of surreptitious interact with one another.” recordings that referenced

Evidently the last thing on WiPay and Ubaldus Raymond, the mind of Ubaldus Raymond, made while the minister was while on a fact-finding mission on tax-funded government to Trinidad at the end of March business with his entourage in this year, was the technology Trinidad. that had caused a sea change

Himself a former in the way we “socialize and government minister and fatherinteract with one another.” The in-law of Prime Minister Allen opening paragraph is taken Chastanet, Dunstan DuBoulay from the minister’s report to explained how he came to Cabinet following his visit to be involved in the suddenly the twin Republic, which goes controversial subject of the on to say: “It is increasingly local branch of WiPay. He said critical at this juncture that a Trinidadian named Richard the government takes the Lewis, the director of Label necessary steps to modernize House and chairman of WiPay, its critical operations to not had recommended him to a man only adapt to these demands named Gerald Hadeed, owner of by its constituents (citizens, Beacon Insurance, also a major business, international and regional communities), but also WiPay shareholder.

DuBoulay and Richard to ensure it implements the Lewis have known each other right technological solutions for over 35 years. His company that provide confidentiality, had supplied all labels for integrity and availability (CIA) in its processes while reducing DuBoulay’s Bottling Company. overall operational expenditure.” When Hadeed asked Lewis to suggest who might make

In Trinidad, Mr. Raymond respected representatives of was accompanied by WiPay in Saint Lucia, he readily technocrats of the Saint Lucia named Dunstan DuBoulay. As for government, among them the minister’s permanent secretary, Pinkley Francis, he was invited his chief ICT officer, his records on board because of his IT expertise. The DuBoulays hardly and information management knew Aldwyn Wayne. They specialist, and other personnel first met when the Trinidadian from the Justice Department. visited Saint Lucia with his They visited government agencies such as the ministry of family about a year ago. Their second and only meeting was at the attorney general and legal affairs; immigration department; the aforementioned launching.

The DuBoulays say they were ministry of works department; as shocked as anyone else to also the judiciary department hear the broadcasts of recorded where they met WiPay CEO conversations involving Ubaldus Aldwyn Wayne, a reputed IT

By Rick Wayne

to sever all connections with WiPay. Pinkley Francis has also pulled out.

Meanwhile the attorney general’s office has announced an investigation into the mystery of why the recordings were made in the first place and how they found their way into the hands of individuals notoriously unfriendly to the Allen Chastanet government, to the prime minister in particular.

It is worth noting that while the recordings reveal Aldwyn Wayne had directed his baby mama to hit on Ubaldus Raymond, he never once suggested she should make recordings. That the woman had recorded not only herself talking with Raymond but also with Aldwyn Wayne is a mystery waiting to be explained by the AG’s investigators!

A

Ubaldus Raymond (second from left) with other promoters of WiPay, the company that just about changed the way business is done in Saint Lucia.

Raymond and an unnamed female, the mother of a child fathered by Aldwyn Wayne.

DuBoulay acknowledged the newly formed Saint Lucia branch had engaged the government in discussions related to the company’s services. But they were not alone; three other similar companies at home and in Trinidad also had proposals before the government.

As for the surreptitious recordings, from all the local directors of WiPay had learned, while in Trinidad Raymond and his entourage were invited by Aldwyn Wayne to a carnival party for the band Tribe. As far as they know the minister met the earlier mentioned unidentified woman at the party and they were later photographed gyrating carnival-style. The DuBoulays knew no more about the recordings than most Saint Lucians. In all events, they were sufficiently disgusted by what they heard that they decided yesterday morning

St. Lucia Civil Service Association DO YOUR BEST EXPECT THE BEST

NOTICE In accordance with the provisions of Section 6.7(b) of the Constitution of the St.Lucia Civil Service Association, NOTICE is hereby given of the Annual General Meeting of the St.Lucia Civil Service Association, which will be held on Wednesday, 8th May, 2019 commencing from 3:00 pm at the Association’s Conference Centre, Sans Souci, Castries.

AGENDA 1. Prayers 2.

National Pledge 3. Apologies 4.

President’s Remarks 5.

Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting held on June 14, 2017

- Errors and Omissions

- Confirmation of Minutes 6.

Matters Arising out of the Minutes 7.

National Executive Committee Report 8.

Auditor’s Report and Treasurer’s Report 9.

Standing Committee Reports 10.

Branch Committee Reports 11. Resolutions 12.

Any Other Business

04 LOCAL

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April 13, 2019 THE STAR

ACP to Media: Treat all Police Suspects as you did Rehani Isidore!

By Dean Nestor

T

MASL President Miguel Fevrier (pictured) says he has no comment on the Rehani Isidore case.

he circumstances surrounding news reporter Rehani Isidore’s attempted suicide while in police custody last month remain murky. What is quite clear is that the whole affair has cast dark shadows on the way the police handled that particular matter. Nevertheless, the police insist they treated the case as they would any other similar matter; that they went by the book and remain confident that the outcome of the case will prove there was nothing unusual about the arrest and processing of Rehani Isidore.

In a related sitdown this week, Wayne Charlery, ACP

Responsible for Crime and Intelligence Management, expressed relief that Isidore is in good health following his ordeal. Charlery insisted that Isidore was treated with respect by the police, regardless of what some had stated online.

“I don’t think our image has taken a hit with respect to that case at all,” said the officer.

“Sensible Saint Lucians, who actually take a bit of time to digest what happened, would know who ultimately was responsible. They would realize that the police did only what they are expected to do in such matters. We did everything in our power to ensure that the presentation of the evidence in that case will see justice being served. Whatever the results of the case, however, I am satisfied with how my men handled the suspect while he was in their custody.”

Miguel Fevrier, president of the Media Association of Saint Lucia, declined to comment on Isidore’s case, despite mounting criticism of the coverage given it, or lack thereof; or

the preferential treatment afforded the bomb threat suspect, compared with similar cases covered by him and his colleagues.

Charlery provided the RSLPF’s rationale behind the release of Isidore’s name to the public: “Understand that the attempted suicide charge would have come as a result of him being brought in for the bomb hoax charge. So both charges are inextricably linked. If you never had a bomb hoax suspect, you’d probably not have the attempted suicide suspect.

So those charges, as I’ve said, are joined at the hip. We couldn’t have charged Isidore for the bomb hoax without also publicizing the charge of attempted suicide due to this link. Remember, it’s the same person in question for both incidents.”

On the media coverage of the case, Charlery had this to say: “This matter was very interesting from a media coverage standpoint. At no point, though typical, did you hear: ‘Senior police officer has

indicated the suspect of the bomb hoax is Rehani Isidore.’ Why was that? For once, as your paper’s publisher alluded to regarding this case, the media cooperated fully with the police. There was no hounding of the suspect or his family. There was no hounding of the police for information regarding the suspect. I was at the hospital visiting the young man. At no point was there any camera or camera-phone in my face, accompanied with questions about Rehani. Clearly in this case the media cooperated with us.

Until one of their own got caught, they were unrelenting; oftentimes saying things like, ‘It’s our right,’ and ‘The people need to know!’

Now the media can be held to the standard it has set in this case. If they drop below those standards, we can ask: Why are you operating one way for this case but, with Rehani, you did something totally different? From our perspective, as police, we wish the media would in all cases operate as they did with Rehani Isidore. I will constantly remind them to continue doing the right thing, as they did with Rehani.”

Credit Unions rattled

by Throne Speech T he Credit Union sector which, according to a 2017 Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Financial Stability Report, controls some 48% of total loans for the year, was distraught by this week’s Throne Speech.

Well-placed sources told the STAR the governor general’s announcement that the government intends to pass the OECS Cooperative Harmonized Bill came as a total shock to the movement because, since 2017, the sector and the Financial Services Regulatory

Authority have been at deadlock regarding certain provisions of the Bill.

Consequently, even the legislative drafting consultant, in a memo of 31 March, 2017, admitted consensus was required on many clauses and reiterated that there were still many unresolved issues.

Our sources are of the view that the current Board of Directors of the Credit Union League and the FSRA have teamed up to convince the government that the Bill, as drafted, has the support of the credit unions when the opposite

is true.

The sector has made it known that the Bill will result in forced closures of several of the smaller credit unions in Saint Lucia that will be unable to meet certain thresholds.

A worrying aspect of the Bill is that it will give the FSRA legal authority to close or merge small credit unions.

Our sources say there is a lot going on with the credit union movement in the OECS that needs to publicized.

Find out in our next issue what the STAR has uncovered!

THE STAR

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06 comment

IT’S TIME TO RECONCILE SOME OF OUR DIFFERENCES (Part 2)

Peter Josie

F

orty-plus years ago, as the debate on Independence intensified, it was clear to this writer that those who had honest doubts seemed determined to pursue relevant information, while those who did not wish to know chose to remain in the dark. Attitudes are still so today whenever we face challenging issues such as human sexuality, reparations, crime and punishment and, yes, religion. We have instead developed the habit of allowing every idiot his fifteen seconds of fame. It is a feature of our comatose mind to allow broken lives and unfortunate faces to pass exposed before us in the media, as a sort of evangelization. Perhaps it serves as street theatre for some; a distraction.

I wonder, how many of those who criticize the year-long marking of Independence-40 have pondered a discussion on reconciliation before the year ends? There are small-minded people who are determined to frustrate the plans of the government at every turn.

It does not matter to these natural-born haters how much mistrust and anger they create in minds that hunger for attention and profit. The rest of us need to be immunized against the spread of this virus of hate and anger and jealousy.

This spreading of discontent is at the core of what ails the Labour opposition. They have opposed every single capital project proposed by the government then turned around and complained that the government has fallen short in its estimated capital expenditure. And they call that politics!

Should we be surprised that the country suffers whenever such minds hold office? Those that are always complaining have not paused since the last elections to thank God that PM Chastanet is not a vengeful man. Some have still not accepted the results of the election. Neither have they accepted those the electorate has put in charge of the nation’s

april 13, 2019 THE STAR

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A more resilient Agricultural Sector: REACH Project Launch in Saint Lucia and St. Vincent & the Grenadines

T

While the flag was raised on February 22 this year, people must have reminisced on the difficult road that led to independence, some in celebration and others with regret.

affairs. This further aggravates feeling of exclusion for those opposition elements that still have issues with the national emblems of Saint Lucia.

Perhaps they would like to change the colours of the flag, add a few red stars to the coat of arms or perhaps replace the national bird with the poisonous fer-de-lance!

By the way, these are the same natural-born haters who will not seek appropriate remedy for what ails them, since it would mean exposing their ungodly natures, their lust for dishonest income.

It’s on social media that two government ministers have resigned in two years. Wouldn’t it be nice to remind us that after fifteen years in office, with unspeakable scandals still hanging over the island, not a single minister of a Labour government had to resign?

Interestingly, these are the same people who gave their leader carte blanche permission to take decisions on behalf of Cabinet. In consequence several questions of financial obligations and investment deals remain unanswered.

On reflection, I understand why some people cannot let go of their pre-Independence gripes. Many were left leaderless after George F. L. Charles was unceremoniously

booted out as Labour Party leader. That leadership void was filled by the strident voices of George Odlum and a certain Peter Josie. We came closest to the early militancy and determination of George F. L. Charles, in the eyes of many. In the months leading to Independence, public meetings of the SLP on the steps of the Castries market succeeded beyond my wildest imagination.

The crowds were the most massive I had ever seen at a public meeting on the island.

Everyone knew who were the main drawing cards, and openly acknowledged the truth.

I had an experience on the Castries market steps during one such public meeting that changed my life forever. I was at full throttle, speaking as if possessed. In the middle of my inspired speech I paused, as they say, to drop a pebble in the pool. As I surveyed the massive crowd it dawned on me that people were listening in uncommon silence. For the first time while delivering a public address, I panicked. The silence was so intense, one could literally hear a pin drop.

Somehow I was reminded of the great responsibility God had placed upon my shoulders.

It was to speak without fear; to guide with humility; and to enlighten with honesty and

love. That became my national duty. To be responsible, first and foremost, to the people of Saint Lucia—not just to the Labour Party or to any other group. That evening I was reborn. I became a new person, a person still growing.

Forty-plus years later, when I hear certain people expressing misgivings about the island’s celebration of Independence, using excessive expenditure as their reason, my mind goes back to that night on the Castries market steps. I often wonder whether the wounds inflicted on the road to independence have helped to create displeasure around February 22 each year.

There have been several changes of government over the past forty years. The old guard is gone but old animosities linger.

This is therefore a prayer that Prime Minister Allen Chastanet and members of the House and Senate would come together to do what is necessary to restore harmony, amity and concord within the citizenry. In the final analysis, reconciliation will only happen when intelligent people decide to put the country and people first. Let us therefore persevere with faith, and may this dialogue of reconciliation be a mark of our maturity, demonstrating for all to see that we shall not lack for anything afterwards.

he Resilient Environment and Agricultural Caribbean Habitats (REACH) Project was officially launched in Saint Lucia on April 1, 2019 and in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on April 4, 2019. This oneyear-long project aims to assist small farmers and their communities to manage and reduce the risks associated with the effects of climate change on the agricultural sector.

REACH is funded by the Italian Development Agency for Cooperation and Development. It is coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in partnership with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) and the Italian International Centre on Environmental Monitoring Research Foundation (CIMA).

FAO’s Disaster Risk Management Specialist, Daniele Barelli stated, “The REACH Project is poised to help us in preparedness for disasters. Imagine if for every dollar we invest in preparedness, five to eight dollars could be saved in response. I think doing projects that address this area of interest is important.”

In her remarks, Ms Elizabeth Riley, Deputy Executive Director, CDEMA said, “Agriculture is vulnerable to natural hazards and it is also climate sensitive. Globally it is widely accepted that out of all natural hazards, floods, droughts and tropical cyclones affect the agricultural sector the most.”

The collection, analysis and use of weather and climate information will be a critical aspect of the project in order to make the agriculture sector more

prepared and therefore more resilient to environmental and natural hazards. Mr. Adrian Trotman, Chief Applied Meteorology and Climatology, (CIMH) highlighted, “Under the REACH Project, in both Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, we are piloting the provision of weather and climate information at the national level but more particularly at the community level.”

Institutions, farmers, youth and local communities in the two countries will be equipped with the tools and knowledge to better manage their agricultural production.

Key stakeholders will also learn how to withstand the results of climate change and create more resilient rural livelihoods.

The project has been launched against the backdrop of significant sustainable development challenges in the Caribbean due to global climate change. According to the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, increased climate variability is expected to have a severe impact on Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

This impact will be made worse by SIDS’ currently limited capacity to adapt to change. Global climate change is likely to result in coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion, and more intense tropical storms and hurricanes which are going to severely impact the agriculture sector—generally the most vulnerable to these types of climatic events.

The REACH Project builds on existing institutional experience at Caribbean and national level and on results of several previous initiatives focused on Agriculture Disaster Risk Management (ADRM) and resilience enhancement in Caribbean rural communities.

THE STAR

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APRIL 13, 2019

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april 13, 2019 THE STAR

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Should Senator Raymond remain in government?

Ellie (who claims to be unaffiliated politically): I see no reason why he should go; that’s the man’s personal business.

If he wants everyone to know what he’s doing, it’s still his problem and his business.

Nick: I think he should be removed. I don’t think he’s a good example and I think he should redeem himself. I would feel ashamed if he was my father.

Gemma: Well, he knew what he did was bad. I guess that’s why he removed himself from government.

Talia: I thought about it and at first I said he doesn’t have to resign because that’s his personal life and everyone falters sometimes. But, I really feel terrible for his wife and children. They should remove him because that’s not the first

The best political analysts are always found outside the house!

time and he represents the country. I don’t support either party presently.

Etan: I personally think he

THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN SUPREME COURT IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE SAINT LUCIA CLAIM NO. SLUHCV2008/0871 BETWEEN:

FIRSTCARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL BANK (BARBADOS) LIMITED Claimant and

should be removed because that’s the second strike. The first incident, I was in and out; I didn’t think he should resign because it was personal what he was doing with those women. But, in this case he was speaking about his responsibilities as minister for the public service and this is information you shouldn’t share in those circumstances. I never know which candidate to vote for until Election Day. Tahnee: I think he should stop cheating on his wife and learn from his mistakes. If he continues then he needs

to resign because he cannot be respected or trusted. I still support the UWP though.

it, nobody will take an action against me because nobody is looking up to me. I am no side.

Fayola: He should resign and check into rehab effective immediately. The man has an addiction. I will always be a Labour supporter.

Phil: The politics in Saint Lucia stinks; just a bunch of kids running around. As he said, he’s in a position that he should set an example and if people are looking up to you to do right by the people, then Macka-me: If you are doing something, do it privately. But you must be able to conduct yourself because you’re you lying, lying and lying to people and now you’re exposed. supposed to be a disciplined The simple thing to do is resign. person. I’m from Saint Lucia I think the prime minister should but I live in England. If he was send him home. You are a in England he would have to step down or they would sack government minister and must set the example. Because if I do him.

Donavan: It was the right move.

He should have been fired and that should be the protocol for all government officials moving forward. He put the country at risk. I support the UWP. John: He should not have resigned or been fired or whatever the case was because he was set up and I think he should be given one more chance. I am a UWP supporter.

Editor’s note: We took the opportunity to interview random individuals outside the House on Tuesday morning.

CURTIS MARIUS Defendant NOTICE OF HEARING TAKE NOTICE that this matter has been rescheduled for Chamber Hearing at the High Court of Justice La Place Carenage, Jeremie Street in the city of Castries on Wednesday, the 22nd day of May, 2019 at 9 o’clock in the forenoon before Justice Godfrey Smith.

DATED: this 21st day of February, 2019.

(Sgd.) L. Soomer – James for REGISTRAR OF THE HIGH COURT To:

Fosters Legal Practitioner for Claimant Robin Kelton Building, Choc Bay, Castries

Curtis Marius Defendant in Person Bocage, Castries

The Court Office is at La Place Carenage, Jeremie Street, Castries, Tel. No. (75) 468-7500, Fax No. (758) 468-7543. The Office is open between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday and between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Friday except public holidays.

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The Slap That Spoke Volumes

I

listened with interest to the news of the employee at one of the island’s nature trails and waterfalls, who did not wish to have his photograph taken by a visitor, and slapped her arm when she persisted.

That incident took me back to the debate on corporal punishment at the island’s schools and the national outcry against the Minister of Education for threatening to put an end to all beatings at schools next year. Even the brightest and best to whom we daily entrust our

children demanded, in loud voices, to know what would replace physical beating (violence!) against children at school.

Seemingly, no one had heard about talking to the child, doing so in the presence of his or her parents if necessary.

The same public that would rightly condemn the excesses of slavery could see nothing wrong in perpetuating one of its great leftovers: the constant and excessive beatings inflicted by sexually deviant, white men upon the backs of black people they considered their property.

The abuse by beating continues today in various forms by blacks and browns upon innocent children. Where did they learn to do this? It’s the easiest lesson to teach, especially by frustrated parents who seem to lack everything including love of their own children.

I have a story to share on the matter of licks (caning) at St. Mary’s College when I was a student there. I am saving it for my autobiography because it’s one of the stories that helped shape the person I would become.

Perhaps those who cannot

connect the easy raising of the hands in violence have no place serving in the public domain; certainly not in education or tourism.

No striking or beating or lifting of the hands in threat is my position, and I’m not about to change. Indeed, it was weakness on the part of the government not to abolish corporal punishment forthwith, and to count the ban as one more reason to celebrate forty years of Independence.

--Peter Josie

THE STAR

april 13, 2019

09

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OFF

10 LOCAL

april 13, 2019 THE STAR

www.stluciastar.com

ACP a Big Supporter of Bill to Extend Powers of CCC Cops!

Dean Nestor

S

ection 27 of the Castries Constituency Bill, concerning the powers of city police, has divided national opinion from the regular Joe on the street to Members of Parliament. It seems everyone has an opinion on the matter. In fact, it would not be inaccurate to state that the spats between the Castries City mayor and the Castries South MP—reported in this newspaper last week— were set off by the bill.

The troublesome section: “A Castries city police [officer], in addition to the special powers vested in him or her under this Act, has in respect of the whole of Saint Lucia

the powers, privileges and immunities conferred on a constable by the common law, and the powers, privileges, immunities and liabilities conferred or imposed on a constable of corresponding rank by the Police Act, Cap 14.01. An act done by or to a Castries city police officer in the execution of his or her duty has the same effect and the same liabilities and other consequences and is punishable in the same manner as if done by or to a police officer of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force in the execution of his or her duty.”

When Travis Chicot, as leader of the Police Welfare Association, aired his opposition to the Bill a few weeks ago, it was taken as representative of the whole RSLPF. But what

ACP Wayne Charlery says on the issue suggests otherwise.

“I would love to read the legislation, but just looking at it on the surface—more powers, more numbers island-wide—to me that’s what we need,” he said on Wednesday. “If it means I’m looking at more police officers, then I’m all for it. I look at the constabulary as an asset and I’m all for embracing our little brother, as the case may be. With both the regular police and the constabulary, our mandate, our goal, our raison d’être is to prevent and reduce crime. So we must build a partnership with the city police, whether they’re in the city or they’re all over Saint Lucia, to be able to combat crime effectively. That’s the bottom line.”

Vacancy Notice

OFFICE ASSISTANT Export Saint Lucia invites applications from suitably qualified persons for the position of Office Assistant. The Officer will generally function as the Office Assistant at Export Saint Lucia, handling all transportation-related duties and providing clerical support to the Unit.

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Deadline for receipt of applications is Monday 15th April 2019 at 4.00 p.m.

ACP Wayne Charlery (pictured) has a quite different perspective on the expansion of city police powers from those expressed by PWA President Travis Chicot.

Charlery added that if community policing is something the RSLPF has been promoting for years, then there can be nothing wrong with expanding the powers of the constabulary. “The best way to combat crime is to partner with the communities and the people. So many times we go out and do community policing.

So, if this is the panacea, there’s no going away from it. It is the future of combatting crime and being able to reduce crime, where we all can feel safe and there’s a level of peace and security.”

But last week Chicot said the legislation would cause confusion. He even threatened police action to counter the Bill’s passing. “How can the city constabulary have the same ranks as the RSLPF?” he asked. “We want this

legislation rescinded. We need to know clearly the jurisdiction of the operations in the city constabulary to investigate only summary matters. We are firm believers that islandwide powers will cause direct confusion with the regular members of the armed force.

We will do whatever it takes to ensure that this legislation does not move forward in its current form.”

The PWA president went as far as to call into question the character of some city police members. He also insinuated the bill was politically motivated. “We know that the city constabulary has recruited persons of questionable character, with no credibility, at the highest ranks of that institution. Is this administration creating its own force to adhere to its own politically motivated

objective?”

Kenny Anthony had expressed similar sentiments while the Bill was being debated in the House. Said the Vieux Fort South MP: “It’s highly dangerous when a parliament decides to enact legislation for the sole vanity of an individual who is charged with a responsibility!”

ACP Charlery: “The mayor did not write that legislation and I would certainly hate to think that this Bill was passed for his sole vanity. That would say a lot about our legislature.”

He went on to paint a picture of the constabulary quite different from Chicot’s, describing its relationship with the RSLPF as “symbiotic”. He added: “I’ve had conversations with Mr. Modeste, who is their chief, and I asked for manpower, that he delivered. It’s been a symbiotic relationship. We were getting numbers and they got to go on a few coordinated police exercises with us. I told him his officers would gain from us the level of experience in the environment itself, an awareness that comes only with time and being out there doing real police exercises.

When we did the simultaneous traffic checks, you would have noticed we had traffic officers on board, SSU, Drugs, CID and the city police. So it’s been a coordinated effort.” He argued that the demonstrated combative attitude toward increasing constabulary powers will not help in the fight against crime. “It is a community effort; the regular police can’t do it alone.”

Charlery explained what may have contributed to his perspective. “I spent almost six years at Bordelais as an administrator. That environment brought certain things to the fore, where ego had to take a back seat; where it mattered not who got the credit and who came up with the brilliant idea.

As long as the brilliant idea can be born, you must do what you can to take that through.

Understand that the reason for having a police force, or two or three forces, is to detect and prevent crime.”

THE STAR april 13, 2019

LOCAL 11

www.stluciastar.com

Helen’s Daughters:

An Agricultural Revolution K

eithlin Caroo is the founder of local organisation Helen’s Daughters which aims to empower women in rural areas and who earn a living by farming. This week Keithlin reveals what led her to initiate this project in an economic climate that yearns for tourism while thirsting for a stable agricultural industry.

This interview coincides with Helen’s Daughters’ biggest endeavour—a crowdfunding campaign to help solve issues faced by small farmers in Saint Lucia. Head over to startsomegood.com/ helensdaughters if you want to help close the gap between local farmers and large tourism entities.

STAR: Are you interested in agriculture?

I was born and raised in the rural community of Fond Assau in Babonneau. I would say that I was raised in a farming family. Although my parents are not farmers by profession, my grandparents were. Farming had always been important to my family because it always seemed to get them out of a financial bind. Now that I look back, I can say farming helped get a lot of my aunts, uncles and parents through school, and it’s still something that they practice today even though it’s not a main profession.

When I was young, I wasn’t interested in agriculture, nor was I encouraged to be because during the banana crash a lot of farmers grew resentful towards the occupation, especially the long and gruelling labour that is required. Many farmers, like my parents, pushed their children towards “office jobs”.

During my childhood, I was honestly just trying to find a career that I thought my parents and grandparents would be impressed with; first that was a lawyer, then a doctor, then an engineer.

When I finally realized that I had an affinity for languages, history and social studies, my career choice started to turn to what I was passionate about which turned out to be me wanting a career in international relations.

STAR: How did Helen’s Daughters start out?

It started off about a year after I joined the UN. The work I was doing was completely disconnected to the Caribbean.

But I had joined believing that in some way I would be able to contribute to Saint Lucia directly. That wasn’t the case.

One morning, the UN Women call for proposals for activities on women’s economic empowerment caught my eye so I decided to submit a proposal (although its completely different from what we do now). It was based on rural women’s economic empowerment because I felt that rural women in the agricultural sector are the most marginalized. I mean, consider the conditions: that they must sell their produce in the market, or think about the long hours and how exhausting it can be if mechanization, like tractors or ploughs, is not applied, and they have to do that work themselves.

When Helen’s Daughters started, it was all social media advocacy and I realized that, in a sense, my advocacy was part of the problem, I was highlighting their daily struggles and I wasn’t coming up with any solutions. Fast forward, to now; I organised the first-ever Rural Women’s Workshop, a one-day leadership and capacitybuilding event for rural women that turned into a needsassessment exercise for me.

I could hear first-hand what they were going through and what I could possibly do.

STAR: What did Helen’s Daughters set out to accomplish at its inception?

Honestly, we set out to redefine the image of what it meant to be a rural woman—a female farmer. There’s so much strength in that demographic, and yet these women never get the recognition or the opportunities that they deserve. Also, by redefining the image, I hope to attract more young women to farming. I know some people will say, “Well you’re not a farmer,” but if I had known then what I know now, I think I would have

STAR: Helen’s Daughters helps how many women?

So far 30 women benefit directly from Helen’s Daughters and I hope to gradually grow that number. I’d like to take the marathon approach and invest into building the capacity of a few women at first so that they are able to access commercial markets themselves and then mentor other rural women and grow from there.

STAR: What opportunities are offered to these women?

Currently we are working on developing computer applications that are accessible to rural women wherever they are. These applications would provide them with sustainable farming tips, information on market demand and prices, and direct access to commercial markets. We have also given some of these women the opportunity to partner with Canadian university students and faculty to address real-time problems that they encounter, and it’s a programme that we want to build on. Too often academia is far removed from real-time problems but this partnership was beneficial to both sides.

Keithlin Caroo had a dream of working for the United Nations but, when it came true, she realized that she needed to help the rural women at home.

been. There’s a possibility to make a handsome living from farming—modern farming that is—which would allow you to farm smarter, employ modern tools and have access to market information, rather than working harder for lesser returns.

STAR: Has it accomplised these goals?

My greatest difficulty has been accessing capital. I’ve been bootstrapping Helen’s Daughters since its inception and realized that if I wanted to move at a faster pace, I would need to have more capital.

I tried the grant route but halfway through the process, I realized that there were some stipulations that I thought would be ineffective in our programmes so I pulled out.

This was what led me to the crowdfunding campaign. I was nervous about putting myself out there, but the response has been amazing.

So far, we have reached the 75% mark and I hope that we can get enough to at least build out the Minimum Viable Product, test it and get our first set of customers, which will lead us on the road of selfsufficiency.

STAR: How have rural women responded to what is offered

by Helen’s Daughters?

I think they love it. I do also think they want us to do more!

Rural women have been fed up with being overlooked and it’s wonderful to see a change.

For example, we used to run a #HerStory series online and in print, and many of the women would say that this was the first time they were ever featured in a newspaper or online, and you could see the pride they regained in their profession after that.

STAR: As a rural-born woman yourself, how do you think something like Helen’s Daughters would have benefitted you?

I know that I would have been involved with the organisation if it was there before me. At the time, agriculture wasn’t on my mind, even though I was raised in a rural area, so it probably

would have made me think of the multi-dimensional aspects of farming, from policy to agricultural sciences to even helping to modernize farming.

Maybe my career choice when I left graduate school would have been different.

STAR: How you were able to achieve your dreams of working at the UN? It’s been a tough road. I had always wanted to join the UN and, while I was doing my Master’s degree, I applied to dozens of internship postings.

Thankfully, I was selected for one of them. The only problem was that the internship was unpaid and in New York. I didn’t have the money to live in NY for three months, but I knew that the opportunity would open a door for me.

So, I enrolled in a payment programme with my school for the upcoming semester and used my tuition money to pay for the three months I would spend in New York.

At first, since I was going to school in Connecticut, I thought it would be cheaper to commute, instead of paying for rent in both Connecticut and New York, but I was wrong. I ended up having to commute six hours a day. So, after the first month, I had to find a place in New York. Thankfully my mom knew someone who was renting a room in Brooklyn for $500. The room had no furniture, so I had to use an airbed. By the second month, I think there was a hole in it.

My main goal was to get a job right after but there is a UN rule that interns cannot be hired for at least six months after their internship has ended. Fortunately, the stars aligned that when a vacancy did open up after the six-month period, the department that I interned with hired me and I’ve been with the UN since then.

STAR: What advice do you give to Saint Lucian women, especially those from rural areas?

I would say that you shouldn’t allow where you come from, regardless of if it was a rural area, to dictate where you will go.

12

COMMENT

www.stluciastar.com

april 13, 2019 THE STAR

OUR ONETIME S OF THE YEAR I

In 2012, STAR awarded Ubaldus Raymond Person of the Year for his determination to serve the country only on proper work ethic terms, even if it meant resigning from his post as parliamentary secretary. In 2019, Raymond was not present at the opening of the third session of the eleventh parliament as leader of government business in the Senate.

t’s been no Sunday walk in the park deciding who should be declared the STAR’s 2012 Person of the Year. And not because of the multitude of candidates submitted. Au contraire, never before have our readers demonstrated less interest, despite what we considered our irresistible invitation full of Saint Lucia’s most exciting personalities: winning athletes, politicians, police officers and others well known.

It turns out the submission most often offered couldn’t have been more predictable.

Which in normal circumstances would’ve indicated either the candidate’s popularity—or his notoriety. After all, our main criterion has from the very start coincided with that of Time magazine: the Person of the Year accolade is awarded to whoever in any particular year, for better or worse, had the greatest impact on the media and on the people’s lives.

(Time’s Person of the Year title has been bestowed on such as Hitler, Stalin and the Ayatollah Khomeni, as well as on former mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani and President Barack Obama!)

This time around it was especially difficult to read the signals. Was the atypical poor reaction our readers’ way of saying the suggested candidates had lost what once had made them extraordinary?

One could not help recalling the famous line about what you get when you compare mediocrity with mediocrity: least mediocre will forever remain mediocre to those who refuse to settle for less than greatness. A determined lesser evil can never be indicative of goodness.

Of course Daren Sammy

had never represented other than persistence, perseverance, hard work and an unshakable determination to surmount all obstacles. For these particular qualities the STAR had more than once prominently featured him front and center pages, and at least once declared him Person of the Year. But are the mentioned admirable qualities enough to earn him yet another Person of the Year title? At least five of the dozen or so who submitted his name neglected to say why the West Indies captain should once more be so honored. Only one voter stated his reasons.

Wrote George Benson (rest assured he is not the famous guitarist): “As captain of the victorious West Indies cricket team in the World T20 championship tournament he accomplished what no other citizen has for years: Daren gave us a tremendous sense of national pride in 2012. He bridged the divides of politics, income, and class and delivered unity. He invited all Caribbean citizens together for a meal of cricket perfection and served up a delicious dish of long forgotten regionalism.

“As a gentleman and outstanding sports hero, Daren emerged as a muchneeded model for our Saint Lucian youth. He upstaged bitterness, negativity and hopelessness with laughter, modesty and optimism.

Daren Sammy’s smile was contagious in 2012 as we all smiled with him. Maybe it's time our Beausejour stadium be named after our new local and international hero.”

It remains conjectural how much of the above remains true.

In any case, others before Daren

Sammy have managed to unite Saint Lucians for a day, among them the Mighty Sparrow and Shabba Ranks (remember him?).

To my somewhat biased mind the unique accomplishment would’ve been to keep us a little longer united.

Then again perhaps Mr. Benson meant to say that any Saint Lucian capable of uniting fellow Saint Lucians even for a day must be a worker of miracles deserving of special recognition. And he could well be right. But while Daren deserves a special place in our hearts, these questions must be asked: Did he pull off his successes all by himself? Or did his accomplishments rely on the performance of others? Should he share a Person of the Year accolade with his teammates?

Would Sammy be more appropriately honored with a Team Leader of the Year award?

I can just hear Mr. Benson pointedly asking whether the decorated army generals dating back to Alexander the Great would’ve pulled off their historic victories without their respective back-up teams. But that’s for another show. Already Mr. Benson has reminded me in a private missive that Daren Sammy’s achievements are comparable with those of U.S. presidents Roosevelt and Eisenhower, who in their own turns had been honored more than once as Time’s Person of the Year.

“They would’ve been happy to be in Daren’s company,” wrote Mr. Benson, seriously I suspect. On the other hand there is my own choice. It was not initially wildly popular at our editorial offices, Sammy being their man without question, for the identical reasons proffered by Mr. Benson. (I continue to argue that you can honor a guy only so many

THE STAR

COMMENT 13

www.stluciastar.com

april 13, 2019

E STAR PERSON R REVISITED! times for the same achievements before you begin to appear sycophantic and he a one-trick pony!)

The man I chose, unlike Daren Sammy, had in 2012 gone solo where no other Saint Lucian had gone before. His tour de force had not included noted cricket grounds, it’s true, (even though as a youngster he had dabbled usefully with bats and balls) and he’d be the last to suggest he was blessed with Sammy’s special gifts—which places him among 99 percent of the population, if not of the region.

But my choice for our special award had established a precedent that, though largely unrecognized at this time, will not for much longer be ignored. I dare to say that when finally Saint Lucians learn the true meaning of nationalism and self-respect, and independence—and sacrifice!— then will they begin to appreciate the example set by my choice for 2012 Person of the Year.

Like Daren Sammy, he came up the hard way: his stepfather was a stevedore, his mother a stay-at-home housewife. His education began at the Anglican Infant and Primary. He was just eleven years old when he took his first job at J. Q. Charles hardware, where he was responsible for securing shoppers’ bags. He kept his job for five years, while also attending regular school classes.

In the evening he sold icicles and other goodies outside Clarke’s and the Gaiety cinemas.

He also attended Corinth Junior Secondary and the Castries Comprehensive. He later undertook the study of agriculture in Jamaica, his school fees paid by his parents who had little choice but to mortgage their home a second time when in 1992 he transferred to the Alabama A&M University, where he earned his Masters in agriculture.

He received a full scholarship from Howard University to pursue a PhD in Development Economics, completed in 2004. In the meantime he lectured on economics and statistics at the university, while also holding down at job with the Public Utilities Commission. Finally he relocated to take up an appointment at Florida A&M. Throughout his stay overseas his wife had accompanied him.

It didn’t take much for his friend Robert Lewis (now education minister) to persuade him to return to Saint Lucia in 2010 and prepare to contest the Castries North seat for the Saint Lucia Labour Party. He does not even now consider his move a mistake. After all, his fields of study had been undertaken to equip to usefully contribute to local agriculture. Alas, by the time of his return, bananas had long been declared “no longer king.”

However, he admits to some naiveté in not realizing some of his party colleagues considered him little more than a sacrificial lamb: they never gave him a chance against the longtime MP for Castries North.

“Money was always a problem,” he told me during an interview at Christmas. “It had cost me quite a lot moving myself and family back home.

I was near broke and in no position to finance the kind of campaign that might’ve unseated King.” But then, as would later occur to him, in his colleagues’ minds winning the Castries North seat had never been even remotely possible, so why waste scarce money on a lost cause? He believes his party’s honchos were interested only in his credentials. The party

leadership seemed to take special pride rattling them off to the press for the purposes of image, while at the same time declaring the UWP team largely unschooled.

He recalled the Sunday the election date was announced.

His party had been holding a public meeting in Anse-la-Raye.

No sooner had the all-important words fallen out of the prime minister’s mouth than Kenny Anthony issued his order: “I want to see your posters all over the island by Friday. Any questions?”

There weren’t any, he recalled. “So I stood up and asked about money.” He claims his question was altogether ignored while the party leader turned his attention to other matters.

It would not be the last time the candidate inquired about campaign funds. Alas the party leader’s reaction remained unchanged.

Nevertheless, he made do as best he could. Then close to Polling Day he was handed a thousand dollars by the party leader, who coldly advised: “You’ll have to learn to chill!” It came as no surprise when King easily retained his seat. From that point on it was impossible for him to reach his leader on the phone, not that it had ever been easy. He did not know until quite late on the evening before the reopening of parliament what was his immediate future.

“I was made parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Commerce,” he went on, “placed in charge of consumer affairs.” When I asked about his duties, he shrugged, then said: “I guess something to do with the price of sugar and flour. I was doing nothing but still being paid by

the taxpayer.” He said he felt “like a medical doctor heading to work in a mechanic shop five days a week.” He suffered “great pain and intellectual torture.”

Finally he did what no other politician had done before: he resigned. “At my farewell party I informed my minister and staff of my road to Damascus and that my decision had nothing to do with my minister. In fact I encouraged the government to provide her with support, because she is one of the few who are serious about the development of our country.”

Throughout his travails, he told me, his greatest support came from his wife who also had to carry his daily burdens.

“My faith in God sustained me through that extremely difficult period. I also believe no one can interrupt God’s plans. I believe the rejected stone will soon become the chief cornerstone.”

Over and over during our talk he insisted that he held no bad feelings toward his party leader. However, he acknowledges the hurt he felt at not being told until the last moment about his senate appointment. “When I called Kenny around 6.30 on the morning of the swearing-in ceremony,” he recalled, “all he said was ‘why are you so nervous?’ ”

Did the prime minister try to talk him out of resigning?

“When we met,” he said, “I did not go into details but I let him know I was used to a life of progression and my circumstances made that impossible. There was no need to further discuss what clearly he had personally designed.”

By now it is clear I’ve

been discussing the shock resignation of Dr. Ubaldus Raymond from the Kenny Anthony administration last August. His credentials have little to do with how I feel about him. Neither his party troubles that are not all that different from the indignities other incumbents suffer quietly in the name of party unity. Indeed, there is very little I could add about his talents and his potential, had he been given the opportunity to perform. Bearing in mind that all the spokespersons for his party, when approached by the press for comment on his resignation, had nothing but the highest praise for their former colleague, whatever I might say would be both superfluous and, in any event, without proof.

Certainly nothing I might offer could possibly supersede the televised statement by foreign minister Alva Baptiste: “It all goes to prove the Labour Party has an abundance of talent. So much that we can export to needy territories!”

It was difficult to tell whether the minister was yet again bragging about himself or experimenting with sarcasm.

By Dr. Raymond’s account, considering his work record and his qualifications, he had expected to be given the opportunity—in the nation’s best interests—to contribute to discussions relating to the Budget and VAT. His publicized negative pronouncements about STEP and other government programs suggest why he was left out in the cold. By his own admission, he had always considered the SLP’s plans for the nation “an expendituredriven manifesto” that will take Saint Lucia down the abyss

with no way out. The “rejected stone” and former ignored parliamentary secretary is now a “chief cornerstone” in the Turks & Caicos government: Chief economist, head of the Strategic Policy and Planning Unit, Advisor to the governor and government on economic matters!”

In the last analysis, it seems, Daren Sammy and Dr. Ubaldus Raymond have both clearly demonstrated that adversity is no match for courage and the conviction that only with his own permission can a man be denied his dreams. The difference is that Daren Sammy was afforded further opportunities to shine, even when his performances had been lackluster, with a small army to back him up.

Ubaldus Raymond was, by his account, denied every opportunity to do what he does best in his country’s best interests. Those he had counted on for support deserted when most needed. He was left to stand alone.

No problem. Principle was on his side, as always. As he quietly pointed out during our interview at the beginning of the year, to accept taxpayers’ money every month simply for showing up at a government department five days a week and nothing more would be nothing short of traitorous. And if there’s anything Ubaldus Raymond despises more than opportunists it’s traitors!

Who better, then, to be declared the 2012 STAR Person of the Year!

First published January 23, 2013

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april 13, 2019 THE STAR

www.stluciastar.com

SAY CHEESE PLEASE

By Tony Deyal

A

ge doesn’t matter unless you’re a cheese but, if you love cheese like I do, cheese matters considerably despite your age or even whether the hardest substance in the human body is singular, plural, present, absent or merely missing in action. I refer, of course, as befitting a person of my age and standing, to teeth.

I love cheese and continue to do so regardless of a finding by researchers of the University of Michigan that cheese is a drug and can be as addictive as crack cocaine.

Emily Myrin in LIFEHACK wrote, “A sample of 500 university students completed the Yale Food Addiction Scale which measures the rate of food addiction in people’s lives and also studies the types of foods they crave. The number one most addictive food turned out to be pizza.”

There is a protein in milk products called “casein” which breaks apart digestion to

Cheese—you never know quite what it means, especially in the Caribbean.

release a whole host of opiates called “casomorphins” which trigger the reward reflex in our brains. Cheese in any form, fashion, hard, soft or blue is full of these proteins.

I have been mainlining cheese for almost all my life.

Once upon a time, my father, between a job in the McBean sugar estate in Central Trinidad and eventually finding work as a “driver” (mainly of vehicles without brakes, licences or insurance, and owned by people with a lower tolerance

of alcoholism than even my mother), decided to open a shop which sold rum (while stocks lasted), dry-goods and other sundry paraphernalia that, despite my father’s conviction they would sell faster than the hot “hops” bread we stocked, remained gathering dust on the shelves and solitary showcase.

It was right after the Second World War. In fact, I was born one day after the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki and four days before VJ Day (the Armistice on August

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES From April 1 until May 31, the U.S. Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the OECS invites applications for the following academic exchanges:

FULBRIGHT FOREIGN STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP

provides support for graduate and postgraduate studies at accredited colleges and universities in the United States.

HUBERT HUMPHREY FELLOWSHIP

provides non-degree graduate-level study for accomplished mid-level professionals from the below designated countries.

ELIGIBILITY: • Applicants must be citizens and residents of one of the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Visit our website at https://bb.usembassy.gov/, call (246) 227 - 4000 or e-mail us at bridgetownexchanges@state.gov for further details.

14, 1945). It was a period of rationing that lasted almost another 10 years, ending in England (the mother country) on American Independence Day, July 4, 1954. A lot of staples were scarce and the long list included cheese. When the large blocks or circles of cheese, generally cheddar, arrived in Trinidad they were quickly sold and consumed. The men would sit with their rum, drinking and talking loudly, and when they got increasingly inebriated and decided noisily on a “cutter” or snack, they would buy a “six” or “twelve” cents’ worth of cheese. They would sprinkle the cheese (Lipton, Oberland, Laughing Cow) liberally with yellow pepper sauce and mustard, or finely-chopped raw pepper, seeds and all, and eat it with bread or Crix biscuits and raw onions. Later, we got the little triangular processed cheese in round, brightly painted cardboard or wooden containers and in small, neatly made boxes.

It was like coffee and me.

My grandmother had to prepare breakfast for four families and this included “tea”. We had green tea, Milo tea, cocoa tea and coffee tea. All had copious quantities of milk and sugar. We children could take our choice and I took coffee tea because at

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the time its supposedly negative effects on the nervous system, stomach lining and other caffeine-derived problems, were unknown. I can still place a cup of coffee on the back of an outstretched hand and drink it without burns or spillage.

We had cheese with our coffee whenever it was available. I loved it and was encouraged to consume more, especially with hot loaves straight from the bakery.

Cheese is a part of the language I love, English. For example, if someone says to you, “Cheese it!” you should not go to the fridge with the knife to add some cheddar to whatever is on the table, especially if “Cheese it!” is followed by the word “Cops” since it means to run like hell before you get arrested.

In Barbados, and previously in England, “Cheese and rice, man!” is not a dish but an exclamation or a euphemism that skirts around being guilty of blasphemy by swearing, “Jesus Christ.”

“Hard cheese” is not only uncovered cheese left in the fridge too long but a slang term for “bad luck”. However, there are some that are hard for life and these include Parmesan (tastes “grate”), our long-time staple, Cheddar, Muenster

(which has nothing to do with Loch Ness or Dr. Frankenstein) and, if you think Cheddar is good, there is Gouda. There are soft ones like Camembert and Brie, which is associated with the question: “What happened after an explosion at a French cheese factory?” The sad truth is all that was left was de brie.

Then we have one named after a Trini to the bone, Feta. There are the sad ones (Blue), one of which prompted the kids’ joke: “Why was the one-legged Moko Jumbie crying?” He couldn’t get his Stilton.

As we head towards the UK’s National Cheese Day on June 4 (and I am in serious training for it), we have already missed National Cheese Lovers Day which was celebrated on January 20, National Pizza Day on February 9, Cheese Fondue Day held earlier this week on Thursday April 11, closely followed yesterday by Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day. I have tried to make up for ignoring the others by honouring Grilled Cheese this morning with toast.

Tony Deyal was last seen saying that his wife was cooking macaroni pie and asked him, “Where’s the cheese grater?” He replied, “Ireland but some people prefer New Zealand.”

Forgotten Power Play Ticket turns out to be a Winner

he St. Lucia National Lottery extends congratulations to the latest Power Play winner of $33,267, Emerson Estaphane. He won on a quick pick ticket he purchased from Laura Andrew in Canaries on February 18, 2019.

The top prize was won on February 20, 2019 on the numbers 02-03-13-28, Power Pick 05 with a ticket letter J.

On April 2 2019, Mr. Estaphane arrived at the lottery office to enquire whether he had won anything. He had no idea that he was the holder of a ticket which contained the top prize. Once he was informed that he had the winning ticket, he sure counted his blessings as he realized he would have missed his win if he had held on to that ticket a little longer. In December 2018 the previous top prize of $138,000 was won but went unclaimed. When asked why he took so long to enquire, Mr. Estaphane responded, “I forgot I had the ticket in my wallet.”

Mr. Estaphane collected his official cheque at the hand-over presentation on April 11, 2019 at the MBC Studio. The gentleman, who is a father-to-be said he would spend his winnings on his baby and obtain a vehicle. He also indicated that he tries his luck with all games.

For more information on St. Lucia Natonal Lottery visit www.stlucialotto.com or Facebook page: StLuciaNationalLottery

Still more chances to win daily!

Emerson Estaphane (pictured), who almost missed out on his prize, urges you to check your ticket early to see if you have won.

THE STAR april 13, 2019

Statement on Venezuela by Minister for External Affairs

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XXIII Children’s Drawing Contest “This is my Mexico”

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he Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico invites children of the Eastern Caribbean region, between 6 and 14 years of age, to participate in the XXIII Children’s Drawing Contest “This is my Mexico”.

The subject of this year’s contest is “Idols and Important Figures of Mexico”.

Every year thousands of children

from around the world participate in the competition.

Forty winning entries and twenty-eight honourable mentions will be selected and will take part in the itinerant exposition, which will be inaugurated in Mexico City and exhibited throughout the world

by Mexico’s Embassies.

To participate, interested children must create a drawing (with brush, pencil, acrylics, watercolours, crayons or other materials), complete the Registration Form and paste it on the back of their entry (cardboard 297 x 420 mm).

Completed drawings should be submitted no later

than 28 June, 2019.

Drawings should be submitted to the Embassy of Mexico in Saint Lucia at: Nelson Mandela Drive, Vigie; P.O. Box CP6096 Castries or to the Honorary Consulate of Mexico in other countries.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST SAINT LUCIA CARIBBEAN REGIONAL PROGRAM (CARCIP)

COMMUNICATIONS

INFRASTRUCTURE

IDA Credit #51170 Assignment SPECIALIST

Title:

ENGINEER/ENVIRONMENTAL

SAFEGUARDS

Reference No. : SLU-CARCIP-CS-IC-EESS-01-19 Sarah Flood-Beaubrun says that the Saint Lucian government will not encourage repression.

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inister with responsibility for External Affairs, Sarah Flood-Beaubrun, confirmed that Saint Lucia recently voted in favour of accepting the appointment of Mr. Gustavo Tarre as the National Assembly of Venezuela’s designated permanent representative to the Organization of American States, this pending new elections and the appointment of a democratically elected government. Saint Lucia has been on the record as stating that the National Assembly is the only democratic institution presently in Venezuela.

While Saint Lucia continues to advocate for a peaceful, democratic and Venezuelan-owned solution to the crisis that grips that country (a solution that includes dialogue and excludes the use of force, and one that includes the holding of free, transparent and credible elections) the government is concerned that the regime in Venezuela continues to stifle democracy. The recent effort to “disqualify” the President of the National Assembly from holding public office for 15 years—this without regard to due process—is an example cited of the lack of an open and transparent judicial process.

“We should not be quiet to unconstitutional efforts to maintain an illegitimate grip on power— despite the loud clamouring of a country’s people and the international community for new and open elections. Importantly, the government is concerned that the people of Venezuela will be denied the access to the protections of the Inter-American system, if that country is to depart the OAS,” stated Minister Sarah Flood-Beaubrun.

While the Government of Saint Lucia’s position is that there must always be an openness to dialogue, it laments that the regime in Caracas has chosen to ignore all serious efforts of outreach, including those by the Caribbean. There is particular concern at the increase of external actors being welcomed into the region’s zone of peace.

According to the Department of External Affairs, the OAS vote highlights that taking a stance in support of the people of Venezuela is important and inaction is not an option for Saint Lucia within international fora. Saint Lucia’s recent vote at the OAS carries the message that Saint Lucia will not be complicit in efforts by regimes to keep people repressed.

The Government of Saint Lucia (GOSL) has secured financing from the World Bank towards the implementation of the Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project (Project No. 127226, IDA Credit 5493-LC SCF PPCR Loan #TF017101, SCF PPCR Grant #TF017143)), Caribbean Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (Credit #5117 -LC: Project No. P114963) and the Renewal Energy Sector Development Project. In effort to strengthen the capacity of the existing Project Coordination Unit within the Department of Economic Development, Transport and Civil Aviation the GOSL seeks to engage the services of an Engineer/ Environmental Safeguards (ES) Officer in (i) managing, monitoring, reporting and effectively implementing the environmental safeguards polices as per the World Bank’s Environmental Assessment Policy (OP/BP 4.01) and consistent with the Environmental Management Framework developed for the aforementioned Projects.

The Consulting Services include coordinating and monitoring the implementation of all construction and civil works activities for compliance with the Environmental and Social Management Framework for the Projects, providing overall environmental management oversight, support and advise to the client in addressing the environmental issues at all the stages of execution of works and in environment related training/awareness raising and coordination activities. The assignment is on a full time basis and is expected to start June 1, 2019.

Specifically, the Consultant will be responsible for executing the following tasks: Coordinate and monitor the execution of works to provide guidance during implementation of civil works Supervise the work of consultants engaged to prepare preliminary studies with a view to ensuring quality, and consistency with project objectives; Review and provide technical assessments of engineering designs; Review monthly reports prepared by Engineering Consultants; and Ensure that all technical inputs and cost estimates related to the construction are accurate, and consistent with the approved Contract.

Ensure effective quality control systems are implemented and that contractors work in compliance with technical specifications and World Bank quality standards, EMF and SMF; Coordinate the planning and implementation of environmental safeguard activities Conduct Environmental screening and prepare / update an (the) Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for all civil work activities Assist with updating of indicators by collecting data / information on physical, and socio-cultural environmental elements related to civil works activities Sensitize stakeholders including contractors on the provision of ESMF and specific EMP activities to be complied by contractors and users; Provide orientation to contractors and workers on application of labor camp management and Occupational Health and Safety guidelines and supervise the compliance of those guidelines; Work closely with key agencies including line ministries, beneficiary agencies, environmental health, Physical Planning, Solid Waste Management Ensure citizen engagement by conducting regular workshops

Work closely with the Social Safeguards Officer of the PCU The Terms of reference may be obtained on the website of the Government of Saint Lucia (www.govt.lc/consultancy) The Department of Economic Development, Transport and Civil Aviation now invites eligible individual consultants (“Consultant”) to provide the Services.

Interested eligible candidates must provide information indicating that they are

qualified to perform the services and are invited to submit their CV (Curriculum Vitae), including employment records, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills, previous remuneration, etc.

Unsuitable applications will not be acknowledged. Applicants whose qualifications and experiences are in line with the Terms of Reference will be short-listed and invited to attend an interview for further consideration.

Minimum qualifications and Experience Requirements for Shortlisting are: At least a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental/Civil/Construction Engineering, Environmental Management or other related field; At least 5 years working experience as a civil engineer; At least 3 years’ experience working in complex environments and large infrastructure and/or civil works, particularly in the field of construction technical project documentation development as well as construction supervision; Excellent and proven experience in dealing with contractors and local partners; Working experience in the area of implementation and monitoring of technical/ construction projects; methodological and calculation skills; Work experience with Government, Community groups, private sector and/or donor funded projects and other relevant institutions will be an added advantage.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Requirements Additional knowledge, skills and abilities that will be required of successful candidates include: Ability to address and manage all aspects of monitoring of construction (legal aspects of positioning, procurement, law and knowledge of construction contracts, construction information technologies, and follow-up).

Ability to communicate effectively in written and oral formats and to prepare reports; Functionally computer literate, possessing operational skills in word-processing and spreadsheet application, including software programs such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Project; Appropriate involvement and/or experience in similar projects in Saint Lucia; and experience working in developing countries in general and in the OECS Region in particular, is a plus.

Ability to communicate accurate information concerning processes, policies and procedures to project stakeholders; Ability to handle stakeholders tactfully, courteously and diplomatically; Must be of high integrity, transparent, and accountable; Knowledge of how to undertake Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs); Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with relevant agencies and groups involved in the implementation of the project; and Knowledge of the World Bank’s Environmental Safeguard Policies (OP 4.01).

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers 2011 revised July 2014 (“Consultant Guidelines”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultants (IC) method set out in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers 2011 revised July 2014 (“Consultant Guidelines”).

Further information on the assignment is contained in the Terms of Reference which can be obtained from the Project Coordination Unit.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) by April 24, 2019.

CARCIP Project Coordinator Project Coordination Unit Department of Economic Development, Transport and Civil Aviation Attn: Project Coordinator 2nd Floor, Finance Administrative Centre Trou Garnier, Pointe Seraphine Castries Saint Lucia E-mail: slupcu@gosl.gov.lc / christopher.roberts@govt.lc Website: www.finance.gov.lc

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april 13, 2019 THE STAR

THE STAR april 13, 2019

H1N1 Influenza confirmed in respiratory-related death

Flu vaccines are available at local health centres to prevent contracting the virus.

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caused by a virus. This virus was the cause of the influenza pandemic in 2009. Since then, it has become one of many respiratory viruses which circulate each year during the flu season; therefore, its confirmation is not unusual.

However, H1N1 Influenza remains a concern, due to the possible development of severe respiratory illness in highrisk groups such as the very young and old, persons with underlying medical conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes, heart disease, kidney, liver and lung disease, cancers and other conditions. Pregnant women who contract the disease are also at higher risk for the development of severe complications.

Respiratory viruses such as H1N1 are spread mainly by respiratory droplets when infected persons cough or sneeze. Covering one’s cough and frequent hand washing are ways of minimizing the spread of the flu virus. The flu virus can also survive on surfaces for up to twenty-four hours, so frequent hand washing is advised for everyone, as it can also protect persons from contracting the disease.

Persons affected by respiratory viruses may suffer from sore throat, fever, cough, body aches and pains. Most persons who contract H1N1 influenza may get only mild illness. However, more severe illness leading to shortness of breath, generalized weakness,

By Senator Mary Isaac Minister for Health and Wellness s the 72nd World Health Assembly (WHA) is about to take place in Geneva from May 20-28, 2019, I would like to reiterate Saint Lucia’s support for Taiwan’s participation in the WHA and other WHO-related mechanisms, programmes and activities.

Saint Lucia and Taiwan have been working together on several initiatives to ensure countries are better prepared for health emergencies, disease prevention and food security.

For instance, Changhua Christian Hospital from Taiwan and St. Jude Hospital signed a twinning agreement in 2009. Since then, personnel vomiting and/or diarrhoea may occur, and persons are advised to seek medical care promptly, if symptoms worsen.

Persons with flu symptoms should avoid crowded places in an effort to decrease the transmission to others. The flu vaccine, which is available free of charge at all wellness centres. can also assist in flu prevention.

The vaccine is recommended, in particular for persons in the high-risk groups and for frontline healthcare and other workers.

Saint Lucians attend ECOSOC Youth Forum

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wo outstanding young Saint Lucians, Rahym Augustin-Joseph from Castries and Lee Ann Edgar from Choiseul, represented Saint Lucia at the 8th Annual Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The forum took place April 8-9, 2019.

Rahym, a member of the Saint Lucia debate team for the past two years, currently serves as the president of the Student Council of the Division of Arts, Science and General Studies at

the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. Lee Ann is a teacher at the Choiseul Secondary School, and a youth leader in the community of Choiseul.

The ECOSOC Youth Forum takes place at a critical point in time as the world is working to address the disadvantages of the current trends in globalization, that are not sustainable or inclusive. The forum addressed the theme ‘Empowered, Included and Equal’ which is aligned with the theme of ECOSOC and the High-level Political Forum

(HLPF), ‘Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality’ in 2019. It will also review progress in the areas of quality education, decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities, climate action, peace, justice and strong institutions, and partnerships for the goals, which are sustainable development goals 4, 8, 10, 13, 16 and 17 respectively.

Rahym and Lee Ann joined youth leaders from across the world to add their voices to the discussions at the forum. Both youth leaders are looking to

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STATEMENT FROM MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS AHEAD OF THE 72ND WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY

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hile its presence is not unusual, H1N1 influenza can lead to the development of severe illness in high risk groups.

The Department of Health and Wellness received confirmation of the association of H1N1 influenza in one of the recent respiratory-related deaths among males. This confirmation was received from the Laboratory at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad.

H1N1 influenza has also been confirmed in other persons. However, they developed only mild flulike illness and recovered completely with treatment.

H1N1 influenza (also referred to as swine flu) is

www.stluciastar.com

learn as much as they can, and are excited about impacting that knowledge on the youth of Saint Lucia. Youth Director Mary Wilfred accompanied them on the trip.

Zia Barnard represented Saint Lucia at this forum in 2018 and she has since gone on to become the Chairperson of the Saint Lucia National Youth Council Youth Ambassadors Network. In 2017 the honour went to Raejean Montoute who went on to become General Secretary of the Saint Lucia National Youth Council.

exchanges between the two hospitals have become an important tradition. More than 83 specialist doctors and 42 nurses from Changhua Christian Hospital have visited Saint Lucia and served more than 6,000 patients. Since 2013, the Taiwanese government has also sponsored around 30 young Saint Lucian talents to study professional medical programmes in Taiwan and dozens more to study public health and medicine-related degrees respectively.

Agriculture, food security and nutrition also play an important role when it comes to public health. The Governments of Taiwan and Saint Lucia have been working hand in hand to combat agricultural diseases and assist our farmers to grow plants and fruits more efficiently and diversely,

which is a vital part to better improve household incomes and individuals’ nutrition in fair Helen.

We would like to call for international communities’ support for Taiwan to resume its professional, pragmatic and constructive participation in WHO’s mechanisms, meetings and activities, and to establish partnership with WHO.

This would assist the international community to deliver WHO’s ambitious targets of including 1 billion more people under the umbrella of universal health care, protecting 1 billion more people from health emergencies and improving overall health of 1 billion people. Moreover, this would also better advance the right to health and wellbeing of people around the world, not least Saint Lucia.

THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN SUPREME COURT IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE CIVIL DIVISION SAINT LUCIA CLAIM NO. SLUHCV2006/0704 BETWEEN: FIRSTCARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL BANK (BARBADOS) LIMITED Claimant and

1. MONA DONAVAN

2. LUCIUS GIRARD Defendants NOTICE OF RESCHEDULED HEARING TAKE NOTICE that the Application for Permission to do an Inspection of Property filed in this matter which was scheduled for Wednesday the 6th day of March, 2019 has been rescheduled for Chamber Hearing at the High Court of Justice, La Place Carenage, Jeremie Street in the city of Castries to Tuesday, the 16th day of April, 2019 at 9 o’clock in the forenoon before Justice Cadie St. Rose-Albertini.

DATED: this 28th day of February, 2019.

(Sgd.) L. Soomer-James for REGISTRAR OF THE HIGH COURT To: FOSTERS

Legal Practitioner for the Claimant

Robin Kelton Bldg. Choc Bay, Castries

Mona Donavan Defendant in Person Sans Souci, Castries

Lucius Germain Girard Defendant in Person Sans Souci, Castries

The Court Office is at La Place Carenage, Jeremie Street, Castries, Tel. No.758 4687500, Fax No. 758 468-7543, E-mail: stluhco@eccourts.org. The Court Office is open between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday and between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Friday except public holidays.

18 HEALTH

APRIL 13, 2019 THE STAR

www.stluciastar.com

KIM’S KORNER

Get It Off Your Chest!

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o you feel pain in your chest when moving your arms, coughing, sneezing or breathing in deeply, that gets worse when you touch it? If so, it’s possible you may have costochondritis, inflammation of the cartilage of the upper ribs at the point they join the sternum.

The sternum is a flat bone that sits in the centre of the chest, starting just below the throat and ending just above the diaphragm. We have ten pairs of ribs that attach either directly or via cartilage to the sternum, and two pairs of floating ribs. By the way, it is a myth that men have more ribs than women; both genders have twelve pairs.

The purpose of the rib cage is to protect the heart and lungs and it has to be mobile to allow movement as we breathe in and out. This is achieved by the presence of the cartilage which provides strength and cushioning but has slight elasticity.

Costochondritis is more common in women over 40 but

Costochondritis can be caused by some everyday activities, such as having a job that requires lifting.

can be seen in young children and adolescents, and people who participate in high-impact activities, have manual jobs or suffer allergies. In most cases there is no known cause.

However, it can be as a result of recurrent microtrauma to the

chest or a direct blow to that area; physical strain (lifting something heavy) or strenuous exercise; bouts of coughing; joint infection (bacterial, after surgery); fungal or viral (respiratory) infection; arthritis (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid

The Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund (SLUNCF)

CALL FOR PROPOSALS for

Environmental Management & Conservation Projects in Saint Lucia, with a focus on projects that directly support plans and policies for environmental management, conservation, climate change adaptation and mitigation, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable livelihoods. Eligible applicants can be from government agencies; local universities or colleges; registered local, regional (Caribbean) NGOs; private businesses; local community associations; and other appropriate local entities of Saint Lucia.

The SLUNCF has approximately $300,000 XCD this year to issue as grants. The grant size can vary from $2,000 USD to $50,000 USD. Funded projects should be implemented within 2 years.

Find out more about the SLUNCF and the Call for Proposals, including the guidelines to apply @ https://www.sluncf.org or https://www.facebook.com/sluncf/ You can also call 758 285 0445/285 8137 or visit us at our office at Crick Road, Sans Souci, Castries The Call for Concept Notes will open from 11 April to 7 May 2019.

arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis) or a tumour.

It is important to rule out any serious pathology as central chest pain can also indicate heart or lung disease, gastrointestinal problems or osteoarthritis. It also needs to be differentiated from Tietze Syndrome, which has very similar symptoms to costochondritis. Both cause pain on coughing and breathing deeply but the two conditions are very different. Tietze Syndrome causes visible inflammation where the ribs meet the sternum, unlike costochondritis where the inflammation is not visible.

Although blood tests, X-Rays and MRIs are not able to

identify costochondritis, they may be useful in ruling out any other pathology that may be causing the symptoms.

Costochondritis typically affects the second and fifth ribs and the symptoms may be similar to cardiac pain, with a sharp, dull pain. Although it can be present on both sides of the chest, it typically presents in the centre or to the left side of the chest, and can radiate to the back and stomach. One sign that it may be costochondritis is the constant tenderness at the front of the chest, that increases when touched. If there is pain and swelling to the second and third ribs which radiate into the arms, the symptoms may be due to Tietze Syndrome, especially if there is no apparent precursor such as strenuous exercise, injury or coughing.

In many cases costochondritis resolves on its own, over the course of several weeks, although it can take a year or more. The first step toward recovery is to rest and avoid strenuous exercise. If it has been caused by an infection, then antibiotic therapy may be suggested.

The next step is to control the pain; your doctor may suggest nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication. Heat and ice may also help to reduce localised pain. If the area feels stiff then use heat. But if the area feels hot and tender, try ice initially.

If the symptoms have been caused by excess coughing and sneezing then treatment should focus on reducing those symptoms first. If the symptoms do not seem to be resolving by themselves, physiotherapy may help. Physiotherapists will use a range of modalities including acupuncture, electrotherapy and gentle exercise. If none of these conservative treatments works, your doctor may suggest a steroid injection. As a last resort, surgery may be suggested. Surgery involves removing the cartilage but this will only be explored in the event that all other treatments have failed.

If you have had this painful condition, it is possible that it will return in the future. The key is to stay fit and healthy, adding stretching and strengthening exercises to your workout routine. Prevention is always better than cure.

Kim Jackson is a UK-trained physiotherapist with over 20 years’ experience. She specialises in musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction including back pain and sciatica, stroke and other neuro conditions plus sports physiotherapy, having worked with local, regional and international athletes and teams treating injuries and analysing biomechanics to improve function and performance. She is registered with the Allied Health Council and is a member of PASL. She currently works at Bayside Therapy Services in Rodney Bay, O: 458 4409 or C: 284 5443; www.baysidetherapyservices.com

St. Lucia Autism Awareness Project Hosts Silent Auction for Autism Awareness Month

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he Saint Lucia Autism Awareness Project is fired up to join the world in acknowledging April 2019 as Autism Awareness Month.

A simple and effective agenda of activities has been planned which includes an introduction of the St. Lucia Autism Awareness Project Committee; the launching of a new logo; the sale of ribbons, pins, buttons and wristbands; and a silent auction to be executed on the Project’s Facebook Page

Everyone is invited to be part of the silent auction by simply liking the page: St. Lucia Autism Awareness Project. The auction will take place throughout the month

of April with prizes donated from a number of corporate partners who have generously pitched in to lend their support.

Instructions and guidelines for the auction can also be found on the page.

“We are humbled, grateful and so moved by the response of our corporate community,” acclaims Dr. Delia Samuel, Lead Coordinator of the St. Lucia Autism Awareness Project. The Project Committee comprises four members: Dr. Delia Samuel, Mrs. Nesa Beaubrun, Mrs. Denise Calvin and Mrs. Clarette Auguste-Taylor.

The Project is not only dedicated to awareness; the hope is to create a community for autistic families, to let them

know that they are not alone and there is support. Future plans include summer camps, afterschool programmes, creating safe spaces, offering nanny services, offering training to the general public and other fund-raising events.

There are several other activities planned by the Project, and the Committee encourages all parents and families who care for children with autism to please reach out to them so that they, in turn, can alert carers to activities, workshops, summer camps, conferences, etc when they are occurring. This can be done by visiting the Facebook page, calling 723-3314 or emailing deliadaria@hotmail.com or constantineconsults@gmail.com

THE STAR

BARON FOODS BRINGS HOME MONDE SELECTION QUALITY AWARDS

Baron Foods has won even more international awards, this time for its Sweet Chili Thai Sauce and Banana Ketchup.

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enturing into a new awards segment, Baron Foods will yet again take a bow for its eminent attention to detail, taste and quality. The company has recently been awarded two silver medals at the Monde Selection 2019 International Quality Awards, for its Banana Ketchup and Sweet Chili Thai Sauce products.

On the Monde evaluation graph, both products’ packaging and visual appeal ranked the highest followed by taste and texture. The quality of each product is evaluated by a panel of eight jury personnel of Michelin-starred Chefs, members of the “Académie Culinaire de France” and other prestigious associations.

Baron Foods continues to set the bar within the region by being one of the first Caribbean food manufacturing companies

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april 13, 2019

to be honoured with such awards. The Baron Sweet Chili Thai Sauce is one out of the eleven products which makes up the Baron Gourmet Collection that was launched in October, 2011. This convenient gourmet collection was well received and is a kitchen essential for the popular phrase “meals in minutes”.

Being a results-oriented company coupled with a strong customer base, Baron Foods has evolved from being a local company with its roots in Saint Lucia to a regional company with full agro-processing plants in Grenada and Trinidad & Tobago.

The Baron Banana Ketchup is not new to world-renowned award winning as it has been recognized at the Top Innovations of Anuga 2013 and has won the International Taste

& Quality Institute Super Taste Award in 2015. Being launched just short of a decade ago, the product has gained recognition globally for its unique flavour profile.

“We came with a vision of providing innovative and quality products to our customers, by ingeniously fusing various local raw materials to replicate international flavours whilst adding our Caribbean twist!”

Baron Food CEO, Ronald Ramjattan said.

Above all, these achievements are cause for national pride and celebration.

Capturing this distinguished award has allowed for the Baron brand to be once again catapulted further into the international market arena and has legitimized the guarantee of buying a product recognized for its gustatory qualities.

T

19

MeCurator Launches Koulè

he role of a curator is to exhibit art through the subtle use of juxtaposition and arrangement. The latest art exhibition at the MeCurator Art Gallery does exactly this.

Titled “Koulè”—the kwéyòl word for colour—this exhibition features work by a number of artists, presented in various ways. Pieces by well-known local artists are displayed on the fresh white walls of the gallery, beside works of new artists.

Pioneers of the Saint Lucian art scene, such as Arnold Toulon, Peter Walcott and Cedric George, are paired with up-andcoming contemporary artists such as Shallon Fadlien, Junette Alexander, GilroyH, Adjani John and Jean Maverick. All together, the artists and their pieces weave colourful tales of nature, myth, love and of the human form. Each piece is unique and stunning, highlighting the abundance of talent within the island. At MeCurator, the artistry of mixing pigments is laid out for all to see.

Buki Cahane, curator and founder of the MeCurator Art Gallery, prides herself in being able to build up a dialogue with all the artists that she represents, forming a collective of artists. It is this collaboration that has taken the gallery from strength to strength since its opening last year. Each month since opening, a number of different themed exhibitions have been launched. Notable ones include a youth art exhibition, a collaboration with the St Lucia Arthritis and Lupus Association, and an all-female artists exhibition. MeCurator seeks to highlight the relevance of art and its ability to transcend and reflect on all areas of life.

One of Shallon Fadlien’s pieces in the Koulè exhibition.

The launch event of the “Koulè” exhibition, Thursday 4th April, was a night ignited with sound and laughter, as a diverse crowd gathered to observe and discuss this newest collection.

There were generations of art lovers. Young people came to support the work of their young friends, family or even schoolmates.

There were scores of selfies and cellphone photos being taken by the youth. This new way of assimilating art has paved a new discourse within Saint Lucia. The use of social media has become a positive

tool to promote art to the younger generation. MeCurator provides a new trend for art by keeping it current, relevant, but mostly accessible to the masses in the space of the MeCurator Art Gallery. There is no doubt that art is thriving once again in Saint Lucia.

The Koulè Art Exhibition runs until Friday 17th May. The MeCurator Art Gallery is open Monday to Friday 9:00am-3:00pm and by private appointment. For more information, contact Mrs Buki Cahane at +1 758 722 8303 or buki.cahane@mecurator.com.

Phlebotomy Learning Centre Owner Charged!

F

ollowing this newspaper’s March 23, 2019 report about the Phlebotomy Learning Centre in Castries and the Newage Wellness Centre in Dominica, the owner of the sister institutions and his wife have been forced to answer charges of deception before a court in Dominica. According to Dominica News Online, both

were released on bail in the amount of EC$10,000 each.

News reports out of Dominica say there are other pending charges by former students of the Centre.

The owner made a public statement this week, insisting that he had never promised any of his students accredited certification after

doing the six-week phlebotomy course offered at the Newage Wellness Centre. However, his advertisements claim those who take his courses are given the opportunity to sit an American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) exam. According to one student, he had assured his school that they would be able to do the test at the

Business Training Center (BTC) in Dominica but later said they would have to travel to another country instead.

A BTC representative told the STAR that although an application was made to the Center for students to sit the ASCP exam, it was denied because the test is only offered in approved test centres.

A statement from the BTC: “Such a certification is not only centered around passing one simple exam. We offer our sympathies to the students who registered and paid to do the course and were given the false assurance that Business Training Center is the test center. We would love to work with the requisite authorities

to bring clarity and hopefully closure to this saga.”

Meanwhile the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has confirmed a current investigation into the Phlebotomy Learning Centre.

Dominica’s BTC categorically disassociates itself from the Newage Wellness Centre and its director.

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april 13, 2019 THE STAR

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Dr. Daniel Olukoya

MOUNTAIN OF FIRE AND MIRACLES MINISTRIES

welcomes you to Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, St. Lucia

Dr. D. K. Olukoya is the General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries. He holds a first class Honours degree in Microbiology from University of Lagos, Nigeria and a Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from The University of Reading, United Kingdom. As a researcher, he has over seventy scientific publications to his credit. Anointed by God, Dr. Olukoya is a Teacher, Prophet, Evangelist and Preacher of the Word. His life and that of his wife Shade and their son Elijah Toluwani, are living testimonies that all power belongs to God. Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, is a ministry devoted to the revival of Apostolic signs, Holy Ghost fireworks and the unlimited demonstration of the power of God to deliver The Prayer oF Jehuto the uttermost. Absolute holiness within and

by Dr. D. K. Olukoya without, as the greatest spiritual insecticide, and The devil has used the dragnet of witchcraft to hold a condition for Heaven is taught openly. MFM is a on to the world. The revival of satanism on the face do–it–yourself Gospel Ministry, where your hands of the earth is a sign of desperation. right now the are trained to wage war and your fingers to fight. children of darkness have opened their doors to train

Prayer rain

The Prayer oF Jehu

Prayer Points: 1) Let the power to prosper throughout the days of my life fall upon me, in the name of Jesus 2) Let all those circulating my name for evil, be disgraced in the name of Jesus.

3) i remove myself from any strange authority exercised over me in Jesus’ name.

4) i dismantle every satanic protocol affecting my breakthroughs in the name of Jesus.

5) Let evil vows against my future be rendered null and void in the name of Jesus.

Prayer Points: 1) i break the law of death over my life in the name of Jesus 2) every cloud of uncertainty clear away now in the name of Jesus.

3) every witchcraft bird flying against my destiny shall fly no more in Jesus’ name.

4) Wherever i go satanic agents will not steal my portion in the name of Jesus.

5) every evil cry fashioned against my habitation at night , be silenced in the name of Jesus.

by Dr. D. k. olukoya

Prayer rainby Dr D.K. Olukoya Prayer rain provides a way out for all those suffering under satanic harassment and oppression. Full of scriptures and examples, this is a handbook for spiritual warfare. Learn to take the Sword of the Spirit – the word of God and wield it powerfully in prayer and overcome obstacles in life.

by Dr. D. k. olukoya

Pray your Way to Breakthroughs

by Dr. D. k. olukoya

men in wickedness. There is an enemy that hates mankind and his progress with perfect hatred.

This enemy is known as witchcraft. To confront this spirit, we must be ruthless towards it. operation Jehu is catch and destroy, throw and destroy, cage and destroy.

Prayer Points: 1) every financial failure in my life, receive termination now, in the name of Jesus.

2) Satanic sickness in my life, be terminated now, in the name of Jesus.

3) unfriendly helpers, causing havoc in my life, depart from me now in Jesus’ name.

4) i command all the dark works done against my life in the secret to be exposed and be nullified, in the name of Jesus.

5) i lose myself from any evil spirit, in the name of Jesus.

Come and receive Jesus Christ and learn to deal with the enemy prayerfully.

Learn to live YOUR best life which God has ordained for you through Dr. Daniel Olukoya’s Holy Ghost inspired, strategic, dangerous prayers.

Contact us at: MFM Castries, via ayole07@gmail.com, Tel: (758) 715-5444, (758)719-8570, Sister Constance (758) 584-8416 MFM Vieux-Fort hospital road on the Ground Floor of the uWP South office (located to the back of the S & S Building) Tel: (758) 715-5444, Sister rosemary (758) 724-9029, Sister Tenny (758) 715 7764

Come pray your way to breakthrough and freedom!

Surely, The Lord is in this place!

(GENESIS 28:16)

Pray your Way To BreakThrouGhSby Dr. D. K. Olukoya This book helps give the user’s prayer life a sharper focus. The Word of God says: “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the tree: therefore, every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire” (Matthew 3:10). Those things that have seemed resistant to prayers may be so because the axe has not been laid to the root. Also, those recurring and stubborn problems that subside only to come back after a while may be because the axe was laid at the branches but not unto the root.

THE STAR

Failed Texas Bill would have made Death Penalty Possible in Abortion Cases

A

Bill considered by members of the Texas House of Representatives this week would have criminalized abortions and opened up the possibility for women and physicians to receive the death penalty.

On Wednesday night, the legislation appeared to have no chance of progressing after the Republican chairman of the committee that heard testimony about the Bill declared his opposition.

The Bill would have allowed women who obtained an abortion or doctors who performed one to be charged with assault or criminal homicide, the latter of which is punishable by death in Texas. It would have allowed no exceptions for abortions in cases of rape or when the health of the mother is at risk.

Despite the Bill’s apparent failure, it was a stark example of the kind of proposed abortion bans that challenge federal judicial precedent that are under consideration in state legislatures across the country.

Amid speculation that Roe v.

Wade could be overturned by a majority-conservative United States Supreme Court, statelevel politicians have passed legislation trying to either shore up access to abortion or restrict the procedure.

“We’re at a critical moment where abortion bans are flying through state legislatures,” said Elizabeth Nash, a state policy analyst for Guttmacher, a reproductive health organization that supports abortion rights.

“Abortion opponents are emboldened to try all kinds of very extreme pieces of legislation.”

But this Texas Bill appeared to be too extreme even for some abortion opponents, Ms. Nash said. Jeff Leach, the Texas state representative who allowed a hearing on the Bill in the Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence, said in a statement posted on Twitter Wednesday that although he ardently identifies as “pro-life,” he believed this legislation would move the cause in the “wrong direction.”

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april 13, 2019

“My commitment to advancing the pro-life cause is stronger than ever,” Mr. Leach wrote, “and that’s why I cannot in good conscience support House Bill 896.” He continued, “Trusted pro-life legislators and advocates agree with me that this bill moves our state and the pro-life cause in the wrong direction and it will not be advanced.”

A hearing on the Bill on Monday included hours of emotional testimony from people for and against the legislation. At one point, Mr. Leach engaged in a verbal sparring match with an intern from Naral Pro-Choice Texas, an organization that supports abortions rights, over whether abortion should be allowed at 39 weeks of gestation.

At the hearing, the Republican legislator who sponsored the Bill, Representative Tony Tinderholt, pushed for his idea to ban abortion in the penal code.

The state’s current penal code excludes abortion from being considered homicide or assault; this Bill would have removed those portions of the code.

“If somebody kills a pregnant woman, they are currently charged with double homicide,” Mr. Tinderholt said at the hearing. “This standard is applied throughout the code with the only exceptions being for women, doctors and medical professionals who intentionally end the lives of unborn children.”

Mr. Tinderholt did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday night.

Representative Jessica Farrar, the Democratic vice chairwoman of the committee, said in a phone interview on Wednesday that she saw the legislation as a “scare tactic” to dissuade doctors from providing abortion services.

Ms. Farrar said the text of the Bill showed a clear intention to contradict Roe v. Wade, which established a constitutional right to abortion. The Bill states that state and local government officials should enforce the legislation “regardless of any

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New York City Declares Public Health Emergency in the Face of an Intensifying Measles Outbreak

N

ew York City officials on Tuesday ordered residents at the center of an ongoing measles outbreak to get vaccinated or face fines up to $1,000, in the latest dramatic move by officials attempting to stop measles outbreaks that are spreading across the country.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, along with Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot, announced a public health emergency related to the measles outbreak at a press conference Tuesday. “This is an unusual action, and it’s because of the sheer extent of the crisis,” de Blasio said. There have been 285 confirmed cases of measles since October 2018. The majority of cases have been among members of Brooklyn’s Orthodox Jewish community, primarily in parts of Brooklyn’s Williamsburg and Borough Park neighborhoods.

As part of the emergency order, all residents of four Williamsburg zip codes—11205, 11206,

contrary federal law, executive order, or court decision.”

In other states, some Republican representatives have not been shy about getting a law on the books that could prompt the Supreme Court to revisit Roe v. Wade.

In Mississippi, the Republican governor signed a bill last month that largely bans abortions once doctors can detect a trace of a fetal heartbeat with an ultrasound, which can come as early as six weeks into pregnancy.

When a similar bill was being considered in Kentucky, the Republican majority leader said he would be proud if it were challenged up to the Supreme Court.

There is momentum building for fetal-heartbeat bills in Republican-dominated state legislatures. Texas, Missouri, Tennessee and Florida are expected to approve similar measures this year. Ohio’s legislature approved one on Wednesday, and the governor is expected to sign it. States like Ohio and Tennessee are also considering so-called trigger laws, which would immediately ban abortions if Roe v. Wade were overturned.

---The New York Times

11211 and 11249—must be vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella if they are not already. Those found to be in violation of the order could face up to a $1,000 fine, officials said.

Roughly 1,800 children in Williamsburg remain unvaccinated, Barbot said during the press conference.

She added that the city will help unprotected individuals secure affordable and accessible vaccination, and emphasized that vaccination is safe and effective.

The order comes a day after the city announced that yeshivas in parts of Brooklyn that allow unvaccinated children to attend school could face fines or potential school closures—and just a few days after a judge halted a similar emergency order in New York’s Rockland County. In Rockland, officials declared a countywide state of emergency related to measles, and banned unvaccinated children from visiting public places. A judge halted that ban last week.

Vaccinations are being imposed on certain New York communities, with a fine for those who don’t comply.

While de Blasio did not comment on the situation in Rockland, he said he is confident that New York City’s emergency order is an appropriate use of power. “This is about one neighborhood, and the focus is on tracing folks who have been exposed,” he said. “This is very pinpointed, very localized, and I think very appropriate.”

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that can result in symptoms such as cough, fever, runny nose and rash; in severe cases, it can

lead to hospitalization or, rarely, death. The disease can be prevented through vaccination.

Outside of New York City and Rockland County, measles outbreaks are underway in the Pacific Northwest, California, New Jersey and Michigan.

Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 465 cases of measles in 19 states so far this year, putting the U.S. on pace for the most measles cases since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000.

---TIME

National Insurance Corporation Vehicles for Tender Make: Mitsubishi Model: Outlander Year of manufacture: 2003 Engine capacity: 2400cc Make: Daihatsu Model: Extol Year of manufacture: 2004 Engine capacity: 1300cc Tenders should be in a sealed envelope and marked: Tender for Vehicle Director National Insurance corporation Francis Compton Building Waterfront, Castries Saint Lucia Vehicles can be inspected at the Castries Carpark.

Tenders close by 4:30pm, April 1st, 2019.

22

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april 13, 2019 THE STAR

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How to make sense of the Black Hole Image, according to 2 Astrophysicists

his week, a group of scientists unveiled the first-ever image of a black hole at the centre of the Messier 87 galaxy, some 55 million lightyears away. The image comes to us from a vast and incredibly sophisticated scientific collaboration called the Event Horizon Telescope, which involves 200 scientists in 20 countries who’ve been working together for nearly a decade.

The image they created has been eagerly anticipated by all those enthralled by black holes, and it does not disappoint: a deep black well in the centre of a bright ring of plasma and gas.

Some may not be impressed by the slight blurriness of the image. But there’s so much more to it than what immediately meets the eye.

Two astrophysicists— Sheperd Doeleman, the project leader of the Event Horizon Telescope, and Katie Mack of North Carolina State University, who was not involved with the effort—walked me through a few of the coolest aspects of the image that helped me appreciate just wonderfully mind-blowing it is.

Let’s begin with the dark spot, the hole in the centre. The first thing to know is that while it may look like an object, it isn’t one—not exactly. The dark spot is a shadow, a sink, an exit portal from our observable universe. There’s light in that dark spot, but we can’t see it.

It’s forever removed from our view. But how?

The black hole is black

The first-ever photo of a black hole from the Event Horizon Telescope.

because of a singularity, or a region where the fabric of space and time itself has collapsed in on itself, forming a single point with infinite density. That single point has such strong gravity, that as light approaches it, there’s a region beyond which nothing can escape its grasp.

That region, called the event horizon, is kind of like the top of a waterfall.

Now imagine a fish swimming toward the top of the waterfall. At a certain point, the water is rushing so fast that the fish can’t escape by swimming in the other direction. In this metaphor, the beam of light is the fish—and it’s approaching the black hole. “When the matter and light get too close to the black hole, the black hole just swallows it up, it removes that light from the universe,”

Mack says.

When you look at the dark region of the black hole, know: there’s light and matter in there.

We just can never, ever see it. Those fishes have left our observable universe.

In the image, look at the ring surrounding the dark centre. (You’ll see it’s brighter on the bottom than on the top). You might think this ring of material, or the innermost edge of it, represents that event horizon. It actually doesn’t.

That boundary is known as the photon orbit, and its diameter is about 2.5 times larger than that of the event horizon. Light that travels beyond the photon orbit could, conceivably, escape the black hole if something was to reflect it back. But it’s unlikely to. All the light in this region

is heading toward the event horizon, and we don’t see it because it makes it there.

The ring around the photon orbit is bright because the matter in it is being torn to smithereens, at temperatures measured in the billions of degrees, as it is devoured by the black hole. And it’s brighter at the bottom because that light is actually moving toward us. This is due to something similar to the Doppler effect (think about how a siren sounds higher in pitch as a cop car moves toward you). “And that tells us about how this material is rotating as it falls into the whirlpool [or waterfall],” Mack says.

The light you do see in this image (which are really representations of radio waves, more on that later) isn’t just

coming from the sides of the black hole, it’s coming from behind it, from in front of it, from all directions. Space and time is so warped that some of the light orbits the black hole in a circle. Yes, this is hard to wrap one’s mind around. Fortunately, the National Science Foundation made this handy animation, showing how the light warps, and slings around the black hole, leading to the image we see above.

But the new image is truly extraordinary because it, “lets us see for the first time the raw geometry of spacetime,” Doeleman of the Event Horizon Telescope tells me.

It’s a circle, just as the equations derived from Albert Einstein tell us. The telescopes used in the Event Horizon effort were radio telescopes.

That means they only “see” radio frequencies on the electromagnetic spectrum. It could have been the case that all the activity surrounding the black hole could have absorbed or blocked those radio waves from reaching us.

“The [material] around the black hole is transparent to radio waves, so we can see through all the hot gas trying to get through the event horizon,” Doeleman says. “Otherwise all we’d see would be some big blob.”

A lot of things had to go right for this image to come together. There had to be some radiation emanating from the outskirts of the black hole, and it had to reach Earth without

being knocked off course or occluded by a celestial object.

The Event Horizon team constructed a virtual telescope the size of the Earth to view that radiation. It’s a coincidence that the right size of telescope to see this black hole is the size of the Earth. If astronomers needed a telescope larger than Earth, they’d be out of luck.

Then comes the human collaboration: eight observatories all over the world had to sync up their clocks to an absurdly specific degree.

With more images like this, we can better understand the black holes that lie at the centres of galaxies. We can better understand how our theories of gravity work in the most extreme of conditions.

And know, it’s possible another image of a black hole might be coming in the future.

The Event Horizon team also tried to take a shot of the black hole at the centre of our own galaxy, called Sagittarius A* (pronounced aloud it’s “Sagittarius A star”).

“There’s nothing wrong with that data [on the black hole at the centre of our galaxy],” Doeleman says. They just decided to analyze the M87 data first, he says.

Black holes are some of the strangest things in our universe. They’re at the same time tiny and massive. And they push our understanding of the universe to its extreme.

We should hope to see more of them.

---Vox

THE STAR

april 13, 2019

classified 23

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Halcyon Beach Saint Lucia

VACANCIES FOR THE RESPECTIVE POSITIONS:

• • • • •

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Qualifications: • 2 CXC subjects (including English) • Any Certification or supporting documents would be an asset.

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PROPERTY FOR SALE BY RECEIVER VIDE BOUTEILLE HIGHWAY OFFERS ARE INVITED • • • • • •

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