The post Family of four homeless after Castries fire appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Despite the valiant effort of neighbours the house was destroyed.

The authorities are investigating a fire that destroyed a dwelling house in Capital Hill, Castries this morning (Saturday, April 22), officials said.

A family of four – two adults and two children – were not at home when the fire occurred around 9 a.m., officials said.

Despite valiant efforts by neighbours to put out the blaze, the 16×20 wooden structure and its contents was completely destroyed.

The neighbours however prevented the fire from spreading to nearby houses by wetting bamboo trees close to the burning house.

Two fire engines and an ambulance responded to the fire.

Residents claimed that the firemen had some difficulty getting to the location in the Morne Fortune area.

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The post UPDATE: Homicide victim identified appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Police are investigating the killing of a man in Trois Piton, Castries today (Saturday, April 22).

The victim has been identified as 59-year-old Leonard Felicien, aka Leo, of Trois Piton.

An eyewitness told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that the victim was allegedly stabbed to death during an argument/altercation over money around 3 p.m. It is alleged that a broken bottle was used to stab him.

A male suspect is in police custody.

“I saw the argument going on but I went to the church (Seventh-Day Adventist). By the time I sat in the church someone came saying he’s dead, so I went to look. The dead one (Leo) took a stone to knock the one that killed him but someone stopped them. In a matter of minutes one man dead,” the eyewitness told SNO.

“The man that killed Leo was caught by police and he waved goodbye to people while entering the police van,” the eyewitness added.

The deceased sustained a single stab wound to the lower part of his body, the eyewitness said.

This is the 21st homicide of 2017.

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The post Suspected drowning in Micoud appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Police are investigating the death of a young man in Up The Line, Micoud.

The body of 20-year-old Rockbert Winell Xavier of Up The Line, Micoud was found floating in the sea around 1:30 p.m. today.

Reports are that Xavier is suspected of drowning after he dived into the sea and hit his head on a rock.

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The post SCHEDULE: 2017 Second Annual FKF/SLFA Easter Invitational appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

PRESS RELEASE – Easter holiday saw the end of what can only be described as an action packed event for the Free Kick Foundation.

The 2nd Annual FKF/SLFA Easter Invitational saw double the participation compared to 2016, with Club Colonial and Reveil Sportif from Martinique participating at both levels.

At the U16 level, last year’s champions Big Players FC made a valiant attempt to retain their title, but Club Colonial proved to be unbeatable opponents. Club Colonial captured the title by defeating Big Players FC, 3 goals to nil. In the U19 level, this year’s finals saw two newcomers, namely Black Panthers FC and Valley Soccer Academy. Black Panthers FC took an early lead, only to lose it in the final minute, resulting in a penalty shootout. Valley Soccer defeated Black Panthers 5 – 4 in the resulting SO, bringing to an end what was described by all as great tournament!

The Free Kick Foundation sees this tournament as a growing event for student athletes, and we look forward to its continued success.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

U16

1st Place – Club Colonial (Martinique)

2nd Place – Big Players FC (Marchand)

3rd Place – Victory Eagles (Vieux Fort)

Best Dressed Team – Victor Eagles (Vieux Fort)

Most Disciplined Team – Club Colonial (Martinique)

Axiel Louisin – MVP – Club Colonial (Martinique)

Lousin Mathieu – Most Goals – Club Colonial (Martinique)

U19

1st Place – Valley Soccer (Castries)

2nd Place – Black Panthers Soufriere)

3rd Place – Northern United (Gros Islet)

Best Dressed Team – Victory Eagles (Vieux Fort)

Most Disciplined Team – Black Panthers (Soufriere)

Moses Henry – Victory Eagles (Vieux Fort)

Azziah Daniel – MVP – Valley Soccer

SUMMARY OF 2017 Second Annual FKF/SLFA Easter Invitational

PARTICIPATION

St Lucia: 480 players

Martinique: 32 players

Total: 512 players

ITINERARY

Date Venue Time

April 15 Marchand Grounds/ 9am onwards

U16 Group Play Mindoo Phillip Park

April 16 Marchand Grounds/ 9am onwards

U19 Group Play Mindoo Phillip Park

April 17 Marchand Grounds/ 9am onwards

U16/U19 Playoffs Mindoo Phillip Park

PARTICIPATING TEAMS

U16

Massey Boboville FC (Marchand) Northern U (Gros Islet)

Valley Soccer (Castries) DCYO (Dennery)

FT Pioneers (Castries) Lancers (Castries)

Black Panthers (Soufriere) Victory Eagles (V. Fort)

GMC (Gros Islet) Reduit FC (Rodney Bay)

VSADC (Castries) Big Players (Marchand)

1987 All-Stars (Anse la Raye) Bagatelle FC (Marchand)

Club Colonial (Martinique) CT Foundation (Roseau Valley)

U19

LA Allstars (La Clery) Northern U (Gros Islet)

Valley Soccer (Castries) New Generation (Fond Assou)

FT Pioneers (Castries) Lancers (Castries)

Black Panthers (Soufriere) Victory Eagles (V. Fort)

GMC (Gros Islet) Sunrisers FC (Castries)

VSADC (Castries) Big Players (Marchand)

1987 All-Stars (Anse la Raye) Survivals SC (Mabouya Valley)

Reveil Sportif (Martinique) Faith United (Soufriere)

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The post Man shot in Vieux Fort appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

A man was hospitalised following a shooting in Vieux Fort town on Saturday night.

The victim has been identified as France Theodore.

Reports are that several shots were fired at Theodore by a known male and one of the shots caught him in the leg. The incident occurred about 8:30 p.m. on George Shine Drive.

He was hospitalised in stable condition at St. Jude Hospital.

SNO understands that the shooting stems from an ongoing violent feud between Theodore and the accomplice.

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The post Capita Finance to sponsor Chamber QGM appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

PRESS RELEASE – Capita Finance will be a sponsor of the St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture April Quarterly General Meeting scheduled for the Fifth Floor of the Financial Centre Building Point Seraphine.

The Meeting is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. and boasts a most interesting Agenda. The President of the Chamber, Mr. Martin Dorville will report on the work of the Chamber since he took Office in November 2016, in particular on progress on implementing the Strategic Transformation exercise of the Chamber.

A special Guest Speaker in the person of Dr. Cladius Preville International Trade Expert and Consultant will deliver an address on the most important issue of “Brexit” and some implications for St. Lucia business and economy.

Capita Finance has indicated that as a member of the Chamber it wishes to remain engaged and active in the vibrant and impactful Organization. By partnering in the hosting of this event it relishes the opportunity to continue to demonstrate it corporate social responsibility and align itself with an organization with a longstanding reputation of keeping the business community informed about current issues while representing their critical business and economic interest.

Jermaine Hunte, of  Capita Finance, says that “the Brexit issue is timely and important as Britain continues to be one of St. Lucia’s and the Caribbean’s main trading partners in both goods and services and we need to keep our eye on developments in that country as far as its’ relationship with the EU and the Caribbean and moreover the possible changes to that relationship and thus the potential impact on our business and the wider economy”

Members are asked to register their attendance with the Chamber urgently.

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The post Puppet show to be held at the Pyramid appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

PRESS RELEASE – Alliance Francaise continues the Month of April activities with a Puppet Show on Saturday, April 29, 2017 at the Pyramid, Point Seraphine.

The show titled ‘Universe’ is a production of Cie Zig Zag supported by the Regional Cultural Affairs Office of Martinique (translation – Direction des Affaires Culturelles de la Martinique).

The story is of a Great Bear who is preparing for the Feast of Mother Nature.  This involves different characters representing the Star of the North Seas and the Sheriff who is the guardian of the stars and the guarantor of the order of time.  The characters embark on a journey to earth, which is dotted with beautiful adventures.

The puppet show ‘Universe’ is also in relation to Earth day which was celebrated last Saturday, April 22 and will bring awareness and appreciation, of our Universe and the planet.

The puppet show is a must see for youth of all ages,  especially children of 4 – 10 years of age.

Alliance Francaise through such activities, promotes the French language and Culture to the Saint Lucian public.  This is also fulfills the mandate of the Alliance Francaise, which is to foster cultural exchanges within the Caribbean countries.

The show will be from 3:00 pm. All children in attendance will be served a snack after the show.  Admission is FREE but there limited capacity so there is a need to register if attending the show.

For further information and registration, please contact Alliance Francaise at:    Email:  communication@afslu.org  or   Phone: (758) 452-6602

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The post Sensei Clery offers free workshop appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

PRESS RELEASE – St.Lucia karate expert and the person who introduced Shito-Ryu karate to St.Lucia, Sensei Paul Clery, is offering a FREE self-Defense program at his Castries dojo For information call 720-7290. Email- pclery@hotmail.com.

Sensei Clery hods a 4th degree black belt and is the official representative for the World United Karate Organization ( WUKO) ,Pan American United Karate Organization ( PUKO) and USA Karate International ( USAKI). He is also The head of Shito-Ryu Karate for Bassai Karate Dojo- International ( BKD-I).

He is also accepting new registrations for kids , teens and adults.
In June his school, Blue Dragon Karate Academy( BDKA) is expected to field a team to the WUKO 1st Pan American Cup in Trinidad and Tobago .

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The post PAHO meets with Ministry of Health on Bilharzia appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

PRESS RELEASE – On the 24th of April, 2017, a group of PAHO Representatives, met with the Ministry of Health Team, to discuss the way forward and how this survey will be executed effectively and efficiently.

Chief epidemiologist, Nahum Jn. Baptiste gave a further insight of the consultation.

Maria Sanchez, PAHO representative says, this venture is very important, and with Saint Lucia providing best practices for controlling Bilharzia, this will not benefit only Saint Lucia, but countries across the globe.

Maria Sanchez encourages individuals across the island to participate and cooperate with the survey agents .

Reporting from the Ministry of Health and Wellness I am Miguel Mauricette.

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The post Sergie releases “I in dat” appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

PRESS RELEASE – Saint Lucian soca artiste Sergie is laying a claim to her place among the elite in soca music with the release of her new song  “I In Dat”.

The soca single is also a build on what was a very good 2016 season where Sergie placed second in the Just 4 Fun Soca Switch competition and was a finalist in the Groovy Soca Monarch. She also performed at a number of events including Cooler Fete and Vavalry.

The lone female winner of the Piton Soca Starz competition she won in 2011, Sergie’s new release is featured on the Ransum Records Temptation Riddim. Written by her frequent collaborator Presley “Scottish” Scotland, “I In Dat” was recorded by Desmond “Ransum” Auguste and mixed and mastered by Saint Lucian born-Canadian based producer Johann “Yogi” Deterville.

On “I In Dat’, Sergie boldly declares herself a Soca Diva, “when it comes to fete/I in Dat/ when it comes to jamming/ I in Dat/ when it comes to iron (iron)/ dem call me de Boss that I am/ when it comes to liming/anywhere I liming/when it comes to soca (soca)/ I working it proper (properly).”

And its not only about her good time – she invites all, especially the Soca Divas like her to “show off your waistline/right now is the time.”

Carnival is indeed our time and with bands already launched, soca music dropped – there’s no time like the present for Sergie to join the revelry with “I In Dat.

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The post PM does not believe gov’t should be paying for SLNT’s recurrent expenditure appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet has confirmed that the government has proposed reducing the subvention to the Saint Lucia National Trust (SLNT) from $700,000 to zero, but pointed out that a number of other similar organisations have experienced financial reviews since his administration took office.

Chastanet told a press briefing on Monday that government has a cash problem and “every single cent” is under review.

He explained: “… Generally since I’ve come into government – and even in the opposition – I have talked about a zero-based budget where everybody has to justify every single cent that we are spending. Right now we have a cash problem in the government. We are not generating enough revenue to cover all of the costs that we have. We have to prioritise where we are going to spend our money.”

Chastanet said the Saint Lucia Tourist Board, the Jazz Festival, Radio Saint Lucia, government printery, the Post Office, the Saint Lucia Marketing Board, and the Fisheries Department are some of the organisations that are under review.

He said government spends or transfers almost $114 million annually to different entities “and every single cent that we have is under review”.

He added: “In the case of the National Trust, the intention is that I don’t believe that the government should be paying for the recurrent expenditure of the Trust. So if the Trust has a business plan and wants to make an investment then they are free to approach the government and make that request and we will invest it on the basis of the merit of the project.

“As I indicated to you previously, the Trust had submitted a plan to Cabinet of which Cabinet is still awaiting final information of (the) feasibility study, which called to convert the current museum into a conference facility, and the restoration of older building to become the office of the National Trust on Pigeon Island.

“So I am still waiting to see whether that makes financial sense. They talked about having to sell a piece of land that government gave them in town and to invest over six and a half million dollars, so again I want to be very, very clear because I have heard some of the rumours going around and some of the statements that  I am upset with the Trust and this is revenge. Furthest from the truth. I have continously said the Trust is an advocacy group and I support and respect them as an advocacy group. At no time has my government on any occasion try to bypass the Trust.

In fact, the dolphin park investment that came, went to the Trust. I didn’t make any pre-announcements. I didn’t lobby anybody. It’s for the Trust to make the decision. All I have indicated to the Trust is that a vote by the membership is not a sufficient answer, that they must give us in writing the pros and the cons of the project and tell us what their position is, and so that when Cabinet now sits down to make a decision that we have that information… in order to be able to put into our decision-making process, so I am not vex with the Trust.

Chastanet reiterated that the Trust like all other entities in Saint Lucia are required to justify how they are spending their money.

“There are too many Saint Lucians who are suffering. Too many who believe that Government has abandoned them and too many who believe that the decisions that Government makes on a day to day basis don’t reflect their needs. We have to prioritize how we spend public funds given the fact that there isn’t enough money available,” he said.

In a statement on the proposed elimination of government’s contribution to its financial coffers, the Trust called this move “an unprecedented, unjustified and exceedingly unfortunate measure” given the organisation’s record as “Saint Lucia’s leading quasi-governmental institution for conservation”.

The Trust said the cut will also greatly stymy the Trust’s efforts in heritage conservation and urges all members of Parliament to insist on the reinstatement of its normal subvention for 2017-18.

“In the interim, the Trust will continue to carefully study the implications of this proposal and options available to it within the short term if this proposal is enacted.

“As such, the Trust will be hosting an emergency membership meeting at 1:00pm on Saturday 29 April at the Pigeon Island National Landmark to discuss these matters.

“The Trust will also seek the support of its international partners, civil society and the entire Saint Lucian populace, home and abroad to advocate on its behalf,” the statement reads.

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The post Winners of Earth Hour 2017 essay competition announced appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

PRESS RELEASE – Earth Hour is a worldwide global environmental grassroots movement for solidarity of climate action of the planet organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

The event is held annually encouraging individuals, communities, households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. towards the end of March, as a symbol for their commitment to the planet. The one-hour event continues to remain the key driver of the now larger movement and continues to harness the collective power of its millions of supporters to shine a light on climate action and the power of the individual to stand united in our ambition to change climate change.

To commemorate Earth Hour 2017- ‘Shine a Light on Climate Action’, CYEN- in Saint Lucia decided to host an essay competition for sixth grade primary school students and video competition for secondary school students centred around shining a light on our oceans.

The Earth Hour Schools Competition prize giving ceremony was held on Friday, April 21st, 2017 at the Department of Fisheries conference room, Pointe Seraphine, Castries from 10:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.

The Essay competition winners were: 1st place- Swann Augustin (Micoud Primary School), 2nd place- Bernella Francois (Reunion Primary School) and 3rd place- Shernessa Joseph (Ti-Rocher Combined -Micoud).

Video Competition winners: 1st place -Hadassah Romulus (Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School) and 2nd place- Khadiyah Halliday (Saint Joseph’s Convent).

Key sponsors handed over their gifts of sponsorship and provided brief remarks at the ceremony. Also, prize winners provided brief remarks tailored to the theme of the Essay & Video competition to encourage Saint Lucia and Saint Lucian youth to help contribute to improving and sustaining our blue economy (seas/oceans). .

This was excellent opportunity to further highlight our prize winners, event sponsors and take the lead for Shining a light on Climate Action to emphasize the need for an environmentally responsible and sustainable future, starting with every public and private entity in Saint Lucia.

School Competition Sponsors were: Department of Sustainable Development, Department of Fisheries, Unicomer St. Lucia, Flow St. Lucia, The Cell St. Lucia, St. Lucia Electricity Services, Real Foods Incorporated, Felly Belly, Rainforest Adventures, Splash Island Water Park, Peter and Company Distribution Ltd., Massy Stores St. Lucia, 7Ks, Ethany’s Creative Designs, Stella’s Spa and Super Malt, FireFly Productions and the National Research & Development Foundation.

Special Thanks to  the School Competitions Judges;  Lucius Doxerie, Jed Charles, Ted Sandiford, Shanna Emmanuel, Snaliah Mahal and Giannetti George, Ministry of Agriculture Veterinary Unit, Ms. Sansha Mathurin, Mr. Butcher, Principals, District Education Officers, HTS television, DBS television, Calabash Television, MBC television, Choice Television,  the Voice Newspaper St. Lucia and the CYEN General Membership and Earth Hour Committee.

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The post CARIBBEAN: Jamaican businessman charged after pointing gun at motorists appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

JAMAICA OBSERVER – A businessman who was caught on camera brandishing a gun following the Carnival road march on Sunday has been arrested and charged with assault and illegal possession of firearm.

The man identified as 29-year-old Zachary Reid was caught on camera pointing his gun at several motor vehicles along West King’s House Road in St Andrew last night.

His attorney, Tom Tavares-Finson told OBSERVER ONLINE that Reid is a licensed firearm holder but he was charged with the misuse of it.

Tavares-Finson said Reid, who was seen lying in a pool of his own blood,was treated for injuries at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) and released last night.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force is yet to release a statement on the matter however, Reid was seen in the short video clip walking along the road and pointing his gun at several vehicles as they passed by.

It has been reported that the police were later called and he was immediately arrested and taken into custody.

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The post PHOTO UPDATE: Fatal accident at Marigot appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Jason St. Luce

One man is dead following a motor vehicle accident in Marigot this afternoon, officials said.

The dead man has been identified as 34-year-old father of two, Jason St. Luce of Rock Hall, Castries.

St. Luce was the passenger of a truck (registration number PG 4440) that overturned about 3:54 pm.

The driver Marlon Lubrin sustained minor injuries.

This is the fifth road fatality for 2017.

.

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The post CARIBBEAN: Trinidad president urges region to dump Privy Council appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

CARIBBEAN360 – Trinidad and Tobago President Anthony Carmona has expressed frustration that his country and other CARICOM states have not replaced the Privy Council with the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as their final authority in legal matters.

Though 12 of the 15 CARICOM territories have signed the agreement establishing the CCJ, which was launched in 2005 as the final arbiter in legal disputes among and within regional members, only Barbados, Guyana, Dominica and Belize have accepted this court as the end decision-maker.

Carmona, who served as a High Court Judge before being appointed as President in 2013, expressed his frustration in Barbados during a presentation on Redefining Caribbean Pride for the 21st Century Youth, to University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, undergraduate organization, Students Today Alumni Tomorrow.

“Why have we yet not all subscribed to the jurisdiction of the Caribbean Court of Justice?” he asked

President Carmona said he sees acceptance by all territories of CCJ to be the court of last resort as another step towards fortifying the Caribbean identity.

“Perhaps the day will finally come when we can all take pride in, and responsibility for, defining, shaping, writing and ultimately, rewriting our own jurisprudence and laws in the context of our own peculiarities and the relationships among our own member states. The arguments for a common jurisprudence have been exhausted, but are not exhaustible.”

CCJ judges are predominantly of Caribbean origin, and according to a CARICOM document, “judges appointed to the CCJ are evaluated on the basis of wide-ranging criteria that include experience, high moral character, intellectual and analytical ability, sound judgment, integrity and an understanding of people and society”.

Carmona believes that with the majority of CARICOM nations yet to make that constitutional move towards replacement of the Privy Council with the CCJ for their citizens, creates a deficit “that mitigates against the spirit of the Caribbean integration movement”.

“There have been many failed attempts at an integrated Caribbean in the past, with just a few making successful strides in this regard. Today, Caribbean societies are confronting even greater difficulties in treating with such issues as crime and security, health issues, and, of increasing importance, the danger posed by climate change. The need to pool resources has therefore never been more urgent.

“There needs to be an embracing approach by all leaders. We must not be concerned about what we can get from each other but rather how we can help each other,” he said. (Barbados Today)

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The post Study shows babies, toddlers exposed to touchscreen devices sleep less appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

CARIBBEAN360 – The use of touchscreen devices in the home has skyrocketed in recent years, but understanding their impact on early childhood development has been lacking.

Partially filling the gap was a new University of London study, which found that toddlers who spend time playing on smartphones and tablets seem to get slightly less sleep than those who do not.

The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, suggested that every hour spent using a touchscreen each day was linked to 15 minutes less sleep in young children.

The trade-off appeared to be that the youngsters playing with touchscreens developed their fine motor skills more quickly.

Researchers involved in the study questioned 715 parents of children under three years old, asking how often their child played with a smartphone or tablet and details of the child’s sleep patterns.

The responses indicated that 75 percent of the toddlers used a touchscreen on a daily basis, with 92 percent of those between 25 and 36 months-old using a device, and 51 percent of those between six and 11 months also using one.

The children who played with touchscreens had around 15 minutes less sleep for every hour of touchscreen use, as well as sleeping less at night and more in the day.

BBC News reports that Dr Tim Smith, one of the researchers, explained: “It isn’t a massive amount when you’re sleeping 10-12 hours a day in total, but every minute matters in young development because of the benefits of sleep.”

The study is not definitive, but Dr Smith told the BBC it “seems to indicate touchscreens have some association with possible sleep problems.”

However, his research has also shown that toddlers who actively use touchscreens (swiping rather than watching) accelerate their development of motor skills.

So should young children be allowed to play with touchscreens?

According to Dr Smith: “It’s very tricky right now, the science is very immature, we are really lagging behind the technology and it’s too early to make clear proclamations.”

He added that the best bet was to follow similar rules for the amount of time spent in front of the TV: putting a limit on the total time spent on devices; ensuring children still do physical things; ensuring that content is age-appropriate; and avoiding the screens in the hour before bedtime.

Dr Anna Joyce, a cognitive developmental researcher at Coventry University, told the BBC: “As the first study to investigate associations between sleep and touchscreen use in infancy, this is a timely piece of research.

“In light of these findings and what we know from previous research it may be worth parents limiting touchscreen, other media use and blue light in the hours before bedtime,” she agreed.

Recent studies in adults have suggested that exposure to blue light – such as that given off by smartphones and tablets – in the hours immediately preceding bedtime is associated with lowered quantity and quality of sleep.

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The post Pakistan crushes West Indies in first Test appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

EXPRESS TRIBUNE – Yasir Shah completed a six-wicket haul to spearhead the second innings rout of the West Indies as Pakistan achieved a comfortable seven-wicket victory just after lunch on the final day of the first Test on Tuesday.

Trailing on first innings by 121 runs and resuming at the overnight position of 93 for four, the home side were dismissed for 152 after less than two hours’ play at Sabina Park in Jamaica.

Needing just 32 runs for a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series, the tourists lost three wickets either side of the interval and it was left to captain Misbahul Haq to end Pakistan’s abysmal run of six consecutive Test match defeats with consecutive sixes off Devendra Bishoo.

Having taken the first four wickets late on the fourth evening, Shah was kept waiting for more success at the start of play on the fifth day as the visitors’ faster bowlers took up the challenge of continuing the demolition job by taking the next four wickets.

However, the leg-spinner, who bowled unchanged from one end throughout the morning’s play, was not to be denied another five-wicket innings haul.

He wrapped up the innings with the wickets of tailenders Alzarri Joseph and Shannon Gabriel in the space of four deliveries in his 22nd over, finishing with the excellent innings figures of six for 63 and a match haul of eight for 154.

“It was tough for me during the last series in Australia and I was happy to get back among the wickets here,” he said after receiving the ‘Man of the Match’ award.

“Those rough areas on the pitch were very helpful to me and I hope I can continue with this sort of performance for the rest of the series.”

Shah was expected to pose an immediate threat at the start of play but it was Mohammad Amir who initiated the final tumble of wickets, inducing an error of judgement from Vishaul Singh, who was bowled offering no shot to the left-arm fast bowler.

Mohammad Abbas replaced Amir and almost immediately struck two critical blows. Nightwatchman Bishoo, who had defied the Pakistanis for over an hour, flashed at a wide delivery to be well caught by Younis Khan at second slip for 18.

Shane Dowrich was then trapped palpably LBW two balls later and at 129 for seven the die was effectively cast.

Jason Holder joined Roston Chase and the pair hinted briefly at a repetition of the resistance they showed a year earlier when the West Indies batted through the last day at the same venue to ensure a draw in the second Test of a four-match series against India.

Shadab, Shahzad in for West Indies Tests

History was not to be repeated, though, as Wahab Riaz replaced Abbas and accounted for the West Indies captain via a catch behind as Holder essayed a loose drive, providing the opportunity for Shah to finish off the innings in the next over.

“It’s pretty frustrating because we need to see our young players learning and improving at the top of the batting order,” said a disappointed Holder in the aftermath of defeat.

“Our bowlers tried really hard but we didn’t help ourselves in the field with the number of chances that we missed.”

Any expectation of Pakistan knocking off the required runs swiftly were ended by the dismissals of Ahmed Shehzad and Azhar Ali in successive overs. Shehzad edged a catch to wicketkeeper Dowrich off Gabriel while Ali played on to Joseph before lunch.

Pakistan have no idea what they are doing: Qadir

Younis Khan fell upon the resumption, leg-before to Bishoo, but with Babar Azam, the heir apparent to the departing star batsman looking on from the other end, Misbah heaved consecutive deliveries beyond the boundary to formalise the result and partially ease his own disappointment at being stranded on 99 not out in the first innings the day before.

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The post CARIBBEAN: T&T lifts corned beef ban, says it is safe to eat appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

TRINIDAD EXPRESS – THE MINISTRY of Agriculture has lifted the restriction on Brazilian corned beef and other meat imports as of today.

The temporary restriction which was imposed on March 21, was put in place by Agriculture Minster Clarence Rambharat after it was revealed by Brazilian authorities to have been investigating a private manufacturer using rotted meat.

The Ministry made the announcement to lift the temporary restriction on both the import and retail sale of meat products from Brazil including corned beef, chicken patties and chicken nuggets.

In a release, the Ministry stated that correspondence from Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture Blairo Maggi to Minister Clarence Rambharat confirmed there had been no exports of meat products to Trinidad and Tobago from any of the processing plants under investigation by Brazilian authorities.

In a correspondence from the Brazilian official, Maggi reiterated the Brazilian government’s rigorous audit and risk-assessment protocols for its meat products as they relate to food inspection and food quality.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries also received and considered the advice made by the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Roshan Parasram, which was based on the results of tests conducted by the Chemistry, Food and Drug Division on samples of corned beef imported from Brazil prior to the March 21 restriction.

The CMO advised that the tests “revealed that these samples were safe and that the product standards were in keeping with international accepted criteria for food safety. Furthermore, samples of corned beef were visually examined and no visible signs of damaged or rusted cans observed. Also the labels were in compliance with the requirements of Section 16 of the Food and Drugs Regulation,” the release stated.

The Ministry has advised the Ministry of Health to discontinue the recall of meat products imported from Brazil prior to March 21, following the decision to lift the restriction on Brazilian meat imports.

The Ministry stated that , supermarkets and other wholesale and retail outlets are once more permitted to sell meat products imported from Brazil including corned beef, chicken patties and chicken nuggets originating from Brazil and imported into Trinidad and Tobago prior to the restriction date.

With immediate effect, the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries will resume issuing import permits for meat products from Brazil.

“Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat continues to monitor this situation via regular updates from Dr. Amery Browne, Trinidad and Tobago’s ambassador to Brazil who, in fact, is scheduled to meet with Brazilian Government officials today in Brazil,” the release said.

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The post Photographer to host workshop at Anse Chastanet for National Geographic Expeditions appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

PRESS RELEASE – One of the world’s most accomplished photographers is hosting a master class at Anse Chastanet Resort in St. Lucia for National Geographic Expeditions this year.

Joe McNally, whose acclaimed career includes assignments in more than 50 countries, will lead the classes at the eco-friendly resort.

McNally, who has contributed to National Geographic magazine for more than three decades, has been described by American Photo magazine as “perhaps the most versatile photojournalist working today” and listed as one of their 100 Most Important People in Photography.

Dubbed “Advanced Photography and Lighting Workshop,” the session, to be held October 10-15, 2017, is designed for 16 advanced photographers and National Geographic Photography Workshop alumni.

Named a Nikon Legend Behind the Lens and voted one of the 30 most influential photographers of the decade by Photo District News, McNally will deliver lectures and guide participants through the complexities of advanced photography while taking them through the sprawling Anse Chastanet property, which features a tropical rainforest, an organic farm and jungle bike trails.

National Geographic Expeditions chose Anse Chastanet because it is “blanketed in lush jungles, edged by luminous sandy beaches, and crowned by the staggering twin peaks of its iconic Pitons.”

The six-day workshop is designed to ensure participants benefit from daily instruction and critiques of their photographs offered by McNally and a support team of photographers. Attendees will also learn the fundamentals of artificial lighting and move to advanced techniques to take their skills to the next level, working hands-on with all manner of small flash techniques, from high speed flash to multiple speed light interiors.

McNally, whose career has spanned three decades, wants students to capture the Caribbean spirit of St. Lucia on photo shoots with local islanders amid lush tropical scenery.

Karolin Troubetzkoy, Executive Director of Marketing and Operations of Anse Chastanet and its neighboring sister resort, Jade Mountain, looks forward to welcoming the group. “In addition to Joe McNally, an international photography legend, we are also delighted to welcome the participants to our resort. It’s wonderful to know they will associate their passion for capturing beauty through their lens with Anse Chastanet.”

Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain, two of St. Lucia’s most picturesque resorts, have been recognized by the TripAdvisor® GreenLeaders™ program, which helps travelers around the world plan ecologically responsible trips by identifying hotels engaging in environmentally friendly practices.

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The post INTERNATIONAL: Scientists create ‘artificial womb’, plan to test on humans appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

INDEPENDENT (UK) – Extremely premature babies could be kept alive in future using an “artificial womb” that scientists plan to test in humans after a successful study involving unborn lambs.

A plastic bag filled with artificial amniotic fluid – the nutrient-rich liquid that sustains a foetus in the womb – allowed foetal lambs to develop at an age equivalent to 23 weeks in humans.

Human infants born at 23 weeks have just a 15 per cent chance of survival, according to pregnancy research charity Tommy’s. This rises to 55 per cent at 24 weeks, while babies born at 25 weeks have an 80 per cent chance of survival.

Premature babies are often placed in incubators to help keep them warm, but the new invention closely replicates conditions in a real womb, scientists at the Center for Fetal Research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have said.

“This system is potentially far superior to what hospitals can currently do for a 23-week-old baby born at the cusp of viability,” said Dr Alan Flake, the Centre’s director.

“These infants have an urgent need for a bridge between the mother’s womb and the outside world. If we can develop an extra-uterine system to support growth and organ maturation for only a few weeks, we can dramatically improve outcomes for extremely premature babies.”

Inside the device, the infant’s own heart circulates blood through the umbilical cord into an external gas-exchange machine taking the place of the mother’s placenta, while synthetic amniotic fluid enriched with nutrients flows in and out of the temperature-controlled, near-sterile “biobag”.

No mechanical pump is used, because even gentle artificial pressure could fatally overload an underdeveloped heart.

The researchers believe their new system could be ready for human trials in three to five years, but stress there is no question of using the system to replace a mother’s womb at earlier stages of development – which could raise fears of sci-fi technology and the end of conventional pregnancy.

Six pre-term lambs were used in tests of the most recent version of the “extra-uterine support device”, which evolved from a glass tank to the biobag design over a period of three years.

Animals “breathed” and swallowed normally, opened their eyes, grew wool and developed properly functioning nerves and organs, said the researchers writing in the journal Nature Communications.

The lambs remained in the “womb” for up to a month. While most were humanely killed to allow analysis of their brains, lungs and other organs, a few were allowed to survive and were bottle-fed.

“They appear to have normal development in all respects,” said Dr Flake as one of the survivors reached a year old.

But Dr Flake said there was no technology “even on the horizon” that could replace a mother’s womb at the earliest stages of foetal development. “There’s a lot of sensationalistic conversation about supporting humans artificially from embryo forward,” he said.

“I would be very concerned if other parties wanted to use this device to try to extend the limits of viability.”

Every year in the UK 60,000 babies – one in nine – are born prematurely, requiring special hospital care.

At infant prematurely born at 23 weeks weighs less than 600 grams. There is a high likelihood of lifelong disability among those that do survive, who have a 90 per cent probability of suffering chronic lung disease or other effects of being born with immature organs.

A major technical hurdle still to be crossed is downsizing the system to make it suitable for human infants, which are a third of the size of the lambs used in the study.

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