PRESS RELEASE - LIME’s ‘Hook Me Up’ promotion is back, right on time for the back-to-school season!

From September 1, LIME mobile customers can get a chance to win a Lenovo Thinkpad Edge laptop. To qualify they simply have to text the word CLASS to 2929 and answer some simple general knowledge questions.

For students heading back to the classrooms, this is the opportunity to get hooked up with a brand new laptop, the perfect tool to help them with their studies. This offer could not have come at a better time!

The Lenovo Thinkpad Edge is equipped with an excellent keyboard and touch pad, a compact body and bright display. It also has 4GB of RAM, a U7300 Intel Core 2 ULV, and a 320GB hard drive, plus lots of other great features. The Lenovo Thinkpad Edge has also been hailed as a “top-choice compact business laptop” by the US-based CNet magazine.

Customers can text as often they wish to increase their chances to win this great offer. The promotion runs until September 30. ‘Hook Me Up’ is guaranteed to be one of LIME’s most exciting promotional offers yet!

“With summer holidays now over and many of our customers preparing for the new school year, we know they will appreciate the opportunity win a prize that would be great help, especially to students and families,” said LIME Corporate Communications Executive, Terry Finisterre. “As we always do, we thought of what our customers would need at this time, and we decided that a Lenovo Thinkpad Edge would be the perfect gift. We urge customers not to miss out on this great opportunity and text as often you wish!”

Cameron Cupid

GIS - Cameron Cupid, a former student of the Ti-Rocher Combined School, is the winner of this year’s Mathematics Quiz Competition.
Cupid now attends the Saint Mary’s College, and promises to be successful in his educational pursuits.

The mathematics competition is aimed at improving mathematics results at Common Entrance Examinations.

Chief Education Officer, Marcus Edward, said the competition seeks to prepare students for the new school year.

“We at the Ministry of Education have recognized that after the long seven or eight week summer vacation, sometimes there is a little regression. The children lose a little. And so, this competition helps to keep them focused, so that when the return to school, we know that they are ready to go.”

Parliamentary representative for Castries-East, Hon. Philip J. Pierre, said opportunities in education should be open to every child.

“Education should not be based on anything that is political. Education should be for everybody and everybody ought to have an equal opportunity to receive an education so they can take their place not only in Saint Lucia, but in the world.”

Second place competition winner is Ahijah Eristhee who previously attended Bocage Combined, while third place winner is Meekela Gabriel, who also previously attended Ti- Rocher Combined.

CPJ pays US$750,000 for Coke bottling plant in St. Lucia

JAMAICA OBSERVER - Caribbean Producers of Jamaica (CPJ) paid approximately US$750,000 (JMD$84 million) for its stake in a Coca-Cola bottling company in St. Lucia earlier this year.

The regional food distributor plans to capitalise on the acquisition of Du Boulay’s Bottling to roll out its full service distribution in Castries by the end of the month

The new entity, CPJ St. Lucia, will initially target the growing hospitality sector, before widening its scope to the food manufacturing business in the Eastern Caribbean island.

CPJ’s earnings rose by 8.6 per cent from year-earlier levels to US$3.5 million for its year ending June 30.

Growth in sales outpaced the rise in costs, resulting in gross profit increasing by 14.6 per cent to US$22.8 million.

A big jump in foreign exchange gains, from US$20,000 to over US$260,000 also helped boost income for the company.

CPJ also saw its tax charge fall from US$106,000 to US$7,000.

In June, CPJ inked a deal with Jamaica Beverages Limited (JBL) to distribute Chubby, Juciful, Fruta, Busta and Cool Runnings water on the northern end of the island.

The company is optimistic that these brands, along with a relevant mix of products, will bring strong consumer loyalty.

Did you know the first colored West Indian to receive a commission in the Royal Air Force was St. Lucian pilot, Officer Hugh Terence Etienne?

He was a civil servant in St. Lucia but left home in 1940 to join the RAF and was commissioned September 1, 1942. Unfortunately, on March 5, 1943, he and his crew went missing while on an operation; they were shot down and crashed into the sea west of Ijmuiden, Holland.

Did you know during 1942, work on a temporary runway for airplanes begun at Vigie? In March 1943 the runway was fit for use and a B.W.I.A. plane landed there on March 23, 1943. In 1945 the runway was extended and metalled.

Did you know in October 1943, bad weather hit St. Lucia and as a result there was the dramatic disappearance of the coastal launch “Bernadine II”? The boat left Laborie one early Monday morning, it failed to get to Choiseul and went adrift in the Caribbean.

Once the few provisions on board were done, they had to starve. They had been without water for six days; in addition, the boat had sprung a leak, and bucket-bailing had become a necessity. It seems to be a miracle everyone on the boat survived. It was not until the following Sunday, when the crew and passengers (19 in all) were rescued by an American warship. They were kindly received and taken to Puerto Rico and eventually returned to St. Lucia.

Source: Outlines of St. Lucia’s History by Rev. Fr. Charles Jesse – 1994

This feature runs every Tuesday and Thursday. It is compiled by daughter of the soil Anselma Aimable, a former agricultural officer and former correspondent for Caribbean Net News, who has a deep interest in local culture and history. Send ideas and tips to doublea@candw.lc.   

Electromechanical metres are being replaced by a more advanced system.

Electromechanical metres (old metres) are being replaced by the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) through a programme being carried out by the St. Lucia Electrical Services (LUCELEC).

Over 6,000 metres have been installed in the last two months, LUCELEC’s Transmission and Distribution Manager Gilroy Pultie told St Lucia News Online (SNO) yesterday, September 3. A total of 10,000 metres have been replaced.

According to Pultie, the five-year long project has been progressing smoothly. The reason for this move, he noted, was to replace the aged metres that measure electricity based on wind path and to reinstall the new AMI metres.

“With time and age they slow down and under-register the actual consumption. Those metres that have been replaced are about 15 to 20 years and even older, and that’s the primary reason for this change,” he explained.

The transition will see the replacement of manual metre reading and billing, switched to automatic metre reading and billing.

“The AIM metres are solid state (electronic metres) which do not use moving parts and as such are more accurate,” he stated.

The metres have also been approved by the St. Lucia Bureau of Standards.

The AMI metres are reportedly more accurate.

Pultie told SNO that when the programme started out five years ago the approach was different, since it was done on a geographical basis, using a billing cycle to transition the system for automatic billing. However, he said: “We recognise that we have so many old metres and we have been targeting those metres.”

According to reports, the country-wide move has raised some concerns for citizens, since the new metres will now accurately record consumption as opposed to the electro-mechanical metres.

There have been reports of increased electricity consumption for most of the replacement metres.

Police are making headway in their investigation into the dumping of a baby’s body in Ravine Chabot, Castries on August 21, 2014.

Reliable sources say a female suspect is now at a hospital under police supervision.

The sources added that the mother is experiencing complications in relation to the alleged abortion.

“She may be charged subsequent to her being discharged from the hospital,” a source said.

The baby was discovered in a black plastic bag at about 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 21 in the community.

The baby was transported to Victoria Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A number of persons have been assisting police with their investigation.

Fire Service officers on the job.

As the St. Lucia Fire Service Association (SLFSA) continues its protest action, it has reiterated the reasons behind this move.

The SLFSA issued an official statement on its Facebook page yesterday, stressing several points.

The post started out by saying that it is surprising that some of its members are now claiming that they are not aware of the issues, which would have caused firefighters to take the stance.

“We know you do comrades and we won’t hold anything against you for exercising your right to remain on duty. This fight is for all of us, whether you” stood up or not.”

The statement went on to say that the SLFSA will not discriminate or allow the matter to divide its members. However, the association said the issues they are faced with have been lingering for close to seven years and is demanding that they are addressed once and for all.

In highlight of these issues, the SLFSA alleged that the chief fire officer (CFO) wrote to the authorities to have specific doctors assigned to the Fire Service and “other uniformed organisations”, saying if firefighters visited any other doctor apart from those in his recommendation, and receives sick leave, such leave shall be unpaid leave and will further be deducted from the firefighter’s vacation leave.

According to the association, the Service Regulations, Part 1, section 17, asks that vacancies be advertised before recommendations are made to the Ministry of Home Affairs by the CFO, since 1979. To date, three separate permanent secretaries have allegedly written to the CFO on five occasions quoting that law and asking the CFO to advertise vacancies.

“To date, not once has this been done. Yet senior management within the Fire Service says that it is the association that is to be blamed for the lack of promotions since 2009. Yes folks, no promotion for firemen since 2009.”

Whereas the collective agreement between the government and the SLFSA recognises the SLFSA as the only collective-bargaining agent for firefighters, the CFO allegedly wrote to the Ministry of Home Affairs making counter proposals on the association’s initial proposal to the GNT.

The association has also alleged that the CFO wrote to the ministry, recommending the removal of an allowance being paid to firefighters, negotiated between the association and the GNT, while totally overlooking the association’s negotiation responsibility to its members.

“Documents addressed to the permanent secretary of Home Affairs Ministry through the CFO were not being forwarded to the ministry by the CFO, but members would receive a response from the CFO,” it added. This, the SLFSA said is a clear violation of section 10.1 of the Staff Orders.

The lack of equal opportunity in promotion, transfers, training, acting appointments are all violations of the Equality of Opportunity and Treatment in Employment and Occupation Act, which is another major concern for the association.

“Members were being paid subsistence/relocation allowances contrary to Cabinet Conclusion No. 765 of 1995, while senior officers were being paid the in full compliance.”

The SLFSA alleged that the CFO had instructed members not to copy correspondences dealing with welfare issues and addressed to him, to the SLFSA. The association believes is an attempt to muzzle members.

“Certain members were given over-lapping acting appointments while others overlooked. Even in a case of an acting appointment while the member was on pre-retirement leave.”

Further, the SLFSA said they were being made to pay damages to Fire Service-assigned vehicles involved in vehicular accidents without activating the processes of the government’s accident board.”

The association questioned the reason behind investments such as the US$500 knox boxes, the US$17,000 water pump and gas-guzzling ambulances that have never been used in the Fire Service.

The association added that firefighters continue to resign, retire and be seconded and there are no replacements. Even in light of this, temporary staff continues to be kept on contract.

Firefighters vacation days are also allegedly being taken away from them because they exceeded 21 days of certified sick leave in a year.

“Members continue to perform duties above their substantive ranks without compensation of an honorarium. Junior staff have been suspended and dismissed for similar or less infractions than those committed by senior officers,” the statement added.

The statement ended by saying: “Let’s not fight amongst ourselves. We are not the enemy. Let’s stand up for the better good of all of us. Today’s straight up programme basically confirmed that the Commission of Inquiry was just a sham, to keep us quiet. Not even the recommendations seem credible, according to the host.”

A video still image of Esnard on television.

A businessman and former teacher, who said on national television that firemen are not important and a country could run without firemen, is now eager to restore his reputation after the video went viral.

Fidel Esnard, 36, of Odsan, said his comment was a “failed attempt at sarcasm”.

On a recent episode of the popular nightly feature called Street Vibes on DBS, reporter Alex Bousquet asked “… The firemen are on strike what do you think about that?”

Esnard was one of several persons who responded. He said: “I don’t believe firemen are important. I believe a country could be run without firemen, an airport could be run without firemen, buildings could burn in St. Lucia without firemen, people could get heart attacks and nobody needs a fireman.”

The video has since gone viral with many people ridiculing Esnard. Some have questioned his mental health.

However, in an exclusive interview with St. Lucia News Online today, Sept. 4, Esnard stressed that he was being sarcastic in an effort to get his point across.

“I want the firemen to be focused on, not me. I was just a vehicle to open the discussion,” he said.

He continued: “Let me explain my failed attempt at sarcasm. My mindset was on the fact that the airports and seaports are still running, and also businesses are open. The country could be shut down because of the strike, because if God forbids something happens, who will be there to handle it? Therefore, since the country is not shut down, it would seem like firemen are not needed. That’s what I was coming around to establishing.”

Esnard said he did not have enough time to “expand”. He said his statement on DBS was only the “intro”.

Esnard said he was a teacher for 10 years. He currently owns a photography business in Castries.

A number of firemen across the island have been on strike since Monday in protest of what they describe as the authorities’ failure to address longstanding issues within the Fire Service.

Esnard said he has a brother in the Fire Service, hence his concern about the issue.

He described the situation as a “slippery slope right now”.

“It seems like it is almost impossible for the firemen to get across to the powers that be, so I am thinking the public can try to get to the authorities,” he pointed out.

He concluded by reiterating: “As for me I would like my reputation to be cleared and I understood.
I say this still with the intention not to be solely focused on me.”

PRESS RELEASE - The Knight of Columbus island wide conducted its first annual “back to school supplies” drive in which they are asked parishioners of the Minor Basilica (Cathedral), Lady of Fatima (La Clery), St Joseph the Worker (Gros Islet) and Lady of the Assumption (Vieux Fort) who are able to assist in this act of charity by making donations of stationery, school supplies or non-perishable items which could be used to assist in getting the children prepared for school.

The collection will took place following each mass on Sunday August 24 2014 at the various parishes. However, due to unforeseen circumstances collections did not take place in Vieux Fort; however it is expected to take place soon.

On Tuesday September 2nd 2014 His Grace, Archbishop Robert Rivas, District Warden Ronald Norville, Grand Knight and Brothers of the Knights of Columbus Immaculate Conception Council #13875 and the Deputy Grand Knight of the St Joseph the Worker Council #13990 made its first of three presentations to the Sisters of Charity located at Hospital Road, Castries.

His Grace blessed the donated items and by extension the persons who donated them and then presented them to the sisters who accepted them gladly with thanks to the Knights of Columbus and indeed to the people who donated.

The items would then be distributed by the Sisters to the surrounding community namely Faux-a-Chaud and Hospital Road. Presentations will be made at a later date to the Soufriere Parish and to the Soup Kitchen ran by the Vieux Fort Parish.

So moved was His Grace by the show of charity, which is one of the pillars of Knights of Columbus, that he said “This. This is what the Knights are all about!” and encouraged the Knights to continue their efforts and not stop there.

Knights of Columbus sincerely thank all the parishioners who donated and would also like to thank their corporate partners: Consolidated Foods Limited and Renwick and Company Ltd for the generosity. We look forward to continuing our relationship with you.

The Sisters of Charity observe the anniversary of the death of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta on Friday, September 5th 2014 with a mass an

PRESS RELEASE - The Government of Saint Lucia in collaboration with the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council is organizing a “Productivity Awareness Week” during the period 13 – 18 October 2014.

This initiative forms part of the Government’s overall thrust to promote the awareness of productivity and to also showcase initiatives that are being undertaken by both the private and public sectors geared towards the promotion of productivity.

Therefore, this exercise will assist in inculcating productivity-consciousness among the citizenry. The theme for the week is: “Enhancing Productivity is our Responsibility”.

The objectives for the week are: to foster an awareness/understanding of productivity at all levels of society, to discuss measures that can be taken to enhance productivity in this current economic climate (both the private and public sectors) and to begin the process of inculcating a mindset change in our citizens.

Prior to the commencement of the week of activities, an essay competition with productivity as its theme will be held throughout the secondary schools. Targeted will be Form 3, Form 4 and Form 5 students.  There will also be a Schools Debate Competition at tertiary level.

The week of events will include: a prize giving ceremony for both competitions will be held at SALCC on the morning of October 13^th 2014, the official opening ceremony on October 14 and on that same day a panel discussion focusing on the results of the first ever national productivity study will be held.

Between October 15^th, 16^th and 17^th, there will be public sector and private sector forums focusing on the theme ‘Improving productivity in our current economic situation/ attempting to have a mindset change” and to wrap up things, a cocktail reception will be hosted on October 17.

During the week, there will be the sharing of information on innovation and practical approaches to become a more productivity society. The week of activities will engage business leaders, managers, directors, media personnel, policy makers and government officials.

The NCPC productivity awareness week will ultimately work towards highlighting these findings and reinforcing the ideals of productivity that the council has already began addressing.

GIS - A new publication is intended to supplement ongoing efforts to promote healthy lifestyles.

The one hundred page full-color catalogue named “Common Food Illustrations in Eastern Caribbean Regions,” contains information, along with diagrams of the six food groups: staples, legumes, foods from animals, vegetables, fruit, fat and oil.

The catalogue was published by a team of professionals from the Changhua Christian Hospital and the National Yang-Ming University, to provide the public with a more thorough understanding of the nutritional content of the foods they consume.

Dr. Cheirry Poyotte, Saint Jude Hospital CEO said that the book is an important resource.

“I believe that it is a very important book. It will help out dieticians as they talk to diabetics, and other persons who are trying to get a handle on their health. It is something we are very appreciative of.”

The catalogue was inspired by a Diabetes Geographic Mapping survey conducted by the Changhua Christian Hospital and Taiwan National University in 2011, and more recently, a Taiwan-lead study of local foods in 2013.

The Changhua Christian Hospital has also assisted in printing another publication, “Modern Verse,” by the President of the Allied Health Association, Dr. Urban Seraphin.

PRESS RELEASE - Saint Lucia’s Minister for Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology, Hon. Dr. James Fletcher, was the Caribbean’s representative at a joint high-level side event on Resilience in SIDS.

The event was co-hosted by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) on Sep. 2, at the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States in Apia, Samoa.

The high-level event, which was co-chaired by Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, the Secretary General of the Commonwealth and Mr. Wu Hongbo, Secretary General of the Third SIDS Conference, featured the Prime Minister of the Seychelles, the Foreign Minister of Mauritius and Saint Lucia’s Sustainable Development Minister as panelists.

Among the issues addressed by the panelists were the challenges SIDS faced in building resilience; the key policies for building resilience in small states; the steps and actions that were of highest priority; and the role that the international community and key development partners should play in helping SIDS to build resilience.

Hon. James Fletcher shared with the panel and the audience the initiatives that had been undertaken by the Government of Saint Lucia to develop resilience, through interventions in areas such as energy security, disaster risk reduction, food security and the pilot programme for climate resilience (PPCR).

In his presentation, Dr. Fletcher highlighted the importance of making use of local and traditional knowledge, which had been built up over generations, to navigate some of the current-day challenges confronting Small Island Developing States. He indicated that a marriage of empirical data and scientific analysis with local and traditional knowledge would greatly assist SIDS like Saint Lucia to address some of their vulnerability issues.

Dr. Fletcher also reiterated the importance of Caribbean SIDS gaining access to concessionary financing to fund the several important interventions required to build resilience to climate change and the myriad challenges faced by small island nations.

GIS - The inquiry focused on issues of fairness, discrimination, promotions, and grievances, and recommended law reform and an update of the Fire Service Act so that the laws conform to the Constitution.

An inquiry into the conduct and management of the Saint Lucia Fire Service has been released.

The inquiry was undertaken by a Commission appointed by Governor General Her Excellency Dame Calliopa Pearlette Louisy on the advice of Cabinet, after it was deemed “advisable for the public welfare” that an inquiry be made.

CLICK HERE TO READ REPORT 

In addition to focusing on the management and conduct of senior Fire Service personnel on issues of fairness, discrimination, promotions, transfers, grievances and discipline, the Commission was also required to review the Fire Service Act to determine whether its regulations met constitutional and administrative requirements, and to make recommendations to update the Act.

The subsequent report issued by Francis Alexis, Commissioner of the Commission of Inquiry revealed several concerns, which include, but are not limited to unequal treatment in awarding promotions and appointments, and in administering disciplinary action.

There was a “lack of both managerial appreciation for the human factor, as well as a lack of clear departmental policies and procedures,” the report stated, which resulted in “situations of disrespect or disregard by subordinates for superiors, indiscipline, sick-outs, and industrial unrest.”

After a review of both oral and written evidence, the Commission made three kinds of recommendations.

It recommended removing from the Public Service Commission its power to appoint persons to offices in the SLFS, its power to exercise disciplinary control over such persons, and its power to remove or dismiss persons from those offices. However, to effect that change, “a bill has to be approved in a referendum,” the report stated.

There was also a recommendation to update the Act so that the laws conform to the Constitution, and to remove inconsistencies within the Constitution.

Finally. it was agreed that Chief Fire Officer Leslie Fontenelle be placed on contract, while Mr. Ditney Downes, Divisional Officer for the Southern Division be immediately transferred to Fire Service Headquarters.

The Commission sat intermittently, over a period of 20 days, between Dec. 2012 and Feb. 2013.

It stated that in making the recommendations, it exercised due regard and great respect for the substantial and constructive proposals for reform suggested by the various groups.

PM Anthony

PRESS RELEASE - A cabinet subcommittee led by Prime Minister, Hon Dr. Kenny D. Anthony will be meeting representatives of the Trade Union Federation today, to discuss proposals submitted by the Federation to deal with the fiscal deficit of the Government of Saint Lucia.

According to Prime Minister Anthony, “The Trade Union Federation responded to the invitation of the government to offer proposals to deal with the current fiscal deficit of the Government of Saint Lucia. Today, the Government will share with the TUF, its analysis of the proposals including the likely revenue that can be generated by those proposals for which estimates are easily available.”

Among the several recommendations, the Trade Union Federation has suggested to the Government of Saint Lucia that it should impose a 10% VAT on electricity bills for domestic customers consuming over a specified threshold. It recommended that Government increases the taxes on alcohol and specifically on cigarettes by twelve cents. It has also urged the Government to defer the tax refunds announced earlier in this year’s budget.

Prime Minister Anthony says he is looking forward to a spirited and interesting discussion.

More than 800,000 people around the world die from suicide every year – around one person every 40 seconds – according to WHO’s first global report on suicide prevention, published today. Some 75% of suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries.

“Unfortunately, suicide all too often fails to be prioritized as a major public health problem,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan. “Despite an increase in research and knowledge about suicide and its prevention, the taboo and stigma surrounding suicide persist, and often people do not seek help or are left alone. And if they do seek help, many health systems and services fail to provide timely and effective help.”

Suicide occurs all over the world and can take place at almost any age. Globally, rates of suicide are highest in people aged 70 years and over. In some individual countries, however, the highest rates are found among the young. Notably, suicide is the second-leading cause of death in 15- to 29-year-olds globally.

In the Americas, the average estimated suicide rate is 7.3 per 100,000 inhabitants, which is lower than in other WHO regions and lower than the global average of 11.4 per 100,000. However, Guyana has the highest estimated suicide rate for 2012 in the world, and Suriname has the sixth-highest. Data from the Americas show that suicide rates first peak among young people, remain at the same level for other age groups, and rise again among older men.

In general, more men die by suicide than women. In countries of the Americas, rates range 2 to 6 times higher for men than for women.

Pesticide poisoning is one of the most common methods of suicide, especially in low- and middle-income countries, and accounts for one-third of cases globally. The relatively high proportion of suicides by firearms in high-income countries is primarily driven by high-income countries in the Americas, where firearms account for 46% of all suicides; in high-income countries outside the Americas, firearms account for only 4.5% of suicides. Evidence shows that limiting access to the means of suicide can help prevent such deaths, as can a commitment by national governments to the establishment and implementation of coordinated plans of action.

“The most important message is that suicide can be prevented, especially if we identify people at risk and intervene early,” said Dr. Jorge Rodriguez, chief of the Mental Health Unit at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Regional Office for the Americas of WHO. People who have attempted suicide are at higher risk of attempting it again, he noted, making it important for health personnel to provide follow-up of such cases, with family and community support.

The new WHO report identifies a series of measures that can help prevent suicide, among them:

• creating national strategies for suicide prevention
• restricting access to the most common means of suicide, including pesticides, firearms and certain medicines
• providing medical follow-up for people who have attempted suicide
• incorporating suicide prevention as a central component in health services
• identifying and treating mental health and substance abuse disorders as early as possible
• responsible reporting on suicide by the news media.

WHO’s World Suicide Report “Preventing suicide: a global imperative” seeks to make suicide a top priority on the global public health agenda. The report’s launch comes just a week before World Suicide Prevention Day, observed on 10 September each year to provide an opportunity for joint action to raise awareness about suicide and its prevention around the world.

Working toward a global target

Suicide prevention is a central goal of WHO’s Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020, which was adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2013. The plan calls on countries to reduce their suicide rates by 10% by the year 2020. A similar regional mental health action plan will be considered by health authorities from the Americas during the PAHO Directing Council, on 29 September to 3 October 2014.

New regional report

In late October in Mexico, PAHO/WHO will launch a Spanish version of the WHO World Suicide Report, along with a regional report on suicide in the Americas.

On World Mental Health Day, 10 October, PAHO/WHO will host a panel discussion featuring experts on a range of mental health issues who will focus on the challenges facing the countries of the Americas in this area.

PAHO, founded in 1902, is the oldest international public health organization in the world. It works with its member countries to improve the health and the quality of life of the people of the Americas. It serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of WHO and is part of the Inter-American system.

LINKS:

World Suicide Report “Preventing suicide: a global imperative”
http://www.who.int/mental_health/suicide-prevention/world_report_2014/en/

More information on suicide prevention
http://www.who.int/mental_health/suicide-prevention/en/

World Suicide Prevention Day
www.iasp.info/wspd/

Suicide prevention resources
http://www.who.int/mental_health/resources/suicide/en/

PAHO Mental Health program
http://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8326&Itemid=39855&lang=en

Preventing suicide: a resource for media professionals
http://www.who.int/mental_health/media/en/426.pdf

http://www.paho.org
http://www.facebook.com/PAHOWHO
http://www.youtube.com/pahopin

Albert Francis happy with his $500 cash prize.

PRESS RELEASE - Digicel this summer season, gave back to ten valued customers with Free Cash Giveaways. With a total of $5000 given away, every weekday for the past two weeks one customer from community’s islandwide walked away with $500 each.

As summer came to a close and school begins, unsuspecting Digicel customers received wonderful cash prizes after topping up their handsets. Ten prepaid users each became $500 richer after receiving a winning call from RCI’s IWA and Digicel’s Sergin John Baptiste for the ‘Ease the Squeeze Summer Promotion’.

Qualifying for the promotion was easy. Prepaid customers simply had to top up $10 or more to win. Michelle St Clair, Lisa St Juste, Alan Trim, Hertic Baptiste, Genevieve Louisy, Kathleen Charles, Audritta Henry, Christy Stanislaus, Albert Francis and Olivia Aurea Dubois receive their prize of $500 cash.

“Being able to reward our loyal customers from all parts of the island is an important part of what we do at Digicel. We were elated to assist our customers and their families with their financial obligations; just in time for the reopening of the new academic year is testimony to Digicel’s determination to bring tangible benefits to real customers,” said Head of Marketing, Leslie Collymore.

Congratulations to all our winners and keep topping up with Digicel because you could be the next winner with us.

Photo credit: macocaribbean.com.

PRESS RELEASE – The Saint Lucia Tourist Board continues to revel in significant growth in visitor arrivals recorded for the island in the first seven months of the year.

Touting an incredible accomplishment, SLTB officials say total stay over arrivals (by air and ferry) at the end of July 2014, have surpassed all numbers previously recorded in the island’s history. At 208,117, visitor arrivals are 7% higher than the same period last year – a difference of more than 13,000 arrivals.

To further emphasize the significance of this year’s performance, increases were recorded every month thus far, with July recording both the highest percentage (13%) as well as actual growth (3672). In addition, the figures recorded in the months of February, March, April and June, were the highest number of arrivals ever recorded in these respective months in the island’s history.

The expansion of the sector is fuelled by growth in particular markets, namely the US and UK, the island’s two largest markets, which increased by 14% and 8% respectively, during the seven month period. Growth was also experienced in the Canadian and European markets, both of which increased by double digit percentages over last year.

Director of Tourism Louis Lewis acknowledged the boost in the sector and attributed its growth to the strategic marketing efforts targeted at key sectors of the source markets, most notably being the airlift expansion strategy and fostering closer relationships with the travel trade. “The outstanding performance recorded this year is testimony to the work that the Tourist Board engages in to market the destination, and can be translated into a greater awareness of the destination in our key source markets. We are very pleased to announce the sector’s performance for the year thus far.”

The success also extends into the Cruise and Yachting sectors, which also recorded major increases in the last seven months. The island recorded a 5% increase in cruise arrivals stemming from the 14% increase in calls, whilst arrivals by yacht increased 16% over the same time period.

According to Lewis, “with such an impressive start, the Saint Lucia Tourist Board is projecting a similar if not better performance throughout the balance of the year, especially considering the increasing airlift in the upcoming winter season from both the US and Canadian markets.”

Saint Lucia is getting ready for welcoming even more visitors to its shores via yet another flight from US carrier Jet Blue airlines. The direct flight from Boston, USA to Hewanorra International airport is scheduled to begin November 1, 2014.

For more information about the island of Saint Lucia call 1-800 456-3984, or 1-888 4STLUCIA or visit www.saintlucianow.com.

Shane Felix

A meeting between executives of the St. Lucia Fire Service Association (SLFSA) and the Minister of National Security Victor La Corbiniere this morning was proven fruitful, according to President of SLFSA Shane Felix.

Felix told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that the minister had a discussion with him and other members of the executive, regarding the issues facing the association.

La Corbiniere made a few proposals to the SLFSA, which the association plans to take to its members for further discussion.

While Felix did not divulge the details of the proposals, he said one of the most significant things coming out of the meeting with the minister is the fact that the Ministry of Home Affairs, sought legal advice on the legality of the association.

However, Felix reminded that the Fire Chief  Leslie Fontenelle was quick to say that the association is operating illegally, because the time had passed for it to elect a new executive.

“The opinion of the ministry is otherwise and they will be working with the association in helping to elect a new executive, recognizing the association as a bona fide organisation within the fire service,” Felix explained.

Meanwhile,  the SLFSA president told SNO that coming out of yesterday’s meeting; a mandate was given by the membership, where they are requesting that the Public Service Commission (PSC) make it a priority to have disciplinary action taken against the senior fire officials for their wrongdoings, before anything else is discussed.

Felix said that while the government is not responsible for instituting disciplinary action on public servants, the mandate was raised with the minister. “Unless we get that sort of inclination that the PSC is sufficiently dealing with the matter at whatever point we will determine whether to resume duty or not. We were told that it is in progress so we await the PSC decision,” he asserted.

“Whatever it is they have to do members want to know just as junior colleagues have been disciplined by the PSC whether suspended or dismissed, we would like to see the PSC do the same with those senior officers who have been found wanting by the COI.”

Felix stressed that in all the correspondence between the SLFSA and the PSC, it was noted that the association is seeking to have persons disciplined for which the allegations were confirmed about and not just merely have the recommendations from the COI implemented.

The SLFSA plan on meeting with its members soon, to discuss the proposals coming from the National Security Ministry and awaits a response from the PSC.

Until such time, the firefighters, which now stands somewhere between 90 to 100 will continue their protest action, until something is done to correct the issues and have the matters resolved.

PM Anthony.

PRESS RELEASE - Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Affairs, Planning and Social Security, Hon. Dr. Kenny D. Anthony, will deliver a statement to the nation on Sunday, September 7, 2014, on the steps which the Government intends to take to deal with the ongoing industrial action by some members of the Saint Lucia Fire Service Association.

From Monday, September 1, 2014, some members of the Saint Lucia Fire Service Association have taken industrial action allegedly to protest what has been described as inaction on the part of the Government to deal with issues of concern to the Association.

The statement will be aired on all major radio and television stations at 8:00 pm.

Monrose

President of the Trade Union Federation (TUF) Julian Monrose has said discussions between the trade union umbrella body and government started out well this morning and both parties have decided to work with extreme caution as they discuss the islands current fiscal deficit,

“The meeting was frank and productive,” Monrose told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) today.

The TUF president hinted that the discussions between the two parties could take a few weeks, if not months, as proper investigations will have to be carried out.

The TUF, he explained, restated its position on the proposal to the government, but noted that as each issue comes up for discussion, then more research and further discussion will be made. Monrose said the TUF will represent the best interest of the trade unions and those of the people of St. Lucia.

A cabinet subcommittee led by Prime Minister Dr. Kenny D. Anthony met with executives from the TUF this morning to discuss proposals submitted by the TUF to deal with the fiscal deficit of the Government of Saint Lucia.

The TUF has suggested the imposition of 10 percent VAT on electricity bills for domestic customers, increased taxes on alcohol and tobacco products, such as cigarettes.

The government shared with the TUF its analysis of the proposals, including the likely revenue that can be generated by  those proposals for which estimates are easily available.

Government is currently exploring measures to curb public debt since an increase by 1.5 percent over the past two years. Government proposed a five percent salary cut,  but the majority of the island’s trade unions have rejected that proposal.