St. Lucia STAR

Tropical Traveller St. Lucia Vol. 262

Star Reporter — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:50:15 +0000

Sporting Greats honoured by Iyanola Marathoners

David Pascal — Mon, 21 May 2012 17:18:02 +0000

Once again an organization based overseas continues to honour and cherish our sporting greats, despite what seems a reluctance from local authorities to even acknowledge their existence.
For some, it seems strange seeing an organization called the Iyanola Marathoners (IM) based in New York, continually induct athletes into a specially created
hall of fame. Structurally or otherwise, nothing of the kind exits here although there has been much discussion on the matter, as usual with no end result.
On Monday, in keeping with their mandate, the IM honoured four sporting icons from the past during their 30th Anniversary Hall of Fame Awards Presentation at Bay Gardens Beach Resort.
The four inductees at Monday’s function were: Peter “Mocking” Gilbert— regarded as one of the best football players ever in St Lucia; Ignatius Cadette—referred to by one official as perhaps the best wicketkeeper never to play Test cricket; Titus Mason—an outstanding and accomplished soccer defenseman; and then
there is literally Mr Everything, Rick Wayne. He ranks as one of the all time greats in bodybuilding having won numerous titles including Mr Universe (three times), Mr World and Mr Great Britain. His accomplishments go far beyond the sport. The award-winning photographer is the author of numerous books on bodybuilding and politics.
Wayne is also publisher of the STAR Newspaper and in collaboration with his lovely wife Mae, the Star Publishing Company also produces the top rated SHE Caribbean and Tropical Traveller magazines. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
In welcoming everyone, Correspondent Secretary of IM, Heneith Samuel, referred to the occasion as “a rare gathering” and told the audience “you are sitting in a midst of history right now.”
It was certainly a star-studded affair with former sporting greats like Paula Calderon, Ronnie Goddard, Jon Odlum, Mary Ann Martial, Rupert Branford, Joyce Auguste, Rupert Polius, Carlyle Martial, Hileran Phillip, Aldith Isaac, Michael Hippolyte, Martial Francis, among those in attendance.
During his brief address President of the IM, Gil King, congratulated the inductees and said: “We have a
group that started on a very simple premise. A lot of individuals represented
St Lucia in different disciplines and simply have nothing to show for it. No medals, no cups, no anything. So we all
thought maybe if we honour some of these people so they have something they could show.”
While delivering the feature address, former national cricketer and footballer Martin Weekes focused on reward and recognition. Weeks lamented on how sports has changed for the worst, especially when it comes to the passion which is lacking in today’s sportsmen and women.
His words fuelled the desire of one inductee to further expound on the importance of passion, which he feels is synonymous in achieving great heights.
After accepting his award, inductee Rick Wayne said: “If you look at the state of the country you will see the answer for the lack of passion, not only in sports but in almost everything you can think of. It also explains our failures. You simply cannot achieve without a passion that lives close to obsession.”
He gave examples of how passion had propelled him to success not only in bodybuilding but life in general and told the audience “what you can dream you can achieve.”
During a question and answer session one invited guest praised the IM for their thoughtfulness in recognizing former greats, but was highly critical of Ministry of Sports officials who were invited but did not materilize at the proceedings.
He said: “First of all let me say an organization like the Iyanola Marathoners can take it upon themselves to present our sportsmen and women and recognize them as opposed to a government body—a Ministry of Sports. It is a shame that the Minister of Sports is not here nor a representative.”
Here’s hoping next time around things will be different at this awards presentation and sooner rather than later St Lucia has a Hall of Fame to honour our sporting greats.

Iyanola Marathoners inductee in 1997 Rupert Branford (l) had the honour of receiving this plaque on behalf of recent inductee Ignatius Cadet from former president of the Iyanola Marathoners Junior George.One of the all-time bodybuilding greats Rick Wayne (l) pictured here with President of the Iyanola Marathoners (IM) Gil King. He was one of four inductees honoured at the IM’s 30th Anniversary Hall of Fame Awards Presentation.Current member of the Iyanola Marathoners Hall of Fame Hileran Phillip (r) with recent inductee Titus Mason.

Basketball extravaganza this weekend

Star Reporter — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:50:34 +0000

It’s excitement galore as the St Lucia Basketball Federation stages its first ever All Star Basketball Weekend from May 19-20 at the Beausejour Indoor Facility.
Today (Saturday) beginning at 6:00 pm is a skills challenge followed by slam dunk competition and three point shootout. There will also be entertainment brought to you by MC’s Pringles and Ezi Hall.
On Sunday beginning at 4:00 pm a series of games are schedule. The first will have netballers go up against female basketball players which should be a highly entertaining affair. It will be followed by a veterans game and
then the grand finale which is an All Star featuring the top players in the Rooster Select Basketball Tournament.
In the All Star game Group A will go up against Group B. Group A consists of the following players and the teams they represent: Leonard Emmanuel, Babonneau Dynasty; Owen Cazabon, Babonneau Dynasty; Rawlston Mitchell, Door Deals; Shamoir JnBaptiste, Morne Gladiators; Durocher Antoine, Canaries Moon River; Tyson St Cyr, Canaries Moon River; Gillan Octave, Morne; Lester Jn Charles, Gardens; Joel Polius, Combined Schools; Roger Leon, Gardens; Germaine Thomasd Gardens.
Group B All Stars: Kurt Raphael, BBC; Harvey Joseph, BBC; Ron Dumurville, Courts Jets; Shane Blanchard, Courts Jets; Marcien Calderon, VBCC; Keegan Preveille, Courts Jets; Nigel Butcher, VBCC; Philbert Lubrin, VBCC; Kevin Mathurin, Dennery; Canaan St Catherine, Micoud Hustlers; Tim Baptiste, Maize Sniperz; Belthazar Nicholas, Dennery.
The admission fee is $10.00 and in addition to the entertainment food and drinks will be on sale during this basketball extravaganza weekend.

Marcien Calderon of pictured above making a thunderous dunk is among a group of players on the All Star team.

Saint Lucian Olympic qualifier in action this weekend

Star Reporter — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:42:39 +0000

Saint Lucian track and field fans will be able to watch a world-class athlete in live action this weekend at the George Odlum National Stadium/Hospital. Darvin Edwards made the final of the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea last year, and he has also qualified for this year’s Olympic Games in London, England, where he will proudly fly the Saint Lucian colours in men’s high jump.
Today (Saturday) Edwards will compete in a League Challenge meeting at the National Stadium. The event will also commemorate World Athletics Day 2012. It will be the first time Darvin has competed on home soul since 2008 and his first outdoors competition since clearing 2.31m in Daegu to reset the Saint Lucia National Record and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States record for his event.
“I am going to be putting on a show for my Saint Lucian people,” says Edwards, who is presently training with Gregory Lubin and Dane Magloire. “We are going to be working from a short approach so I won’t be setting any records, but I’m aiming for at least 2.10m this weekend. It’s going to be special competing once again in front of my home crowd and it’s going to be a really useful benchmark for me.”
Since his recent return to Saint Lucia, Edwards has had productive discussions with Minister for Youth Development & Sports, Shawn Edwards; and president of the Saint Lucia Athletics Association, Cornelius Breen.
He has also entered into a sponsorship agreement with Vieux Fort-based Paradise Water and is counting on the continued support of the corporate community and the Saint Lucian public on his journey towards London 2012.

Saint Lucians get a rare opportunity to see Olympic qualifier Darvin Edwards compete over the weekend at the George Odlum Stadium/Hospital.

Astaphan cites PM’s ‘unconditional obligation’ to disclose Grynberg agreement!

Rick Wayne — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:35:02 +0000

In 2011, several weeks after three incumbent United Workers Party MPs had confirmed its existence, the then leader of the opposition Kenny Anthony publicly acknowledged for the very first time a 10-year-old agreement between the government of Saint Lucia and Denver billionaire oilman Jack Grynberg.
While claiming the previously unheard of contract had expired in 2007, Anthony added: “The only issue the present government has to resolve is whether the license to determine whether oil exists in our waters was extended. The government retains its power to renew or not to renew. Grynberg Petroleum has argued that it should be extended, that certain acts of God normally referred to by lawyers as ‘force majeure’ prevented Grynberg Petroleum from completing the work it has commenced. Grynberg Petroleum has not sued the government of Saint Lucia. In any event if it did, it would not succeed because of the Grenada precedent. Indeed, because of the decision in the Grenada case, there never was any need to obtain a legal opinion from an American firm, as done by the government. It was a colossal waste of money.”
Famous last words? Lest we forget, the recalled discombobulating declaration was by a man who in private life is a much-advertised constitutional law specialist. For many years he had lectured students throughout the region. How perplexing, then, to hear him describe as “a colossal waste of money” the 2011 government’s efforts to establish the legal status of a contract Anthony had signed in relative secrecy more than a decade earlier, when he was the nation’s prime minister. A contract, let us not forget, that in the professional opinion of his own attorney general Petrus Compton could be “properly appreciated” only by “a specialist petroleum lawyer familiar with the industry, its standards and practises,” alas, an “obvious deficiency within the AG’s chambers.”
It should also be remembered that at the time of the opposition leader’s announcement the King government was operating in the dark, largely uninformed about the subject at hand, details of which were shared only by Kenny Anthony, Jack Grynberg and Earl Huntley, the foreign affairs permanent secretary and all things Grynberg. His serendipitous discovery of oil while swimming in the sea at Dauphin had led him to introduce the island’s prime minister to his friend “Jack”—a billionaire oilman from Denver, Colorado.
How interesting that the constitutional lawyer Kenny Anthony had referred to force majeure as “acts of God.” Force majeure is actually French for “superior force.” Also, “irresistible force.” While such forces might well include “acts of God”—storms, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides and other seismic phenomena—force majeure also embraces man-made activity, acts of parliament and other impersonal events or occurrences.
More to the point, force majeure is a standard clause found in construction and supply contracts that exempts the contracting parties from fulfilling their contractual obligations for causes that could not be anticipated, causes beyond their control. Grynberg’s force majeure claims were never related to “acts of God.” Always he had blamed unresolved man-made “border disputes” for his failure to deliver on his contracts with the governments of Grenada and Saint Lucia.
In all events, and notwithstanding the then opposition leader’s contrary public pronouncement, Grynberg had quite predictably sued the government of Saint Lucia, with the recently reelected Kenny Anthony once again at its helm. It will now be up to a special tribunal, not to the defendant or his surrogates, to determine the relevance of the Grenada precedent. One thing for certain, it will cost the people of Saint Lucia a “colossal” amount of money precisely when they can least afford more wastage!
As leader of the opposition Kenny Anthony had also referred to the oilman’s suit against Grenada, settled by the ICSID in 2000—the same year Grynberg entered into his agreement with the Saint Lucia government. In his only address on the subject, this is what Anthony said: “The government of Grenada decided not to renew or extend an exploration license to Grynberg Petroleum. The company sued, argued the same ground of force majeure which it has raised in Saint Lucia. In fact, Grynberg Petroleum lost to Grenada. The same principle applies to the interpretation of the government of Saint Lucia. So it is ingenuous to say that Saint Lucia is disadvantaged by any binding license for an extended period of years. If Grynberg is a con artist, then why was his contract renewed in Saint Vincent?”
Better to ask why in the first place Saint Lucia had entered into an agreement with Grynberg and then twice extended it, despite his relationship with our sister island. The instructive truth is that the billionaire oilman’s suit centered on the Grenada government’s refusal to issue him a license to which, he claimed, his contract entitled him. Grynberg lost, on the simple ground that he had waited four years after signing his agreement to apply for the all-important exploration license.
The agreement required him to apply to the appropriate authority within 90 days of signing. His force majeure claims had nothing to do with the outcome. Interesting to note, Grynberg had invoked the force majeure clause just two weeks after signing the 1996 Grenada agreement!
In the case of Saint Lucia, the oilman invoked force majeure just six months after he and Kenny Anthony signed their agreement which states at Article 3: “The government hereby grants the company an exploration license covering its interest in the agreement area for an initial term of four years from the effective date, subject, however, to the force majeure provisions of Article 24.” (My italics)
Grynberg has now sued the Saint Lucia government for breach of contract, on the alleged basis it had taken “the position that the agreement had expired.” Moreover, that the government had “reportedly taken steps to put the agreement area, which only RSM has the right to explore, to competitive bidding.” A totally different claim from that involving Grenada, which, as earlier stated, was over the government’s refusal to grant a promised exploration license.
As noted several times in previous articles I’ve written on the subject, Article 3 of the St. Vincent agreement requires that “as soon as possible, but in no event later than 90 days after the effective date, the company shall apply for, and the minister, under and in accordance with the Act, will grant to the company an exploration license . . .” So does Article 3 of the Grenada agreement.
“The Act” refers to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Deposits Act 1989 that “makes provision with respect to exploring for and producing petroleum . . . subject to certain limitations and conditions, authorizes the minister to grant exploration licenses and development licenses . . .”
In Saint Lucia, and in accordance with the Minerals (Vesting) Act, the issuing authority is the governor general, in the instance acting in her own deliberate judgment, not “on the advice of the prime minister.”
It is worth repeating that Article 3 of the initial draft agreement presented by Grynberg to the government of Saint Lucia was similar to those of St. Vincent and Grenada. There has been no official explanation for the discrepancy that permitted this island’s prime minister to issue a license in apparent contravention of the Minerals (Vesting) Act.
Grynberg had done no exploratory work when in September 2000 the prime minister consented to a contractual amendment that effectively enlarged the area to be explored. In March 2004, Grynberg successfully presented a second amendment that extended the exploratory period for a further three years, to March 2007.
Despite the cited amendments referred to the force majeure provision that “all of RSM’s obligations are suspended until all boundaries are resolved,” the prime minister ratified them, evidently without question. It would appear that by obtaining an extension of the exploratory period the contracted option to extend for two consecutive 2-year terms is preserved. It certainly saved Grynberg from having to deliver on his undertaking to expend US$3 million for the drilling of one well during the first two-year extension period!
This was how Kenny Anthony recalled the situation back in 2011: “After an initial four-year period, the license was renewed for a further two years and thereafter for an additional year ending in 2007.” Not according to documents I have perused that indicate both amendments involved 3-year extensions. As for the quoted “after an initial four-year period,” official documents indicate the first extension was given just six months into the life of the four-year agreement, despite that no work had been done, despite that Grynberg had invoked force majeure.
In a letter dated 21 May 2011 to a local newspaper, the Dominican lawyer Anthony Astaphan, SC again came to Kenny Anthony’s defense following public reaction to his Grynberg-related statements: “Dr. Anthony, Earl Huntley and others have said that the Grynberg agreement was to expire or ought to have expired in 2007. If this is so [Richard] Frederick and the government of Saint Lucia have an unconditional obligation to disclose the agreement and all relevant and related correspondence. Why? Because the people ought to know whether the Grynberg agreement was extended in 2007, after Dr. Anthony was back in his law firm, by the United Workers Party either by neglect and failure to act or, by the deliberate act of renewal by the minister of government.”
And what if both Dr. Anthony and Earl Huntley were misinformed? What if
both had suffered memory lapses?
“In any event,” Astaphan went on, “the suggestion by Frederick and others that say the Grynberg issue will cost Saint Lucians millions of dollars in legal fees should the government seek to terminate the agreement is, certainly in view of the significant Grynberg losses at the arbitration and courts of the USA, utter and absolute nonsense. These rulings are now judicial precedents and are binding. Therefore, they have made and ought to make life much simpler for the government of Saint Lucia if it intends to review the Grynberg agreement.”
Not a word about the fees incurred by the Grenada government. Presumably, Mr. Astaphan stands ready to defend Saint Lucia pro bono, bearing in mind the worsening state of our economy!
Not to be outdone, Earl Huntley, the well-known diviner of oil under the sea at Dauphin had also written on the issue.
In a newspaper article, he asks: “Why would the [King] government, which does not have a dispute with Grynberg, want to end the agreement with him, at considerable cost to the government . . . It is possible that Jack Grynberg’s love of litigation to redress what he considers wrongs and injustices, whether practiced by oil companies and rivals or government officials, has frightened some people. But it also seems that Richard Frederick’s attempt to discredit and denigrate all those who have so far been involved in the Dauphin oil project is an effort by his government to claim credit for discovering that Saint Lucia has energy resources . . .”
No matter, if the people must pay for the return of the Saint Lucia seabed to local control, it seems only fair they should know as soon as possible how in the first place it got into Grynberg’s grip and has remained there for the last twelve years. I fully support Anthony Astaphan’s appeal to the prime minister to make known the secret details of the Grynberg contract. It’s about time! How interesting that the constitutional lawyer
Kenny Anthony had referred to force majeure as
“acts of God.” Force majeure is actually French for
“superior force.” Also, “irresistible force.” While such forces might well include “acts of God”—storms, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides and other seismic phenomena—force majeure also embraces
man-made activity, acts of parliament and other impersonal events or occurrences.

Is this what turning 21 feels like?

Toni Nicholas — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:30:22 +0000

To say that overall the 21st edition of Saint Lucia Jazz was quite dull might be putting it bluntly or speaking mildly. There are several adjectives that I could use to describe the just concluded festival, but “exciting” and “great” would not be two of them— those words I leave to the politicians and organizers whose job it is to spin top in Pigeon Island mud no matter how arduous the task. And, once again, right after the festival eager beaver lay journalists shove microphones in the face of tourism ministers and festival organizers for the usual canary croons: “We will immediately begin a critical look at preparing for next year’s event,” “I think this year’s event was very successful,” blah, blah, blah, etc, etc.
So what exactly is the critical look that is taken with Saint Lucia Jazz each year and who are the ones involved? Can the ones making the same mistakes with the festival each year, sit down with themselves and honestly take a critical look at their own mistakes and shortcomings?
One of those so called “think tanks” was purportedly put together late last year for the purpose of “bringing together a core group of technical thinkers to conduct an objective analysis of Saint Lucia Jazz, towards the development of a new vision, mission, goals as well as the broad strategies required to achieve these goals.” Some of the findings of those “technical thinkers” showed that where consumers of Saint Lucia Jazz were concerned, most visitors were from the Caribbean; Barbados, Trinidad the French departments and that most of them were in the age range of 30-49 years. It also showed that the average length of stay of visitors had decreased from an average of eight nights to six nights.
It is important to remember that as much of some of us would like to fool ourselves, the Saint Lucia Jazz Festival was never designed for “us” but that the main objective was to attract visitors. And so, if that is the case, why does it seem that a more concerted effort is not being placed on satisfying that core audience of 30-49 of visitors that the festival has attracted in the past. Why has there been much effort to satisfy non-spending teeny boppers with no spending power with such acts as Ciara in the past and this year, Keri Hilson. That move has been trashed by festival aficionados in the past, the hiring of non-musical performers to sing on play-back with a DJ. Yet the SLTB repeated it this year. This obviously devalues your main-stage by having upcoming acts with little musical credibility performing on the same grand stage as musical luminaries as Hugh Masekela and Diana Ross. What really is the justification for that?
This year in particular Saturday’s main-stage Jazz which featured Alison Marquis, Keri Hilson and Kirk Franklyn was the worst Saturday main-stage Jazz in years. Alison Marquis with Andy Narell was okay for the early limers only to have that washed away with a performance that
belonged in a club or on the radio by Keri Hilson. Fifty percent of her performance was shared with a DJ to playback music and no “live” band. This was a real bore for true music lovers who literally had their spirits lifted by Kirk Franklyn who was extremely entertaining and may have just saved the day. But again, for me this was another case of bad choices being made by the organizers.
A few years ago a private entity worked with the SLTB to present “Kingdom night” during Saint Lucia Jazz on the Thursday night. As far as attendance, this event which featured Donnie McClurkin was quite successful. So why couldn’t the SLTB revisit this and position this event once again, this year with Kirk Franklyn to target this core audience? Why the melee on Saturday Jazz this year which did not work with the numbers reflecting about fifty percent less than last year’s Saturdays concert. If this did not slap organizers in the face to wake up to reality, I do not know what will. Then again the review I mentioned earlier was done by a group of technical thinkers and not necessarily practical persons without egos.
And just who decided that Jazz on the Square which brought together visitors, locals and school children and helped create a buzz about the overall festival in the city was now useless? The removal of that event I believe further helped to destroy the festive mood of this year’s event.
The report earlier mentioned also determined that for the way forward the festival needed good governance and transparency, competent management and other human resources at all levels, clear artistic direction, adequate financial and technical resources, effective tactical, marketing promotion and public awareness.
As far as the clear artistic direction, the 21st anniversary of Saint Lucia had nothing by way of a direction or creative theme. There seemed to have been no attempt to exploit and reflect the 21 year milestone and as such there was no sense of pomp and grandeur for this year’s festival which would make the event itself just as important as the line-up. And why couldn’t the line-up itself reflect this? For twenty-one years, organizers could have done a “best-of” of the last twenty years, offering patrons unique collaborations they could have only seen here. Based on the exit surveys of visitors, some acts persons have loved in the past could have been brought back.
Another area that has bewildered me is that after 21 years the SLTB has not built sufficient capacity to have a fixed selection committee or effective events secretariat which would deal with artistic and creative decisions year round. Each year an adhoc committee is put together with some of the same duds who only come together for a few days, bounce some names across a table and voila, year after a year some hits and a number of misses.
The reality of Saint Lucia Jazz 2012 is that from the opening at Mindoo Phillip Park with Bunji Garlin and Faye Ann which failed to evoke any excitement to main stage a number of bad choices were made. The opening line-up choice was never a good one to begin with. And a number of community events had to fill in the gap between then to the weekend finale to stimulate the event. Among them first time events like Jazz on the Bay at Marigot and Canaries Creole Jazz at Moon River were wonderful events.
The straight ahead Jazz events at Gaiety on Rodney Bay with Luther Francois, Ronald “Boo” Hinkson, Mario Canouge and Joshua Redman was lauded particularly by the French visitors. Joshua Redman and “Boo” on Wednesday May 9 in particular was the talk of main-stage Jazz lovers whilst Thursday’s event got less rave reviews.
Friday’s main-stage event at Pigeon Island with Ziggy Marley was quite a worthless venture, with many including myself walking out halfway into the set of Ziggy’s performance. The son of Bob Marley failed to connect with the audience. He ignored calls for some of his more popular hits and only drew major reaction when he performed snippets of his father’s hits. And what is this about no photos (not even for the first few minutes as is standard with some acts) by acts like Ziggy Marley. This to me is another issue. If marketing still remains a main purpose of Saint Lucia Jazz, then I believe that we should aim to attract acts that are comfortable with their photos being taken and in fact some clause should be included in those contracts to ensure we get some sort of mileage from performers at Saint Lucia Jazz long after the event.
On another note, as great as Morgan Heritage was last year at the Friday Night main-stage event, I think the side-lawn formula which once featured more adult contemporary R&B and world beat acts like John Legend, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and En Vogue in the past should return. This was a setting which once saw a more adult crowd coming out all dressed out for the night and it worked most times. Toni Braxton who performed wonderfully on Sunday may have filled that spot even better than her place on Sunday.
Sunday’s finale as good as it was suffered from slight overkill and the underutilization of some of the acts. At least one of the acts should have been on the Saturday to buffer up that day and my choice would have been Melanie Fiona whose performance had to be abbreviated on Sunday to make way for the next four acts. Wespe Pou Ayiti also had to shorten their great musical combination whilst Hugh Masekela raised some goosebumps with his South African influenced repertoire. Toni Braxton gave a steamy yet classy performance whilst Diana Ross gave a more of a Las Vegas type showpiece as the finale. Still, I felt that the organizers never capitalized on the star power of such a legendary diva to boost the festival.
The creative direction which the organizers hold in their hands, need to be changed with a plan in mind for the next five years. The other areas which are
under the purview of Government like airport taxes and which influence persons decision to travel must be considered if the main purpose is to attract visitors and get them to spend. And the so-called review committee must be all encompassing to also include local, regional and international festival interests, the media and more practical persons. Judging by this year’s festival and patron’s feedback, I am afraid a downward slide has started where Saint Lucia Jazz is concerned. The question is will the organizers face the music and change the arrangement or continue pretending that the sticky stuff on their faces is honey from heaven.

St Lucia Jazz: the good, the bad and the ugly of this year’s festival.

A Rising Star for Junior Calypso 2012 from the Ciceron Secondary School

Nicole Mc Donald — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:15:03 +0000

I am fifteen year old Cassie Emmanuel, a citizen of St Lucia currently residing at Grand Riviere Dennery, currently on my third year at the Ciceron Secondary School. I was born on the 8th of December, and created by the most high (God) with the talents of dancing, writing and singing. I am the second of three siblings. Although singing was my top priority, I was first given the opportunity to show my talent of dance.
At the early age of 9 years, I began dancing with “Vessels of Honor”, at the Dennery Evangelical Church. I really enjoy dancing for the Lord despite the fact that it is very challenging and requires a lot of discipline. Whilst ministering in dance, I eventually created an interest for singing, and took every opportunity to minister in song at the church. I must tell you there were moments where I really drove my mom on edge with rehearsals and repetition of songs. In spite of these dreadful moments, my mom encouraged me and would sometimes ask me to sing to her. My mom is my biggest inspiration, that is, after my Heavenly Father, you know. She has always been there for me during my journey of ups and downs.
During my spare time I usually listen to music, socialize and write poems. Well, like some people, I write to express myself in a more harmless manner. I am a very respectful individual, in a world of my own. Usually on weekends I enjoy going to the cinema, or going out and socializing with friends, family and even meeting new people. As well-rounded as I am, I would classify myself as an adventurous, bold and softhearted individual, one of a kind.
Sometime last year, my class got the opportunity to conduct assembly and when we were planning, I decided to sing. At first I was a bit nervous, because it was my first performance at school, but then I got the confidence from my friends. Amazingly, by such a powerful voice and performance from me, the choir teacher suggested that I join the group, and with no doubt I did. I must say from being an ordinary singer, joining the choir, opened doors for me.
I performed at the school’s Graduation, pageant and show, and gained the support of my colleagues and Administration. Since then I’ve been one of the school’s known singers. The Ciceron Secondary School has given me more than one great reason to represent them. A few days before school was closing for the Easter break, a teacher announced that there was a Junior Calypso competition coming up, and I personally love everything to do with singing. So I signed up for it, and went to audition. By God’s powerful hands I made it to final auditions, and then was chosen to be the lead singer for “Dame and Knight.” I couldn’t believe that for my first time trying out, I actually made it to compete and be a representative for my school.
Mr Lubin, on the other hand, made me rehearse over and over, until I got every word correct. Then with the words mastered by me, I got the opportunity to record it at one of the studios. I would never imagine me, going that far with the song. My classmates however, supported me throughout my performances and I am thankful that they did, because they all in a special way contributed to all that I have gained. I not only see myself in this music industry, but also as an architect and I.T. technician with the necessary qualifications in the future. By the grace of God, by the year 2019 I would have graduated from University with my Masters Degree in Technology, and be managing my own business. I, Cassie Emmanuel, will remain as a role replica to some people, and even more to others.
To every young person out there, you don’t have to be a professional to start singing, dancing or writing. You can’t start as a professional. I started step-by-step and so can you young people do. If you have talents, use them. If you are afraid, then make God be your witness and gain confidence, because it takes discipline to become a professional. Not only will you find supporters, but you will find people who won’t support you. Don’t enervate yourself by people’s slander. Instead rise and build your self confidence.
So I encourage everyone to listen to my calypso song entitled ‘Dame and Knight’ in honour of teachers. It can be heard on all radio stations and on the internet at the following address http:Lubs-edu-time.blogspot.com?Music?Riddim. Also, I want everyone to come down to the National Cultural Centre Grounds on the 9th of June to support me as I sing this song at the Junior Calypso competition.
—Cassie Emmanuel

What Next, Religious Terrorism?

Jason Joseph — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:01:46 +0000

I find it very disturbing to hear those doom and gloom preachers on national radio attempting to frighten, discourage and depress the nation with their messages of despair and dismay. Surely, this goes beyond freedom of speech and borders on psychological abuse, even terrorism.
“There is no hope for this country—for this world,” they cry, “unless we turn to God. Only the righteous select few will be spared the impending destruction.”
The idea that people who do not share your beliefs are subhuman, incompetent, and deserving of death is an arrogant and condescending one. It implies that human beings are totally evil, useless and helpless without supernatural intervention. It is just as ludicrous as saying that doctors who do not believe in God cannot save lives. What exactly can God do that human beings are not capable of doing on their own? Is he going to whisper ideas in the minds of our leaders or speak to them in their dreams? Every single thing that man has ever accomplished is through his own efforts, talents and intelligence. You may choose to credit God for your abilities if you wish, but it doesn’t change the fact that in order to get anything done, you must put in the effort.
If Christians believe that God has a plan for everyone, then it should be logical to also believe that everything which happens is happening for a reason, as part of that plan. What makes believers think they can influence God’s will or coerce him to modify his plan through prayer? Is God the one in charge here, or is he everybody’s errand boy acquiescing to their every request? There have always been, and there will always be good citizens praying for the leaders of this country. Does God require a specific quota of prayers before he can finally intervene? Was the famous pastor on radio implying that our ministers of government are not religious and righteous enough and therefore God doesn’t care to lend a hand at this time? How judgmental of him! I was encouraged when the radio announcer asked the pastor to provide evidence for his claim that countries which turn to God actually benefit in any way and prosper. To my chagrin, however, the dear pastor decided that he would supply as evidence, stories of Ninevah and Egypt from the bible. I mean, that is like trying to argue that Batman would be useful in helping us fight crime in our society by quoting from a comic book.
One would think that religious leaders would be a little more cautious and hesitant in this day and age to come out publicly and declare their “infallible” understanding of bible prophesy, following so many examples of “prophets” who have tried and suffered ignominy as a result. Here they are on one hand asserting that prophesy is being fulfilled, yet on the other hand, they will admit that they’re not certain as to the specifics and details. There continues to be so many versions of bible prophesy in circulation regarding who the anti-Christ is, who will be that great emerging world leader and from which country, when the world will end—and of course, each person’s interpretation is accurate and divinely inspired. It’s either God’s communication skills are lacking, or it is his intention to leave us in the dark, confused, and perhaps have a good laugh at our expense.
Many people seem to be of the erroneous view that “turning to God” is synonymous with changing one’s behaviour. This country is filled with people who punctuate every sentence with Jesus and God; people who flock the various churches to worship ardently on a weekly basis; people who cannot even have a meal, hold a meeting, or a concert without calling on God for assistance. Yet, the behaviour of those born again people is no different from the person who doesn’t know God. There is no evidence, whatsoever, to show that when someone has God in their lives (whatever that means) that they behave any better than anyone else. As a matter of fact, research done in prisons in the US has shown that there are more Christians in prison than atheists—not that a survey was necessary to find that out, in my opinion. I am sure that the population of atheists in St Lucia pales significantly in comparison to Christians. So guess who is committing most of the crimes? As I write this article, several priests in Mexico are being investigated for child abuse and the rape of little boys— innocent boys raped by esteemed servants of God who are supposedly filled with the Holy Spirit.
So, by all means, let us all advocate for a positive change in human behaviour and for more love. That is the only way this country, and the world at large, will become a better place—only when people are convinced of the need to change. This does not necessarily happen when people turn to God, or become saved or born again, and there are just too many evil, deviant, and hypocritical religious people around to confirm that. Your beliefs, or lack of beliefs, do not make you a good person. Your behaviour does. Our government leaders and politicians may have their weaknesses, but they do not operate in isolation to what’s happening globally. They do not need religious people telling them to give up on the search for practical solutions and to just leave everything in the hands of an invisible being.
Our problems cannot and will never be erased with prayer. Let us keep the mythology and magic in the churches where they belong.

‘If Christians believe that God has a plan for everyone, then it should be
logical to also believe that everything which happens is happening for a
reason, as part of that plan. What makes believers think they can
influence God’s will or coerce him to modify his plan through prayer?’

Technical and Vocational training for St Lucians

Elijah Anatole — Mon, 21 May 2012 15:42:00 +0000

St Lucians will once again have the privilege of gaining some of the best qualifications from the UK and Europe’s leading professional membership and warding body. City and Guilds is a global body with over 8500 centres spread across 80 countries providing over 500 qualifications in every major industrial area.
Their statistics show over two million learners have achieved City and Guilds qualifications in just last year alone and many more are expected to be awarded with qualifications in Business, Construction, Hospitality and Catering, Engineering, Agriculture, Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy and many other areas of interest.
According to the regional manager, Guy Hewitt, City and Guilds has been in existence over 130 years and was also readily accessible in St Lucia through Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC). However, he stated, the relational bridge between SALCC and City and Guilds broke down a few years ago which warranted his presence in St Lucia earlier this week to offer the college the option of providing for their students the opportunity to access a wide range of qualifications that is recognized across the globe.
“When we talk about the region, our work is primarily of the English-speaking Caribbean because we offer English based examinations. However, we do have centers in Canada, US, Central and South America. City and Guilds is the leading provider for certification in Technical and Vocational training globally.
“What I have come to St Lucia to do is really to build relationships with Government, Private Sector, the training agencies such as Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and the Education system because we
opened and Caribbean office last year as a way to be able to provide a more effective out-reach to the Caribbean,” said Hewitt.
Hewitt explained further the reason for his presence in the region not only sensitizes training agencies but strengthens the relationship and in some cases re-establishes broken relationships with City and Guilds.
“There has to be the new message of education and training needs to be enforced. Also, although the Caribbean has benefited traditionally or in the past from traditional academic training where people have trained in medicine, law, accounting and those traditions, where the 21st century and where technology and innovation is pushing us calls for people with new skills set and that’s where the technology training comes in.”
Hewitt pointed out after a just concluded meeting with SALCC that the largest body of students at the college is currently enrolled in the technical division and the largest demand for programs at the college is for technology. This, he says, is where the economies and jobs will be in the future.
“One of the things I was also reassured by in St Lucia is that technology and technical training seems to have an equal parity of esteem; it is not considered to be secondary and one of the challenges we have faced over the Caribbean and globally is that people always felt that you did technical training if you could not excel academically. That is no longer the case—we have situations now where doctors, lawyers, accountants and others who went through the traditional process of education are either unemployed or underemployed simply because they have
been going into traditional areas that may have high status nut now have low economic and financial rewards.
“Anyone who knows trades persons know that they are not only self-employed but they do very well now financially. You are now increasingly seeing people look at trades, looking at vocational educational training as now the first consideration rather than a residual ‘if you can’t do something else’ and now you are seeing a trend across the region. Even in Secondary schools some curriculums are being equipped to provide technical skills and not just the academics.”
Hewitt talked about how far City and Guilds qualification can take someone career wise: “We have qualifications that will take you up to level seven which is equivalent to master’s degree post-graduate studies. If someone says they want to be a technician, a technician is a professional area of vocational level which can be as high as they would want to take it.”
City and Guilds’
regional office is located in Barbados and works with local training agencies such as SALCC and other skills training centres to make these qualifications readily accessible to learners.

City and Guilds regional manager Guy Hewitt.

Bitter days of better mismanagement

Star Reporter — Mon, 21 May 2012 15:21:26 +0000

I am not about to praise either side of the House for the content of the rather civil debate on St Lucia’s EC$1.4 billion Appropriations Bill. You see, while politicians red and yellow squabble with inert weapons of mass distraction over who placed the country in its current financial crisis, Rome continues to burn in a conflagration worse than that of 1948.
Amidst the economic ruins of Hades, the Doctor has written with flourish several prescriptions for recovery. These pills, though bitter, will, like most medications, give but temporary relief to the unmistakable third-degree burns inflicted deliberately on the people by the same politicians who now claim to have the miracle panacea. I have a strong dislike for politics and politicians, because of the dishonest way practice their craft to the ruination of people.
Economic policies do not work; radical thinking does. Politicians cannot think radically. Which is why I know Prime Minister Anthony’s alphabet soup programs like STEP, LEAP, SMILE, NICE and any of their predecessors under the King administration did, and will do, little in the long run.
When governments borrow, there has to be a lender on the other end with the deep pockets to hand over the cash. That is a given. But who are these lenders with seemingly black-holes in places on their trousers where my own hand normally comes up empty? Well not entirely, I usually get some lint if I dig deep enough. When a government borrows to “stimulate the economy”, it does so because businesses and individuals are not buying: they either see the economic writing on the wall, and correctly predict the economy is going nowhere. That, or they don’t have the means to buy anything. So the government acquires bad assets onto its balance sheet and borrows record amounts of money. The government is actually assuaging the well-founded fear of businesses and individuals by substituting its own purchases for the purchases not being made by the private sector. To make these acquisitions, they borrow.
Like governments around the world, including yes, the great United States of America ($1.3 trillion borrowed from China) both the King and Anthony administrations have borrowed and continue to borrow themselves into massive, unprecedented debt. Gone are the good old days (my eyes are rolling here) of Comptonite Budgets the meagre size of $200 million. Not only is the government borrowing us, the entire nation, taxpayer or not born and unborn, into financial slavery, but this course of action is supported by the so-called experts: economists.
Publics around the globe are made to believe by these talking heads, that this choice by our leaders is a stroke of absolute genius—a deficit-spending program that will solve all of our problems. If we listen long enough to this crap, we are apt to believe borrowing like that will have no consequences whatsoever. Never mind your little brain about that sort of thing, because when the economy is buoyant again, we can fix this little debt crisis with surpluses and that will negate the deficits. That is their argument, terribly flawed as it stands on shaky intelligence.
But there is a peculiar conundrum which this search for loans leads to: all types of wealthy entities, corporations, individuals etc, see the windfall and rush to get in on the action. We constantly hear of monies being borrowed from the World Bank, Caribbean Development Bank, International Monetary Fund etc. But who are these lenders? Who owns these banks? Their officious sounding names belie the proven fact that they are all privately owned.
It is a lot safer and secure for these deceptive lenders to have governments as clients in sluggish economies, like the ones we are operating at the moment. Economic hit men can force governments to accept unreasonable terms and conditions for the money they desperately want to borrow. These caveats are called austerity measures. Investing in a government is sound because they can and do claim ownership of public assets and the public. They are able to pledge your and future generations’ labour to pay off the massive debts. If you think Greece was a bad investment, ask the lenders who now own the country and its people—they are bookkeeping assets.
Contrary to what the government of St. Lucia would have you believe, this is not a prescription for economic growth. It is a simple matter of churning money. If our governments (around the world) wanted to stop running a deficit, they could tax large corporations and the wealthy. Relax Daddy Warbucks, that’s not going to happen any time soon. They would be able to get the money they needed to stimulate the economies of the world without borrowing a penny.
Think about: if I were a bank and the government had a choice of taxing me to realise its programs for the people as against borrowing money from me and then paying me back with interest to achieve the same thing, which would I choose? What would I not do to ensure that happens? There are not enough taxpayers in St. Lucia for the government to borrow from on a massive scale, although NIC funds are quite tempting. So, they turn to 1) other countries and 2) private banks. Not necessarily in that specific order. The classic crisis of the Capitalist system.
In our case this ties in with our still cloudy foreign policy dealings with the wily Asian Tigers: China and Taiwan. Let’s put things in a broader international perspective. All that I have already said about governmental borrowing is taking place in the United States as well. Right now, the Communist People’s Republic of China is financing the Capitalist voodoo economics being practised by the Obama presidency. This is worth more than a few moments of thought for you, but not for mainstream media in the United States. Not one media outlet in the US has grunted two words about this unusual situation.
If we are to go by the level of indebtedness of the United States to China, then in essence the US government is merely a collection agency for Zhonghua. On that US$1.3 trillion dollar loan, Americans must cough up between $50 and $60 billion annually—in interest. The question Americans should ask themselves and the Federal Government about that vast sum is: how much of it does not pay for programs and services that are sorely needed domestically?
If you think this is a bizarre way to fix a financial crisis, then good, you get A+ for using your noggin. Now, your test: should we borrow money from China or continue accepting monetary gifts from Taiwan but with a different face to Tom Chou?
In our St Lucian context, when we stimulate our economy by throwing borrowed money into it, we lose much of it because we still have that 800-pound dasheen in the room: we import practically everything we consume. You know it too; because right now you’re eating cereal from the United States, in pyjamas made in India, eventually take a shower with soap made in England and go out in your uber reliable Japanese or European luxury car, rolling on tyres originating in Malaysia. So we are in fact doing our part to help other countries create jobs in food, clothing and automobile manufacturing.
St Lucia is actually haemorrhaging money which is meant to help the local populace. Which country is doing the same for us via our vast exports? Oops, we don’t export much. So when the President of the St Lucia Manufacturers Association claims her members need protection from the Chinese who are nibbling away at their profits, please place it on record that we have all been assisting in economic self destruction for a long time. The point here is stimulus packages don’t work. It makes for great political posturing but it will not solve the unemployment and other problems we have. Borrowing to solve a problem is stupid because it creates another problem—a financial yoke that we must all drag around in unyielding mud, eventually to remove around necks to pass onto our children after we fall face down and get buried in dirt. Some solution!
So who really benefits in the end from a program like STEP? Well, to get the answer let’s look at who is not opposing it; first, the people who conceived it for obvious reasons, second, those who are employed in the program as either administrators or temporary workers and third, the private sector. The private sector is the biggest beneficiary, why? They get to keep the STEP money and lend it back to the government—with interest. When a borrowed dollar for STEP leaves the electronic accounts of the banks it is then transferred to the government’s coffers. From there it is handed over to a roadside cleaner who then takes it to a local supermarket, shoe shop, bus driver or school supplies store in exchange for desired goods or services. All of these suppliers put their monies back into the banks if they follow good business practice. The banks in turn pay very little interest on that money to their account owners, but relend it at exorbitant rates to the government or to buy foreign goods which we love to consume. It is a simple matter of churning money but it is an economic policy.
By its own account the government has already signalled that better days will not come soon or very easily. I am not convinced those balmy, summer days will be long lived; that time for the entire world is long gone. While the embarrassingly naïve, parrot local media repeat verbatim the political spiel of whichever party they support, getting the public hot under the collar once again as if an election, like Christmas, was just around the corner, the capitalist cycle continues to work its way through its normal process. What is that? Periods of prolonged unemployment until workers are willing to work for much less, because they have been out of work so long and prospects look bleak enough that a job and salary which would have been unacceptable before, now looks like manna from heaven.
Sounds like STEP? Likewise as businesses fold, the cost of secondhand equipment drops, as sellers outnumber buyers and rental per square footage goes down. When the costs associated with doing business decreases substantially, that is when St Lucia starts looking a lot sexier to investors sniffing around for a fire sale. The system then makes another upward leap for about 2, 3 or 4 years until we are back in the same unstable point of the cycle.
Unfortunately no brilliant economist far less politician has been able to figure out how to stop this cycle. We are just under different management.

Right now you’re eating cereal from the United States, in pajamas made in India, eventually take a shower with soap made in England, and go out in your uber reliable Japanese or European luxury car rolling on tyres originating in Malaysia!

Kenny Anthony (front) and Philip J Pierre at the Labour Party’s victory rally following last year’s elections.