As part of regional HIV testing day activities the Ministry of Health will be conducting free HIV testing in the following communities: Anse La Raye Health Centre, Friday, June 17, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.; and in Micoud, at the River Bank Bar on Thursday, June 23 from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Use this opportunity to know your HIV status, get educated on the subject and take control of your life. Condoms will be available free of charge.
Consultancy Services – Technology Needs Assessment
The Government of Saint Lucia, through the Ministry of Sustainable Development, seeks to engage a consultant to produce an assessment report capturing the technology needs for Saint Lucia which are key to assisting with achieving the objectives of the UNFCCC and Saint Lucia’s adaptation and mitigation priorities. For details, download the PDF attached. Proposals should be submitted no later than June 24.
Attachment:
Terms of Reference for Technology Needs Assessment.pdf
SIDC's Youth Fishing Clinic
Parliamentary Secretary lauds SIDC’s Youth Fishing Clinic … A Breath of Fresh Air!
June 15, 2016: Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land & Fisheries, Senator Avinash Singh says the launch of the Youth Fishing Clinic by the Seafood Industry Development Company Limited (SIDC) was a “welcomed breath of fresh air” in that the resurgence of youth involvement in the fishing sector through education and practical knowledge, will aid in breaking down the many misconceptions that have often plagued the profession.
Among these misconceptions, he identified with the view that fishing was not seen as a professional, lucrative nor respectable career option.
Senator Singh said: “The Youth Fishing Clinic comes therefore as a welcomed breath of fresh air amidst the mist of archaic practices and beliefs which support the traditional adage that fishing is merely a dirty, degrading, low income form of employment only undertaken by the uneducated.
“Instead, the Clinic promises to close some of the gaps which currently exist; empower our upcoming generation to be more receptive to modern day ideologies of the fish enterprise; and position the industry as a viable alternative to a sustainable livelihood and decent career.”
The Parliamentary Secretary was speaking at the launch of the Youth Fishing Clinic which was hosted by the SIDC in partnership with the Digicel Foundation, on Wednesday 15th June, 2016, at SIDC’s Head Office in Charlieville. The Clinic – which will benefit approximately fifty (50) secondary school students from amongst some of the nation’s rural and coastal communities from the 11th- 15th July, 2016 – aims to highlight areas of good seafood handling practices; the implementation of fishing technologies; fish processing in addition to the types of aquaculture and entrepreneurial business opportunities.
He noted that while the Ministry was reviewing all its youth programmes to ensure that they were adequately aligned to the development of Government’s Agricultural Sector Plan for Trinidad and Tobago (2016-2020), the involvement of the youth demographic in the sector remained critical particularly since there was need to build an institutional knowledge capacity amongst fisher-folk, who for the most part, were of an advanced age with a limited degree of technological education and expertise in the modern day practices of the seafood industry.
As a show of his appreciation to the Clinic’s many partnering stakeholder agencies, Senator Singh had this to say: “Thank you all for your individual and collective roles in developing the human capital of the fishing sector in Trinidad and Tobago.
“May your contribution in the education of these and future young people on the seafood industry, continue to build an industry that is profitable, environmentally sensitive, internationally competitive, socially responsible and sustainable.”
Antigua's new Residence Permit Programme
The Country’s Immigration Department to launch New Residence Permit Programme.
The Antigua and Barbuda Department of Immigration will launch its new Residence Permit Programme, pursuant to the Immigration and Passport Act 2014. The new programme will replace the status of “Temporary Residence” which was previously issued under the Immigration and Passport Act, CAP 208.
The Residence Permit programme comes into effect on the 15th June, 2016 and persons deemed eligible to apply include; 1. Individuals who have been lawfully resident in Antigua and Barbuda for a minimum of four (4) years immediately preceding the date of the application; or 2. Individuals who are married to a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda and are living together as husband and wife for a minimum of one (1) year.
Factors to be considered in assessing the overall suitability of applicants include character, health and criminal history. A period of three years will be granted to successful Applicants. It should be noted that with the Temporary Residence a period of two years was granted.
The Benefits gained from acquiring a Residence Permit includes an Applicant’s ability to live, work or study in Antigua and Barbuda; Holders of a Residence Permit will, however, lose their status if they remain outside of Antigua and Barbuda for six months or more, commit a criminal offence in Antigua and Barbuda or anywhere else or if for some reason is deemed persona non grata by Cabinet.
Applications for Residence Permit Status are by appointments only. Prospective Applicants can call the Department of Immigration from Monday 20th June, 2016 for an appointment on 1 268 562 7859.
This new programme follows the period of Amnesty granted by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda from July 2015 – February 2016.
In an effort to become a more efficiently functioning agency, the Department of Immigration will continue to introduce other programmes and initiatives aimed at improving its services to the general public.
Please visit the Immigration website at www.immigration.gov.ag or call 1 268 562 1387 for more information.
Update on Zika Virus
Zika Virus Disease: A new disease in an ‘immunologically naïve’ population.
Zika virus disease is generally a mild viral disease, caused by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito. Only 1 out of every 4 persons affected with the disease may develop symptoms such as fever, skin rash, joint or muscle pain, and red eyes. Though the mosquito is the main agent responsible for spreading the disease, it has also been shown that the virus can survive for many weeks in the semen of infected males, making sexual transmission of Zika virus disease possible.
Prior to 2016, Zika virus disease had not been detected in St. Lucia and most Caribbean countries. This means that our population has no natural immunity to this disease. (We are an ‘immunologically naive’ population). As such, if a person is bitten by a mosquito infected with the Zika virus, there is a high possibility that the individual would contract the disease, though its symptoms may be absent or very mild.
Given the very mild nature of the disease, most persons who contract Zika may not know that they are infected, and would therefore not be recorded as cases within the health system. This, in addition to laboratory factors, implies that the number of confirmed cases recorded by the Epidemiology Unit will not reflect the actual number of cases of Zika virus disease on island. As of June 15, 2016, 8 cases of Zika virus disease have been confirmed and of this number, 3 are pregnant women. These women are being closely monitored by Obstetric and Gynaecology specialists.
We have also noted a mild but gradual increase in the number of persons presenting to health centers and primary care clinics with complaints of itchy, generalized rash, mainly on their face and upper body. Some of these individuals give a recent history of having had a low grade fever, but most do not have fever at the time that they seek care for the itchy rash. A few persons present with red eyes and in comparism with the trends seen during the Chikungunya outbreak, relatively few persons present with complaints of painful swollen joints.
Rapid laboratory tests for Zika virus disease are unreliable. In addition, the virus is detectable in the blood of infected persons for only a brief period. This makes confirmation of the disease difficult. Treatment of patients is the same regardless of whether the disease is suspected or confirmed. Treatment is mostly supportive with pain and fever relieving medicines such as paracetamol, rest, fluids and medication to decrease itchiness of the rash where present.
Given that Zika virus disease has been confirmed in St. Lucia and as per established epidemiologic guidelines, only a small sample of persons suspected as having the disease will now be routinely tested. All pregnant women suspected of having Zika virus disease will be tested and closely monitored during their pregnancy, given the possibility of birth defects such as microcephaly in their newborns. Admitted patients and patients suspected of having the rare complication of Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS), (paralytic like illness) will also be tested. Samples are currently being sent to CARPHA in Trinidad where more advanced, DNA PCR tests are performed. We have also sent samples of suspected Guillain Barre Syndrome patients to Martinique for testing but results have been negative for Zika virus disease.
With the onset of the rainy season and the increased retention of rainwater in receptacles such as open drums, discarded tyres and other refuse, it is anticipated that the mosquito population will increase and cause more spread of disease, unless we take measures to decrease mosquito breeding and protect ourselves from mosquito bites.
The measures to be taken to prevent the spread of Zika virus disease are the same measures taken to decrease the spread of other mosquito borne diseases such as Dengue fever and Chikungunya fever. They include:
- Wearing long sleeved clothing and long pants
- Using mosquito repellents on exposed limbs and on clothing
- Utilizing bed nets and installing window and door screens where possible
- Getting rid of all breeding sites of mosquitoes such as old tyres, plastics and other refuse around the home; using soil instead of water in flower vases; ensuring that drums are properly covered and water tanks are properly sealed
- Performing at least, once weekly inspections of your home and surroundings, workplaces and schools, to ensure that there are no breeding sites for the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
The Ministry continues its fogging operations and mosquito surveillance, as well as health promotion activities to decrease the impact of Zika and other mosquito borne diseases.
With the upcoming carnival season, visitors to our shores are reminded that mosquito borne diseases are endemic in the tropics and as such, measures should be taken to prevent oneself from being bitten by mosquitoes. The World Health Organization also advises that pregnant women consider delaying travel to zika affected areas.
The Ministry of Health has and continues to engage with multiple stakeholders in raising awareness about Zika virus disease and taking measures to decrease the breeding of mosquitoes. Partners such as the Tourism Industry, Education sector, Communities and other stakeholders are encouraged to remain vigilant and continue previously initiated activities within their sectors. The general public is encouraged to continue taking measures to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes and decrease their chances of becoming infected with Zika Virus Disease.
For more information, please contact the Bureau of Health Information at 4685349 or CMO’s office at 4685309
Landmark Opportunities for Caribbean Athletes
Inaugural Caribbean Showcase Provide Landmark Opportunities for Caribbean Athletes.
Young, talented sportsmen and women from the Caribbean and Brazil are being urged to take advantage of a landmark opportunity to gain the attention of United States-based colleges and universities.
The first-ever Caribbean Recruitment Showcase is set for Saint Lucia from July 8th to July 16th, 2016 and will include opportunities for National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCCA) sports scholarships in male and female basketball, volleyball, track and field, soccer, swimming and tennis, as well as beach volleyball for women.
Coaches from prestigious universities and colleges in the US will attend the event, hoping to recruit student athletes. Invited programs include; Pennsylvania State University, the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of Michigan, Ohio State University, Florida State University, Vernon College, Seminole State Collage of Florida, East Carolina University, McCook Community College, Gannon University, Coppin State University, Towson University, Colorado State University, the University of Arizona, Hofstr University, the University of Kansas, the University of the Pacific and University of California, Davis.
The groundbreaking event is organized by Saint Lucia’s national volleyball team players, Tyna William and Kaji Charles, with support from Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Youth Development and Sports. William says the Caribbean Showcase is striving to give Caribbean athletes the best chance for exposure to colleges and universities.
“We have invited a number of coaches and scouts from colleges and universities across the US to come here to Saint Lucia to observe these athletes play and compete, and hopefully these athletes will be able to attract scholarships to study at the various programmes in the US,” she said.
William says most young athletes need support to achieve their goals and become professionals in their various sporting disciplines. She says this is a unique opportunity that brings the coaches to the athletes.
“By having the athletic showcase right here in Saint Lucia, we are aiming to bring everything closer to home and make the athletes more comfortable since they are in a more familiar environment,” she said.
“Also, the venture for the athletes will be a lot cheaper than having to obtain a visa, then travel to the US to take part in the showcase. We have decided to keep this exclusive to the Caribbean and Brazil and that way we have coaches coming down to observe just our talent and what our young people can really bring to the table.”
Interested athletes are recommended to have CXC or SAT scores available by the time of the Showcase, and pay a registration and the showcase fee which covers accommodation, meals, transportation and showcase gear.
Student athletes are being urged to log on to the website www.caribshowcase.com for additional information and registration details. Spaces are limited and athletes will be accepted on a first come first serve basis.
The deadline for registration is Wednesday June 22nd, 2016.
Consultation On Marijuana Use – LIVE
Consultation On Marijuana Use LIVE stream is no longer available.
OECS/USAID fund model farm
OECS/USAID fund model farm in Londonderry.
The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have strengthened Dominica’s capacity for climate smart agriculture through an investment in a model farm in Londonderry under the Rallying the Region to Action on Climate Change (RRACC) Project.
This farm is to demonstrate innovative renewable energy and water conservation methods.
Director-General of the OECS Commission, Dr. Didacus Jules, said this farm was established to bring a new approach to farming in Dominica.
He detailed, “We installed a rainwater harvesting system, a bio-gas digester and a drip irrigation system. While it is a model farm set up in one location the design of that farm was very carefully done to ensure that it can become a potential model for a new approach to farming in Dominica which is more integrated and respectful of ecosystems.
“The rainwater harvesting is designed to provide the backup water supply to the facility, the bio-digester is designed to treat all pig faeces and the by-product will be used as soil conditioners, manure or for the generation of gas to heat the pens during the cool months of the year. The drip irrigation system will be used in the propagation of high protein plant materials for use by the animals reared on the compound. So from this description you can see the integration of all of the elements in this modern eco-system farm. Everything is used and everything is conserved.”
Dr. Jules hopes that the project will be used to help farmers incorporate these practices when farming.
He referred to the Hon. Minister for Agriculture, Johnson Drigo and said, “We hope that the Government of Dominica will take the lessons of that project and ensure that farmers around Dominica incorporate it in their own farming practises.”
Her Excellency, US Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Linda Taglialatela, noted that the model farm will ensure food security in Dominica.
“Through this initiative, biogas digesters, rainwater harvesting tanks and solar panels were installed to support farm operations in time of energy and water insecurity. As a result, members of the farming community and staff of the Ministry of Agriculture are now able to visit the farm to witness cutting edge technologies that will allow farmers to generate their own power and capture rainwater. By working together to develop and implement these climate-smart agricultural practices, we’ve created a more dependable supply of energy and fresh water that will ultimately help these farmers improve crop yields and ensure food security within Dominica.”
Boost For Visual Arts & Fashion Sectors
Barbados’ fashion and visual arts sectors will soon receive a further boost.
This was revealed by Minister of Culture, Stephen Lashley, at the official launch of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)/Cultural Industries Development Authority (CIDA) Project, entitled: Enhancing the Export Capacity of Cultural Entrepreneurs in Barbados, last Friday.
The project is designed to improve the competitiveness and export-readiness of the creative industry, specifically in the Visual Arts and Fashion sectors.
It forms part of the implementation of the CARIFORUM – European Union (EU) European Partnership Agreement (EPA), and will provide technical assistance to improve the business management and operational structures, technical production, marketing capacity and by extension, export readiness, of cultural enterprises.
Mr. Lashley explained that there was a complex history with local artists and the EPA. “Under the EPA, there have been a number of incentives and tax arrangements to allow for person involved in the entertainment and wider creative sector to trade across borders and export their services to the EU…however here has not been a lot of take up [of the opportunities],” he stated.
The Minister added that the current project would determine what areas within the sectors required support, so as to make “the maximum impact in terms of the European market”.
The Minister of Culture also disclosed that the first and second phases of the project implementation had been completed. He said these phases saw CIDA welcome a team from international specialist agency, Andrew Senior Associates, to investigate the current state to the sectors. This included meetings with several industry stakeholders and senior Government officials.
According to Mr. Lashley, the “critical and timely project” will assist in the development of the two sectors, as preliminary investigations have highlighted that Barbados needs to be more “visible” on the international market.
With the scheduled completion date for the project is March 2017, and Andrew Senior Associates is expected to produce a final report before the end of this year.
Minister for Health meets staff
Minister for Health Sen. Hon. Mary Isaac met with staff for a briefing of the work currently being undertaken.
Newly sworn in Minister for Health and Wellness, Sen. Hon. Mary Isaac, reported to work on Wednesday, June 15, just hours after being officially sworn in, to meet with her Deputy and Permanent Secretary for a brief overview of the work currently being undertaken.
The minister also exchanged pleasantries with the staff and spoke of her expectations and plans for the ministry.
“I am hoping we will be able to finalize many of the projects that have already started. We have, for instance, the new hospital. I am hoping we will be able to move to the new hospital because I know that the Victoria Hospital is in a deplorable state. I also hope that we can bring Saint Jude Hospital on board so that we can move out of the stadium and give the stadium back to sports, and [I hope] to also conclude a few of those things that are already in the pipeline.”
Additionally, Sen. Issac looks forward to an amicable relationship with staff of the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
“I am a people person. I already know a lot of the staff and I hope we can continue the type of relationship that I already have with them. I don’t really like this stuck up minister sort of thing, so I think as we get more comfortable with each other, then we will decide on the way forward.”
