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SLTB unveils new website

SLTB new website

The Saint Lucia Tourist Board – SLTB Unveils New Website with Scavenger Hunt Sweepstakes #OnlyInSaintLucia

SAINT LUCIA (June 1, 2016) – The Saint Lucia Tourist Board – SLTB launches the #OnlyInSaintLucia Scavenger Hunt Sweepstakes on Wednesday, June 1 to unveil the new online presence for the destination at http://www.stlucia.org/.
The dynamic and responsive website features a map explorer component that highlights hotels, local restaurants, and a variety of activities throughout the island. The brand-new weddings and honeymoons landing pages cater to one of Saint Lucia’s largest travel markets and sets the stage for planning a romantic escape with the top five proposal locations, wedding packages, honeymoon activities and more.
The completely redesigned website also includes a downloadable media gallery, a live chat, and specialized sections for travel trade, diaspora, meetings and incentives.
“We are thrilled to launch this new tourism portal to the destination,” says Tracey Warner-Arnold, deputy director of tourism. “The #OnlyInSaintLucia scavenger hunt sweepstakes will allow visitors the opportunity to explore and learn about the island, and the redesigned website, in a fun and engaging way.”
The Saint Lucia Tourist Board – SLTB encourages fans to experience the adventure of a lifetime by entering to win a six night Caribbean vacation on the beautiful island. To enter the #OnlyInSaintLucia scavenger hunt sweepstakes, consumers are given the chance to answer one question every day for fourteen days for a chance to win a trip to Saint Lucia. A new question will be posted to the dedicated contest landing page every morning at 9:00am EST, beginning June 1 through June 15.  The more questions answered correctly, the closer participants will be to relaxing in Saint Lucia.
One winner and a guest will win a three night stay in the southern part of the island at Ladera, a tropical gem nestled high up between the Pitons, and then a three night stay in the north of Saint Lucia at the intimate Cap Maison, set on a private cliff overlooking the sea and its own private beach. The prize includes accommodations, most meals and beverages, round-trip airfare, and on-island airport transfers for two adults. Participants must be U.S. residents and 21 years of age or older.
 

Active hurricane season anticipated

hurricane

Climatologist with the Dominica Meteorological Service, Annie Carrette-Joseph, stated that the Caribbean will see a busy hurricane season this year.

She presented the hurricane forecast for 2016 during this year’s Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum at the fort young hotel on Monday.
Carrette-Joseph informed officials at the forum that this year would present a 52% chance of La Niña conditions from June to August.
El Niño is characterised by warm ocean temperatures and the events that surround it. La Niña is the opposite.
“Drought conditions for the region will gradually alleviate. For the short to midterm period up to August 2016, there are no concerns for most of the region. For the long term, December 2015 to November 2016, drought conditions are still possible across the Lesser Antilles,” she reported.
She also presented the rainfall probalistic forecast for the wet season up to November 2016
“June to November rainfall is forecast to be above [normal] to normal in much of the region. Roughly 80% confidence that the second half of the wet season will be wetter or usual in the ABC Islands, Belize, the Greater Antilles and the Leeward Islands.”
The implications of this forecast are that moist conditions may favour mosquito breeding and chances of high rainfall.
In the next three months, it is predicted that there will be about 35-70 wet days which may result in surface wetness, disruption of outdoor activities and increased chances of flash flooding.
Between June and August temperatures will be above [normal] to normal both nights and days. These may result in intense heat causing increased health risks from heat exposure and higher than usual energy costs.
Meanwhile, the climatologist forecasts that a very strong El Niño is fading and is expected to disappear by May or June.
La Niña chances are 70% at the peak of the hurricane season between August and October.
“Klotzbach & Gray forecast the probability for at least one major category 3, 4 or 5 hurricane tracking into the Caribbean at 10-20 degrees north latitude and 60-88 degrees west longitude. That’s a 40% chance; this is close to the 20th century average of 42%.”
She says the Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) Caribbean Forecast indicates two named storms and one hurricane predicted to make landfall in the Lesser Antilles.
“Tropical North, Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea and Mexico to include Belize, a possible 12 named storms and seven hurricanes with four intense hurricanes,”  she reported.

WASCO Press Statement

WASCO Strike

WATER & SEWERAGE COMPANY INC. (WASCO) PRESS STATEMENT

The Water & Sewerage Company Inc. wishes to inform the public that on Monday May 30th, 2016, its employees who are represented by the National Workers Union (NWU) commenced industrial action, without any notice to the company, as required by Law.
The initial reason provided for the industrial action was the delay by the Labour Tribunal in addressing a dispute which was brought before it. However, a letter from the NWU (on the same day – May 30th, 2016) subsequently highlighted five (5) issues, two of which are outside of the purview of WASCO and are in fact matters before the Labour Tribunal and the Labour Commissioner. WASCO responded to that letter on the same day.
The Labour Commissioner intervened on the following day, May 31st, 2016 and the matters which were raised  were addressed.  It was also made very clear that the industrial action was in contravention of the Law. The Labour Commissioner has since written to the NWU.
WASCO now awaits the response of the NWU and the return of its employees to work and to perform their normal and assigned duties.

Greater Partnerships Among NGOs Needed

NGOs
Minister of Labour, Senator Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo. (FP)

Greater partnerships need to be established between existing Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

Minister of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development, Senator Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo, made this observation today at the opening of the First National NGO Network Summit, at the Hilton Barbados.
Senator Byer Suckoo stated that the lack of visibility was a major factor facing NGOs, as well as the ability to share similar visions. She however conceded that “no partnerships are ever without challenges”.
“It is difficult to merge even two visions, though similar, into one, without feeling that one or both is concealing some core element. However, effective partnerships take time and effort to build. NGOs can see each other sometimes as rivals competing for the same limited pool of resources for support, for visibility and even public commendation… that is human nature but it really has no place in our modern 21st century environment,” she underscored.
Acknowledging that there was strength in unity, the Labour Minister told attendees that rather than compete, they should share information about available technical assistance, training and funding opportunities. She further suggested that rather than each NGO commit the same mistakes, they should share experiences and best practices to avoid certain pitfalls.
Meanwhile, President of the Barbados Vagrants and Homeless Society and organiser of the event, Kemar Saffrey, told his audience that one of the main reasons for starting and organising the Summit was that he heard the “cry and the complaints” of many persons who wanted to or have started their own charity.
“They didn’t know where to go or what to do; they didn’t know who the funders were; they didn’t know how to put together a proposal, how to be accountable and how to have good governance…not to mention I learned from my own mistakes. Hence, my team and I thought it best to hold a National NGO Network,” he explained.

Government launches UCS

UCS

The UCS – Unified Communications System will save government close to EC$2 million annually.

The Government of Saint Lucia will launch a state of the art Unified Communications System (UCS) today.
The Unified Communications System will replace government’s present archaic telephone system (which has been in operation for almost two decades), and is expected to result in annual savings of close to EC$2 million in recurrent expenditure.
The system will facilitate improved collaboration between ministries and departments, and also enhance government-citizen engagement and other operational efficiencies.
The system connects all major government departments (from Gros Islet in the North to Vieux Fort in the south) to a high capacity fiber optic backbone which allows information transfers at the speed of light.
With this system, government foreign offices will also connect to the telephone system as if they were present locally. This feature is expected to significantly reduce the expenditure on overseas calls, in addition to enhancing desktop and video conferencing capabilities that will enable government officials to engage actively at meetings held in Saint Lucia while being present at their overseas posts. The interactive video collaboration capability is anticipated to significantly reduce overseas travel costs and improve accessibility and teamwork between foreign missions and the government.
The implementation of the Unified Communications System will redound to greater effectiveness and efficiency in the public service that translates to not only improved productivity but greater economic gains.
The UCS will be launched at the Public Service Training Institute, Union, today at 10 a.m.

Fight Against Childhood Obesity

childhood obesity

More than 900 primary school children are currently participating in an intervention programme aimed at combatting childhood obesity in Barbados.

The programme, mounted by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Barbados Drug Service and the Ministry of Education, features a series of interactive mini-lectures on the topic: Smart Eating – Children Making Healthy Food Choices.
The sessions, which are geared towards children aged 10 and 11, are educating them about the negative effects of unhealthy diets high in calories, sodium and fat; and the benefits to be gained by eating more fruits, vegetables, ground provisions and legumes, and drinking more water.
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has warned that the region is in the midst of a childhood obesity epidemic. According to Dr. Audrey Morris, the advisor on food and nutrition at the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the number of obese and overweight children in the Caribbean has doubled in the last decade.
In Barbados, the Global School Health Survey revealed that 31.9 per cent of students were overweight and 14.4 per cent obese. The study found that 18.5 per cent of students surveyed consumed fast food three or more days per week and 73.3 per cent drank one or more carbonated beverages every day.
Only 12.7 per cent reported eating five or more servings of fruit and vegetables per day over a 30-day period, and 15 per cent reported eating no fruit or vegetables during the same period.
Additionally, while the recommended amount of exercise for children was at least 60 minutes a day, the survey found that only 28 per cent of Barbadian children met that criteria, with more than 70 per cent considered physically inactive. It further found that students engaged in at least three hours of sedentary activity each day centred around electronic media, television and video games.
Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kenneth George, at a recent public lecture, described childhood obesity as “a worrisome public health development”. He pointed to the link between childhood obesity and the increased risk of non-communicable diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, elevated blood pressure, early atherosclerosis and asthma.
Other areas of concern, he said, included psychological and psychosocial problems, joint and bone disease, sleep apnea, endocrine disorders and even some cancers. Dr. George maintained that obese children were more likely to be ill and have increased sick days from school; and they were also at higher risk of becoming obese adults.
One of the challenges of the Ministry of Health, therefore, he said, was to reverse the increased consumption of foods prepared outside the home which were often highly refined and processed; and to increase the consumption of traditional and locally sourced foods.
The Ministry was further challenged, he said, by the limited enforcement of the policy of physical education in schools where students frequently “opted out”, and where time allotted for physical education had been reduced, in many cases, to one session per week, particularly during the “exam term”.
Physical education, he maintained, was a very important part of the school curriculum and must be enforced in all primary and secondary schools. The Acting Chief Medical Officer stressed the importance of engaging all stakeholders to provide solutions to the public health challenge of childhood obesity.
“This calls for the involvement of children through focus groups and other fora. It must involve Parent Teacher Associations, school boards and the Ministry of Education. We must collaborate with the Schools Meals Programme, canteen and cafeteria operators and itinerant vendors,” he submitted.
Dr. George further recommended the formation of strategic alliances with farmers, manufacturers and the fast food industry, as well as with international organisations such as PAHO, the Food and Agricultural Organisation, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, and the United Nations Population Fund.
The current initiative targeted at primary school students island wide is one step in the Ministry of Health’s mission to make all schools in Barbados “health promoting schools” by the year 2020.

CARICOM Secretariat Projects to improve CSME Trade

CARICOM
Photo Courtsey: wernerantweiler.ca

The CARICOM Secretariat has revealed two new projects meant to improve customs and trade for member states of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.

The first project aims to synchronize the customs laws and procedures of each member state. Bernard Black is Senior Project Officer for customs and trade policy at the CARICOM Secretariat. He spoke with the press on Thursday, May 26th outlining the existing situation.
“We have an urgent need to have customs laws and regulations that are harmonized; not identical but very close to each other in member states.
“The reason for that is we are operating a single market and moving towards a single economic space. When goods move from one country to the next, there must be a certain level of predictability for the traders: those receiving and the shippers. To achieve that, we need to have customs procedures which are almost identical.
“We also have the issue of companies spreading their business interests across member states through the right of establishment. We have people moving as well- the officials of those businesses who expect that when the goods arrive at the destination, they will be treated similarly to their own country. It is important that we set up that environment of predictability.”
He says, currently, customs clearance times differ from country to country by as little as 48 hours to as long as an entire week.
He referenced the World Bank’s Doing Business in the World Report which ranks countries in the world based on ease of trade.
CARICOM states are spread out throughout the list; the highest ranking CARICOM state comes in at 52 out of 183 and the lowest at 128.
Black says that gap is too wide.
“What it’s telling us is that our policies are not harmonized. Ideally, we want to be in one cluster in the top third as closely as possible.
“The Harmonized Customs Legislation is near completion. We have [sat and discussed it] and the final draft was sent to member states for confirmation and later approval of the legal affairs committee of CARICOM.”
The second project is a review of customs tariffs and rules of origin.
“The Common External Tariff (CET) is a trade policy instrument and what member states have agreed on to manage our trade intra-regionally and to manage trade with [other] countries. The rate structure of the CET allows us to do that in a way where there is some kind of protection for our local manufacturers and the goods that we have in abundance so that we can trade them more freely across borders. Those that are from [other] countries, we have placed a slightly higher rate. Generally, the goods on which we have higher rates are agricultural products because that’s what we have in abundance in CARICOM.
“We need to review the Common External Tariffs to make it more responsive to modern trading practises.
CARICOM Secretariat Projects to improve CSME Trade 1
He says the tariffs currently in use were developed in the 70s.
Rules of origin are the criteria needed to determine the national source of a product. Their importance is derived from the fact that duties and restrictions in several cases depend upon the source of imports.
Black says the project related to CARICOM rules of origin is under development.
“We have a spread of resources across CARICOM that could come together to make one product and right now we are not exploring that possibility enough. In fact, we call it production integration. So if Suriname has a raw material and Trinidad and Barbados have other components of it, the raw materials can be brought to one location and the rules of origin can be developed in such a way that when the final item is produced, it qualifies and satisfies CARICOM origin and status.”
He says, it’s a just a matter of time before the rules of origin are updated based on ongoing work by the technical experts.
These projects are being funded by the 10th European Development Fund.

Investigation into Telecoms merger

Telecoms merger

The CARICOM Competition Commission launches investigation into Telecoms merger

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)     The CCC has launched an investigation into the agreement by Cable and Wireless Communications (Plc (“CWC”) to acquire Columbus International Inc.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) institution  which has responsibility for ensuring that the benefits expected from the establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy are not frustrated by anti-competitive business conduct,  has issued a statement.
The statement, inter alia,  notes that the focus of the investigation will be on how the agreement impacts competition in the telecommunications sector of several Member States of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
 
Full Statement:
CCC launches investigation into CWC’s Agreement to Acquire Columbus International Pursuant to Article 175 (6) of the RTC
The CARICOM Competition Commission (“the Commission”) advises the public of the launch of an investigation into the agreement by Cable and Wireless Communications Plc (“CWC”) to acquire Columbus International Inc. (“Columbus”) pursuant to
Article 175 (6) of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC).
This statement from the the Commission provides a further update to our statement on the preliminary examination process published on 01 June 2015 on www.caricomcompetitioncommission.com and issued to media organisations.
The Commission arrived at this determination pursuant to Article 176 (4) of the RTC based on:

  • the findings of the preliminary examination of the “Agreement” conducted; and
  • having received no objection from the Member States regarding the jurisdiction of the Commission to investigate this matter.

The investigation will focus on the impact of the Agreement on competition in the telecommunications sector of members of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) which comprise the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL).
The Commission has appointed an Investigating Panel in accordance with
paragraph 2 of Rule 4 of the CARICOM Competition Commission Rules of Procedure 2011, to coordinate the investigation into this matter. The Rules can be viewed at http://www.caricomcompetitioncommission.com/images/registry/CCC-Rules-of-Procedure-2011.pdf
The Commission expects to complete the investigation within 120 working days with the cooperation of all stakeholders as set out under Article 175 (6) (b) or where circumstances warrant extend the time under Article 176 (6) (c) of the RTC.
Dated: 27 May, 2016
CARICOM Competition Commission
Hendrikstraat 69, Paramaribo, Suriname
Tel: (597) 491-455; 491-470 / Fax: (597) 530-639
Email: admin@ccc.sr
Web site: www.caricomcompetitioncommission.com
Acquisition was announced in Novembeer 2014. We ave been looking into the matter since January 2015. In Jamaica the acquisition ws approved, approved in Trinidad , approved in barbados, bith Trinidad nad barbados thosed decisions require the company to divest some its asets.
There are outstanding issues related to some of the OECS member stest
Aproximate six or seen member states will be affected. There are aspects of those telecommunications sector has returned to what they were 10 years ago – one supp,lier.

Youth Leaders to Benefit from Mentoring Programme

youth leaders
Photo Courtsey: www.iamempowered.com

Over the next eight months, 22 youth leaders will be paired with mentors from the public and private sectors, who will offer them guidance in reaching important personal, national and career goals.

The initiative is being carried out under the Youth for Sustainable Development Mentorship Programme (Y4SD), which was launched on May 30 at the Jamaica Public Service Company’s (JPS) head office in New Kingston.
The Y4SD involves a partnership between the JPS Foundation and the Jamaica Youth Ambassadors Programme (JaYAP) to the United Nations General Assembly, which falls under the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information.
The youth leaders will benefit from mentors from the United Nations Delegation in Jamaica, JPS, Sagicor Group, Vantage One Group and the Education Ministry.
Youth Ambassador at the United Nations, Rochelle James, said the mentees will receive guidance and encouragement in their area of interest from the team of mentors.
She noted that the Y4SD programme will promote the core principles of sustainability, nationalism, ambition and innovation, while simultaneously supporting the mentees in their pursuit of key goals.
“This programme will see the mentees completing their personal development plans and providing periodic updates on their progress. They will also participate in monthly personal development workshops,” she informed.
Ms. James said the mentoring programme is important in fostering positive youth development and promoting youth-led growth.
“Strong mentoring relationship can create a meaningful connection that positively influences how our youth transition to adulthood, while improving communities and the fabric of society,” Ms. James said.
The JaYAP aims to promote youth advocacy and facilitate youth participation in decision-making processes.
The programme, implemented in 2000, has produced a number of youth leaders, who have offered representation of Jamaican youth issues at the national, regional and international levels.

Projects reflect government’s commitment

Honourable Timothy Harris on Projects
Prime Minister, Dr. The Honourable Timothy Harris

Projects reflect government’s commitment to its people and economy.

Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 31, 2016 (SKNIS): A number of projects are currently being undertaken in St. Kitts and Nevis that reflect the Government’s commitment to further boost the economy and safeguard the wellbeing of its people.
At a press conference held on May 30, Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris stated that the “economy is moving ahead” and that the government is grateful that work is continuing which includes KOI Resort and Residences; T-Loft/Raddisson; Embassy Suites by Hilton/Pelican Bay; Range Development/Park Hyatt; Rendezvous Hill and St. Kitts Castle.
He added that in “mid-July, Mr. John Zuliani is to start a major expansion at the Royal St. Kitts Hotel formerly known as Jack Tar, with 11 commercial shops on some 17,000 sq feet of commercial space – including restaurants, gift shops, jewelry stores, thereby expanding commercial shopping in Frigate Bay and St Kitts and Nevis.” The prime minister said that this will be followed by an additional phase of expansion of hotel condos amongst other projects that will begin.
Other private sector projects that are upcoming in the second half of 2016 include the expansion of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, the start-up of St. Kitts Castle and Delta Petroleum amongst others. “This will see an upsurge of construction,” said the prime minister while encouraging businesses to invest in the growing economy.
The prime minister said that it is not only the private sector that is involved in executing projects for the benefit of the country.
“This government, because we manage responsibly, we have the resources to also ensure adequate injection on a timely basis of support from the public sector to keep the economy performing,” said the prime minister.
The Prime Minister said that there will be an increase in construction in government projects such as the commencement of the housing programme “for which $30 million is committed.”
Other construction projects include the building of the Basseterre High School, which will begin later this year. Also commencing shortly will be the construction of the National Heroes Park, a new Government Printery and the renovation of the John Gumbs and Treasury buildings, which are to be completed in due course.
Several projects are being carried out in Nevis that include the Four Seasons Resort, which will be having significant construction and activity, as well as the Candy Resort Development, Tower Hill Development and Longstone House in Charlestown, which are set to be on stream in the upcoming months and will continue into 2017, according to Prime Minister Harris.
“These projects will impact positively on jobs, income, and economic growth,” said the prime minister. “Government is sufficiently resourced to ensure a healthy pipeline of public sector investment so that we can continue to contribute to the growth of the economy.”

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