SAINT LUCIA (April 22, 2016) – In the run up to Saint Lucia’s hosting of the third of four test matches in the summer of 2016 (specific dates to be confirmed by the WICB shortly), the island’s lead promotions and marketing agency, the Saint Lucia Tourist Board has again partnered with Sports Consultant and veteran cricket commentator, Joseph “Reds” Perreira.
Ahead of the third test match to be held mostly likely within the first week of August 2016, involving West Indies versus India, the acclaimed sports enthusiast will spearhead a major promotional and sensitization campaign that will target a multiplicity of audiences, encompassing not only on-island spectators, but critically the diaspora community in the US, UK and wider Europe.
Tourism Director Louis Lewis says, “The collaboration between the celebrated sports consultant/commentator and the SLTB is in an effort to further strengthen linkages between the vital tourism industry and the sports sector. Sports has been a unifying force in the world and indeed in our part of the hemisphere, for generations. There is also a strong and logical nexus between sports and tourism and this latest initiative helps us to further cement that partnership.”
The test matches will be the first to be played at the newly renamed Darren Sammy National Cricket Grounds, following the West Indies victory in the ICC 20/20 World Cup series in April.
According to Perreira, “This initiative will seek to drum up support not only for a national hero in the person of Darren Sammy, but is expected to excite and build enthusiasm among sports fans and lovers of the game of cricket. The Indian team will be a quality test team with some world class players, however the West Indies team will want to prove their metal at the longer format of the game, after having done so well in the shorter formats namely, 20/20 and One Day Internationals (ODI’s) in recent times.”
Perreira, who says he’s thrilled about the SLTB collaboration, urges the public to look out for an exhilarating rollout of various marketing/promotional activities leading up to the August matches. This is the 5th set of Cricket Test Matches to be played here on Saint Lucia.
As part of the four-test series, test matches will also be played in neighboring Antigua, Jamaica and Trinidad.
SLU prepares for 3rd Test Match between West Indies and India
Vieux Fort Mouvman Ansamn JAZZ FINALE
Vieux Fort Mouvman Ansamn JAZZ FINALE brings the curtains down on the 2016 St. Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival on Sunday May 15th from 3: 00 pm with a spectacular line up of musicians, artistes and local cuisine at the Recreation Park in Vieux Fort.
Vieux Fort Mouvman Ansamn was established to promote social and developmental programs and to establish collaborative relationships with Government, non Governmental and community Institutions. Current members of this social and cultural organization include Monty Maxwell, Raye Maxwell, Anthony Samuel, Carmichier Mondesir, Brenda Annerville, Sharma James, Bertha Joseph, Allison Boriel and Gandolph St. Clair.
In the impressive, illustrious, VIEUX FORT MOUVMAN ANSANM JAZZ FINALE line up this year, is Lady Leen, Shayne Ross, Sally and KK Elwin, Dynamix Band, Phases, Orchestre wrangement, 5th Degree Band featuring Minell, The Silver Shadow’s Dance Academy, Jeffa’s Dancers, N’Vogue Models, Imani Models, Assumption Knights Youth In Action Steel Pan, Assumption Nightingales.
Into its fourth year, Jazz Finale, keeps its focus on presenting top St. Lucian talent and World Music. There is continuance of a Children’s Corner featuring Bouncing Castles, face painting and a new feature of a Massage Parlour for adults.
Main sponsors for this event are the St. Lucia Tourist Board,Digicel and the Ministry of Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industries continuing its support as was done from inception.
The participating sponsors of the event, Invest St. Lucia, Jeriko Sounds, LUCELEC, Chairman’s Reserve, Lazarus Funeral Parlor, Goddard Catering Group, Bank of St. Lucia, Wizo, ECCO, GTM, General Security Services Ltd., 1st National Bank, Vieux Fort South Constituency Council and Coconut Bay Resorts and Spa.
PM Harris to attend presidential inauguration in Taiwan
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MAY 15th, 2016 (PRESS SEC) – Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris and a delegation will travel to Taiwan this week to attend the May 20th inauguration of the country’s first female president. Tsai Ing-wen was elected as Taiwan’s president on January 16th, 2016.
Taiwan’s current leader, President Ma Ying-jeou, was elected on March 22nd, 2008 and inaugurated on May 20th, 2008. He was re-elected on January 14th, 2012 to a second four-year term in office and inaugurated on May 20th, 2012.
Just two months ago, Prime Minister Harris was one of four Caribbean prime ministers who met with President Ma Ying-jeou in Belize on the evening of March 16th. Belize’s prime minister, Honourable Dean Barrow, as well as St. Lucia’s prime minister, Dr. the Honourable Kenny Anthony, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ prime minister, Dr. the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves also participated in that meeting.
The prime ministers commended the president for his many contributions while in public service, particularly as they relate to the strengthening of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and their respective governments and citizenry.
President Ma Ying-jeou’s visit to Belize formed part of his final overseas trip to hold high-level meetings with Government Heads of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in Central America and the Eastern Caribbean. Taiwan and Belize established diplomatic relations on October 11th, 1989.
On March 14th, 2016, President Ma Ying-jeou visited Guatemala, where he met with President Jimmy Morales. The Republic of China and Guatemala established diplomatic ties in 1933.
St. Kitts and Nevis and the Republic of China (Taiwan) established diplomatic relations on September 23rd, 1983. Taiwan and St. Vincent and the Grenadines established diplomatic relations on August 15th, 1981. St. Lucia held diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan) from 1984 to 1997, then with the People’s Republic of China (more commonly called China) from 1997 to 2007, and again with Taiwan from May 1st, 2007 continuing into the present day.
During a bilateral meeting with President Ma Ying-jeou on the afternoon of March 16th, 2016, Prime Minister Harris said that he looked forward to the inauguration.
“I look forward to witnessing the inauguration of the first woman president,” Prime Minister Harris told President Ma Ying-jeou, adding that, “You must take some credit for creating an environment in which all women are encouraged.”
(Press release courtesy of the Office of the Press Secretary)
– See more at: http://sknis.info/pm-harris-to-attend-presidential-inauguration-in-taiwan/#sthash.gXvbUkfZ.dpuf
PM Harris expresses solidarity with Canada in wake of destructive wildfires
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MAY 13th, 2016 (PRESS SEC) – Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris has reached out to Canadian officials to express solidarity with victims of the wildfires that span 596,000 acres in and around Fort McMurray, Alberta.
The blaze, which began on May 1st, destroyed 2,400 homes and businesses, and displaced upward of 94,000 people.
“The people of St. Kitts and Nevis stand with the people of Canada, particularly the residents of Fort McMurray and surrounding areas. We thank God that there have been no fatalities, serious injuries or missing persons reported in relation to the fires. I think this is a testament to the very organized and prompt response by the Canadian government, as well as the brave and skillful work of thousands of emergency workers, first responders and firefighters,” Prime Minister Harris said.
In an update posted on May 13th at 7:00pm on www.alberta.ca, the province of Alberta said that 1,714 firefighters are battling the fires with 123 helicopters, 226 pieces of heavy equipment and 26 air tankers.
Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, visited the affected area on May 13th. Last week, the Canadian Prime Minister announced that the federal government would match individual donations made to the Canadian Red Cross from May 3rd to May 31st, to help evacuees from the wildfires, regardless of how much is raised. “There will be no cap,” Prime Minister Trudeau said on Twitter. To date, the Canadian Red Cross has reportedly fundraised $86 million for the cause.
(Press release courtesy of the Office of the Press Secretary)
ECTEL to commemorate World Telecommunication and Information Society Day
Castries, Saint Lucia. May 12, 2016- The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority, ECTEL, will join the world to commemorate World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2016, on Monday, May 17th. ECTEL is also at the same time recognizing girls in ICT Day which was observed on April 28, 2016.
To mark the occasion, ECTEL will engage young students at the St. Joseph’s Convent in Castries, Saint Lucia as part of efforts to encourage young girls and women to consider careers in ICT.
The one-hour presentation will begin with an awareness on Girls in ICT, then students will be introduced to wireless technologies and opportunities for youth in ICT advancement. The session will culminate with a Question and Answer segment to allow students to discuss the issues raised during the presentation.
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD-2016) will focus on the theme: “ICT entrepreneurship for social impact”, in accordance with Resolution 68 and as endorsed by ITU Council 2015.
The theme for WTISD-16 is in line with ITU’s work in unlocking the potential of ICTs for young innovators and entrepreneurs, innovative SMEs, start-ups and technology hubs as drivers of innovative and practical solutions for catalysing progress in achieving international sustainable development goals, with a focus on SMEs from developing countries.
ECTEL, in collaboration with the NTRCs in Grenada, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines has supported numerous ICT development projects through the Universal Service Fund. At present, other initiatives are being implemented through the Caribbean Regional Communication Infrastructure Project (CARCIP) in Saint Lucia, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. These include expansion of the broadband network, implementation of IP PBX systems in the public service, establishment of Internet Exchange Point(IXP) ICT Training and Capacity Building and ICT Business Incubation.
The purpose of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) can bring to societies and economies, as well as ways to bridge the digital divide.
World Telecommunication Day has been celebrated annually on 17 May since 1969, marking the founding of ITU and the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865. It was instituted by the Plenipotentiary Conference in Malaga-Torremolinos in 1973.
(Press release courtesy of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL))
Three Guatemalans Detained for Illegal Activities in the Chiquibul
Belmopan. May 14th, 2016. A joint patrol comprised of officers from the Belize Defence Force, the Police Department, and Friends for Conservation and Development encountered a group of 10 – 15 individuals engaged in what appeared to be illicit gold mining operations in the Ceibo Chico area of the Chiquibul Forest Reserve.
This encounter took place around 7:45 pm yesterday, 13th May, 2016 approximately 7.9 kilometers east of the border. The Belizean patrol detained three Guatemalan nationals: 23-year-old Carlos Roberto Perez Hernandez, 17-year-old Edin Alexander Escobar Garcia, and 21-year-old Solomon Martinez Pasqual.
The patrol reported that Carlos Roberto Perez Hernandez advanced towards a member of the patrol in an aggressive manner with a machete and the officer fired a warning shot in the air but Hernandez continued to advance. The officer then fired a second shot in self-defense and wounded Hernandez in his left upper arm. The patrol rendered first aid to Hernandez’s wound after which all three captives were escorted to the San Ignacio Police station for processing. Hernandez was taken to the San Ignacio Hospital where he was treated and released back into police custody. The investigation into this incident continues.
Deputy PM Richards extends condolences to family of late Tony Cozier
Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 14, 2016 (SKNIS): Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Sports, the Honourable Shawn Richards, has extended condolences to the family of the late Tony Cozier, who became one of the most distinguished voices of West Indies cricket for several years.
Mr. Cozier was a West Indian cricket writer, commentator and journalist. He died at his home in Barbados at the age of 75 after an illness.
Sports Minister Richards said that “there are few persons who rise to the status of a legend within their own time; he was one such person.”
“With a career that spanned over five decades Tony will be remembered alongside the on field West Indian greats of the game. In an era where we all huddled around the radio and listened in earnest to the exploits of the West Indian cricketers, through his words, Tony Cozier filled our lives with ball by ball images of the glorious uncertainties of the game of cricket,” said Deputy Prime Minister Richards.
“At close of play on May 11th, 2016, Tony Cozier may have faced his final ball, but he will remain ‘not out’ in the hearts of West Indians forever,” he said, while adding that “on behalf of Government and People of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, I extend our heartfelt sympathy to the family of the late Tony Cozier.”
Embrace Strong and Effective Leadership – Dr. Smith
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dr. Maurice Smith, is calling on public and private sector entities to embrace strong and effective leadership.
He said statistics have shown that every successful organisation, whether it is a school, business or sports club, all have good leaders in place.
Dr. Smith, who was addressing a meeting at the Cardiff Hotel and Spa in Runaway Bay, St. Ann recently, said the traditional perception of a boss as someone, who has control over others, has changed.
“I am suggesting to you that an effective leader should be looked at as someone, who makes things happen, who is able to go beyond thresholds and who is passionate about the job,” he said.
He noted that a leader should be guided by integrity, demonstrate competence, strong character and charisma, and must be seen as someone who inspires others by going beyond the call of duty.
The meeting was to review the HEART Trust/NTA’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) process, as a vehicle for workforce growth and development.
Senior Director of the TVET Division, Dr. Marcia Rowe Amonde, emphasised the importance of quality standards, and support for the integration of technical training across the education system.
The HEART Trust/NTA was established as a statutory body under the HEART Act in 1982 to govern the development and delivery of TVET in Jamaica. Its core business is on training and certification of Jamaican citizens for employment, while regulating and setting standards for the TVET system in Jamaica.
Agriculture ministry's school program
The program provides the support students need to meet today’s standards.
The Ministries of Agriculture and Education continue efforts to bolster agriculture programs within secondary schools.
Agriculture Extension Supervisor for Region Four, Paul Francis, said the Ministry of Agriculture plays a significant role in providing schools with the assistance and guidance needed to make each agriculture project and program a success.
“Some of the schools have greenhouses and are involved in vegetable production. So because we have a schools’ agriculture component as far as our program is concerned, the officers sit down with the agriculture teacher and together we try to incorporate [ideas] to meet the needs of the schools.
“For example, with the greenhouses, we assist the schools in the areas of crop husbandry or agronomic practices. We also assist them technically with lectures and discussions at the schools, and we include them in other programs like tours because the idea is to disseminate information that is appropriate.”
Francis said the program provides the support and backing students need to meet today’s standards.
“The children are the future: they will become the next supervisor, next extension officer, next chief extension officer.”
The extension office in Region Four is situated in Micoud and serves approximately 1000 farmers within Micoud and the surrounding environs.
$1.5 Million Income Tax Threshold for all PAYE Workers
The income tax threshold for all Pay As You Earn (PAYE) workers will be increased from $592,800 to $1.5 million, to be implemented in two phases.
As a result, some 251,000 PAYE workers will benefit from the increased threshold.
Effective July 1, 2016, the first phase of the personal income tax threshold will increase to $1,000,272.
The second phase of the increase will result in a personal income tax threshold of $1.5 million, effective April 1, 2017.
This was announced by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, as he opened the 2016/17 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on May 12. His presentation was themed: ‘Partnership For Economic Growth’.
“Right now there are 426,000 persons on the PAYE roll, but 125,000 are off it because they are below $592,800. In making this a threshold for everybody, it’s no longer 118,000 people that will benefit; it will now be 251,000 people. This is 133,000 more persons who will benefit,” the Minister pointed out.
He noted that the cost to the budget for the fiscal year 2016/17 is estimated at $12.5 billion.
The Minister also announced that the income tax rate of 25 per cent will be increased to 30 per cent for persons earning $6 million and more.
