Belize to Improve Solid Waste Management with Support of IDB and Japan
The Prime Minister of Belize, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, and Country Representative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Dr. Cassandra T. Rogers, as well as IDB Executive Director Toshiyuki Yasui as witness of honor, today signed an agreement to implement a non-reimbursable Technical Cooperation (grant) to improve solid waste management in Belize by promoting the reduction and recovery of municipal solid waste generation and contributing to the expansion of coverage of municipal solid waste management to rural areas. According to this agreement, the Government of Belize receives a US$500,000 grant from the IDB through the Japan Quality Infrastructure Initiative (JQI). The specific objectives of the Technical Cooperation are to: (i) implement a pilot project in selected tourist areas to promote source separation, composting, reuse and recycling, and (ii) design of a system to facilitate solid waste collection and transport in rural villages for final disposal in the Mile 24 Regional Sanitary Landfill as well as (iii) designs for route optimization in urban areas. The Technical Cooperation will also contribute to enhancing the image of Belize in the eco-tourism market.
Transforming Education through Virtual Reality and Games Wins Top Prize at the Caribbean Entrepreneur Challenge
Over the past 5 months young entrepreneurs have been battling it out to secure a place in the final of the Caribbean Entrepreneur Challenge (CEC), a component of the Trade Enhancement for the Eastern Caribbean (TEECA) project, hosted by the Martinique Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the CTM, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and supported by the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export), with funding by the European Regional Development Fund through the INTERREG Programme.
CEC was an initiative which aimed to raise awareness amongst the younger Caribbean people on regional cooperation and to encourage entrepreneurial innovation. Students initially applied to the challenge online where they gave a presentation of their business idea in one of the following areas: fashion, agro transformation, ICT, environment or music.
The top 10 presentations were selected to attend workshops on marketing, management, creativity, innovation and pitching to help develop enhanced business plans. The five most realistic innovative projects were then invited to pitch their ideas to a Caribbean panel in the final, where they could win a prize of between €1,000 to €10,000.
Nineteen-year-old Sophie Klein from Saint Lucia grabbed the top prize at the CEC final held on Wednesday June 5, 2019 in Trois-Ilets, Martinique for her business plan to transform education through incorporating greater virtual reality and gaming. The top prize of €10,000 and technical guidance will be used to kickstart her business.
With her project titled “JOIE” and in keeping with the ethos of her school Sir Arthur Lewis Community College “The cure for poverty is not money but knowledge” she set out a business plan that unlocked the utilisation of virtual reality and gaming to enhance the learning experience.
Other finalist included Miah Scott from Grenada with a range naturally made skin moisturisers and hair products under the name Shea Miah’s Way; Kenna Questelles from St. Vincent and the Grenadines with her project Linkup an online directory of restaurants menus and events; Leona Melius also from Saint Lucia presented Lily’s Healthy Eats – an organic and local food delivery service for schools and workplaces; and Tehillah Bannis offered cosmetics products that are safe and of good quality for the skin from Dominica with her project Herbie Care.
“Caribbean Export is pleased to support a project which encourages young people to be innovative and develop solutions for their immediate communities. We are looking forward to seeing how these business ideas turn in to reality” expressed Gayle Gollop, Special Advisor – Trade and Legal Affairs, Caribbean Export.
The Public is hereby notified that in keeping with changes in international oil prices and Government’s application of the modified market pass-through petroleum pricing mechanism, the retail price of gasoline remains unchanged. The retail price of diesel, kerosene and LPG 20, 22 and 100 lb cylinders has changed. The price changes take effect from Monday June 17, 2019:
Gasolineremains unchanged at $3.07 per litre or $13.95 per gallon
Keroseneincreased from $1.87 to $1.93 per litre or $8.51 to $8.76 per gallon
Diesel decreased from $3.07 to $3.04 per litre or $13.95 to $13.81 per gallon
20 Pound Cylinder (9.07 kg) decreased from $32.38 to $32.23 per cylinder
22 Pound Cylinder (9.98 kg) decreased from $35.90 to $35.73 per cylinder
100 Pound Cylinder (45.36kg) decreased from $205.75 to $204.95 per cylinder
The Public is informed that the next adjustment of the retail price of fuel products will be on Monday July 08, 2019.
The Department of the Public Service Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) invited to facilitate consultations in St.Vincent.
The Department of the Public Service is pleased to announce that the Public Sector Reform Unit in the Service Commissions Department of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has invited representatives from EAP Unit to St. Vincent, to be the facilitators of a consultation to promote the merits of an Employee Assistance Programme for the Public Service. One of the objectives of the consultation process is to provide awareness and acceptance of the Employee Assistance Programme at the highest level in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Public Sector Reform Unit in the Service Commissions Department of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has recognized the Employee Assistance Programme Unit in St. Lucia as a “Bright Spot” in the region.
The Employee Assistance Programme in Saint Lucia has been featured in the Caribbean Leadership Project (CLP) Magazine entitled, “Celebrating the Caribbean Leadership Project 2011-2018” as a “Bright Spot in the Caribbean” . A Bright Spot is an establishment which has been identified by the Caribbean Leadership Programme as an organization which exemplifies excellence in leadership in the creation of innovative and client- centered service.
The Employee Assistance Programmewas established on the 10th March, 2016, as a work-based intervention programme, designed to enhance the professional attitude of government employees and provide assistance to those persons whose professional and personal challenges are adversely affecting their quality of life and job performance.
This Programme provides six freecounselling sessions to government employees and their immediate family members on: career counselling, job -related issues, emotional difficulty, abuse, alcohol or chemical dependency, health challenges, dependent care, financial issues, domestic violence, marital conflict, grief, medical stress, anxiety and depression.
Counseling sessions are facilitated by highly trained professionals, who are guided by the Code of Conduct and Standards for Counsellors/Practitioners. The clients’ reviews of the programme so far has been nothing short of fantastic.
The Saint Lucia Public Service gets ready to celebrate Public Service Day 2019, under the theme:
“Transforming our Public Service: Building Excellence and Promoting Good Governance.” “Our Journey, Our Future”.
A week of activities have been organized for Monday, June 17, 2019 to Friday, June 21, 2019 and include:
Recognition of Outstanding Public Officers (Profiles of Public Officers will be featured in the media for the entire week);
a Panel Discussion which will be held on Monday, June 20, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. and aired through Sunday, June 23, 2019;
This activity will provide the opportunity for open discussion on our current Public Service, and our journey to transform it into one of excellence and good governance.
Job Shadowing Day scheduled for Monday, June 17, 2019 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the various Government Agencies;
Students will get the opportunity to become more knowledgeable about the Public Service and to acquire hands-on experience in public service careers, across the various Government Agencies.
Departmental Staff Appreciation and Recognition Day scheduled for Tuesday, June 18, 2019, throughout the day;
All agencies will dedicate this day to recognizing and appreciating its staff.
an Ecumenical Service scheduled for Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at 9:30 a.m., at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception;
a Health Fair to be hosted on Friday, June 21, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the parking lot of the Greaham Louisy Building, Waterfront, Castries;
The Health Fair is geared towards offering important healthcare services and advice to our public officers, as well as the general public.
Various health organizations such as the Saint Lucia Cancer Society, Faces of Cancer, Saint Lucia Planned Parenthood Association, as well as health Units from the Department of Health including Substance Abuse, Community Nursing, Environmental Health, and the Dental Unit will also be present.
We encourage all public officers, as well as the general public to turn out in large numbers to take advantage of the various health screenings which will be conducted onsite. These include glucose, blood pressure, body composition, rapid HIV/Syphillis, vision, and hearing, to name a few.
The Ministry of Finance announces that effective June 15, 2019, the pump price for Regular Gasoline will decrease by 52 cents from $10.48 to $9.96 per gallon. These price changes reflect current demand and supply conditions of crude oil in the international petroleum market and the availability of refining capacity in the countries from which the fuel is supplied to Belize. The Government of Belize is monitoring the price movements and supply conditions closely and will work with the fuel industry to safeguard the pump prices paid by Belizean consumers.
Government Establishes National Economic Fund and Strengthens Legislation Governing CIP Funds
Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Honourable Allen Michael Chastanet, introduced before the House on Tuesday a Bill to establish the Saint Lucia National Economic Fund and strengthen oversight over the management of Citizenship by Investment funds. This means that the Government has corrected gross inadequacies in the legislation governing the use of CIP funds which was passed by the former administration.
As he presented the Bill, the Prime Minister explained that presently, the Citizenship by Investment Act passed in 2015 establishes the Saint Lucia National Economic Fund (the Fund), however, the present administration felt it necessary to strengthen legislation as the Fund operates outside of the Consolidated Fund. The Prime Minister noted there are issues relating to governance, transparency and accountability that must be addressed. In fact the part of the legislation that dealt with the establishment of the Economic Fund under the CIP Act, passed by the former administration, was all but three lines.
“On this basis, the provisions under the Act were considered to be absolutely inadequate,” said Prime Minister Chastanet as he introduced the new Bill. “In relation to governance, the Bill identifies the Fund as a special fund that will be used to advance loans and provide investment for Government approved capital projects, reduce debt, purchase Government bonds or for monies required for a purpose approved by Cabinet. The Minister of Finance is authorized under the Bill to make an Order that will identify the Government approved capital projects once approval is obtained from Cabinet. The monies of the Fund will be the qualifying investments of cash that is currently stated under the Act and these monies will be deposited to the credit of the Minister in a financial institution approved by the Minister.”
The Bill will establish the Saint Lucia National Economic Fund Board which will include: The Director of Finance as Chairperson, the Budget Director, the Chief Economist, a representative from Invest Saint Lucia, a representative from the Ministry of Commerce, a representative from the Attorney General’s Chambers and a representative from the private sector.
The Board is expected to manage monies and the business of the fund; consider and approve an application for a loan or an investment in a Government approved capital project; monitor the use of the loan and ensure repayment of the loan, create and maintain a Sinking Fund and carry out other functions required for the proper functioning of the Fund.
The Prime Minister explained that the Bill also laid out clear application procedures for obtaining loans and investments from the Fund. The Board will also have to submit independent auditor’s reports and annual reports.
The Prime Minister clearly explained to the House that while the legislation for the Economic Fund was being developed the Government followed good governance practices and CIP contributions for the last few years were being put into the Consolidated Fund and managed by the Ministry of Finance. In his rebuttal the Prime Minister pointed out page by page, how the CIP funds had been used and where it could be found line by line in the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure.
The Prime Minister added that the current National Economic Fund Bill passed on Tuesday makes the process for the use of CIP funds transparent and accountable.
The Prime Minister ended by reassuring the public: “We know where the funds are going and there will be detailed reports done by independent entities. I believe that we are well on the way in order to make sure that the funds that we are earning from the CIP are going to the best use of the people and the country of Saint Lucia.”
CARICOM calls for all parties in unsettled situation in Haiti to act responsibly
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is deeply concerned about the present unsettled situation in its Member State, Haiti. This has been brought about by the long delay in having a new government installed which, in turn, has deprived the administration of much needed resources promised by its international financial and development partners.
The grave deterioration in citizen security and renewed mass demonstrations have once again resulted in violence, loss of life and the destruction of property, which is a cause for concern.
CARICOM calls for all parties to act responsibly. The resolution of differences is best achieved in an atmosphere of calm and serenity, through respect for constitutional and legislative procedures, law and order, and due process in an environment conducive to open and civil discourse.
ZCZC MIATWOAT ALL
TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM
Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
800 AM EDT Fri Jun 14 2019
For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 5 days.
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Forecaster Stewart
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Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, His Excellency Bruno Rodriquez Parrilla, will visit Saint Lucia from June 12th to 13th 2019.
This visit will be an important occasion to reaffirm the historical bilateral relations of Cuba with Saint Lucia, exchange on topics of common interest, and ratify the will to continue strengthening the historic bonds of friendship and cooperation.
The Cuban Foreign Minister will be greeted on arrival by the Minister in the Department of External Affairs Hon. Sarah Flood-Beaubrun, and Ambassador to CARICOM and OECS and Permanent Secretary in the Department of External Affairs, Her Excellency Elma Gene Isaac.
The Foreign Minister will then meet with Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Growth, Job Creation, External Affairs and the Public Service, Honourable Allen Michael Chastanet, at the Office of the Prime Minister.
The Cuban delegation is also integrated by the general director of Latin America and the Caribbean of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Eugenio Martínez Enríquez, and by Ambassador Alejandro Simancas Marín.
In February of this year Saint Lucia marked 40 years of Independence and Cuba was among the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with the newly independent Saint Lucia in 1979.
