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Anchors Aweigh for ARC 2017

ARC 2017

On Tuesday November 7th, 2017 at the breezy Seagrapes Restaurant, Bay Gardens Beach Resort, Sponsors of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) gave the “all clear” for ARC 2017 by way of a cheque handing over ceremony to national event producers Events Company of St. Lucia Inc (ECSL).

Present for this occasion were representatives from various key stakeholders including, the Ministry of Tourism, the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, the World Cruising Club (WCC) and the Events Company of St. Lucia Inc.

The ceremony kicked off with ECSL Public Relations Officer Mineva Ross doubling up as Mistress of Ceremony for this special event, who established that the ARC has been a staple of the Saint Lucia Events calendar for over three decades.

Noted was the tremendous reach of ARC, attracting some 200 boats from over 40 countries worldwide, with over 1500 participants expected to visit Saint Lucia during the month of November into December and even into the new year.

As part of their stay in Saint Lucia, ARC 2017 participants are expected to be fully immersed in the Saint Lucian culture with a planned-out activities calendar to include island tours, cultural concerts and other special events.

Present were Sean Devaux, General Manager of IGY Rodney Bay Marina who thanked sponsors, partners and the media for their support over the years.

Peta Cozier, Event Manager for the World Cruising Club spoke to the value of the local partnerships, which have made ARC a success for Saint Lucia and Saint Lucians. “We cannot emphasize enough the value of the support that Saint Lucia and Saint Lucians have given to ARC. The WCC depends greatly on these relationships to ensure the success of this event and we thank you greatly for your dedication and commitment to hosting ARC each year for the past 3 decades,” comments Peta Cozier.

Also present was the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority represented by Donnalyn Vittet who spoke to the value of collaboration, pledging their continued support for this event as the Authority explores international markets and opportunities to grow ARC and other events on the Saint Lucia events calendar.

Leila Williams, Marketing and Sponsorship Officer of ECSL outlined the role of ECSL for ARC, noting that with the event planning expertise of ECSL the ARC Planning Committee can give more focus to developing the ARC product and caring for its stakeholders. Sean Compton, Chairman of the ARC Planning Committee commended his team for their tremendous work and thanked the sponsors and partners for working closely with his committee to ensure the successful staging of ARC.

The main item on the agenda was the cheque handing over ceremony, where sponsors of ARC generously and publicly stated their commitment to the event by presenting their cheque to ECSL. Present were Platinum Sponsor FLOW, Gold sponsors SOL EC, The Wave, Windward and Leeward Brewery and Daher Broadcasting Service (DBS), Silver sponsor St. Lucia Distillers and Bronze sponsors St. Lucia Electricity Services, Mercury, Sixt Car Rental, Constantine Holdings Incorporated and Massy Stores.

The ARC 2017 Flotilla departs from Port Castries to IGY Rodney Marina on November 19th, 2017, which will also mark, in real time, the departure of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers fleet from La Palmas across the Atlantic to Saint Lucia. It is expected that the first few boats will arrive in Saint Lucia within 10 days although over recent years the boats have been arriving within a record breaking 5 days. All participants are expected to arrive by mid December and certainly in time for a Saint Lucian Christmas.

For more information about the island of Saint Lucia, call 1-800-456-3984, or 1-888 4STLUCIA or visit http://www.stlucia.org/.

Public Service Assistant Program

Public Service

The Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Empowerment, Youth Development, Sports, Culture and Local Government wishes to notify all clients of the Public Service Assistant Program (PAP) that payments will be made from Monday, Nov. 20 to Friday, Nov. 24.
For further information, please contact the Ministry at telephone number 468-5108 (Castries) and 454-6478 (Vieux Fort).

COTED remarks by the Secretary-General

COTED
CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque at the opening of the 45th Meeting of COTED

Remarks by the Secretary-General Caribbean Community Ambassador Irwin LaRocque at the Opening Ceremony of the Forty-Fifth Meeting of the of the Council for Trade and Economic Development ( COTED ) Georgetown, Guyana.

It is my distinct pleasure to welcome you all to this Forty-Fifth Regular Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development ( COTED ).
A special welcome to Dr. the Honourable Pierre Marie Du Meny, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Haiti, who is attending his first meeting of the COTED. Honourable Minister, this Council looks forward to your contribution to its discussions over the next two days.
The main responsibility of this body is to ensure that the trade and economic policies of the Community are supportive of growth and development in our Member States.
The devastating climatic events of last September have put at risk our efforts to stimulate that growth and development. Agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, housing, infrastructure, energy, and communications have been adversely affected in varying degrees in the countries battered by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The economic impact is not limited to the affected countries alone but extend to the wider Caribbean given our level of integration.
Even as relief efforts continue, the task of reconstruction and rebuilding must get underway.  This is critical not only to re-energising the economy but also to provide for the social needs of the people as they recover from a traumatic experience.
Our Community and its Institutions, led by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), have responded impressively to the situation.  The Governments and People of our Member States have stood up to be counted in the hour of need of our stricken Members and Associate Members.  And now we will all have to play a part in rebuilding the countries in a manner that enhances resilience to adapt to and to mitigate the effects of climate change. We must seize this opportunity and help the countries build back better and become the first climate-resilient nations in the world.
We cannot do this alone.  To further this aim, CARICOM, with the support of the United Nations, will convene a High-Level Pledging Conference on 21 November at UN Headquarters in New York.  Through this event, we are seeking the co-operation of our international development partners, the private sector and private foundations to help rebuild the countries ravaged by these hurricanes.
A broader objective, is to assist the entire Community to improve its resilience to adapt to the effects of climate change. We must prepare for the next catastrophic hurricane, flood or drought since climate change is the new normal.
It is clear that we will have to strengthen our capacity to plan for that new normal.
Honourable Ministers, as we grapple with the seriousness of our vulnerability to catastrophic events, this Council will be called upon to lead in promoting sound policies that will help to strengthen our economic resilience.
Our Strategic Plan places great emphasis on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) as our chosen vehicle in that regard. And correctly so. However, given the reality of the new normal, brought on by the effects of climate change, we need to ask ourselves: is it sufficient? We need to look at our economic sectors and consider ways of making them more resilient to these external shocks.
This does not negate the critical importance of the CSME; far from it. The regimes of free trade in goods and services, movement of skills and capital, and the right of establishment remain vital to our economic well-being. And we have done fairly well in those areas.
But there are issues on our agenda such as compliance with the provisions of the Revised Treaty and the decisions of the Community’s Organs which require urgent attention. It has been determined that our Treaty and the binding decisions of our Organs form a body of Community Law. It is therefore necessary that the COTED ensures compliance.
There are some matters on our agenda with respect to trade in goods that have remained unresolved for a considerable amount of time.  These relate mainly to the trade in agricultural products.
Our Treaty, for example, calls for the development of an effective regime for sanitary and phytosanitary measures.  The main objective is to ensure that these measures are not illegitimately used to restrict trade within the Community.  While there are some elements of that regime in place, I believe that the time has come for us to more clearly articulate the rules governing that trade. This would remove all doubt about the actions that are permissible and those that are not.
We must also seek to remove the areas of uncertainty in respect of the free movement of skills regime.  We have to recognize that the free movement of skills has been embraced by the people as a benefit of integration.  Many have taken advantage of the opportunities presented by this regime. And again, it is my understanding that this regime has worked fairly well.
But there are challenges. Some challenges have been experienced by persons seeking to exercise their rights under the regime in accordance with decisions of the COTED and the Conference of Heads of Government. And there have been challenges experienced by Member States seeking to confer those rights. The Council must move quickly to resolve those issues.
Your packed agenda also includes matters relating to the development of a Public Procurement Protocol.  This matter has also been on the agenda for quite some time.  However, I am pleased to note a step forward with the launch of the Community Public Procurement Notice Board.
This should help both the private sector and governments by facilitating the exchange of information on procurement opportunities and contract awards.  Suppliers, including small and medium enterprises, can access opportunities in their national space and across the Region.
On the international front, you will also be discussing matters relating to our external trade, in particular the decision last year by the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. Trade between the Region and the UK is currently governed by the provisions of the Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU. Both parties have begun preliminary consultations towards ensuring that there will be no interruption in our trade post Brexit. The Council will examine proposals for advancing the technical work in that regard.
As small economies, we have a vested interest in maintaining the integrity of an open international trading system. However, at this time there is increasing uncertainty about the future of a multi-lateral trading system which places emphasis on development issues. Therefore, our participation in the Eleventh Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which will take place in December of this year, will be crucial.  This gives us an opportunity to reaffirm the importance we place on a trading system that recognises the needs of small vulnerable economies, particularly at this time given the intensifying effects of climate change.
As we pursue our external trade agenda, it will be my pleasure, immediately following this Opening Ceremony, to sign a Protocol to expand preferential access to both Parties under the CARICOM-Cuba Trade and Economic Co-operation Agreement. This marks a further deepening of the trade and economic relations between CARICOM and Cuba. It provides further opportunities for our private sector, some of whose representatives have been actively engaged with our Cuban partners.
In closing, Honourable Ministers, I wish to again emphasize the important role you play in fostering the Region’s economic development.  In this era of the new normal, forced upon us by the effects of climate change, all our Councils have the responsibility to ensure that our Community can respond fully and effectively to the challenges posed.
Our affairs must be conducted in the context of building a resilient Community in all facets – economically, socially, environmentally and technologically.  In this way, we advance the quality of life of our people and create a path to sustainable development.
I thank you and wish you success in your deliberations.

Customs Appeals Commission established

Customs Appeals Commission

The Customs & Excise Division announces that the Customs’ Appeals Commission has been established and is in full effect.

The Commission was formally created in the first quarter of 2017 in keeping with Section 205 of the Customs Act.
It acts as an independent review body on reviewable decisions taken by the Comptroller of Customs and Excise Division to the dissatisfaction of a person or an entity conducting business with the Division.
The members of the Customs Appeals Commission are as follows;
Anande Trotman-Joseph – Chairman
Junior Mahon – Government Representative
Rev. Dr Osbourne James – Conference of Churches
Patrick Bubb – Former Comptroller of Customs
Emmanuel Duncan – Private Sector
Alisha Thomas – Secretary                                              –
Please be advised all matters should be sent to Ms. Alisha Thomas, Secretary to the Customs Appeals Commission, Financial Complex Carenage St. George or customsappealscommission@gmail.com.
Ms. Thomas can also be contacted at 440-6843.

Victory for Grenada at UNESCO General Assembly

UNESCO general assembly

Resounding Victory for Grenada at UNESCO General Assembly in Paris

131 Member States of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) demonstrated confidence in Grenada’s leadership by voting to elect the country to UNESCO’s Executive Board on Wednesday, November 8, during the UNESCO general Assembly in Paris.
UNESCO is responsible for coordinating international cooperation in education, science, culture and communication and is an important partner for Grenada’s development.
A local UNESCO Secretariat is housed at the Ministry of Education, under whose auspices the secretariat’s operations fall. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assisted in the bid for this important seat by campaigning and arguing the merits of Grenada’s candidacy through diplomatic channels. As a result, Grenada will serve on the Executive Board until 2021.
Grenada joins 26 other countries elected to serve on the Executive Board for this year.

High-Level UNCAC Conference in Austria

UNCAC

Belize Represented at High-Level UNCAC Conference in Austria.

The Attorney General Hon. Michael Peyrefitte along with Crown Counsel Odwin Trenton are currently representing Belize at the Seventh Session of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) Conference of State Parties. The Conference is taking place at the seat of the secretariat, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (the UNODC), from the 6th – 10th November 2017, Vienna International Centre in Vienna, Austria.

The Government of Belize through the Attorney General’s Ministry, the Focal Point of the UNCAC, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has embarked upon a gap analysis of the currently existing institutional and legislative framework with an aim of developing a comprehensive, progressive and practical action plan for implementing Belize’s anti-corruption regime.

As a State Party of the UNCAC, Belize in accordance with Article 63, is required to participate in the Conference of the State Parties to the Convention (COSP). The COSP was established to improve the capacity of and cooperation between State Parties to achieve the objectives set out in the UNCAC and to promote and review its implementation.

In tandem with this approach, the Government voluntarily submitted to the Implementation Review Mechanism (IRM) to assist Belize in the effective implementation of the UNCAC.  The review of implementation and the IRM falls under the authority of the COSP as it is one of the salient procedures utilized to achieve the objectives set out in the UNCAC.

In accordance with the “Rules of Procedure for the Conference of the States Parties to the UNCAC”, Rule 3, the COSP is required to meet annually. Due to the need to meet important decisions, the Secretariat strongly encouraged government representation at the highest political level. Therefore, the Attorney General Hon. Michael Peyrefitte is currently in attendance along with Crown Counsel Odwin Trenton, Interim Project Coordinator, UNCAC Project Board.

Michael Peyrefitte
Belize Attorney General Hon. Michael Peyrefitte

The Seventh Session will address the effectiveness of the Mechanism for the Review of Implementation of the UNCAC or the IRM and resolutions on a myriad of anti-corruption measures. Pursuant to Article 63, paragraph 5, of the UNCAC, the COSP is to acquire the necessary knowledge of the measures taken by State Parties in implementing the UNCAC and the difficulties encountered by them in doing so. The aim is to review the process to identify challenges and good practices and technical assistance to ensure the effective implementation of the UNCAC.

This year’s discussion will also centre on Preventative Measures in the fight against corruption, Asset Recovery, and International Cooperation as it relates to the challenges encountered and good practices. Additional matters to be discussed include the implementation of Article 63 concerning cooperation with relevant international and regional organizations and mechanism and non-governmental organizations; as well as the appropriate use of relevant information produced by other international and regional mechanisms for combatting and preventing corruption, to avoid unnecessary duplication of work.

Belize’s delegation met with Haiti and Tuvalu, the reviewing State Parties reviewing Belize’s first cycle of implementation of Chapters III and IV of the UNCAC. During these bilateral consultations, Belize was praised for being the first country to submit the self-assessment checklist in this cycle on time. Haiti and Tuvalu are both committed to the review process and once all official communications are received from these two states, there will be a country visit to Belize in the latter part of January 2018, to further review the institutional and legislative framework.

After the country visit has concluded, the reviewing State Parties will prepare a country review report, including an executive summary of the report, in close cooperation and coordination with Belize and with the assistance of UNODC.  The recommendations emanating from this report will form the basis for the action plan to implement the necessary changes to strengthen Belize’s anti-corruption regime.

It is almost a year since Belize acceded to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, and even though it has only been eleven months, the Government of Belize has made the implementation of the UNCAC a priority.

GGMC Major Clean-Up for Region Eight

Quincy-Thom - Senior-Environmental-Officer-GGMC

The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) through the Ministry of Natural Resources is investing $5 million towards major cleanup works in Region Eight.

Senior Environmental Officer of GGMC, Quincy Thom told the Department of Public Information (DPI) the works will commence in Mahdia before moving onto other communities. The agency through the Ministry of Natural Resources over the past few days has been working along with the region to upgrade the Mahdia dumpsite.
He explained that the aim is to close the entrance of the site and remove all the garbage to the back until the new landfill is opened. “The site was temporary; it should be closed off. The Region through Ministry of Communities and EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has identified a site, but this site is still being used because until that process is completed the residents need somewhere to dump their garbage,” Thom explained.
The site is marked with a temporary caution tape to restrict persons from indiscriminately disposing of garbage. Efforts are in place to have someone monitor the area to ensure there is proper waste disposal. With Mahdia, in line for township status, it is most likely the community will see further expansion; hence the garbage situation needs to be under control Thom said.
In addition to addressing the dumpsite situation, GGMC has also donated 120 garbage bins with covers to further boost refuse disposal in the region. Other communities targeted in the region include Mikobi, Princeville and Campbell town.

GGMC
Jasmine Adams, Acting Environmental Officer in Waste Management

“We’re hoping to enlighten residents about the Litter Act.  We want persons to know they must abide by the laws and dispose of their waste in a proper manner. This Clean Up My Country project is ongoing by the Ministry. The first one was held in Kamarang, then we went to Baramita now to close off the year we’re at Mahdia,” the Senior Environmental Officer underlined.
The clearing and organising of the dumpsite is being undertaken by a group of companies who collaborated to form the Potaro Contracting Services. Manager, Clarkes Contracting Services, Oswald Clarke highlighted that before works the garbage was overflowing from the site onto the road.
He said that “back in 2015 after elections the region approached us for the massive cleanup campaign and we did then and stopped. But when GGMC came in recently we volunteered to start back the process. Until the area is closed off and garbage goes over to the new site we will be monitoring to ensure the garbage goes into one area.”
GGMC
Mahdia dumpsite being upgraded

Data Collection Critical To Fighting Crime

Citizen Security Data Collection

Issues related to crime and security and disaster management should be the only two issues on the agenda for the next Heads of Government meeting.
That is the recommendation from Attorney General, Adriel Brathwaite, who said they represented the most crucial areas facing the region at this point in time.
“No other issues should be on the agenda because these two issues can, and will, determine if and how we go forward as a region,” he stated, stressing that crime was a very serious problem across the region.
Mr. Brathwaite pointed out that the region was very heavily dependent on tourism, and must, therefore, continue to be seen as a region of peace. A failure to address these critical issues, the Minister warned, would be “shooting ourselves in the foot”.
However, as he addressed the CariSECURE Sensitisation Workshop for the Caribbean Citizen Security Toolkit in Barbados at UN House today, Mr. Brathwaite also made a call for better data collection methods to be employed to combat crime.
“Data collection is essential. When I attend RSS [Regional Security System] ministerial meetings, the Council of National Security Ministers or IMPACS, which is the Implementation Agency for Crime and Security meetings, one of the things that comes across clearly is the lack of data,” he said.
Noting that the Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit (CJRPU) was the champion of the project, the Attorney General said when the various entities made presentations, the crime statistics showed significant gaps in available data, a situation which could impact the creation of successful policy.
He explained that often officials from the various agencies, including the CJRPU, the Royal Barbados Police Force and HMP Dodds, experienced difficulties in obtaining accurate information from other agencies.
“We need a holistic approach. We need to have champions across all ministries and all the sectors so that when we have requests for information it is readily available. We cannot create effective policy without the relevant data…. We have to do better at a national level, and at a regional level,” the Minister insisted.
US Ambassador, Linda Taglialatela, said the workshop began the process of incorporating the Toolkit into Barbados’ security framework and allowed crime prevention agencies to streamline data and monitor citizens’ security patterns.
“The Toolkit will help practitioners harmonise crime data across agencies and in the criminal justice system. This enhanced communication will foster more accurate analysis and informed decision-making,” she stated.
Meanwhile, United Nations Development Programme’s Resident Representative to Barbados and the OECS, Stephen O’Malley, explained that the Toolkit introduced instruments that would improve the quality of crime data.
These instruments include the Citizen Security Data Collection Form and the corresponding Coding Structure and Guidance Notes on Citizen Security Data Collection and Dissemination.
“Such tools will ensure that crime data are collected coherently, transparently and ethically, while providing law enforcement with sufficient details on the victim, perpetrator and incident,” Mr. O’Malley said.
The workshop is hosted by the United States Agency for International Development, in collaboration with the CJRPU, and is part of the activities taking place to mark Crime Awareness Month 2017 under the theme: Reducing Crime and Violence in Our Communities.

Illegal Wildlife Possession Arrest and Fines

Wildlife

Jacob Emmanuel Cabral of Caye Caulker was fined $2,000 for “Unlawful Possession of Forest Produce”.  San Pedro Town Magistrate Jannelle Villanueva ordered that Cabral pays the fine by March 30th, 2018 or face imprisonment of up to six months.

The Forest Department reported that on 15th August 2017, police officers visited Cabral’s business place on Caye Caulker, where he was found in possession of three racoons.  Cabral claimed that the racoons were awarded to him as a gift and was reportedly using the racoons for wildlife tourism. The five-week-old racoons were transported to the Belize Wildlife Referral Clinic for rehabilitation with the hope that they will eventually be returned to the wild.

Minerva Gonzalez, Forest Department Officer, said that while raccoons may look adorable, they are wild animals and should not be treated as pets. She added that even when “tamed” racoons are extremely high maintenance, unpredictable, destructive, and are notorious biters. Most importantly, racoons pose a major health risk to people and other pets.

“They are known carriers of zoonotic parasites and infectious diseases, including rabies,” explained Gonzalez. “Their natural instinct is to bite when they’re angry, frustrated, or stressed.” Consequently, Gonzalez advised that for the sake of human safety and protection, residents should immediately report any possession or illegal captivity of wild animals to the Forest Department.

The Department reminds the public that under the Forest Act, Wildlife Protection Act, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, any person found capturing, exporting, importing, hunting, killing, or molesting any wildlife species will serve imprisonment and/or fines.

The Department welcomes the support and assistance of community residents by reporting any forest or wildlife concerns to the Forest Department at 822-2079 or email at info@forest.gov.bz.

READ MORE: ‘Green’ people centred approach to wildlife management

Consulate General to Host Community Resource Fair

Community Resource Fair

Consulate General of Saint Lucia in New York to Host Community Resource Fair.

In an effort to raise awareness among members of the Caribbean diaspora of the many activities and opportunities available to them throughout New York City and the State of New York, the Consulate General of Saint Lucia in New York, in collaboration with the CARICOM Consular Corps, will be holding a Community Resource Fair, on Saturday, November 18, 2017. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held at the Saint Lucia House, 438 East 49th Street, Brooklyn, New York, from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM.
Exhibiting at the Resource Fair will be a number of agencies and organizations providing information on topics of particular interest to Saint Lucians in the New York area, including, but not limited to: immigration, education, workforce training, health and wellness, job placement, housing, and childcare.
Although there is no admission fee, participants are encouraged to donate toys to the Consulate’s annual Diaspora Toy Drive, benefitting underprivileged children in Saint Lucia.
For more information on the Community Resource Fair, contact the consulate at 212.697.9360, ext. 203, or sluconsulateny@govt.lc.

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