Patra Julian – Newly Rehired as a Playmaker in the Entertainment Department at Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – 1,500 Saint Lucians from all across the country recently responded to a call by Sandals to fill a number of vacancies in its work force.

Persons were interviewed for a number of positions including Club Sandals, Front Office; Weddings; Sales; Stewarding; Kitchen; Dining Room; Watersports; Photoshop; the Spa; Entertainment; Landscaping; Resort Shop and Housekeeping.

Of the 1500 applications received 352 were shortlisted for interviews and 120 were finally selected for full time employment as Sandals team members.

Those not immediately selected to commence work at the various resorts on island can expect to become participants in the Sandals Hospitality Training Programme, and still others will be contacted for future employment as opportunities arise.

These 120 team members have just completed a rigorous Sandals orientation, a process that is essential to teach them about the company history and among other key elements, to familiarize them with company policy and procedures; company mission and vision and guest engagement strategies.

Patra Julian, newly rehired as a Playmaker in the Entertainment Department at Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort was present at Wednesday’s orientation and had this to say. “I was unemployed for the last 6 months or so and of course I needed to find a job.

Because I had worked at Sandals before, it was easy for me to think of going back, especially now that the company has grown so much and there are many more benefits for the staff. I welcome this opportunity to be a part of the company again.”

Training Manager Maxine Pierre commented on the energy that the new team members have brought. She said, “They have joined the company at an opportune moment, just as Sandals has introduced the new 5-day work week for all employees”.

Regional Public Relations Manager Sunil Ramdeen said the company was heartened by the response from the Saint Lucian public, “It shows that Sandals is still very much a place that people want to work. The fact is we remain the premium brand in the Caribbean, and the opportunities we offer for development through our Sandals Corporate University are very much desired by people seeking employment.”

He had some encouraging words for those not selected this time around.

“We have broken ground on our fourth hotel and soon we will be hiring persons during the construction phase. Once completed we will have in the region of 900 full time jobs available. We thank those who have applied, and we look forward to being able to welcome you to our Sandals family at some time in the future.”

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – Due to circumstances beyond their control Windward & Leeward Brewery Ltd. (WLBL) wishes to inform the public that the second grand prize draw of a motorbike for the I Love Beer Under the Crown Promotion, has been postponed.

Consumers are asked to listen to their favourite stations and see press for further details.

A new date for the second draw will be communicated at a later date.

Consumers can still enter the I Love Beer promotion, to win either a Motorbike or a 2018 Subaru SUV, by collecting six (6) I Love Beer Crowns, of the same beer brand— Heineken®, Guinness®, Amstel® or Piton®.

Entries can be submitted, with an entry form, at any of these locations: Cheaperz, Uptown Supermarket, Plante’s Place, Golden Apple, Twist 2 for 1, River Bank, Raphael Willie, Savers Mart, Mama Rosa, Raymond & Co., Marigourmet and Total Auto.

Entrants must be 18 and over to participate in the I Love Beer Promotion and are reminded to enjoy responsibly.

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The OECS Commission and Solar Head of State (SHOS), a non-profit association working with governments to demonstrate leadership on the implementation of the sustainable energy agenda, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on July 6, 2018 in Jamaica to support the vision of the OECS for a sustainable future and demonstrate the commitment of the leadership of the OECS to the global effort to address climate change and the need to reduce dependency on fossil fuels.

The MoU was signed by Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General of the OECS Commission and Mr. James Ellsmoor, Director of SHOS.

In the main, the MoU will enable The OECS and SHOS to work collaboratively to develop and implement a regional strategy that seeks to generate public savings through the installation of solar photovoltaic power systems on key government buildings in OECS Member States.

The MoU formalises a framework of cooperation and facilitates collaboration between The OECS and SHOS to improve knowledge sharing and build capacity through the transfer of critical skills and global expertise in the design and installation of solar systems.

It is the hope that, the installation of solar systems on public government buildings will provide an opportunity to experience, first-hand, the proven benefits of renewable technologies thereby inspiring a global coalition of green leaders.

OECS Director General, Dr. Didacus Jules said that, “This MOU with Solar Head of State supports the mission of the OECS Commission to contribute to the sustainable development of OECS Member States by assisting them to maximise the benefits from their collective space.”

The SHOS team have already begun work in the OECS, installing the first solar system on the public residence of the Governor-General, at Government House in Saint Lucia. The 5.4kW grid-tied system will save 100 tons of carbon in its lifetime and save the government roughly US$150,000 per annum.

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) is celebrating 42 years since the EC Dollar has been pegged to the US Dollar at a fixed rate of EC$2.70 to US$1.00.

The EC Dollar was pegged to the US Dollar on 7 July 1976. Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Timothy N. J. Antoine said, this is a noteworthy achievement which has allowed the people of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union to enjoy a fixed exchange regime.

“The fact that we have free convertibility between the EC and US Dollars, is not something that every country enjoys. The stability of the EC currency has led to low inflation and has attracted Foreign Direct Investment which have worked towards the benefit of the people in our region,” Governor Antoine said.

A key element in maintaining the value and stability of the currency is the ECCB’s management of the region’s pool of foreign reserves which has allowed the peg to continue unchanged for the last 42 years.

Governor Antoine also attributed the stability of the EC Dollar to the founding fathers and framers of the currency union, including past Governors, the Monetary Council and the Board of Directors whose efforts he said, have allowed the currency to stand the test of time even in a volatile global economy.

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The Department of Commerce, International Trade, Investment, Enterprise Development and Consumer Affairs extends congratulations to Baron Foods (St. Lucia) Limited on earning the prestigious Gold Medal in the 2018 International Superior Taste Award held in Brussels, Belgium.

On this momentous occasion, the Government and People of Saint Lucia join in celebrating this extraordinary achievement of one of our leading manufacturers.

To be the recipient of this highly acclaimed award from the International Taste and Quality Institute (iTQi) for its Pasta Sauce Product is not only an outstanding achievement for Baron Foods (St. Lucia) Limited but also for our Simply Beautiful Saint Lucia.

As the company continues to expand its operations by having a regional presence, Baron Foods (St. Lucia) Limited continues to set high standards by being ingenious, forward-thinking and distinctive in its product delivery. These are qualities worth emulating as we seek to develop and diversify our local manufacturing sector to be better positioned to take advantage of opportunities in the global market.

As the lead agency responsible for entrepreneurial development, the Department of Commerce takes pride in the successes of the private sector. The Department therefore encourages Baron Foods (St. Lucia) Limited to continue making its mark nationally, regionally and internationally by being “a cut above the rest” and a leader in the region’s manufacturing sector, through its unique Caribbean brand.

Once again congratulations from the Honourable Minister, Management and Staff of the Department of Commerce, International Trade, Investment, Enterprise Development and Consumer Affairs.

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – In 2019 SAINT LUCIA will celebrate 40 years of independence.

To keep the observance of our legacy alive the Department of Culture and the Independence Committee have commenced preparation for the nation showcase.

The 2019 celebration showcase will be decentralized, engaging, inspirational, and sustainable, must have a lasting legacy and video appeal.

Minister for Culture Sen. Hon. Fortuna Belrose stated that 40 years is a major milestone and that the showcase must be unmatched.

“Next year Saint Lucia will be celebrating 40 years of Independence and as a country we need to showcase it in a lasting Legacy. We need to have the programmes decentralized due to feedback received from the 2018 celebration. The focus is to engage people as we move forward.”

The theme for the 40th Independence Anniversary Celebration is ‘Proud to be Saint Lucian’.

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SLBWA headquarters.

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The Saint Blind Welfare Association (SLBWA) has this year been named as one of the major non-profit organizations that will be benefiting from a part donation of proceeds that will be derived from the Pine Hill Walk 2018.

Peter and Company Limited formally confirmed this philanthropic gesture at Friday’s press launch of one of the most highly subscribed promotional walks in recent times.

The popular annual Walk is slated to take place on Sunday, August 12, 2018.

Speaking at today’s Press Launch the immediate past president of the Association.

Mr. Rodney Maxius registered the profound gratitude of the Blind Welfare Association to the management and staff of Peter and Company for their support at a time when the organization was struggling.

“They were one of the businesses that came right onboard to assist us so we are grateful for that.”

Mr. Maxius also made an appeal that assistance can also come in non-monetary forms, such as the hiring of the blind and visually impaired when job opportunities become available.

The press launch took place at the company’s offices at Peter and Company in Cul De Sac.

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Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Hon. Allen Chastanet and Managing Director (Ag) of ECTEL, Mr. Andrew Millett, sign Protocol Amending the Treaty Establishing the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority.

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) announces the signing of the Protocol Amending the Treaty Establishing the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) by Prime Minister Allen Chastanet of Saint Lucia and Prime Minister Keith Mitchell of Grenada during CARICOM’s 39th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government held in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

This Protocol modifies the Treaty to address the myriad of changes which have occurred in the telecommunications industry since the signing of the Treaty establishing ECTEL on 4th May 2000 at St. George’s, Grenada. Some of the notable changes include convergence between services, networks and technologies in the telecommunications sector.

This Protocol also acts as a prerequisite for the promulgation of the Electronic Communications Bill and a new suite of Regulations paving the way for ECTEL to address the many issues facing the telecommunications market today, such as quality of service, consumer protection, and more affordable access to retail and wholesale telecommunications services.

The Protocol will now be presented to the Prime Ministers of the other ECTEL Member States of Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines for consideration and signature.

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The Saint Lucia Manufacturers Association would like to take a special moment to recognize and congratulate SMA member-company Baron Foods and Mr. Ronald Ramjattan for their victory at the International Superior Taste Award in Brussels, Belgium.

Earlier this month, Baron Foods took home the gold medal which was awarded by the International Taste and Quality Institute (iTQi) in recognition of the company’s outstanding pasta sauce.

On the iTQi Sensory Evaluation Graph, the product’s visual appeal ranked the highest followed by the taste and texture.

The pasta sauce is one out of the eleven products which makes up the Baron Gourmet Collection and was launched in October 2011.

This convenient gourmet collection has been well received by consumers, especially within the “meals in minutes” food category.

CEO, Mr. Ronald Ramjattan said “we are particularly proud of the innovative thinking that led to these products being developed and the ease of use that accompanies each product.”

“Being a result-oriented company, with a strong customer base we have gone from being a local company with roots in St. Lucia to a regional company with a full agro- processing plant in the island of Grenada and Trinidad & Tobago. We came with a vision of providing innovative and quality products to our customers, whilst building a true Caribbean brand,” Ramjattan said.

The iTQi Superior Taste Award is the only international certificate for taste endorsed by experts – Michelin starred Chefs and Sommeliers.

Above all, it is a guarantee of buying a product recognized for its gustative qualities; while for producers, it is a valuable and efficient communication

tool to differentiate their products, uplift their brand images and attract new clients.

Baron Foods has been an active and longstanding member of Saint Lucia Manufacturers Association and a leader in the island’s indigenous manufacturing sector. As one of Saint Lucia’s larger manufacturing companies, Baron Foods has always placed emphasis on providing mentorship and training to the industry’s younger entrepreneurs and manufacturers.

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – Get a ZTE A320 or Alcatel U5 for just $195.00 when you buy an XL 30-day Combo Plan. (Customer pays a total of $296.24.)

Get a Vonino Xylo Z for just $149.00 when you buy an L 7-day Combo Plan. (Customer pays a total of $188.36.)

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – Crave Restaurant and Bar is excited to announce the launch of a brand new local restaurant and bar in Rodney Bay Marina.

Locally owned and operated, it looks to feature both authentic local and international cuisines.

Every guest will be also treated with a high level of comfort and satisfaction as they adhere to international standards of service. By creating a semi-formal ambiance, Crave guests will feel welcomed and made comfortable by their expertly trained Crave attendants.

The Restaurant and Bar will also be one of the first tourism establishments in Saint Lucia to adopt international standards, offer unique world class cuisines, and make sure each and every guest is treated beyond their expectations.

“We are very enthusiastic to bring a world class standard to the restaurant industry in St. Lucia”, said Public Relations Manager Dinesh Daswani. “We believe that Saint Lucians are special people who can deliver a valuable product for fellow Saint Lucians and guests to our island to consistently enjoy.”

The Restaurant and Bar is a parent company of Maruti Foods, owned by local business entrepreneur Ashok Vaswani, and will be managed by world class chef and restaurant manager, Raj Daswani, who brings his experience from around the world to the beautiful island.

Several key stakeholders including Fleva Hardware, Chairman’s Reserve, Heineken, Peter and Company, 94.5 The Wave and The Candid Guy Visuals have partnered with Crave Restaurant and Bar to deliver an exceptional experience for all.

The official opening date will be Monday, July 9th, 2018 with lunch specials starting at EC$18 with VAT and limited dinner reservations .

Specials will also be available all week long including a unique World Cup Semi Final and Final Viewing party on July 10th, 11th and 15th, 2018.

Crave will be open to walk-ins and full reservations on July 18th, 2018.

For more information or to book a limited reservation, call (758) 459-2452, email info@craveslu.com or send is a private message to @cravslu on Instagram.

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – On Saturday June 30th, 2018 the Teacher’s Credit Cooperative hosted a “Digital Blitz Day” for its membership & members of the public to introduce its new mobile banking App.

The new app is part of the SLTCC’s strategic mandate to improve the efficiency, convenience and security of its financial services to its customers.

The SLTCC mobile banking app, is a hybrid app available for both Apple IOS and Android devices and some of its main features include: check account balances, view transaction history, transfer funds, and get check daily exchange rates.

Bill payment options are included with the iPhone app and mobile website, which features branch locator information and easy viewing of current loan rates.

“We saw Mobile banking as the next frontier as more and more people rely on their cell phones and mobile devices for everyday conveniences,” said Portia Compton-James, Deputy General Manger (Operations) for the SLTCC. “Mobile banking with the St. Lucia Teacher’s Credit Corporative offers secure and easy-to-use tools for our customers to access up-to-the-minute account information and services – anytime, anywhere.”

The Digital Blitz event was held at the premises of the Teacher’s Credit Cooperative and was well attended by its membership.

Some of the day’s activities included: app demonstrations, giveaways, including two raffles where a customer walked away with a brand new tablet!

For more information visit the SLTCC website at: www.sltccu.com

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The Department of Commerce, International Trade, Investment, Enterprise Development and Consumer Affairs, in collaboration with the Savings Bank Foundation for International Cooperation (SBFIC), will be hosting a four-day Business Plan Development Workshop aimed at strengthening the ability of local entrepreneurs/ business owners to formulate and implement winning strategies that will improve their chances of long term success and sustainability.

This falls within the Department’s mandate of providing training and consultation to entrepreneurs as a means of developing the MSME sector.

This initiative is in response to the number of requests made by clients for assistance with the development of business plans for the purpose of obtaining financing, applying for Duty Free Concessions and for guiding business practices. The Workshop is seen as an efficient and effective way to assist a multitude of clientele, providing them with fundamental information to create their own plans. Further, the Department through Small Enterprise Development Unit (SEDU) will provide each participant with one-on-one consultations in order to refine and successfully implement their business plans.

This workshop will be held on the 10th, 24th & 31st of July and 07th August 2018 at the Department of Fisheries Conference Room, Pointe Seraphine, Castries from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A maximum of twenty five (25) existing and potential MSMEs within various business sectors are expected to benefit from this workshop.

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The Immigration Department of Royal Saint Lucia Police Force would like to inform the public of a temporary inability to process local passports today, Tuesday July 10, 2018, due to technical difficulties experienced with the passport system.

The department remains able to process extensions and foreign passports.

The Royal Saint Lucia wishes to apologise for the inconvenience caused.

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The Business sector is buzzing with activity with the announcement of the expansion of major Call centres which will mean increased employment in the north and south of the island.

Invest St. Lucia is making plans to help start-ups! In this week’s issue of “OUR SAINT LUCIA – Building Resilience” we focus on these advancements and more!

The Government of Saint Lucia also made major announcements on the issue of establishing affordable health care for all. Prime Minister Honourable Allen Chastanet addressed the nation on plans for National Health Insurance, OK-EU and the St Jude Hospital.

Also in this issue:

Soufriere Hummingbird Beach Project in Final Stages
Centres of Excellence Update
Major Plans for increased employment at OJO Labs
Events Company Talks Carnival
Ministers on the Move!

READ MORE HERE: https://issuu.com/govstlucia/docs/issue7/1?ff=true

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Denzel Dubois will be jumping in Saint Lucia Carnival with Platinum Sponsors, Flow!

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – Eight more mobile, TV and internet customers have become winners in Flow Saint Lucia’s Hottest Summer Ever promotion.

The eight have won cash and Carnival costumes just by subscribing to Saint Lucia and the Caribbean’s leading telecommunications service provider, Platinum Sponsor for Saint Lucia Carnival 2018.

Lea Thomas, Jalanne Francois, Denzel Dubois, Archar Esnard and Mervinia John will all be hitting the road for Saint Lucia Carnival 2018, just because they subscribed to 4G LTE mobile data plans! They will get costumes in the island’s top bands for Carnival Monday and Tuesday – Red Unlimited, Fuzion Mas, and Legends.

In addition to their winnings, they, like every prepaid mobile customer, are enjoying automatic double data on the island’s fastest, most reliable, most affordable mobile data network. Flow operates Saint Lucia’s first and only high-speed 4G LTE mobile data network, enabling revellers (and spectators) to share more for Carnival.

Users such as Andrew Harmon, Lance Evans, and Yvette Clifford have also won $250.00 cash each, for which they qualified simply by paying their mobile, cable TV and internet service bills in full and on time.

To activate a mobile plan, prepaid customers can dial *129# and get twice the data on Saint Lucia’s first 4G LTE network.

As Saint Lucia Carnival approaches its climax, members of the Flow family can look forward to still more winning, with tickets and VIP passes to Verve events such as AURA, Saint Lucia Carnival events like the National Calypso Finals, Inter-Commercial House Calypso, King & Queen of the Bands, Panorama, and Soca Monarch, plus Transcend, Mess and more, as well as movie tickets, smartphones and free service.

The promotion runs until the end of August.

#HottestSummerEver #Flow4GLTE #SaintLuciaCarnival

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The Compete Caribbean Partnership Facility (CCPF) and the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC) will partner to undertake the project “Saint Lucia Competitiveness Agenda & Action Plan”.

The purpose of this technical assistance will be to foster competitiveness, productivity and innovation in Saint Lucia.

The project has the objective to enhance innovation, productivity and competitiveness, and foster sustainable economic growth in Saint Lucia. The project will define a National Competitiveness Agenda that reflects consensus between the public and private sectors and civil society; build capacity within key institutions such as NCPC and the Department of Innovation; and support the implementation of priority business climate reforms detailed in the Agenda.

This project deepens the successful partnership that the Government of St Lucia and Compete Caribbean have cultivated to improve competitiveness and the Country’s business climate. During phase 1 of Compete Caribbean, this partnership produced the NCPC and the Commercial Court.

“The Compete Caribbean Program is one of the best initiatives implemented in recent times, it has the potential to transform and enhance the region’s competitiveness. St. Lucia benefited from funding assistance from CCPF through the establishment of the NCPC.

Since then, issues surrounding productivity have taken centre stage.” said Fiona Hinkson, Executive Director of NCPC.

Dr. Sylvia Dohnert of Compete Caribbean reflecting on the organization’s support to Saint Lucia explained that “Compete Caribbean is much more than providing financing for projects. We are about dialogue with national stakeholders to promote improvements to the approach to private sector development; supporting transformative reforms; and establishing and strengthening institutions capable of sustaining the change momentum beyond Compete. We appreciate working with the Government of Saint Lucia because a strong partnership is a prerequisite to, and the most critical ingredient for, the success of any Compete-supported initiative”.

This assistance will be funded by the Inter-American Development Bank through the Compete Caribbean Facility in the amount of USD200,000; and by the Government of St Lucia that will provide contributions in cash and kind of US$140,000.

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USAID LC4LS Project Launch – Chris Cushing

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Local Capacity for Local Solutions (LC4LS) Project was launched today in Guyana’s capital city of Georgetown.

The project builds the capacity of Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) working in critical sectors in ten Eastern and Southern Caribbean countries.

The project is being implemented in Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, St. Kitts & Nevis, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, and Guyana in collaboration with the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) and the University of the West Indies School of Continuing Studies. LC4LS will strengthen the managerial, organizational, and administrative capacities of NGOs working in the areas of youth and citizen security, HIV and AIDS, and environmental resilience, as well as those that address poverty alleviation, economic empowerment and work with marginalized populations.

United States Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Perry Holloway, told participants attending the Project launch that over the past five years the Eastern and Southern Caribbean region had seen an expansion of civil society organizations working in advocacy and delivering key services at the community level.

Indicating that the US Government was pleased to continue its long history of supporting regional governments, he contended: “This U.S. Embassy-supported $8 million dollar initiative represents an ongoing partnership with Guyana and nine other countries of the Eastern and Southern Caribbean. It also demonstrates our collective commitment to promote more resilient and prosperous communities in which Government and civil society work hand in hand to develop sustainable solutions to the region’s most pressing challenges.”

USAID Mission Director for the Eastern and Southern Caribbean, Christopher Cushing, told the audience, including Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott, and Permanent Secretary, Lorene Baird, that the USAID Project will provide workshops, trainings, and customized technical assistance in advocacy, strategic planning, financial management, institutional governance, resource mobilization, communications, and other areas. He added that scholarships will be offered for online accredited courses in nonprofit management and grants provided to select NGOs to support organizational improvements.

Mr. Cushing noted that select peer-to-peer learning and networking opportunities will also be created to enable NGOs to connect and share information with each other, as well as with potential donors, the private sector, government agencies, and academic institutions across the region.

The LC4LS Project represents an example of USAID Administrator Mark Green’s push to ensure that USAID programs are best-supporting a country’s journey to self-reliance by implementing solutions to their own development challenges.

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Cohort 3 2018 Graduating Class – Sandals Hospitality Training Programme

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – A third cohort of young Saint Lucians have just graduated with a Sandals certificate, from the exclusive Sandals executed Hospitality Training Programme (HTP) which is run every ten weeks, on a quarterly basis, annually.

This programme is geared to young people from all walks of life, with aspirations of becoming anything from general managers and supervisors, to wait staff and some who just aspire to get a full time job.

Completing the programme means that these young people now have more skills including on-the-job training and experience, that will put them next in line for any job that they are qualified for, across all sectors of the industry, whether in or out of Sandals Resorts.

A priority for the Sandals Human Resource Team is to track all of these students who have completed this level of training and short-list them for available positions within the company. Already upon graduation, those who have shown the greatest aptitude for learning have been rewarded with employment.

The Sandals Regency La Toc Golf Resort and Spa Graduates – Cohort 3 2018

Leran Regis just completed his training at Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort and is one such graduate who has been hired as a Store Keeper at Cost Control. In presenting his testimonial during the graduation ceremony, even as he impressed the crowd with his dry wit and comic relief, he had this to say. “We made the impossible possible. This has been an incredible journey and we have made it.”

Kasia Lionel who completed her training at Sandals Regency La Toc Golf Resort and Spa also shared some pearls of wisdom with the graduating class. “Education and training is life itself.”

Guest Speaker for the event Khadijah Preville, Diamond Team Member 2017 – Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort, announced that before she joined the industry, she wanted to be a civil engineer. Today she is a proud Front Office agent because she put in the work. She said “her efforts did not go by unnoticed and today’s struggle is tomorrow’s strength.”

Finally, in his address to the graduands, Mr. Winston Anderson, Managing Director Sandals Resorts Saint Lucia, said that “a graduation is a time of pride.” In acknowledging that the young people before him were all “energetic, strong and confident and full of enthusiasm, pride and passion,” he used the euphemism that “A Journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step.” Mr. Anderson inspired them to “be the best that you can be, using the work experience to get to the next level, whatever that would be.” He stressed on the “importance of having the right attitude”, and the calm he felt knowing that “the industry is in good hands.”

The final cohort for the HTP 2018 starts this September.

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Pierre (left) and Delmar (right)

(SNO) – Saint Lucians have been expressing their dissatisfaction with local bank institutions regarding a “recently introduced” cheque-cashing policy.

Even Opposition Leader Philip J. Pierre has added his voice to the outrage.

In an open letter to President of the Bankers Association of Saint Lucia, Wendy Delmar, dated July 9, 2018, Pierre states: “It has been brought to my attention that there is a recently introduced practice by certain banking institutions as it relates to the cashing of cheques.

“I have been informed that even if the necessary funds are available certain banks are refusing to cash cheques written to customers unless the recipient is a client of or holds an account with the bank that the cheque is written to.

“To my mind, this seems like a serious infringement on the rights of an individual to their legitimate property. I am therefore calling on the banking institutions that have adopted this practice to cease immediately if reasonable and sensible clarification cannot be forthcoming.”

Besides the media, the letter was copied to Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), Timothy N. J. Antoine.

Prior to this development, Saint Lucians have been expressing their concern about the policy via social media.

In one of the most widely distributed posts, a resident called on members of the public to stop paying “casual workers” with cheques. The writer also blasted the ECCB and the Saint Lucian Ministry of Finance.

The (unedited) statement reads: “People stop paying your casual workers with cheques! You cleaners, grass cutters, those who come to your homes to provide personal care services such as : combing your child, massages, pedicures, manicures, help you prepare for parties, pressing, etc.

“Currently some banks will not cash a cheque if you don’t have an account and others will charge about $10, if you do have an account at a different bank, it takes at least three to five days for the cheque to clear; which means a poor unemployed person who does one days work does not have immediate access to the funds to procure food or pay an over due utility bill.

“This decision by the ECCB has left marginalized, vulnerable poor people and communities completely unrepresented in the financial sector. The Ministry of Finance has failed in this regard as they have not seen it necessary to provide any guidance or public education on this matter. POOR PEOPLE CONTINUE TO BE LEFT OUT!”

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