(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – Ministers of Foreign Affairs from the EU and from the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) are meeting in Brussels on 16-17 July.

In the margins of the 2nd EU-CELAC Foreign Ministers Meeting, Stefano Manservisi, Director-General for International Cooperation and Development, has signed three new agreements with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and CARICOM Affairs of Dominica, Francine Baron, with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Saint Lucia representing CARIFORUM, Sarah Flood-Beaubrun and with the Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda, Karen-Mae Hill to support post-hurricane recovery and reconstructions efforts. The financing agreements amount to €30 million.

The Caribbean region was severely impacted by hurricanes Irma and Maria in autumn 2017. In the case of Dominica, damages and losses were calculated at 226% of GDP. The destruction on the island of Barbuda resulted in the evacuation of the entire population to Antigua.

The €11 million programme for Dominica will support the implementation of the national recovery plan through budget support. The €5 million programme for Antigua and Barbuda aims to support housing reconstruction for low-income families. Finally, the €14 million programme with CARIFORUM will support the Caribbean Disaster Management Agency (CDEMA) in further enhancing the region’s disaster preparedness and response capacity.

The three programmes are part of a larger package of €74 million adopted this week. The package will support the Caribbean region to “build-back-better” and promote resilience vis-à-vis future natural hazards.

The package follows from the pledge made by the European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, at the CARICOM-UN high level conference in New York in November 2017.

Director-General Stefano Manservisi also signed the Addendum to the National Indicative Programme for Jamaica following the mid-term review, with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith. The additional €20 million will target initiatives in the area of citizen security.

Finally, a €15 million disbursement on the sugar programme for Jamaica was agreed. This payment was made in recognition of the progress made by the Jamaican Government in the transformation of the sugar industry over the past +10 years. Jamaica’s sugar sector has transformed to become more competitive, increasing productivity and environmental sustainability, whilst supporting young people and social challenges in sugar-dependant areas.

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The Joint Secretary of the Interreg Caraïbes Programme in collaboration with the OECS Commission will host an informational session on Thursday July 19th 2018 in Saint Lucia.

The meeting is organised to provide insight into the Interreg Caraïbes Programme in an effort to better enable project managers to access funding opportunities and engage in a programme that fosters equitable and sustainable cooperation between the French West Indies and Caribbean countries of the OECS.

The Interreg Caraïbes Programme is led by the Regional Council of Guadeloupe, as the Managing Authority, and is a European Programme for Guadeloupe, French Guyana, Martinique and St. Martin (French and European territories) to undertake cooperation activities with their neighbours.

The Programme has a budget of approximately 86 million euros to support projects that align with the programme strategy and the needs of the territories. The budget includes 64 million euros, under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), to support activities of European project holders and a delegate budget of approximately 2.9 million euros, under the European Development Fund (EDF), to support the activities of non-European project holders.

Interreg Caraïbes is intended to address various issues shared by these territories, such as:

– Strengthen the competitiveness of Caribbean companies that create wealth and jobs;
– Strengthen the capacity to respond to natural hazards;
– Protect and enhance the natural and cultural environment in the Caribbean;
– Develop a coordinated response across the Caribbean to common issues of public health;
– Support the development of renewable energy in Eastern Caribbean; and
– Strengthen human capital.

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The UWI Open Campus Saint Lucia in collaboration with the University of the West Indies Press will on Wednesday 18th July, 2018 hosts the book launch of The Grooming of a Chancellor by Chancellor Emeritus of the UWI, Sir George Alleyne.

The launch forms part of a series of events being held across the region to mark the 70th Anniversary of The University of the West Indies

The Grooming of a Chancellor is Sir George Alleyne’s autobiography. With his signature charm, Sir George recounts his experiences from primary and secondary school in racially divided Barbados, to gaining a Barbados Scholarship to study medicine at the University College of the West Indies at Mona, Jamaica. He remained at The UWI for many years where he enjoyed a stellar academic career with prolific research output. He became a Professor of medicine and had an enduring impact on generations of students.

Sir George would later enter the field of international health through the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), of which he became Director – the first Caribbean national and Non-Latin to do so. He had a strong commitment to and was active in Caribbean health, especially HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention and control. In 2003, Sir George returned to The University of the West Indies, as Chancellor, and for fourteen years executed the functions of that office in a manner that enhanced the public persona of his alma mater.

His has had a remarkable journey, one he shares with readers through his memories and personal reflections.  The book launch will be held in the Conference Room of the Finance Administrative Centre, Pointe Seraphine at 6:00 p.m. Copies of the book will be available for purchase

The public is invited to attend this FREE event.

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – A group of fifteen (15) OECS small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) together with their counterparts from Martinique participated in a Business Retreat held in Martinique from July 1st – 3rd 2018 as part of the recently established Trade Enhancement for the Eastern Caribbean (TEECA) programme.

The TEECA programme is a joint initiative between the Martinique Chamber of Commerce (CCIM), the OECS Commission and the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA) being funded by the Interreg Caraïbes European Regional Development Fund. It aims to enhance trade and investment opportunities between Martinique and the rest of the OECS and is expected to benefit participating SMEs from Dominica Grenada, Saint. Kitts and Nevis, Martinique, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in five main sub-sectors, namely; manufacturing: agro-processing, Information and Communication Technology, music, fashion, and green industries.

The three (3) day exercise, which officially launched activities for the two (2) year TEECA programme, served as a team building exercise for the 30 SMEs selected for support under the programme. The Business Retreat also covered a range of topics aimed at deepening interest and understanding on the broad range of trade and development issues, as well as to create opportunities for participating firms to gain a better appreciation of the scope of the programme.

The sessions covered, inter alia:

– understanding Export Challenges in the goods and services sectors;
– intercultural understanding between the OECS and Martinique; and
– sharing values and deepening understanding of team work.

The group also managed to undertake special activities for team building including; a traditional sail boat excursion, the Gommier, as well as a practical culinary session featuring traditional Martinique cuisine.

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Caribbean; St.Lucia Ladera Resort Treetop X5: pool & swing to Piton

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – Ladera Resort, an eco-luxe adults-only oasis located on St. Lucia’s southern end of the island, has been ranked fifth in the Caribbean Resort Hotels category and second overall in St. Lucia with a prestigious score of 93.47 in the 2018 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, which honors the top travel destinations and companies around the globe as rated by its readers.

“We are thrilled to be named as a top resort in the Caribbean by Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards and cannot thank our guests enough for the support through the resort’s 30-year history. This accolade represents our staff’s hard work and dedication to provide our guests with personalized service. Our chief goal at Ladera has always been to ensure our guests have a special and authentic St. Lucian experience,” said Daly Mariatte, Vice President and General Manager of Sales and Marketing at Ladera Resort. “The only way is up from here, and we will continue to provide our guests with an exceptionally unique resort that will encourage fond memories with their loved ones and keep them returning for years to come,” she continued.

The 2018 Caribbean Resort Hotels category included properties from 12 countries and territories throughout the Caribbean. This year, St. Lucia was the fan favorite in this category and took home the most awarded hotels with a total of five properties. Ladera Resort was awarded in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards for the first time in the resort’s history; one reader praised the ethereal property’s ideal romantic setting, continuing “the rooms are an experience out of this world and cannot be described in words or photos.”

Ladera Resort is the only property on St. Lucia that is located on the island’s UNESCO World Heritage site, perched on a volcano ridgeline 1,000 feet above the sea. The intimate resort offers 37 uniquely designed suites and villas that incorporate an open-air three-walled concept built with local tropical hardwoods, tiles and stones, relaxing in-room amenities and treatments as well as award-winning Caribbean cuisine at the resort’s signature restaurant, Dasheene.

Every year, the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2018 readers’ survey reveals the top travel destinations and companies in the U.S. and around the globe. The magazine’s discerning readers define excellence in travel by rating their experiences and evaluating hotels across the world on the following characteristics: rooms and facilities, location, service, restaurants and food, and value. The World’s Best Awards appear in the August 2018 issue of Travel + Leisure, on sale July 27, and online at this link: https://www.travelandleisure.com/worlds-best.

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – Less than two months after releasing enhancements to its Mobile App and Online Banking, CIBC FirstCaribbean has been named the Most Innovative Bank in the region at the prestigious World Finance Banking Awards awarded by UK-based World Finance magazine.

The bank is the only Caribbean-based Bank to have been recognized at this year’s event.

“We are delighted to have won this prestigious award,” said Trevor Torzsas, the bank’s Managing Director, Cards and Customer Relationship Management. “The award is a testament to our commitment and relentless efforts at leveraging emerging technologies to make banking easier for our clients.”

Earlier this year, CIBC FirstCaribbean revamped its mobile banking app to include services that are built on Visa technology – namely, mobile location confirmation and “Freeze My card” service. These features were the first of their kind to be introduced within the Caribbean by a bank. Through the app, clients can also easily check their account balances, transfer funds between accounts or to other CIBC FirstCaribbean clients and pay bills, all from their mobile device.

More recently, the bank launched an upgraded Online Banking system that allows its clients to bank online with the highest level of reliability and security. For example, clients can now schedule domestic and international payments online with stronger security through 2-step verification and real-time alert features.

According to Torzsas, new technologies play a vital role in allowing the bank to pursue its digital strategy. “Our success could not have been possible without our investment in technology. Technology remains one of our top priorities as a bank and it has allowed us to deliver on our promise of “banking that fits your life” by responding to client feedback and creating solutions that allow them to bank when and how they want. What is even more exciting is that our digital transformation has been well received by our clients who continue to engage with us more through these digital channels.”

The World Finance Banking Award is one of the most respected accolades in the banking and financial services sector globally. World Finance magazine has been celebrating achievement, innovation and brilliance in banking and finance since 2007.

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The Electrical Department of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Ports, Energy and Labour is further advancing its efforts to ensure electricians operating in Saint Lucia have the required license.

As such, the Electrical Licensing Authority has scheduled the theory part of the electrical licensing examination for Thursday September 27, 2018.

The examination will take the form of multiple choice and will cover principles of electricity, the Electricity Supply Act No. 10 of 1994 (as amended), Electricity Regulations of St Lucia No. 26 of 1971, IEE Wiring Regulations, 17th Edition. BS 7671: 2008 + A3 2015, electrical installation practices, Motors and Motor Circuit calculations, Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency (Energy Audit), Circuit Protection including Earth Leakage Protection, Electrical Site Safety and Instrumentation/ Measurement/ Inspection.

Head of the Electrical Department Mr. Shane Jean says in addition to adhering to the law, these exams will ensure greater public safety.

The Electrical Licensing Authority is urging interested citizens to take advantage of this opportunity to obtain electrical licenses.

Interested candidates should submit their application forms by 12:00 pm on Wednesday 12 September, 2018. An examination fee of $102.00 should accompany the application.

The exams will be held from 9.00 AM – 12:00 Noon on Thursday September 27, 2018.

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The Management of St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) and the National Workers Union (NWU) signed their first industrial agreement at the Department of Labour this week.

The new accord will benefit workers employed with LUCELEC in Grades 4 to 9.

The contract will run for a period of two (2) trienniums and will establish a new wage structure that would provide a fourteen percent (14%) general wage increase over the six (6) year duration commencing from March 23, 2012 till March 22, 2018.

The industrial package also makes provisions for a regime of customary benefits including Trade Union Education Leave, Future Legislation, Overtime Premiums, Duty Allowance, Acting and Traditional Duties, Industrial Harmony and Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures.

Company officials including Managing Director Mr. Trevor Louisy and Mrs. Sharon Narcisse signed on behalf of LUCELEC while President General, Mr. Tyrone Maynard, Portfolio Representative and Deputy President General Ms. Solace Myers, along with Mr. Johann Harewood, Secretary General and Employee Representatives signed on behalf of the National Workers Union.

The official signing ceremony was executed by Labour Commissioner, Mr Ray Narcisse.

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Prime minister of St Lucia, Allan Chastanet (centre), converses with president of Chile, Sebastián Piñera (left), and prime minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, at the 39th Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government on July 6, the final of the three-day event held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James.

(JAMAICA GLEANER) – Prime Minister of St Lucia, Allen Chastanet, has described as “bullying” the blacklisting and designation of some Caribbean countries as tax havens by the European Union (EU).

“I believe it is bullying, at a minimum, and it’s blackmail because the countries have been accused of something in which there has not been a day in court,” Chastanet asserted.

In a recent Gleaner interview, the St Lucian prime minister indicated that the heads of government of the Caribbean Community should not be passive about this issue that could result in reputational damage to regional states.

“The heads [of government] will adopt a strategy and a way forward to be able to fight anybody or any institution or country that in any way tries to undermine the reputation of the region and our people. We must do a better job of fighting back,” he declared.

“Today, the blacklist is for financial services, tomorrow the blacklist might be for tourism or something else and, so, we have to always fight the idea of a blacklist.”

INHERENT UNFAIRNESS

He reasoned that the same principle of democracy and rule of law that Europe defends is apparently being breached by their own actions. “The fact is that on this particular situation of financial services, the Caribbean doesn’t even make it into the top 25, so there is an inherent unfairness to what has been done and the reputational damage that has been imposed on our region.”

Late last year, European finance ministers had said that Barbados, Grenada, St Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago were among 17 countries on the blacklist of tax havens, after 10 months of investigations by EU officials.

Caribbean countries have been very critical of being designated as tax havens, arguing that they have done everything required by various European organisations like the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

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Courts launches annual “Courts Fashionista Competition”

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – Local and regional furniture and electrical superstore, Courts, has officially launched the fifth edition of the company’s annual “Courts Fashionista Competition”.

This year’s competition will give young and aspiring designers the opportunity to showcase their talent and a chance at walking away with $2500 in cash.

The Courts Fashionista competition which was launched for the first time in 2013 has been held at an OECS level since its inception.

Launched in conjunction with the company’s primary Campaign “We’ve Got It All”, the Courts Fashionista competition gives participants the opportunity to combine Fashion and any product available at Courts and make extraordinary designs.

Designers are invited to be a part of the amazing competition by simply collecting a registration form at the closest Courts store and returning that registration form on or before the deadline date of July 27th. All designers have to do is pattern a sketch that is inspired by any product featured in a Courts store for a chance at walking away with $2500 in Cash. Participants will then be selected based on their design submissions and proceed to take part in the biggest Fashionista Competition to showcase their talent. All participants will be given a stipend which will go towards the purchase of essentials needed for their designs.

Don’t wait to hear about it, Be a part of it! The ultimate “Courts Fashionista Competition” will be held in August 2018 at a Courts Store.

Visit us online at www.shopcourts.com or “like” us on facebook at facebook.com/courtsstlucia.

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The Worlds Finest Chocolate (WFC) through its subsidiary Union Vale Estates Ltd (UVE) presented a cheque to Junior Achievement St Lucia for the implementation of the Junior Achievement Christian Husbands Agripreneurship Project (CHAP).

In collaboration with UVE and WFC the CHAP was developed to honor the legacy of Mr. Christian Husbands, Board Chair of Junior Achievement and Manager of Union Vale Estate, who passed away on June 10th 2017. A champion for youth development, with a passion for agriculture Mr. Husbands frequently lamented on the numerous opportunities which exists within the sector that was underutilized.

This agricultural based program will empower the youth with relevant information that will enable them to view agriculture as a possible career path.

WFC and UVE have made available US$15000.00 to pilot the project in six (6) schools and impacting 60 students. The Ministry of Agriculture and Renwick and Company have partnered with Junior Achievement, WFC and UVE to provide technical support.

During the cheque presentation, Estate Manager and Director of UVE and JA Mr. Terry George said, “We are extremely excited to partner with JA by providing the finances and technical support for the implementation of the CHAP; it is a great opportunity for the youth and we are proud to be part of a program where avenues are created for the youth to develop and grow”.

In receiving the cheque on behalf of JA, Chairman Kirt Hosam thanked WFC and UV saying, “JA programs focuses on three pillars of success: Financial Literacy, Work Readiness and Entrepreneurship to enhance the ability of the youth to achieve success and this contribution from WFC and UVE will ensure that we accomplish this goal.

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Participants at Geneva week 2018 at the WTO

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – Senior Saint Lucia Government officials met at the WTO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss opportunities for creating stronger linkages between international trade policy and key government development priorities.

These discussions took place amidst growing tensions between major trading nations and against the backdrop of government efforts to increase export opportunities for manufacturers and service suppliers.

The OECS Geneva Mission convened a caucus of Senior OECS Trade Officials on the margins of the 36th WTO Geneva Week – a twice-yearly meeting where capital based officials are briefed on key issues before the WTO membership. The caucus was convened to sensitise OECS Senior Officials on on-going negotiations as well as to consider new negotiating approaches that would feed into and support key OECS priorities including the creation of jobs and the building of economic resilience through increased trade opportunities.

Speaking at the conclusion of the caucus, H.E. Guy Mayers, Saint Lucia’s Permanent Representative to the WTO, noted ‘any new rules that are to be created must take account of our needs as small vulnerable economies and reflect the interest of our people.’ H.E also called for the membership of the WTO to support the creation of a special category for small and vulnerable island states, especially those that are under constant threat from geological and climate related disasters. Mr. Titus Preville, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and International Trade also stressed the importance of ensuring that any new rules ‘should increase the ability of OECS Micro, Small and Medium Sized enterprises to meaningfully participate in global value chains.’

While some elements of the WTO negotiating mandate have seen limited progress in recent times, there is a growing likelihood that talks on new issues such as: e-Commerce, Investment Facilitation, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises may take shape in the coming months.

Head of the OECS Mission to the WTO, Mr. Stephen Fevrier, noted that the OECS Commission is working closely with Member States to develop positions that respond to new and emerging negotiating issues. Mr. Fevrier further noted that ‘we need to be at the negotiating table to ensure that our priorities are fully incorporated into all new trade rules – we need to create sufficient space for our development’.

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Minister Stephenson King

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The Minister for Infrastructure, Ports, Energy & Labour, the Honorable Stephenson King, has revoked the appointments of commissioners of the National Utilities Regulatory Commission (NURC), effective June 6, 2018.

The NURC was established by the National Utilities Regulatory Commission Act (2016) as replacement for the National Water and Sewerage Commission (NWSC) and to regulate the supply of utility services, including water and electricity. The commissioners in question were appointed February 2016 by the former administration.

The appointment duration of commissioners was staggered, with two commissioners serving five-year terms, two serving four-year terms, and three serving three-year terms.

The minister cited misconduct as the reason for the revocations. Unlike the directors of most Boards, the appointments of NURC commissioners cannot be summarily revoked with a change of administration. Section 25 of the NURC’s Act details the conditions under which the minister can revoke the appointments of commissioners. Misconduct being one of these conditions.

The minister stated as misconduct the failure of the Commission to carry out his directive of not renewing the contract of the NURC’s executive director to be replaced by the appointment of a new commissioner who would double as a commissioner and an executive director. However, fairness and a reading of sections 8 – 14 of the Act suggest that the Commission would have been derelict in its duties and responsibilities were it to comply with the minister’s directive.

First, section 8 provides that the minister may issue directives to the Commission of a general policy nature. However, it is reasonable to surmise that the staffing of the NURC secretariat is not of a general policy nature, rather it is an administrative matter and therefore falls outside of the purview of the minister.

Second, the structure and composition of the Commission are stipulated in section 9, which doesn’t envision the commissioner-executive position that the minister wishes to impose. Therefore, such a change would be a violation of the Act.

Third, sections 13 – 14 make specific provisions for a position of executive director, separate from the role of commissioner, who along with other staff are to be appointed by the Commission. The Act makes no provisions for a commissioner-executive director and makes no provisions for the minister to appoint staff or to give directives to the Commission in the appointment of staff.

Fourth, the Commission could find few faults with the executive director. His conduct, performance, leadership, communication, and proactiveness were without reproach. A recent performance evaluation of him yielded an approval score of over 90 percent. Therefore, the Commission had no grounds for failing to renew the contract of the executive director, and failure of renewal would have been unfair and tantamount to penalizing excellence. And as any parent or freshman economist knows, one of the worse things you can do in life is to punish good behavior while rewarding bad behavior.

Therefore, it appears that in issuing directives to the Commission in matters of staffing, the minister was operating outside the provisions of the NURC’s Act, which governs the operations and conduct of the Commission. It also appears that were the Commission to carry out the directive of the minister, not only would the Commission be in breach of the Act but would be complicit in the minister unlawfully usurping its authority and responsibilities.

It is not by accident that the Act doesn’t make provisions for the minister to meddle in the staffing and other administrative affairs of the secretariat and that the Act spells out the conditions under which the minister can revoke the appointments of commissioners. It is to ensure that the Commission dispense with its regulatory responsibilities with independence, impartiality, and the absence of undue political influence or interference.

One can safely say that the minister was very much aware of the foregoing regulatory principles and stipulations of the Act, and thus knew that the Commission couldn’t lawfully carry out his directive. Therefore, one has to conclude that the minister’s directive was simply a guise to get rid of a Labor government appointed Commission and an executive director appointed by same Commission, knowing full well that the commissioners would rather resign than violate the trust vested in them.

Perhaps another reason the minister sought to dismiss the Commission was that in carrying out its regulatory oversight and protecting the public’s interest, the Commission was perceived as preventing the utility companies from having things their way, which may suggest that the minister is in cohort with the public utilities. Clearly, such motivation on the part of the minister would be tantamount to him placing the interest of the public utilities above that of citizens and returning the public utilities to self-regulation.

If the commissioners were to allow the minister to get away with such breach of law, then this will set a very detrimental precedent.

Laws and procedures designed to protect the country from politicians and to protect politicians from themselves need to be protected and enforced. Otherwise it’s a steep decline to dysfunctionality and despotism. Therefore, the commissioners would be hitting a six for the nation if they were to challenge the minister’s directive and revocation of commissioners’ appointments and his unfair dismissal of the chief executive director, an act likely in violation of labor laws.

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The National Workers Union (NWU) has warned that the present United Workers Party Government at this time cannot engage in any form of social and cultural adventurism.

The kind of social and welfare infrastructure that will be required will be too costly.

The Government must however keep to its election promise by bringing investors to Saint Lucia; investors who would like to undertake projects in the country; investors who would engage and encourage our locals to participate in indigenous industrialization that would spur the island’s economy and provide jobs to the many Saint Lucians who are job hunting.

Any changes in our cultural and social habits must not be allowed to be determined by seventeen (17) politicians. We must come to the people and have them cast their votes in a democratic and popular process that is regionally and internationally accepted.

One would concur, that a close examination of our present position would place Saint Lucia at the economic and social crossroad. We must never lose our way; we must take timely and appropriate decisions if we are determined to secure a better standard of living for workers and protect the social and economic fabric that many Saint Lucians have worked hard to establish.

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – Duty Free Pointe Seraphine, a subsidiary of Invest Saint Lucia, will be putting on some sizzling summer fun over the next three months.

The first installment of this newly minted event, which will adopt a Carnival theme, takes place on Friday July 27th from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Patrons of one of the island’s long-established malls, will be treated to major discounts from stores as well as prizes, giveaways and entertainment by a live band and DJ throughout the evening.

According to Operations Manager, Dawn Lambert, one of the main objectives of this initiative is to increase footfall to the facility particularly during the off season.

“We found it necessary to ensure we have consistent foot traffic throughout the year and to ensure DFPS remains top of mind among Saint Lucians and stay-over visitors as their go-to shopping facility.”

As a result of the staging of these three consecutive events, Lambert anticipates that there will be a marked increase in the overall brand awareness of Duty Free Pointe Seraphine.

“We expect Sizzling Summer Nights to not only enhance our Mall’s recognition locally, but also as a means to further improve the facility’s Trip Advisor ratings, particularly from hotel guests.

DFPS also hopes to increase its social media following and engagement, while simultaneously increasing tenant participation and satisfaction – something that is important to the overall success of the Mall.

The July event will feature DYP and MC Jordan. Tenants will be providing discounts and special deals to patrons in addition to prize giveaways. The August edition will take on a ‘beach theme’ while the final activity will be titled – “Super Saver September” culminating the series of events with further price reductions. As is the case in July, both the August and September end-of-month events will also feature live entertainment, discounts and giveaways.

Sizzling Summer Nights is being organized as part of DFPS’ thrust to maintain brand awareness and clue patrons in on the multiplicity of products and services available at the Mall, which has undergone a series of upgrades and aesthetical transformations in the past few months. One such change is the relocation of the cart vendors from the center of Phase One to the main entrance, adjacent to Diamonds International. This newly established ‘souvenir shack’ has not only made it easier to patronize the vendors, but has resulted in less congestion to the heavily trafficked walkways in Phase One.

“We want to capitalize on the opportunity that the Sizzling Summer Nights will provide to reintroduce DFPS to our local customers and also present the facility as the ideal shopping destination for stay over guests,” Lambert declared. “The ambiance, offerings and location all add to the ‘chill factor’ and ‘after-work hangout’ that DFPS is becoming known for given the free WIFI and offerings from The Rum Shop, Pink Papaya, Antillia Brewery, Ti Café, and more recently Noble Tree Coffee Shoppe.”

The Operations Manager is urging regular and would-be patrons to stay up to date on social media and listen in on local radio for more details and information on how they can win big with DFPS’ Sizzling Summer Nights.

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – A Delegation from Martinique met with representatives of the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority at the OECS Commission to discuss the implementation of two initiatives which aim to address aerial connectivity challenges within the Caribbean, European countries and North and South America.

Director General of the OECS, Dr. Didacus Jules and Tourism Officer, Maria Fowell met with the Deputy of Martinique, Serge Letchimy; Director of Civil Aviation for the French Territories of the Caribbean and French Guiana, Frédéric Guignier; Marketing and Communication Officer of the International Airport of Martinique, Valérie Césarine; and three representatives of the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) namely, Director General, Donald McPhail, Director of Flight Safety, Sylvester Dardaine, and Air Navigation Services, C. Anthony Meade. The meeting was held at the OECS Commission to discuss areas of cooperation regarding air connectivity between the Caribbean, Europe and the Americas.

As part of his mandate, the Deputy of Martinique Serge Letchimy is responsible for the mission which was requested by the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of the French Overseas Territories. The mission seeks to address the challenges with regard to aerial connectivity at three different levels: regional airline connections, connections with Europe and connections with North and South America.

A similar initiative is also being implemented in other French Overseas Territories of the Pacific and the Indian Ocean. This mission resulted in the successful opening of air routes between Reunion Island, a French territory located in the Indian Ocean, and the neighbouring countries of Madagascar and South Africa.

“The global objective of the mission is to place the Caribbean at the center of negotiations regarding airline connectivity between France and the Americas,” Deputy of Martinique, Serge Letchimy said.

Deputy Letchimy is committed to the achievement of this objective, especially through the launch of two initiatives, namely, an Annual Conference on Airline Connectivity and a Commission dedicated to Airline Connectivity matters. He affirmed that both initiatives would provide a unique space for discussion among the OECS Commission, Civil Aviation Authorities, Heads of Government of the OECS Member States, other Caribbean countries and representatives of the major airlines which operate in the region.

Director General of the OECS Commission Dr. Didacus Jules welcomed the two initiatives, mentioning their alignment with another project named Caribsky. The Caribsky project was officially launched in Guadeloupe in April 2018 and was the result of a partnership between three major airlines: Air Antilles, Liat and Winair. The 4,7 million project is funded by the European Union’s Interreg Caribbean Programme which provides 50% of the global budget. It seeks to improve air transportation within the region by forging a network of interconnected airlines serving 46 destinations in the Caribbean. Caribsky will contribute to the free movement of people and goods, and encourage cultural exchanges while boosting economic growth.

“It is our responsibility to ensure the success of the Caribsky Project because it signifies a concrete example of collaboration between French, English and Dutch Caribbean islands,” Dr. Jules stated.

Further discussions will be held with Heads of Government to address airline connectivity and accelerate the implementation of multilateral agreements on this critical matter.

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – Chairmanship of the Monetary Council of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) will be transferred to Dr the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell, Council Member for Grenada, during the official Handing Over Ceremony on 27 July at the Crown Ball Room, Radisson Grenada Beach Resort, Grand Anse, Grenada.

Prime Minister Mitchell will succeed the Outgoing Chairman, the Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit, Council Member for the Commonwealth of Dominica.

The Monetary Council is the highest decision making authority of the ECCB and comprises the eight Ministers for Finance of the ECCB member governments. Chairmanship of the Council is rotated alphabetically each year among the eight ECCB member countries: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Following the Handing Over Ceremony, the Council will convene for its 91st Meeting where it will receive the ECCB Governor’s Report on Money and Credit Conditions in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union. Following the meeting, the new Chairman will host a media conference where he will present the Communiqué, and along with other members of the Council, field questions from the media in Grenada.

The Ceremony will be streamed live on the ECCB’s YouTube Channel – ECCB Connects.

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – A group of fifty three (53) branch officials and shop stewards from twenty three (23) branches of the National Workers Union (NWU) will embark on an educational familiarization visit today Tuesday July 24, 2018.

The group will visit the St. Lucia Distillers Plant at Roseau. The group will be welcomed by Mrs. Margaret Monplaisir, Managing Director of the company and then undertake the tour of the facility. The workers will be allowed to ask questions and make reasonable comments with regards to the operations.

The participants on tour will also have lunch with Management representatives and the workers who are employed with St. Lucia Distillers Ltd. The brief social activity will be held at the staff canteen recently built for the workers by the company. Co-ordinator of Educational and Secretarial Activities at the NWU Norma Maynard will lead this one (1) day educational tour. The NWU is the official bargaining agent for the workers employed at St. Lucia Distillers Ltd.

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(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – SLUDTERA is recruiting new members to join our SLUDTERA Community Advisory Committee (SCAC).

SLUDTERA is a faith-based organization with a mission to improve communities, provide people access to employment, and to help the environment through education, training, and entrepreneurship. Our primary focus is on youth and marginalized individuals; stay-at-home moms, retirees, persons with disabilities, and ex-offenders. SLUDTERA will accomplish this goal by working in collaboration with business, units of government, educational institutions, labor and community-based organizations.

The purpose of the SCAC;

– Identify issues and challenges the community faces.
– Conduct research to learn about the causes of these problems.
– Become an expert on these issues, and determine what it would take to solve these problems.
– Think big and creatively to create projects which will address these issues.

The Goal;

Inspiring the Community to act and come together to address these issues, and getting to the point where we realize that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, with Him as our guide.

SLUDTERA is seeking to add five (5) members by August 2018.

Open Positions:
Chair
Vice Chair
Secretary
P.R.O
Treasurer

Eligibility Criteria:

Age between 18 to 65 years.

Must be a citizen of St. Lucia.

Must have experience with community initiatives, projects or organizations (this can be in a voluntary, educational or professional capacity).

Demonstrated knowledge and experience in a combination of: prayer and faith missions, advocacy and campaigning, public policy, governance, strategic development/leadership skills; marketing, digital media, or graphic design; or innovative, small NGO or social enterprise development are encouraged to apply.

Have a proven track record on their work, verifiable from existing references, online videos, links, reports, publications, blogs, etc.

Good verbal, written and communication skills, IT literate, and technologically savvy.

Strong administrative and organizational abilities.

Demonstrated drive and initiative, a can-do attitude with the ability to work autonomously, and in teams.
Available to commit at least 2 days a month to network activities.

Expressions of Interest

Expressions of interest are invited for these roles. Submissions should include:

– CV and a one-page cover letter clearly demonstrating suitability for the role, based on the qualifications and competencies outlined above.

– An expository piece on one of the following themes;

– Why Prayer, Faith & Works are effective tools for youth development?

– Where do you see SCAC going in the future?

– What development issue would you address through prayer, faith and works and how?

Submissions can be in one of the following formats:

– An academic essay or a position paper (750 – 1000 words);

– A short film (5 minutes);

– Photography with extended captions/description for each image (5-10 minutes)

Application Timeline:

– To be considered, expressions of interest must be received by Tuesday, July 31st, 2018.

– Shortlisted applicants will be contacted and invited to take part in a telephone/Skype interview

All applications should be submitted via the online application form only.

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Minister Sarah Flood Beaubrun

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – At its 18th Biennial Convention being held in London this week, the Union of Saint Lucian Overseas Associations called on the Minister of External Affairs, Hon Sarah Flood-Beaubrun, to provide leadership for the Union and the Diaspora in the Saint Lucia Cabinet.

Mr Luther Renee, Trustee of the Union for the Caribbean said: “the failure of the Government of Saint Lucia to fully recognise the role of the Diaspora in promoting Saint Lucia overseas, and in providing significant remittances to support Saint Lucian families and the economy; and to implement the Diaspora Policy, is disrespectful to us all.”

“We are therefore calling on the Government to rectify this. We are calling on the Minister for External Affairs to support us to continue to support Saint Lucia. We are calling on her to lead Diaspora affairs”.

He added, “the Union, the Presidents and the delegates of all the Associations gathered here today, will be writing to the Prime Minister, in the strongest and most respectful terms, to agree to our request”.

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