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NationWIDE THE OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SAINT LUCIA NationSATURDAY APRILWIDE 30, 2016 History in the Making! nation without it’s history is like a tree without roots. Now, another major n step is about to be taken to ensure Saint Lucia’s history is both preserved A and delivered, for generations to come. Government has announced the Saint Lucia Thanks UN Secretary General for SIDS establishment of a National Museum for Saint Lucia. The Married Women’s Quarters Support - Pages 2, 9 and 10 at Vigie (above) -- an old relic of the 14 colonial wars between France and Britain for this island – has since last year been vested in the Saint Lucia National Trust, to be Citizenship by Investment (CIP) Unit Announces converted into the island’s first full-fledged national museum. A special meeting was held last week at the Folk Research Centre (See Page 2), at which plans for the long- First Hotel for Canaries - Page 2 awaited museum were taken further steps ahead. Also soon to be constructed is a new National Cultural Complex. Plans for both historical edifices were mentioned in 15 New Bailey Bridges Acquired and Delivered the 2016 Throne Speech delivered by Her Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy in the Here Before Needed! - Page 3 House of Parliament on Tuesday (See Pages 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8). The Throne Speech also revealed that a new Hall of Justice will be constructed along the Millennium Sod Turned for $64 Million New VF Administrative Highway to house the headquarters of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, local Complex for South - Page 4 High and Low Courts, as well as a Family Court. This week also heard and saw presentation of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for 2016-17 by Prime Two Brand New Blocks Unveiled for Choiseul Minister and Finance Minister Dr Kenny D. Anthony and the response of the Deputy Secondary School - Page 4 Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre to the $1.4 billion budget proposal (See Page 3). Also this week, a fourth ICT Centre was opened, this time in Anse La Raye (Story on European Union Signs Page 3), with another 14 coming. It’s been another two weeks of continuing service Agreement for New Piaye by Government on behalf of people and country, at home and abroad. As always, Bridge - Page 11 take-in this weekend’s update of the most we can report about the matters of state of the past fortnight. Read and Enjoy. And don’t forget to watch NationwideTV on NTN and browse the Nationwide Website at stlucianationwide.com WHAT’S INSIDE Happy Reading! Happy Viewing! Happy Browsing! Page 2 NationWIDE Saturday April 30, 2016 Saint Lucia thanks UN Secretary General for Governor General urges reliable support for issues affecting SIDS Saint Lucians not to take elections for granted! Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy overnor General Dame She noted that both major par- Saint Lucia’s Minister for Sustainable development, Senator Dr James Fletcher, was roundly commended by Pearlette Louisy on Tues- ties have already started cam- Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy earlier this week (See Pages 5-8) during presentation of her 2016 Gday opened a new ses- paigning, even though the elec- Throne Speech, for his leading role in the negotiations leading to the Paris COP 21 Environmental Summit on sion of Parliament, during which tion date is not yet known. Climate Change last December. Dr Fletcher had just returned from the United Nations Headquarters in New she reminded Saint Lucians that Dame Pearlette said that York, where he was among the first ministers to sign-up to the new agreement hammered out in Paris. On elections represent a fundamen- peaceful transfer of the reins the sidelines of the meeting, Dr Fletcher and representatives of several other Small Island Developing States tal pillar in the island’s democ- of power from one party to an- racy -- and should not be taken for other has occurred five times (SIDS) met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (above) to discuss the impact of Climate Change on small granted. since Independence and six islands. The meeting with the Secretary general also discussed a way forward after the signing of the agree- “The ballot still remains the times between Adult Suffrage ment started last weekend in nerw York. Senator Fletcher thanked the Secretary general for the strong support fundamental, expression of and Independence. he has always shown for issues confronting small island states. The minister and his colleagues told the USG each citizen’s political will,” she Her Excellency noted, “We they continued to count on his and the UN support for climate financing to help adapt to climate change and said, urging urged all eligible have therefore, if only by vir- to ensure the various related UN agencies collaborate with each other to address the multi-sectoral impact of voters to exercise their fran- tue of this metric, achieved a Climate Change on SIDS. chise. mature and stable democracy. Dame Pearlette observed that The electorate therefore ex- while some will be casting bal- pects behaviour that reflects lots for the first time, others our maturity as a nation and as Consultations held for National Museum would be doing so for the 17th a people.” time. Dame Pearlette also said gov- The Governor General urged ernment may give consider- persons to be responsible in ation to calls for a fixed date for their actions towards others General Elections. (Full Cover- during this political season age of the Governor Generals -- particularly talk show hosts 2016 Throne Speech on Pages and bloggers. 5 to 8) Crown Lands Rectification Programme Starts Next Month he Ministry of Physi- egories of land that are deemed cal Development, Hous- eligible for rectification. Ting and Urban Renewal The public is also asked to wishes to inform the public that note that in interim, the Crown the Crown Lands Rectification Lands office has already com- Programme launched on 24th menced preliminary investiga- November 2015 will officially tions of the submitted appli- commence in May 2016, imme- cations. This is in an effort to diately following the publica- ensure the immediate process- Round Table consulta- lenges to bring this project to Participants also explored op- tion of the Crown Lands Recti- ing of applications following tion was recently held realization. tions to make recommendations fication Regulations. the publication of the proposed regulations. here to kick-start plan- The goal of the Round Table for the financial sustainability The aforementioned regula- A tions will prescribe the process- The Ministry takes this op- ning for a national museum. In was to solicit the views and of the National Museum and ing fees, the composition of the portunity to thank the public November 2015, Government recommendations of stakehold- ancillary services. The outcome Land Rectification Committee for their continued interest in vested the property known as ers and experts on charting a of the consultation is expected (i.e. Committee appointed to the programme as it continues the Married Women’s Quarters course of action to create a Na- to inform decisions on the way deal with contentious rectifica- its quest to implement this vital at Vigie in the Saint Lucia Na- tional Museum”. forward with the project. tion applications) as well as cat- and significant programme. tional Trust (SLNT) for the pur- The Round Table examined Saint Lucia has the unenvi- poses of establishing a national the project site and structures to able distinction of being one of museum and other ancillary recommend ideas and propos- a few countries without a na- purposes. als for the physical development tional museum and it is the in- According to SLNT’s Director, of the site to serve the intended tention of the Government, the Mr. Bishnu Tulsie, the Trust in- purposes. It also sought recom- Saint Lucia National Trust and vited key national stakeholders mendations for interpretation of its partners to start to explore and overseas experts to exam- the site and outfitting the muse- the possibility of creating a Na- ine the possibilities and chal- um and ancillary facilities. tional Museum. CIU announces hotel project for Canaries he Citizenship by Invest- It will be constructed by Boka tem that will preserve the iconic ment Unit (CIU) earlier this Estates Limited as the first Citi- environment while providing an Tweek made its first official zenship by Investment real estate international standard of hotel ac- announcement of an approved project. commodation. real estate project under the CEO of the Boka Group, John He told a news conference to- Citizenship by Investment Pro- Kennedy, said that Belvedere has day that this will involve working gramme (CIP). been an important site where it with the community. Officials said the project is very sits in Canaries since the middle According to the Boka Group important as it represents a sig- of the 1700’s. CEO, the project will create 400 nificant milestone which was not “We are looking to transform jobs during the construction phase. expected to be reached within this historic site into a five star He said 800 jobs will be on offer four months of the start of the luxury branded hotel,” Kennedy once the project is completed. programme, disclosed. Unlike other CIP’s in the region They said in large measure the He asserted that the Boka Group which offer real estate on a wide success can be attributed to close believes that it will be one of the scale, Saint Lucia has decided to collaboration involving the unit, highlight hotels of the region. target the high end tourism mar- Invest Saint Lucia and the Minis- Boka, Kennedy revealed, has ket in a bid to increase the island’s try of Tourism.