Commonwealth Heads Mix with Majesty in Malta!
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NationWIDE THE OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SAINT LUCIA NationSATURDAY DECEMBER 5, 2015 WIDE WEEKLY Commonwealth Heads mix with Majesty in Malta! Commonwealth Heads of Government gathered in Malta last weekend for their 2015 Summit, where they engaged in discussion of mutual issues confronting the n large group of former British colonies that represents a significant share of territory and people in the world. Perhaps the biggest achievement for the Caribbean was CARICOM’s securing of the position of Commonwealth Secretary General in the PM Back From Malta And Paris - Page 2 person of Dominica’s candidate, Baroness Scotland, who has been congratulated by the OECS Commission on behalf of the entire grouping (Stories on Pages 2 and New Public Facilities For Marchand Boulevard 9). Prime Minister Dr Kenny D. Anthony and other CARICOM and OECS leaders and Ravine Poisson - Page 3 exchanged with Queen Elizabeth II as the nominal head of the Commonwealth before leaving for Paris for the most important Climate Change meeting so far in this Century. The UN’s Conference of Parties (COP-21) is still going on, but will hopefully Nationwide News In Brief- Page 4 end with positive results to save the planet from destruction. This issue brings you full coverage of all the happenings in Paris to help better understand just how much Diplomatic Courier - Pages 8 and 9 depends on what’s decided this week in Paris (See Pages 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10). The PM is now back home following all the rave reviews that followed last weekend’s hosting of the 8th Joint Saint Lucia-Taiwan Trade Partnership Expo that showcased CARPHA Warns Against Mosquitoes - Page 10 Saint Lucian manufacturing talent and creativity at its quality best. In the meantime, road works continued at home and other infrastructural developments were taking Another ARC Record Broken! - place across the country to ensure 2015 ends in fine spirits for communities island- Back Page wide. Enjoy the following pages of full colour coverage of what the Government of Saint Lucia has been doing and saying at home and abroad in the name of people and country. And don’t forget to watch NationwideTV on NTN and browse the nationwide Website at stlucianationwide.com Happy Reading! Happy Viewing! Happy Browsing! WHAT’S INSIDE Page 2 NationWIDE Saturday December 5, 2015 PM back from Editorial Hopeful Anxiety! Malta Commonwealth aint Lucia was abuzz with But it is the developing coun- hope and anxiety at home tries that suffer most – and SIDS Sand abroad this past week. the worst. Our vulnerability as The Prime Minister joined his islands is not being taken seri- fellow Commonwealth coun- ously enough by those devel- Heads Summit terparts at the 2015 Heads of oped countries that pledge a lot Government Conference in and deliver precious little, or Malta, where the Dominica’s nothing. candidate, Baroness Scotland, Each year, Saint Lucia and became the new Secretary Gen- other Caribbean states attend all eral of the world grouping of the regional and international former British colonies on all of conferences and watch and lis- the world’s five continents. ten, while arguing and pleading The PM also led the Saint Lu- for those who created (and con- cia delegation to the two-week- tinue to contribute to the Cli- long global environmental mate Change problems) to start conference in Paris devoted to to take real action to help victim Climate Change. There, he ad- nations address the effects. dressed some 197 world leaders The developing nations’ pleas on behalf of CARICOM, also for Climate Justice have been making a case for all small is- falling on deaf ears. But with land developing states (SIDS) to the projections all pointing to a have their concerns addressed. worsening of the global effects The Paris conference is only if the world doesn’t act now, halfway through, but the usual there is a sense that the COP- optimism remains. Yet, the cold 21 may yield sensible results realities continue to confront the through meaningfully greater planet and all who inhabit it – hu- developed-country contribu- mankind, animals and plants. The tions to the Green Fund and a very air we breathe is affected. The decisive cooling down of global water we need is disappearing. temperatures. Developed countries are not The world anxiously awaits immune, as they do suffer from the end of the Paris Global Cli- heat waves and cold blasts, air mate Change Summit with the pollution and other Greenhouse hope that strong actions will re- Gas effects. place loud words. Over nine million Venezuelans to Prime Minister Dr Kenny D. Anthony is finally back home after attending the historic 2015 Common- wealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Malta, where he and other Commonwealth leaders vote for a new legislature tomorrow participated in the annual meeting that’s always attended by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Britain. The Malta Summit saw the election of former UK Attorney General Baroness Scotland as the new Com- egislative elections will be the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), monwealth Secretary General. In photo, Prime Minister Anthony (third from left in middle row) and held tomorrow to choose the the Mercosur Parliament (Parlasur) other Commonwealth leaders with the Queen (sitting) during the Malta conference. Lmembers of the Venezuelan and Latin American Parliament Parliament for the term 2015-2020. (Parlatino). The National Assembly (Venezu- Authorities and technicians from ela’s unicameral parliament) is cur- countries that have signed coop- rently composed of 165 candidates. eration agreements with the CNE – In the upcoming legislative elec- such as such as Russia, India, Phil- tions, 167 seats in the National As- ippines, Mali and South Korea, UK, sembly will be renewed. Of that, 164 Argentina, Ecuador, United States, PM back home candidates will be elected in the 24 Colombia, Honduras and Domini- states and 3 by the indigenous com- can Republic, among others – will munities. also observe. The Venezuelan Electoral Coun- For tomorrow’s parliamentary cil has announced that during the elections the register of eligible month of November, elections will electors is 19,496,296. from Paris COP-21 be observed by representatives of Venezuelans living abroad do not organizations and countries such participate in the parliamentary as the Union of South American elections, as it is a regional constitu- rime Minister Hon. Dr. eral of the United Nations, and abuse of the resources of Nations (Unasur), Southern Com- ency election. Kenny D. Anthony is back Ban Ki-moon. the planet." mon Market (Mercosur), Council The CNE has stated that the new home from Paris, follow- Among the outcomes from Dr. Anthony also praised the of Latin-American Electoral Ex- members of the National Assem- P perts (CELA), Community of Latin bly should take up their respective ing his productive participation the meeting with President young people of the Caribbean, American and Caribbean States posts on January 5, 2016, as stipulat- in the global climate change Obama was a pledge of US$30 as well as the region's artistic (CELAC), Bolivarian Alternative for ed in the Venezuelan Constitution. summit, COP21. million to support expansion community, who have been During his time in Paris, Dr. of the Caribbean Catastrophe staunch advocates of the thrust Anthony addressed a plenary Risk Insurance Facility (CCR- towards setting and realising session to reiterate the unified IF) and similar initiatives in a number of goals related to position of the Caribbean Com- the Pacific and Africa, to help COP21. munity (CARICOM) on climate vulnerable populations re- Chairman of the CARICOM change. Saint Lucia's Prime build stronger after climate Task Force on Climate Change, Minister is the CARICOM Lead related disasters. Saint Lucia’s Minister of Sus- Head of Government on Cli- Said Prime Minister Anthony, tainable Development Senator mate Change. "We are not the cause of cli- Jimmy Fletcher, remained in Along with CARICOM mate change. Those who have Paris to continue negotiations Chairman, Prime Minister a historical responsibility for over the next 11 days, towards Freundel Stuart of Barba- the problem have a moral re- what is hoped will be a legally dos, Dr. Anthony also met sponsibility to fix it. They must binding framework for action with President of the United help us adapt to the unrelenting towards attaining global targets States of America, Barack and inevitable consequences al- for climate change. (More on Obama, and Secretary Gen- ready unleashed by the greed COP 21 on Pages 5, 6, 7 and 8) Saturday December 5, 2015 NationWIDE Page 3 Public facilities soon to be constructed at George Charles Boulevard and Ravine Poisson Story and Photo by apparatus for each facility, to har- vest rain water for the first time. Marius Modeste For the first time too, a public fa- cility will have Hot and Cold wa- he Saint Lucia Social Devel- ter installations, along with 108.08 opment Fund (SSDF) held square feet of Wheelchair Access Tthe official contract signing Ramps. ceremony for the construction of Each “anti- vandal and low the George Charles Boulevard maintenance” sanitary facility Public Facility and the Ravine will have one caretaker and will Poisson Public Sanitation Facility be managed by the Castries Con- Replacement last Friday (Novem- stituency Council with twenty- ber 27). four hours service. The agreements were signed Welcoming the building of the with R & F Construction Ltd and new facility for Marchand, Cas- Integrated Development & Con- tries East MP Hon. Philip J. Pierre struction Ltd and in both instanc- said, “I am happy today to be able es the SSDF obtained funding to deliver on a 14-year-old prom- from the Caribbean Development ise to address a problem that ex- Bank (CDB) to provide public san- isted long before I became parlia- itation facilities for the host com- mentary representative.