Saint Lucia No. 142. Saturday, June 17, 2006 A publication of the Department of Information Services BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS DOMINICA ANTIGUA GRENADA ANGUILLA MONTSERRAT GRENADINES ST. VINCENT AND THE SAINT LUCIA ST. KITTS AND NEVIS COVER NOTE The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), which is head- quartered in St. Lucia, observes the 25th anniversary of its founding on Sun- day 18th June. To mark this signifi cant milestone in the history of the region, this edition of St. Lucia Nationwide devotes four pages to the OECS. Our cover picture shows the fl ags of the member countries and six of the seven persons who signed the Treaty of Basseterre on that historic day in St. Kitts – Nevis. They are: at the back: the late Winston Cenac, Prime Minister of St. Lucia; the late Maurice Bishop, Prime Minister of Grenada; Lester Bird, former Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda; front: the late Dame Eugenia Charles, former Prime Minister of Dominica; the late Hudson Tannis, former Foreign Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Dr. Kennedy Simmonds, former Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis. Missing from the picture is Franklyn Margetson, former Minister of Government from Montserrat who Hurricane Warnings signed on behalf of Montserrat. Saint Lucia Normalises Relations - page 2 with Haiti - page 7 “Take 2 ” - A fi fteen minute news review of the week. Government Notebook A fresh news package daily Every Friday at 6.15 p.m. on NTN, Cablevision Channel 2. on all local radio stations 2 Saint Lucia Saturday, June 17, 2006 Warnings For The Hurricane Season NEMO: Prepare Solid Waste Mangement: ith the first week into the NEMO Director. A Caution 2006 hurricane season She said people should attempt to in- gone, the National Emer- ith the advent of the hurri- is properly managed. No green waste W spect their homes from now and make cane season, the Saint Lu- should be dumped along roadsides, gency Management Organization the necessary repairs to avoid their cia Solid Waste Manage- near or in communal bins as it gets NEMO is calling on Saint Lucians to dwellings from being blown away in a W be ever more vigilant and to make the ment Authority is advising the public into drains resulting in flooding dur- storm. Home, she says, should be the necessary adjustments that will al- to exercise caution in their manage- ing rainfall. Additionally, waterways first place of shelter in the time of a low them to safely weather a storm. ment of green waste which includes such as rivers, ravines etc. should storm and should be secure. Director of NEMO Dawn French grass clippings, tree trimmings, cut not be utilised for dumping of green said Saint Lucians need to stock-up on “That is my policy personally. I have or fallen trees. waste. They should be left free of the necessary food items in case a hur- tried to strengthen my mothers home Education and Public Information waste in order to allow the free flow ricane strikes. and if things get too bad I will move Manager at the Authority Emlyn Jean of water.” “We never advocate that people do the to my sisters place, because the last disclosed that the hurricane season is Miss Jean recommends that all green last minute buying at the supermarkets and place government is going to open is a the time of year when residents and waste should be transported to the De- get caught in that rush. We advocate that school or a shelter, and we know what other agencies undertake tree trim- glos Sanitary Landfill or the Vieux Fort people look at the things they are buying the conditions are like there; we would ming and cutting in order to protect Solid Waste Management facility. She now—their bottled water, their tin food, have to wait for NEMO to send down lives and property. further advised that the monthly bulky their biscuits, dried bean—start having particular food items and bedding and “ However we need to ensure waste collection service can be utilised those things in place, start looking at the clothing,” French said. that while attempting to prevent one for the disposal of small quantities of important document they want to secure Experts predict that this year’s hurricane problem we do not create others. It is green waste provided that it is prop- if they are going to leave home,” said the season will be as active as last year’s. therefore critical that all green waste erly bundled or bagged. Flooding in Castries Deglos Landfill Chaussee reopens to two way traffic hausee Road is now open to two-way traffic after works Cto install a water main along that street was completed Tuesday June 6th, 2006. Drainage works on the Chaussee had been completed for months now, but the opening of the route was delayed because of problems experienced with the re- placement of the WASCO main. According to Project Manager Mandish Singh, who is also the Direc- tor of the Halcrow Group, workmen were busy Tuesday afternoon com- pleting paving works to make the road more motorable. “That would be the majority, I would say, 95% of the work done on the Chau- see. There are a few remedial pieces of work remaining to be done, some drain inlets where we need to install some grills, but that would not at all interfere with the traffic during the installation of those grills,” Singh said. Workmen are now focussing on works to be undertaken on the Darling Road as well as drainage works on Jn. Baptiste Street. Mr. Singh anticipates The Retention Pond off the Chaussee Road that all works on the Castries Flood Mitigation Project should be complet- flood pipes as well as cleaning and re- with the last part of the works,” said Street and the elevation of Darling ed by the end of July. furbishing of the existing culvert under the Director of the HALCRO Group. Road, a retention pond, to collect much “The works on the Darling which, Darling Road with the junction of Jn The flood mitigation project was of the water from smaller drains, was in the next two weeks we are hoping Baptiste Street. So it is quite critical designed to deal with the problems of constructed in the George the Fifth Park. to commence, will involve the raising that we’ve gotten this piece of work flooding in that area. Apart from the This is expected to ease the pressures on of Darling Road and the installation of behind us so we can move forward installation of drains along Jn Baptiste existing drains during heavy rains. Saturday, June 17, 2006 Saint Lucia 3 Government/Grambling State Sign Scholarship MOU Dr. Horace Judson, President of Grambling State and PM Anthony Signing the MOU he Government of Saint Lu- cate our domestic students, and helps cia and the Grambling State us prepare our students to live success- University of Louisiana, fully, work successfully and co-opera- T tively in a global community and a USA have formalised a scholar- ship agreement with the signing of a global society.” Memorandum of Understanding on Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Kenny An- Education. thony, while stressing his appreciation for the scholarships was optimistic that The agreement entails five full Inter- students who gain scholarships will national Student Scholarships and fifty take full advantage of the opportunity partial International Presidential Stu- to further their education. dent Scholarships at Grambling State. “ I believe and sincerely believe that It takes effect this month and will last our Saint Lucian students will acquit for five years. themselves very well. They will make President of the Grambling State us proud and make you feel a sense of University Dr. Horace Judson was justification for providing these schol- in Saint Lucia for the signing of the arships. But beyond that it is important Memorandum of Understanding last for us as a small nation to understand Friday. He said that although Gram- the umbilical cords that bind us, the bling was extending its services as roots that shape us and in a very real part of its overall mission, he expected sense your humanity is reaching out, Saint Lucian students will create an environment at the University that will not only for that broader purpose of provide greater opportunities for do- enhancing your own reputation as an mestic students. international institution, but more im- “ So while you come and receive a portantly reaching out to make a de- quality education you will also help to finitive statement about the historical Exchanging copies of the MOU create an environment that helps edu- relationships that we share.” Education policy on teen mothers Requirements For Cuban aint Lucia’s education policy child under the age of fifteen to be out Nursing Scholarships concerning teenage mothers of school.” he Government of the Re- a minimum of four passes at CXC has attracted the praise of the However in light of the extenuating S public of Cuba is offering level [Grades 1,2 and 3) preferably United Nations Convention on the factors that can mitigate against a teen elimination of all forms of discrimi- mother’s continuation of school, Ms. Tthe Government of St. Lu- in English, Mathematics, one Sci- nation against women. Pascal said the state has implemented cia 300 scholarships in Nursing ence subject and one other. Saint Lucia as party to the Conven- successful mechanisms to provide tenable at a University in the Re- Applicants are also required to tion has been identified as moving in support systems for young mothers public of Cuba for the academic provide a recent Police Record or the right direction.