NationWIDE THE OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SAINT LUCIA NationSATURDAY AUGUST 29, 2015 WIDE WEEKLY Saint Lucia Over-the-Top in Beijing! Our hearts go all out to all affected, in any way, by the death and destruction in Dominica; and we join all who have expressed sympathy and solidarity, here and elsewhere, with the n Government and People of our neighbouring sister-isle to the north (See Page 2 for more). Until the disaster struck in our fellow OECS member-state, we were fixed on the debate and ‘Pedi Gwes’ Weight Loss Campaign Launched - discussion that has followed the historic presentation of the Report and Recommendations of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) in both Houses of Parliament in the past Page 3 week (See Reports on Page 5 and a Full Account of the PM’s Contribution in Centre Pages 6 and 7). Saint Lucians have also during the past week been preparing for this weekend’s Castries Now Brighter By Night! - Page 4 national celebrations of the 2015 La Rose (‘La Woz’) Flower Festival (Reports and Updates on Pages 3 and 11). But above all and everything else, all of Saint Lucia and all Saint Lucians at home and abroad spent the past week beaming with pride at the performance Mexico Celebrating 10-year Milestone Here - of our two dear Saint Lucians at the World Athletic Championships in Beijing. On their Pages 4 and 10 way to Beijing, Leverne Spencer and Jeanelle Scheper defied all the odds in regional and hemispheric athletic competitions in Latin America and the Caribbean (held in Canada Saint Lucians in Canada Assist Vieux Fort Orphan - and Costa Rica). And they defied the rest of the world to become the only two Caribbean women to qualify for today’s Women’s High Jump Finals in Beijing. By the time you read Page 8 this, we will have known whether our two High-Jumping Olympian Athletic Queens scaled the Greatest High Wall they will ever have jumped in Beijing. But, win or lose, we continue The Diplomatic Courier - Pages 9 and 10 to be proud of Leverne and Jeanelle for flying the Saint Lucia Flag as high as they did in the People’s Republic of China. They already deserve another Red Carpet Welcome on their next return home – just for beating all the rest to rank among the very best at the 2015 Hotel Helps Hospital - World Athletics Championships. Once again, like they have done so many times before, Page 11 these two high-flying local ladies have made Saint Lucia proud on the world athletic stage. Our congratulations can never be enough. Hip Hip Hooray! Bravo Leverne! Bravo Jeanelle! Meanwhile, enjoy this entire issue of Nationwide and remember not to forget to view NationwideTV on NTN and browse the Nationwide Website at stlucianationwide.com Happy Reading! Happy Viewing! Happy Browsing! WHAT’S INSIDE Page 2 NationWIDE Saturday August 29, 2015 Saint Lucia reaches out to Dominica following Editorial Erika’s death, destruction and devastation! here was much sad news of death, destruction and dev- Solidarity! Tastation in Dominica, after the island was hit by a tropical storm Wednesday night. Saint Lucia had just been spared from Hurricane Danny a few days earlier, but Tropical Storm Erica visited Dominica like a thief in the night on Wednesday and left death and destruction in its wake on Thursday. At least four persons are so far confirmed dead and several more are still reported missing, with countless infrastructural damage recorded across the mountainous island. There was much infrastructural damage across Dominica as a The Met Office reported that result of Tropical Storm Erika on Wednesday evening nearly nine inches of rain over- night Wednesday brought severe cerned about the situation in cern and anxiety. s seen in this rare years ago and more recently flooding and mudslides, washed Dominica and is communicating However, the local online news photo accompanying we felt Hurricane Tomas out roadways and caused the col- with heads of other OECS Mem- agency the leaders of the Duke Athis editorial, Prime (2010) and the Christmas lapse of several buildings, includ- ber States, the international donor of Edinburgh Award programme Minister Dr. Kenny D. An- Eve Trough of 2013. ing family homes, across Domi- community and organizations, to in Dominica have confirmed that thony and his counterpart The OECS has activated nica. ensure the best possible actions. all the students are doing okay, so Prime Minister of the Com- its mechanisms to seek and Saint Lucians and other OECS Although limited in resources, parents don’t need to worry. monwealth of Dominica, garner global support or citizens are in sympathy and the OECS says, it is strengthen- The students, who are between Roosevelt Skerrit met here Dominica. CARICOM and solidarity with their Dominican ing its response to Dominica by 13 and 17 years old, left St. Lucia earlier this week after Tropi- the Caribbean Development neighbours, with many Saint Lu- working towards a coordinated on August 22 and are scheduled to cal Storm Denny devastated Bank (CDB) will be called cians recalling how both Domi- response from agencies such as return next week on Wednesday, the island Wednesday eve- upon, as will the regional nica and Saint Lucia were dev- National Emergency Management September 2. ning.. disaster insurance facility astated by Hurricanes Allen and Orgainzations, CEDEMA, ECLAC Meanwhile, despite the good David in 1980. and USAID. news for Choiseul parents, Di- Prime Minister Skerrit up- established to fast-track as- Saint Lucians also remember the The Commission says it is confi- rector of the National Emergen- dated Prime Minister An- sistance to countries hit by island being visited by Hurricane dent that the spirit of community cy Management Organization thony on the current state of disasters. The United Na- Tomas in 2010 and the Christmas and resilience for which Dominica (NEMO) Velda Joseph is urging affairs in Dominica and Dr. tions, OAS, CELAC, ALBA Eve Trough in 2013 is well known, will restore that Saints Lucians not to become com- Anthony extended condo- and Petrocaribe will also be In the wake of the devastation in country’s glowing physical and placent about tropical storms. lences on behalf of the Gov- expected to come to Domi- Dominica, expressions of sympa- socioeconomic landscape. Joseph said while Saint Lucia ernment and People of Saint nica’s help. thy, solidarity and support started The OECS headquarters in Cas- missed two storms in less than Lucia and pledged recovery But for reasons more than flowing from the rest of the OECS. tries says it will continue to up- one week -- Danny and Erika -- assistance. just good neighborliness, St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Dr. date the public it’s coordinated citizens must ensure that they lis- The Dominica leader left Saint Lucia and the OECS Kenny Anthony reached out to his response to Dominica’s needs. ten to the reports and the advice Saint Lucia on a helicopter will be expected to fast-track counterpart Prime Minister Roos- Meanwhile, people with flights from the relevant authorities. supplied by the Government whatever little or much we evelt Skerrit of Dominica, extend- to and from or through Dominica The NEMO Director says Saint of Trinidad & Tobago. can muster for Dominica’s ing sincere sympathies on behalf and the Leeward Islands have Lucia has been spared somewhat, This is precisely the type help. of the Government and people of been put on alert by LIAT. but she is hoping persons are re- Saint Lucia. LIAT has posted an urgent re- ally taking note and making sure of immediate regional soli- Yesterday was us, today it’s He said the grim scenes of dev- gional notice that due to flooding that their preparations are in place. darity that any Caribbean Dominica. We don’t know astation in Dominica witnessed of the runway at the Douglas- The NEMO Director said per- small island or other devel- where next – or when next on local TV hit very close to home; Charles Airport, all fights into sons should be reminded to check oping state will want in any will be our turn. and even though Saint Lucia was and out of Dominica have been for rising water levels in the area time of need following any That’s why ‘Solidarity’ not directly affected by the pas- cancelled until further notice. and keep a disaster survival kit type of disaster, whether the must always be our watch- sage of Erika, any disaster that The airline says several other close by, as additional bad weath- result of Climate Change, word and instinctive re- size naturally impacts throughout airports in the LIAT network also er systems may be experienced, as Natural or Man-made. action whenever disaster the Caribbean. remain closed at this time due the hurricane season is still on. Saint Lucia has had our strikes anywhere, especially Dr Anthony called on all Saint to the passage of Tropical Storm share of hurricanes and in and around our Caribbe- Lucians to pray for Dominica. Erika. tropical storms, so we well an region. That way, we’ll all He said many of Saint Lucians The VC Bird International Air- know how Dominica feels. be able to ensure Dominica have friends and family living port in Antigua remained closed We shared Hurricanes Allen bounces back earlier, rather and working there, so they should until 4:00 am on Friday 28th Au- and David with Dominica 35 than later! monitor what is happening in gust and all flights north of Anti- Dominica, as well as in the other gua remained cancelled.