Nationwide October 02, 2004
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Saint Lucia No. 58. Saturday, October 2, 2004 A publication of the Department of Information Services Gov’t forcus on Crime - page 2 & 6 Sport, Tourism, Romance - WINSTON page 3 FRANCIS CENAC, QC Is the Environmental Levy oppressive- page 6 LAID TO REST 1925 - 2004 inston Francis Cenac, QC Shortly after leaving St. Mary’s Col- whose offi ce was then situated in St. China visit a success Wwas burried on Thursday, lege, he entered the Public Service of George’s, Grenada. - page 7 September 30, 2004 at Choc Cem- Saint Lucia as a Clerical Offi cer and In 1962 he was appointed to the etery. was appointed to the offi ce of Chief offi ce of Attorney-General of Saint Winston was educated at the St. Clerk of the First District Court, and Lucia which included the offi ce of Mary’s College, Saint Lucia, where then later in 1952, as Deputy Registrar Director of Public Prosecutions and he obtained the Cambridge School of the Supreme Court of Saint Lucia. that of membership of the Cabinet of Certifi cate and the London Matricula- In 1957, he was called to the Bar Ministers, and nomination as a mem- tion. of England at Lincoln’s Inn, London, ber of the House of Assembly of Saint England and in the same year was ap- He had one son, Earl Cenac, who Lucia. In 1964 he was transferred to pointed to the offi ce of Registrar of the was born to him on the 30 September, the offi ce of Attorney-General of St. Supreme Court of Saint Lucia. 1947. Vincent, which included appointment In 1958 he was appointed to the He married his wife, Flora Cenac Offi ce of Magistrate of the Southern as Director of Public Prosecutions of (born Jn Baptiste) on 1 March, 1950. Judicial District of Saint Lucia and in that island and as a member of its Former Prime Minister Winston In 1952 he obtained the degree of 1959, to the offi ce of Chief Registrar Cabinet of Ministers and as a nomi- Cenac, QC lead to rest Bachelor of Laws of London Univer- of the Supreme Court of the Wind- nated Member of Parliament. - page 1,4,5 & 8 sity as an external student. ward Islands and the Leeward Island, Continued on page 2 “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, October 2, 2004 Stiffer penalties for possession of illegal guns coming n a bid to reduce the number of Iillegal fi re arms in the country, Prime Minister Honourable Dr. Kenny Anthony has categorically stated that Parliament would enact legislation to substantially increase prison terms and fi nes for persons convicted on gun charges. “In 2003 Parliament enacted a new fi rearms act that makes provisions re- lating to the carrying and the use of fi rearms and ammunition. Despite the fact that parliament increased the fi nes for possession of illegal fi re arms, I be- lieve that parliament was too soft,” Dr. Anthony said. Prime Minister Anthony, who was at the time addressing the offi cial open- ing ceremony of the Vieux Fort Police Station and Divisional Headquarters on Friday, September 24th, 2004, also announced an increase in the reward for persons who assist the police to re- trieve an illegal fi rearm from $1,500.00 to $2,500.00. New Vieux Fort Police Station and Divisional Headquarters In expressing the fi rm view that the full weight of the law must be brought “a person, who is in possession or con- up to twenty thousand dollars and ten twenty years”. Referring to the current to bear, in order to send a decisive mes- trol of a restricted fi re arm is liable on years. On conviction, indictment, im- fi nes, he said, “These sentences are too sage to those elements who disregard summary conviction, to a fi ne of not prisonment for a term of not less than light, especially in the hands of pliable the law, Dr. Anthony pointed out that less than fi ve years. I want that to go ten years, I want to see that go up to judicial offi cers.” Cabinet approves the establishment of a Crown Prosecution Service he Offi ce of Public Prosecution of the island: “The second phase com- technology unit, a Law Library, the es- The fi nal phase of the project will Tis expected to be signifi cantly mences in April 2005, and will see the tablishment of a branch in the Second see a total of eight crown counsels strengthened by the establishment creation and fi nancing of one offi ce Judicial District in Vieux Fort, and the in the First Judicial District and two of a fully-fl edged Crown Prosecution administrator, an increase in crown appointment of two crown counsels crown counsels in the Second Judicial counsels from 4 to 6, an information Service, which will fall under the ju- based in the south. District court. risdiction of the Director of Public Prosecution. Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Kenny An- Winston Francis Cenac, QC laid to rest thony made the announcement during Continued from page 1 tor of Public Prosecutions of Grenada He is a life-member of the Com- the opening of the Vieux Fort Police In 1966, he was transferred to the he proceeded to Saint Lucia in 1969, monwealth Parliamentary Associa- where he entered into private practise. tion. Station and Southern Division Head- offi ce of Attorney-General of Gre- quarters on Friday, September 24th, nada, which included appointments While in private practise in Saint In 1988, he published a book en- Lucia, he accepted temporary appoint- 2004. The Crown Prosecution Service, as Director of Public Prosecutions titled “COUTUME de PARIS” the of that island and as a member of its ment as a Judge of the High Courts of which forms part of Cabinet’s efforts Evolution of Land Law in Saint Lu- Cabinet of Ministers and as a nomi- St. Vincent and of Antigua in 1971. He to enforce the prosecutorial and inves- cia. This book has been prescribed for nated member of its Parliament. took up the offi ce of Acting Judge if St. reading by law students at the Univer- tigation process, will be implemented Kitts, Nevis and of the Virgin Islands in During his tenure of offi ce as At- sity of the West Indies and reference in three phases. 1972. He then returned to private prac- torney-General of St. Vincent, he was has been made to it in decisions of the The fi rst phase of the Crown Pros- a Delegate and a Legal Adviser of tise in Saint Lucia in 1973, and during that time was appointed to the rank of Courts in Saint Lucia. ecution Service, which will come into the Government of St. Vincent at the Queen’s Counsel. His practise within the last 16 years effect between October 1, 2004 and Constitutional Conference at Marl- has largely been on the Civil side of March 31, 2005 will bring on board, borough House in London in 1965, In 1978, shortly before Saint Lucia’s the law in relation to such subjects as an additional compliment of person- on the grant of self-Government to independence in 1979, he was appoint- nel. According to Dr. Anthony, there St. Vincent. While holding the offi ce ed by the Governor-General as a Sena- the partition of land, title to land by will be “an increase in the number of of Attorney-General of Saint Lucia, tor of the House of Parliament of Saint succession, mortgages and charges Lucia. Crown Counsels at the fi rst judicial he acted as Legal Adviser to the Gov- over land, transfers of land, and Bills district from 2 to 4; the assignment of ernment of Saint Lucia at the Little In 1979, he was elected a member of of Sale. Constitutional Law matters, all police prosecutors in the fi rst judi- Eight Conference held in Barbados, the House of Assembly of Saint Lucia such as the rights of Public Offi cers cial district to the Crown Prosecutors aimed at establishing a federation for the Constituency of Soufriere and and Public Employees also usually was also appointed Attorney-General Service; and all police offi cers who are of Barbados and the Windward and fall within the ambit of his practise. of Saint Lucia for a second time, which prosecutors will now be shifted from Leeward Islands. The Criminal Law is the only legal said offi ce he held from 1979-1980. fi eld which he does not now practise the police to the offi ce of the Director In 1967, while he held the offi ce In 1981, he was elected Prime Min- of Public Prosecutions to manage pub- of Attorney-General of Grenada, that in. However, he practiced extensively ister of Saint Lucia and held that offi ce as a Criminal Lawyer while hold- lic prosecution cases.” Island was granted its Statehood by until he resigned in 1982, when he re- Britain. As a result, he was granted ing his various public offi ces. On the The fi rst phase of the Crown Pros- turned to private practise. whole, it can be said that his knowl- ecution Service will also see the ap- the option, either of remaining as During his return to private practise, a member of the Judicial and Legal edge and experience in the law is of a pointment and fi nancing of two Sec- he was elected President of the Saint general nature.