The People’s Paper Issue 02 | 28 April, 2018 OUR SAINT LUCIA www.govt.lc Bi-monthly Progress Report from the Government of Saint Lucia Time to Modernize Physical Planning Meet our New President! SPORTS Lowering Unemployment Excellence! Government unveils strategic plan for sports 02 28 April 2018 www.govt.lc CONTENTS At a glance... Saint Lucia signs for implementation of anti-corruption convention DIASPORA Saint Lucia recently signed on to the Organization of Ameri- can States (OAS) Mechanism for Follow-Up on the Imple- mentation of the Inter-American Convention against Corrup- Plans for Sports tion (MESICIC). Ambassador Anton Edmunds, Permanent 4 Representative to the OAS, signed on behalf of the Govern- ment of Saint Lucia. The MESICIC is an inter-governmental body established within the framework of the OAS focused on transparency, accountability and good governance. Gros Islet in the spotlight 6-7 DIASPORA Windrush St. Lucians Urged to Contact Mission Saint Lucia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Mr. Guy Mayers is calling on all Saint Lucians affected or who may have family members or friends who fall into the Commonwealth Highlights Windrush Generation category to contact the Office of the 8 Saint Lucia High Commission for assistance. Enquires should be made to: Saint Lucia High Commission in London at +(44) 207 370-7123 or Email: [email protected] Combatting unemployment with NAPS 9 Invest Saint Lucia Awarded for Pearl of the Caribbean INVESTMENT Hats off to Invest Saint Lucia on receiving the Best Investment Award for Latin America and the Caribbean. The announce- ment was made at the recent Annual Investment Awards on Busy year ahead for the margins of the renowned Annual Investment Meeting Physical Planning (AIM) held in Dubai from 9th to 11th April 2018, an initiative 10-12 of the UAE Ministry of Economy of the United Arab Emirates. Invest Saint Lucia was initially shortlisted after investment experts from all over the world gathered information on the most interesting worldwide investment projects contracted or commissioned during 2017. Consequently, The Pearl of the Caribbean was regarded as an exemplary project based on Get to know assessment criteria. Senate President 14 FINANCE IMF Economists visit Ministry of Finance The International Monetary Fund this week conducted an How much do you IMF Article IV Consultation at the Ministry of Finance which included Minister with responsibility for Finance Hon. Dr know about Saint Lucia? 19 Ubaldus Raymond and Director of Finance Ms.Cointha Thomas. During an Article IV consultation, an IMF team of economists visits a country to assess economic and financial policies with Government & Central Bank officials. The People’s Paper www.govt.lc 03 Levern Spencer on Top of the World evern Spencer has done it again. The renowned Saint Lucian Of her missed opportunity to win a gold medal at last year’s Olympics: “I athlete best known for her high jumping prowess has once again may not be the one to win the elusive Olympic medal, but my hope is that L put her best foot forward, and come out on top of her game. what I have done will inspire some other young Saint Lucian to go out there and bring us the medal. I know with the right attitude it can be At a special Home Coming Ceremony held in her honour on April 19, 2018 done.” at the Hewanorra International Airport, Spencer received a much deserved Hero’s Welcome. Speaking at the event the athlete made it In closing, Spencer thanked the coaches, officials and other athletes who known that the competition was her first outdoor event for the year, were with her in Australia. She also expressed gratitude to supporters in which was something that made her victory even sweeter. She described Saint Lucia, and the organizations and institutions that helped her along her Commonwealth Games gold medal as “obviously the most prestigious the way including successive island governments, the Saint Lucia Olympic of the many I have won,” and in that regard, “it will always be special to Committee Inc., the Saint Lucia Athletic Association, her main sponsor me.” Flow, 1st National Bank, FICS, and SMJ Beverages. In her words, “It’s been a long hard road that I would not have been able to walk if you had not Prestige was not the only thing setting the medal apart for Levern. There been there giving me the support.” was also the glaring reality of just how long a Commonwealth gold had eluded Saint Lucian athletes – since 1962 to be exact! “It finally happened last week,” Spencer told the audience of well-wishers who had gathered at the island’s southern airport. “I trust that it was as “The people of Saint Lucia are so proud of Levern. This has deep proud of a moment for Saint Lucians as it was for me.” meaning for us because we have watched her grow up before In her thank you speech, Spencer said putting Saint Lucia “on top of the our eyes. Levern was already a Saint Lucia Legend and now world” had been something she’d sought to do throughout the duration Levern Spencer has given our country even more reason to of her professional career. It was important for her to prove through her celebrate. Words cannot express how proud we are of this own efforts that despite the island’s relatively small size and limited population, anything was possible. daughter of Saint Lucia! Congratulations Levern! We love you and you have once again done us proud. “We truly can soar to great heights,” she said. “It is therefore hoped that our younger sportsmen and women will use this as motivation as they try Congratulations Saint Lucia!” to enter the many doors I have unlocked around the sporting world.” ---Prime Minister Honourable Allen Chastanet 04 28 April 2018 www.govt.lc National Sports Infrastructure Development Strategy and Programme b. Identify the venues and facilities throughout the nation which meet requirements for upgrading in the next 3-4 years c. Identify the venues and facilities that are critical for the National Sports Associations, the Olympic Committee, national teams and youth develop- ment d. Identify a master plan to develop several upgraded venues per constitu- ency e. Identify or recommend new venues that will benefit youth, after school programmes, and national wellness and community social programmes f. Identify or recommend venues and facilities that will benefit the nation in the industry of sports tourism – capable of hosting international events and teams g. Identify new-build projects that will support national sports associations that currently do not exist or should be expanded to multiple venues for the sport around the country (i.e. swimming pools and athletics tracks). Phase 2: The focus in this phase is on works to commence in April 2018 for an additional 15 months period with several projects to be designed and he Allen Chastanet-led administration is clear in its recognition, constructed by February to June 2019. This includes developing two commitment, focus and understanding that sport is a critical categories to start projects in 2018 as follows: T vehicle for building the fabric of our nation. It is the policy direction of this government that sports must be utilized in a more strategic a. “SHOVEL READY PROJECTS” and structured manner, hence the reversal of an apparent lack of cohesion b. “STUDY READY PROJECTS” in sporting infrastructure. The aim of this administration is the moderniza- tion of sports in: The Shovel Ready projects are defined as existing venues that merit imme- diate consideration for upgrade as part of the “national interest” as well as 1. Meaning, purpose and organization to serve as model venues for the rest of the country in several categories. 2. Building leadership and programming capacity at all levels at school, community and nationally The Study Ready projects are defined as existing venues or proposed 3. Sporting venue conditions and facilitation new-build venues that merit immediate and further study by the team to 4. Sponsorship and resources develop solutions and options for the Government of Saint Lucia to consider in the very near future but after more due diligence. Page 40 of the ‘Principles of Commitment to the People of St. Lucia’, this government’s manifesto, emphasises “the role of sports in developing healthy lifestyles and creating opportunities for rewarding careers, fostering SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE CATEGORIES: national pride as well as creating employment and wealth”. The master plan of the national sports programming and development It is to this end that the sporting arm of government is fashioning a strategic strategy will categorize sporting facilities as follows: approach to creating and sustaining a sports industry and culture which is being developed in two phases. • National/International Venues: For example, George Odlum Stadium, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground and others to be developed for major As a youth-centric government, this administration remains determined championship training and events. These venues will also attract sports and resolute in the quest to deliver the best in sports development to the tourism opportunities. A potential National Sports Park capable of hosting youth of this nation. The chief objective in this regard is providing the youth most major sports in the country is under serious consideration in the Cul and the people of this country with sports facilities and programmes for de Sac area. their growth, development and health. • Sports Hubs (Large): Plans are underway for Dennery, Vigie, Soufriere, Phase 1: This pertains to service and deliverables scheduled for and Mindoo Philip/Marchand, - and other venues that hold more than one completed in April 2018, which are designed with the purpose, goal and major sport to be upgraded in order to host training sessions and competi- objective to identify and develop the outline for a National Sports Strategy tions without maintenance and weather issues.