NationWIDE THE OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SAINT LUCIA NationSATURDAY MARCHWIDE 5, 2016 Top Nationals Honoured for Independence 37! Photo by Marius Modeste Saint Lucia has celebrated Independence Day all of 37 times. Each had n common and different features and aspects that will be remembered by all who experienced them. But this year was the first time since 1979 that Saint Independent Food for Thought! - Page 2 Lucia has exercised the right to name and appoint its own Dames and Knights. On February 28, Her Excellency the Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy Marigot School Renamed After Jon Odlum - conferred the orders of Knight Commander and Dame Commander on Nobel Page 3 Laureate Derek Walcott, former Prime Minister Dr Vaughan Lewis and retired Public Servant Lawrence Laurent. The two men are now referred to officially Electoral Department Extends Deadline for as ‘Sir Derek’ and ‘Sir Vaughan’, while the lady is now ‘Dame Lawrence’. The Unverified Voters - Page 3 recipients of the new Orders were among the record 43 persons honoured this year – the highest ever. The Chancery of the Order of Saint Lucia also received Social Transformation Ministry Helps Choiseul the highest-ever number of nominations for national awards for Independence to Help Dominica - Page 4 2016. The investiture ceremony was just one of a record list of activities held across the island to observe Independence 37 under the theme ‘The Journey The Diplomatic Courier - Page 11 Continues’ (More on Independence on Pages 2, 3, 5,6,7,8,9 and 10). Meanwhile, Saint Lucia’s journey to recovery continued in the past two weeks, during which Five Off to USA for Football the Government of Saint Lucia continued to report on various projects at home Trials with Sports Ministry’s and abroad, including continuous unveiling of plans for projects long negotiated Blessing - Page 12 and now to come on stream. Read and enjoy this edition of Nationwide and while at it – as always – remember not to forget to tune in to NationwideTV on NTN and browse the Nationwide Website at stlucianationwide.com Happy Reading! Happy Viewing! Happy Browsing! WHAT’S INSIDE Page 2 NationWIDE Saturday March 5, 2016 Independence 37 - The Journey Continues! Editorial Is Sovereignty Real? Independent food tive of developing structures by Clement Wulf-Soulage and institutions which pro- for thought! mote participative democracy – the result and outcome of he adopted feature doubt that after 37 years we skepticism, even hostility. which must be a people who article on this page still have much to do to con- The Jufalli case, for instance, are responsible for their own Tis very good food for solidate our independence. which has prompted furrowed progress and take ownership thought as we observe our We have scored successes 37th year as an independent and triumphs that will have eyebrows in academic and of the processes of develop- nation, with all the sover- made us proud. But there’s diplomatic circles around the ment and growth. eignty that came with our still much more to do to world, shows clearly how the At times, it appears the main rights of a small country can be elevated status in 1979. grapple with the continuing threat to our national sover- redefinition of sovereignty violated by a larger state. The writer asks the ques- eignty is not necessarily some tions and offers his own an- in a global village where The fact is, whether Dr. Juf- external force, but our own in- swers and suggestions as to change is an accelerating fali’s appointment was ignoble disposition and incapacity to where to look. constant. or not, it is the unequivocal sov- defend our democracy, patri- Sufficiently well-equipped Climate Change is very ereign right of Saint Lucia to mony and rights as citizens. to always rise above the din real – and so are the conse- make whatever ambassadorial We often label ourselves and make his points from quences for small island de- appointments it wishes under “patriotic citizens” and boast global, regional or national veloping states like Saint Lu- international law. about the irresistible beauty perspectives, this author cia everywhere in the whole It’s not up to a parochial Lon- of our island. On social media doesn’t genuflect to the po- wide world. Global events don court to decide whether Dr. and in the wider world, most, litical whims and fancies also impact in real ways on s we observe our Juffali’s appointment is “spuri- if not all citizens use the tag- of the day’s gubernatorial poor and developing coun- 37th anniversary ous” or not, having been ac- line “Proud To Be Lucian” to make-up. His arguments tries worldwide. of Independence, credited as a diplomat by the express their love for country. and offerings for thought are Small island states are not A usually based on fact, not advised or expected to al- there has never been a host nation. Some genuflect before it, but fiction. Widely read and well ways behave in their rela- better time to raise a few If anything, only the people few actually define it. pertinent questions about of this country should demand taught, his words of wisdom tions with the world’s largest What does it truly mean to and richest states like proud the notion of national sov- answers and make any such normally appeal for sober be a sovereign nation with the consideration of the issues Davids eternally standing ereignty – in an era where determination. Arguably, glo- Queen of England still offi- he comments on. up to imperial Goliaths on balization has not necessarily everything is becoming cially the Head of State? How In this case, for example, he every issue. Moderation and more alike, and the sym- made life any easier for small does the way we are governed uses his considerable wealth compromise are two essen- bols, institutions and in- developing states. in small island states conflict of experience and under- tial ingredients for ensuring struments of sovereignty Since the idea of sovereignty with the need to tackle the ma- standing of international re- harmonious relations be- are increasingly being re- is already laden with expecta- jor economic and global issues? lations and diplomatic issues tween states, big and small. defined – not least by the tions, it is becoming increas- Sovereignty is a holistic con- to offer a well-placed per- But when national sover- forces of international co- ingly difficult for small states cept which entails both person- spective from which to view eignty is being carelessly operation. to pursue their economic goals, al and collective responsibility, the so-called Juffali Affair. trampled on without regard, There is no denying the let alone their political ones, in as well as the obligation to en- The alarm bells being by any state big or small, by fact that the world soci- the rising tide of global rela- sure that all human and civil raised on this issue by those any entity or person big or ety and economy have tions and economics. rights are respected. More- bent on pursuit of narrow small, wherever and when- entered a new age of con- Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the late over, the thinking and actions partisan political gain in ever, sages with voices of vergence and interdepen- Prime Minister of Singapore, behind sovereignty should an election year have been reason are always expected and called upon to offer dence – and the slippery is reported to have once said: ensure that the judicial, social so loud, that it is indeed re- freshing to be reminded that guidance and wise counsel. idea of sovereignty has “Small island states are a politi- and economic infrastructure changed over time. cal joke”. this land that gave us birth The accompanying article and institutions which under- continues to produce sons by Clement Wulf-Soulage Against the backdrop of Was he implying that in the pin our development as a peo- and daughters who will al- is highly recommended. In- globalization and trans- modern context, the sovereign- ple are in place and function as ways put principle before deed, it can be considered ty of small states is a concept sovereign dynamics, Saint they should. profit, honour before glory our Independence Gift to all Lucia has been affected that resonates more in theory The institutional capacity to and country before self. Saint Lucians -- with an invi- by a range of important than in practice? Or was he administer justice and provide The questions the writer tation to use it as a basis for trends: the renewed and suggesting that since the world security is an existential chal- raises on the reality (or considering all the issues he spreading consciousness will not change to suit the con- lenge that any sovereign nation lack thereof) of sovereignty raises, not just this weekend of individual and human veniences of small nations, should tackle head-on. “In the ought to be answered by us but for all the rest of our 37th rights, higher develop- they’ll have to constantly adapt absence of justice”, said Saint all -- but especially those year of independence as a ment expectations, the to trends set by the developed Augustine, “what is sovereign- still unable, for whatever small and sovereign nation. disruptive power of the world? ty but organized robbery?” reasons, to define sovereign- Here’s to the best for all the internet, the multilateral Which begs another question However, it is Gijs de Vries, a ty and independence. rest of this Independence approach to decision- coined by a political journalist: former European Union anti- There can be little or no Year! making and the general Is the notion of sovereignty sac- terrorism co-ordinator, who pursuit and inculcation of rosanct, or can we describe it as nailed the point home when he global values.