No. 5 • SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2009 • www.stlucia.gov.lc TO BOOST SECURITY AT BORDELAIS he country’s Prime Minister has promised that recommen- Tdations coming out of the re- cently concluded Commission of In- ecurity at the island’s primary prison tional Facility. There is hardly anything quiry report will be put into effect. – Bordelais Correctional Facility – will if anything at all that can be smuggled The Prime Minister issued this be pumped up with the addition of sur- in with jarries. When they have served assurance was issued he tabled the S veillance cameras throughout the compound their time and leave the facility their contents of the report compiled re- and the introduction of jelly shoes or what is shoes will be given back to them.” cently by a Commission of Enquiry. known as “jarries’ to the inmates’ uniform. He added that surveillance cameras He referred to the Rochamel That’s the word from Minister responsi- are currently being installed at the jail matter and the management of the ble for Home Affairs and National Security and will record the comings and goings National Conservation Authority Senator Guy Mayers who says that security of inmates, staff and visitors. A metal (NCA) along with the Road Devel- at the maximum security facility is too lax. detector will also be installed at the fa- opment Programmes one and two. Complaining about the number of contra- cility to monitor anyone going into the “The management of the Nation- band smuggled into the prison, the Minister prison. This he said would also help al Conservation Authority (NCA) says the number one concern is the illegal boost security at Bordelais. disclosed gross irregularities in the possession of mobile telephones by inmates. One of the main concerns expressed conduct of the affairs of that author- This he added is a “recurring problem” and by the National Security Minister was ity and that offences appear to have alludes to an even bigger problem of the that inmates at Bordelais were not being been committed with the expen- collaboration of the prison staff in helping rehabilitated and as he said, they just diture of public funds entrusted to to smuggle the devices into the jail. “sit in their cells”. The Minister said that that Authority. Another niggling problem at the com- work is now ongoing on a farm at the “In addition the contract for Prime Minister pound is the prisoners’ footwear. Sena- prison, on which inmates would work. $43,750,000.00 which was signed to Hon. Stephenson King tor Mayers says shoes – boots, expensive “We are now fencing the farm and meet the cost of the road develop- sneakers have often been the cause of prob- when this is done, the inmates will be ment projects 001 and 002 eventu- The Commissioners who con- lems such as fights, robbery and a means to able to go out there and work the farm. ally cost the government more than ducted the inquiry were Sir Fenton smuggle items including cell phones into It is a form of exercise and intellectual 100 percent above the contract price Ramsahoye Mustapha Ibrahim and the facility. stimulation and therefore an effective resulting in significant loss to the John Reginald Phelps Dumas. To cut the problem out at the source, he form of rehabilitation. Rehabilitation at government and people of Saint Lu- The Inquiry was conducted from said normal shoes would be outlawed at the Bordelais needs to be kicked into high gear.” Senator Mayers said. cia” the prime minister said. February through April, 2009. prison and jarries introduced. “So this will become the normal issue for the inmates. The new security measures at Borde- This will be part of their uniforms while they lais are expected to go into effect in the are incarcerated at the Bordelais Correc- new year FCCA Conference Successfully Held In Motorist Pay Less - Page 4 Eye On The Constituencies - A Master Plan For St. Judes - Saint Lucia - Page 2 pages 6 & 7 page 9 Page 2 Saturday October 31, 2009 Herman Heads Bordelais Again ollowing a confirmation ment of the prison recently the publicly thank the officers who reduce the recidivism rate at date from the Public Ser- staff had expressed their commit- are dedicated to maintaining the prison.“It is better to have Fvice Commission, former ment to work with Herman in the law and order at the facility.” the prisoners working on the prison boss Hilary Herman will interest of the prison. The Minister also expressed farm than to have them locked take up duties as Director of the “In fact they indicated that optimism about an ongoing up in a cell for the entire day. island ‘s sole maximum security the Prison Officers Association project to further develop five My vision is that as part of the prison - Bordelais Correctional had met a few days before our acres of land which are cur- rehabilitation programme in- Facility - once again meeting and there was consen- rently being used as the prison mates will work on the farm, Home Affairs and National sus that all officers will work farm. develop a skill and be produc- Security Minister Senator Guy with Mr. Herman. I think that He said the development of tive enough to make the facility Mayers said after meeting with signals a new and good begin- the farm will assist with the re- self-sufficient,” Senator Mayers prison officers and the manage- ning at the prison, and I want to habilitation of the inmates and said. Hilary Herman FCCA Conference Successfully Held In Saint Lucia he week-long much antici- pated 16th annual confer- Tence and trade show of the Florida Cruise Caribbean Asso- Projections are ciation (FCCA) came to a close in Saint Lucia last night. The premier networking and that this winter marketing platform for regional cruise business, the event was attended by hundreds of key in- season the dustry professionals and it is ex- pected that much will come out of it particularly for the cruise island will business on the island. Earlier, Minister for Tourism Senator Allen Chastanet had welcome a said that having such important people in the cruise industry all together in Saint Lucia would record-breaking be of immeasurable value to the island. 680,000 cruise He said it would provide these industry experts the opportunity to witness and experience first- hand the natural beauty of the is- passengers land complemented by the hospi- tality and generosity of its people. CALLING UNIVERSITY STUDENTS – ST.LUCIA COLLEGE FAIR 2009 t. Lucian students will of the annual event is to help stu- be given a better oppor- dents and their parents have a Stunity to decide which better understanding of available university they would like to schools and what they have to of- study at following the annual fer so they can make better, more St. Lucia International College informed decisions. Fair later next week. The College Fair also seeks to The fair being staged by the provide interested St. Lucians Ministry of the Public Service with an opportunity to discover and Human Resource Devel- the diversity of higher educa- opment will be held on the tion and to provide regional and 2nd floor of the Blue Coral international institutions the op- Mall, Bridge Street, Castries portunity to diversify their stu- for two days only, November dent population by recruiting 4 – 5, from 9:00 a.m. t0 12:30 students from St. Lucia. Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy accepts a bouquet from an FCCA official p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. both days. For further information con- tact: the Training Division of the In the last two years Saint Lucia a record-breaking 680,000 cruise Close to 400 cruise liners are Several tertiary level institu- Ministry of the Public Service & has recorded significant increases passengers. And industry of- expected to dock in Saint Lucia tions from Canada, the United Human Resource Development, in cruise passenger arrivals with ficials say that the island’s host- this winter season and it is an- Kingdom, the United States 1st Floor, Sir Stanislaus James the island exceeding 600,000 pas- ing of the recent FCCA acts as a ticipated that the hosting of the and the Caribbean will be par- sengers for the first time in his- Building, The Waterfront, Cas- catalyst to cruise tourism playing FCCA conference will result in an ticipating in this year’s fair. tory, last year. tries or at Telephone Numbers a more prominent role in tourism even greater capacity and more One of the main objectives (758) 468-4189/4638. Projections are that this winter and to the overall economic de- frequent cruise calls to the island season the island will welcome velopment of the island. particularly during the off-season. Saturday October 31, 2009 Page 3 SAINT LUCIANS FLY JETBLUE n October 15, award-win- ning JetBlue Airways be- JetBlue is rapidly Ogan serving Saint Lucia, boosting the island’s airlift from one of its main tourism markets. becoming a major player in JetBlue began serving Hewan- orra International Airport with the US airline industry and three weekly flights out of New York’s John F. Kennedy Interna- tional Airport on Sundays, Mon- has great plans for the days and Thursdays. Saint Lucia is one of 50 inter- Caribbean national destinations throughout north, south and central America benefiting from Jet Blue’s Service and according to Tourism Minis- ter Allen Chastanet, Saint Lucia is very excited to join the new JetBlue service from the largest market in the United States.