NationWIDE THE OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SAINT LUCIA NationSATURDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2015 WIDE WEEKLY PetroCaribe will help strengthen island’s energy efficiency! The PetroCaribe Agreement signed here on Monday is the latest development in the continuing strengthening of relations between Saint Lucia and Venezuela, n between Venezuela and its English-speaking Caribbean neighbours and between the Caribbean and Latin America at large. Most CARICOM and OECS member- states belong to the PetroCaribe and ALBA groupings, which are constructing International Children’s Week Being Observed - new elements of regional cooperation and integration through their own Page 2 PetroCaribe Economic Zone (PEZ). After ten years, PetroCaribe has developed into a fruitful cooperation mechanism between the participating states that PM Welcomes New Investment - Page 4 sees each depend on all others for what all may need. This mechanism also sees Venezuela generously share some of its oil wealth with its Caribbean Saint Lucia Soars at World Travel Market in neighbours, committing itself to deliver on all its promises through PetroCaribe, London - Page 5 even in the face of externally generated economic and political challenges facing the Bolivarian regime at home. When the Saint Lucia Prime Minister and Remembrance Day 2015 Observed - Pages 6 and 7 the PetroCaribe President affixed their signatures to the agreement earlier this week, therefore, they were simply ensuring continuity of the friendship and PAHO Says New Hospitals Will Also Serve cooperation between Saint Lucia and Venezuela, which is already manifested in OECS - Page 8 so many other ways (Story on Page 3). Nationwide is happy to be back after two weeks off the grid. As always, this weekend’s issue seeks to update you on all The Diplomatic Courier – that happened in the past week, as well as other developments before worthy Pages 9, 10 and 11 of note. Read on and be informed on as much as we can offer in the following 12 pages. And remember you can also watch NationwideTV on NTN and browse the Nationwide Website at stlucianationwide.com Happy Reading! Happy Viewing! Happy Browsing! WHAT’S INSIDE Page 2 NationWIDE Saturday November 14, 2015 PM says there are RISE observing ‘Serial Rapists’ on International Child Rights Week the loose! The week of November 13 to rime Minister Dr. Kenny D. Anthony earlier this 20 is recognized around the Pweek expressed utter “outrage” after reports that a world and celebrates the rights 97-year-old woman of Mon Re- pos, Micoud had been raped by of children, as outlined in the a person or persons unknown. According to the Prime Minis- United Nations Convention on ter, ”This is a despicable act that not only violates an elderly citi- the Rights of the Child. zen, but the entire community and country.” He said, "It is unbelievable that someone would even think of committing such an act. This is a heinous and outrageous act. It is inconceivable that a human Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony being would do this. “I wish to express my sorrow According to the Prime Minis- cial unit be established within to the family and the commu- ter, "For too long we have been the Royal Saint Lucia Police nity as they grieve over this silent about sexual violence in Force to investigate rape cases. wicked and despicable act.” our homes and our communities. He recommended that the unit Dr Anthony said, “I commend “In many instances, we know would also build a database the community of Mon Repos there are fathers, uncles, step- that stores DNA evidence to de- for its decision to host prayer fathers and others who commit termine whether some of these vigil to share their collective deviant sexual acts in homes cases are being committed by outrage, and to send a message and communities and nothing repeat offenders. The Prime to the perpetrator or perpetra- is said or done. Quite often the Minister concluded that, based In commemoration of Inter- of the Child in 1959, and the tors that this behavior will not perpetrators are protected. on the evidence, “We have serial national Child Rights Week, UNCRC in 1989. be tolerated." He also said the “These unreported cases lead rapists at large!” RISE (St. Lucia) Inc. recogniz- The UN General Assembly increased reports of incidents to an even greater problem in But he expressed hope that es the rights of children and has recommended that all of rape across the island was a our society, where these men the intended reopening of the young people to survive and countries observe November worrying trend. grow to believe that this is ac- Forensic Laboratory, under thrive. 20 as a day of activity devoted According to the Prime Minis- ceptable behaviour. We need to new management, would bet- The week is recognized an- to promoting the welfare of ter, there must be a collective ef- tackle the problems at the root”. ter assist police in conducting nually around the world as children around the world. fort between the Police and the In response to an increase in investigations and testing DNA International Child Rights During that week, RISE will public to deal with this prob- reports of rape earlier this year, samples. He stressed, however, Week–a week during which share information with the lem. He emphasized that these Dr. Anthony says he had recom- that the first, most important the world celebrates the general public -- especially incidents are not just a security mended to Acting Commission- response is that people report rights of children as outlined children and youth -- on child issue. It goes deeper. er, Errol Alexander, that a spe- known sex offenders. in the United Nations Con- rights and responsibilities. vention on the Rights of the On November 19, recog- Child (UNCRC) and a week nized internationally within which leads up to Universal that week as Child Abuse PM mourns ‘Untimely Death’ of Children’s Day on November Prevention day, RISE will in- 20. form the public about child November 20 marks the day abuse and its prevention. on which the United Nations RISE will also be joining the young father of four while trying General Assembly adopted International Men’s Day fair at to save a cow in Bexon River! the Declaration of the Rights Rodney Bay on November 21. rime Minister Dr. Ken- result of the weather system stood on the riverbank, as Es- ny D. Anthony has ex- on Friday. tephan struggled to hold on. Saint Lucia National Ppressed deep sorrow “The circumstances surround- Some attempted to help him, and offered condolences to ing his death are very unfortu- but unfortunately, he was taken the family of Cletus Estephan, nate and sad. This is an untime- away by the raging waters. who drowned in the Bexon ly death that has now left four “I applaud the efforts of those Awards 2015 River during the heavy rains children without a father. But I who sought to help. In situa- Take part and nominate someone on Friday past. wish to express my condolences tions like these, onlookers are It was reported that Cletus to his family, especially his chil- left traumatized and often for a National Award. was attempting to save a cow dren. blame themselves for the death from drowning. “I know this tragic loss will of the victims. Details & Nomination Form at: In a statement issued Mon- forever change their lives. “Indeed, this is a sad ending to day, November 9, 2015, the “I call on all Saint Lucians to accept. http://governorgeneral.govt.lc/honors-and-awards Prime Minister said: “I am reach out to offer assistance and “I offer my prayers and ask all very saddened by the news comfort to the grieving fami- Saint Lucians to do the same. that thirty-nine-year-old Cl- lies.” May you all, with time, be Deadline for the nominations is etus Estephan perished in GThe PM said, “This is also healed from the pain that you the raging Bexon River as a a difficult time for many who now feel. 30 NOVEMBER, 2015 Saturday November 14, 2015 NationWIDE Page 3 Saint Lucia’s first PetroCaribe business will be in asphalt he Government of Saint also enact the mechanisms to government sources say this PetroCaribe President Bernar- nomic development.” Lucia on Monday signed- initiate trade in petroleum prod- could not yet be done at this time. do Alvarez said he was happy Alvarez highlighted that Saint Tup to a PetroCaribe Joint ucts between the two countries. But the local officials are hop- the Government of Saint Lu- Lucia has received significant Venture Agreement with the Saint Lucia will start doing ing in the near future, working cia had agreed to sign the new support from ALBA, explaining Bolivarian Republic of Venezu- business specifically with as- with the team in Venezuela and agreement, which will also pave that PetroCaribe will also bring ela. The signing ceremony took phalt – and that’s welcome news the embassy in Saint Lucia, they the way for a greater working the same benefits -- and in some place at the Office of the Prime to contractors and others with will be able to overcome some of relationship with Venezuela. cases even more. Minister, in the presence of sev- eyes on jobs in the massive road these ticklish problems. He said, “We are moving in Petrocaribe marked its 10th eral representatives from both construction program that is on It was also pointed out that de- the direction of finalizing the anniversary in June 2015. countries, who witnessed the the cards for next year, starting spite the decrease in oil prices negotiation for the PetroCaribe The 17-member alliance in- landmark agreement.