28. July 2009 by admin.

St. Lucia Star 

Maybe there was divine reasoning in the heavy showers which almost washed away the finale of Saint Lucia’s Carnival 2009, on Monday July 20 and Tuesday July 21. Maybe just maybe, it was a lesson taught, that a seed not properly grounded in fertile soil or rooted in anything, can easily be washed away. Then again maybe it was a spiritual cleansing of sorts too. Or could it simply be that those upstairs thought that there was so much uninspiring and uninformed commentary coming from those television commentators that it was best that they be washed away.

Carnival 2009 did not have a pleasant scent and was more like a cheap bottle of imitation perfume bought on Canal Street. But truth be told some of the problems are perennial, like the lack of venues and facilities and even the toilet conditions at the Mindoo Phillip Park, which we couldn’t be serious about when we invite persons like Joey and his crew from CBS here. Then, we are still struggling to get it right with sound and starting shows on time.

Sure there were a few good events this year—Groovy Soca, Inter-commercial house calypso, junior carnival and calypso semi-finals. Added to that some of the non-CDF events helped put a spark in the carnival engine like Colour Me Red, Wet Fete, Cooler Fete, NG Soca Stage launch party and Outrageous-Sexy in Black. But coming down to the wire, Carnival experienced an anti-climax for me, especially when it came down to the two day parade when I heard the seemingly rehearsed lines (again) from at least four of the “party band” leaders about “our revelers are not in a regiment, we have no sections . . . blah, blah, blah.”

And that is precisely what contributed in my mind to a waste of time by the spectators and visitors we are trying to attract to witness anything spectacular on the road come carnival Monday and Tuesday. I have suggested to some of those bands, that they are part of a national event, and out of respect for that, at least portray some semblance of a display between the Vigie Playing field and the Castries market, for the purpose of their audience and the cameras. But again what we saw was a bouyon which only the revelers enjoyed and I am sure they did.

So what’s the point of having the media, judges, visitors and the public there? Maybe those new bands, who believe it is their time, should have their own up-town carnival, splitting the event as happened in Jamaica and Miami a few years ago. Do I want to see this happen? Not really. but I sure do think that it is time for good sense and reasoning to prevail over selfish undertakings. And one more thing, I do think we need a stage for the revelers to “display their colours” on and it is time to bring that aspect back to the carnival. Although I honestly do not think we need a stage to display the new trend of sticking out butts and tongues for cameras. Where did that come from anyway?

Carnival 2009 had a lackluster launch on June 1, and from there on I kept on hoping, as someone who really loves this great spectacle and have participated in several aspects of it, that it would get better. But sadly it did not! This year’s event has been given an average rating by the revelers, the man on the street and Joe Public. Their reasons vary; from poor organization of events to the lack of quality music. Then there are those who blame the dismal season on the global economic meltdown and the rise in criminal activity. But I think it is all of the above and more, and at the risk of being labeled political, I would add that with less than inspiring leadership in all major sectors of Fair Helen, there appears to be a wind of apathy and distress blowing across the land. And not even carnival was enough to uplift many of those spirits.

As great as Saint Lucia’s carnival has undoubtedly been over the last few years, it has turned into a selfish beast, with no place to rest its head, seemingly careless and without reasoning as to whom or what it devours. Therefore the beauty is being overshadowed even in the creativity and music, by those who really have no love for it and care less about its history and meaning.

Some refer to West Indian type carnivals as the greatest show on earth or the greatest cultural showpiece, an event which lasts for weeks culminating in thousands of revelers chipping, prancing, waving and these days bending down to the ground in carnival bands, led by a music truck as the pied piper. It is one of the great Caribbean experiences and has been for decades.

The word Carnival itself is conflicted, but many historians agree that it came out of ‘carne vale’, meaning ‘farewell to the flesh” and was traditionally a festival held before Lent. Steeped in Catholic origin, but grounded in African and French roots with its rituals and mask parades, both the religious roots and cultural traditions are fast disappearing. although many carnivals are still staged as pre-lent events culminating on Mardi Gras or on Mercredi des Cendres (Ash Wednesday), (Trinidad, Dominica, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Brazil). However even a few of those not traditionally held before lent have their origins tied to Africa, slavery and emancipation as with Crop Over in Barbados and the zafra in Cuba.

CDF Director Kennedy ‘Boots’ Samuel last year spoke about returning ‘meaning’ to Carnival. But has he already sent things down the wrong path?

In 1999, Saint Lucia’s carnival was shifted from a pre-Lent event to July to help the island reap some economic benefits through tourism and to help foster cultural exchanges with countries like Trinidad which had well established pre-Lent carnivals. Those who countered the move argued that it would lose its traditions and sense of purpose. Today both arguments are proving right. Whilst the event has grown and interest from the region and the world has increased, it is fast loosing any sort of identity with no raison d’être behind the festival.

At the end of last year’s Carnival, I spoke with Kennedy “Boots” Samuels, who then headed the Folk Research Center, about this apparent loss of an identity for our Carnival. Here is what he said: “The basic thing is that carnival was changed on the spot and yes whilst there were reasons for that change; more tourists, more marketing and that it would not clash with Trinidad, I think that the fundamental meaning of carnival, something that the whole community can latch onto, might have been overlooked. It is now a whole different ball game.

With a decision to change the date, the whole cultural significance was snatched up and uprooted. The question for us now is what do we do to sustain this event for generations and how do we anchor this festival to have meaning for us?”

One year later and Samuels is now the one in charge of the Cultural Development Foundation. At a press briefing on Wednesday, he admitted that there continues to be challenges and all sectors will be immediately consulted with the intention of reviewing this year’s event and charting the way forward. “We will be bringing all sectors together next week for a process of review which will also start the process for carnival 2010,” Samuels says, noting that the CDF will undertake the establishment of a full policy which will guide carnival for many years to come.

But why have there been no checks and balances where carnival is concerned even with growing interest by the Saint Lucia Tourist Board? Has the Chamber of Commerce initiated any surveys in the past years to establish a pattern of spending during this season? Has the Saint Lucia Tourist board been doing any surveys to quantify visitor arrival and spending? And has the CDF itself been doing any research, analysis and surveys which can be contained in a published report each year as a way of reviewing each event and charting the way forward? And why was there no national policy on carnival and if there isn’t, then when will it be decide to properly replant this carnival tree which in one fell swoop we uprooted from February and have replanted in July? I am afraid that without the nurturing, proper fertilizer and pruning of the weeds and brambles attacking it, this carnival that so many of us claim to love will simply wither away, no ifs ands or butts.

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

28. July 2009 by admin.

Jamaica Gleaner

A team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is expected to arrive in Jamaica today to have further talks with the Government.

The officials are expected to be in the country for two days to discuss Jamaica’s return to a borrowing relationship with the Fund.

The Prime Minister Bruce Golding and the Finance Minister Audley Shaw say Jamaica is returning to the Fund because of the current economic shortfalls.

However Mr Golding said Jamaica would not enter into a loan arrangement with the IMF if the terms are not favourable.

Mr Shaw has disclosed that the Government is already pursuing some agreed terms based on discussions with multilateral agencies including the IMF.

These include a consolidation of public enterprises, the formulation of debt strategies for the medium term, a reduction in future deficit, streamlining the civil service and enhancing tax administration.

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

28. July 2009 by admin.

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent (CMC) – The prime ministers of Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Vincent & the Grenadines yesterday wrapped up a “very successful” meeting with disgruntled pilots of the regional airline LIAT agreeing to send their protracted industrial dispute to arbitration for settlement by 30 Sept.

“I think we are seeing the commencement of a fresh start, a partnership between LIAT’s management and all the stakeholders including the pilots association,” St. Vincent & the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves told reporters after a meeting with officials from 10 trade unions that represents the employees of the cash-strapped airline.

The chairman of the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIAPA), Captain Michael Blackburn, described the talks as positive, adding “there have been grounds broken and hoping to build on in good faith.

“I have in the past advocated arbitration, it is now a reality…and we are hoping that we could move into the arbitration process expeditiously so that LIAT can move forward,” he said.

Chairman of the LIAT Board of Directors Jean Holder described the meeting as “historic”, adding that without the airline, “there is really no single market and economy” in the region.

“Therefore the presence and serving the immediate future of this region socially and commercially…depends on the competition with these people around the table have made during the last few weeks and certainly today.”

The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer of Antigua and Barbuda and his Barbados counterpart, David Thompson and Gonsalves said there was agreement that the company and LIALPA would submit all the employment issues relating to the pilots to binding arbitration.

“On Wednesday morning in Barbados, these issues would be detailed in particular,” he said, noting that, “we are not staying with a fresh slate because there had been some negotiations before.”

Gonsalves said the retired Barbadian jurist Leroy Inniss, QC would chair the arbitration panel with management and the pilots each appointing a representative.

He said the panel would devise its own programme within the framework of the laws of Antigua and Barbuda, where the airline is headquartered and there would be a final report by the panel “on or before 30 Sept.”

Gonsalves noted that while the panel is adjudicating on the matter, the two sides have agreed to revert to the situation that existed before the airline was granted an injunction by the Industrial Court in Antigua that prevented the pilots from taking any industrial action.

He said the new environment would also bring to an end “whatever form of industrial action the pilots would have taken,” adding, “I am not saying that the pilots took industrial action, but whatever form they may have taken, those will no longer in existence.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

28. July 2009 by admin.

A new television entity, Antigua Christian Network (ACN), will soon begin broadcasting on the CTV platform on channel 109.

ACN is the brainchild of Stan Bowen, the current director of Ecclesiastical affairs for the government of Antigua and Barbuda.

According to Bowen, “ACN is a commercial entity that will broadcast Christian and family oriented programmes to include religious services, Christian and family discussions and religious or wholesome family-type movies, documentaries, features, news and current affairs.”

Bowen said ACN is currently running a test pattern on its designated channel, 109 on the CTV system. He noted, “In a few weeks … the station will begin limited programming with a full schedule,” tentatively slated for 1 Oct.

He said plans for the station also include a religious news broadcast catering for news and other information coming from the Christian community. According to Bowen, “ACN has already received endorsement from Christian leaders representing the broad spectrum of religious faiths and denominations.”

ACN is owned by the Antigua and Barbuda Christian Media network, a locally-owned company.

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

28. July 2009 by admin.

Antigua Sun

It was high drama on the Old Parham Road yesterday afternoon as gunmen blocked the pathway of a vehicle that was carrying an undisclosed sum of money, the earnings of the Dews Lumber Yard, and quickly sped off with the loot.

An employee from the lumber yard was visibly traumatised, minutes after the masked gunmen robbed him of the money on the busy highway.

The money was destined for night deposit at a local bank.

It was not until he saw the shining guns pointing at him that he realised he was being robbed.

The incident occurred sometime after 4 p.m.

“I was leaving to go home, I drove the car out, jumped out to shut the gate when a vehicle just come and stop right in front of my vehicle,” the man who preferred to remain anonymous told the AntiguaSun. “They blocked my vehicle and a guy jumped out with a gun and tell me don’t move, don’t move.”

The man said he left his vehicle and he ran across the road in the vicinity of Automotive Art. The bandits then went into the car and took the cash which was left on one of the seats.

Another female employee of the company was in the car.

The man was unable to say how much money he had in his possession.

“I just drop it to the bank, I don’t count it,” he said.

When the SUN arrived on the scene, several police officers were still trying to gather as much information as possible.

In recounting what he saw, an eyewitness said he was standing at the bus stop when he saw a car drive up in front of the lumber yard. “They had socks on their hands, black and white stripe shirts and black pants,” he said. “I saw them pull out the gun and I said ‘nah this anna fuh real’.”

The bandits reportedly used a silver Toyota Corolla to carry out the robbery.

Suspicions that the incident was an inside job could not be confirmed.

When contacted by the SUN, Inspector Everton Jeffers, head of the Police Strategic Communications Department (Stratcom), said the police are asking for the public’s assistance in bringing the perpetrators to justice, not only in this incident, but in any of the other cases. “We definitely want to get these people off the streets before we get deeper into the Carnival activities,” Jeffers said.

The police are looking for a silver Toyota Corolla A15120 that was involved in the robbery.

They are also asking anyone with information about the vehicle that was seen heading east on Old Parham Road after the incident to contact the nearest police station or CrimeStoppers at 800 TIPS (8477).

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

28. July 2009 by admin.

COU COU; STEAMED FLYING FISH

MASHED SWEET POTATOES; PEAS AND RICE

BAKED PORK; BAKED CHICKEN

MACARONI PIE; LAMB STEW

PLAIN GRAVY; FRESH VEGS

TOSSED SALADS

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

28. July 2009 by admin.

treasures: FIFA vice president Jack Warner, left, meets US President Barack Obama at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington DC, yesterday. -Photo courtesy CONCACAF There is a possibility, if his schedule allows it, that United States President Barack Obama will return to this country next year for the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup. FIFA vice president Jack Warner told the Express via phone yesterday, that he had first invited Obama to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but the President said he would be unable to attend, given his hectic agenda. However, Warner said as they spoke about football, Obama expressed his daughters’ love for the sport and Warner invited him and his family to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup carded for September 2010. Warner, together with FIFA President Sepp Blatter, was treated to an hour and a half tour of the White House before they sat down and spoke to Obama. Yesterday, Warner sounded spellbound and later admitted the tour and the meeting with Obama were an experience of a lifetime. “I was able to see his daughters play football, they call it soccer, on the lawns of the White House. I saw where he (Obama) dines with his family, where he holds his press conferences … I am spellbound,” he said. Warner said he took some photos in the White House and these are treasures that would be with him until he dies. He described the meeting as the hallmark of his life and added that although he has visited numerous countries and met great people, this experience took his breath away. Warner said he did not speak to Obama about national issues. However, sports and the US bid to host the 2018 World Cup were discussed at length, as well as tertiary education. Warner is scheduled to return home today.

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | 1 Comment »

28. July 2009 by admin.

Nation News

Farley Hill venue to remain. Timmy making his way to the stage above the heads of thousands of patrons at the new Party Monarch location. (Picture by Donnay Deane)

FARLEY HILL NATIONAL PARK will remain the site for the future staging of the Sweet Soca and Party Monarch competitions for the time being.

This was indicated by Minister of Culture Steve Blackett and National Cultural Foundation (NCF) chairman Ken Knight, who spoke to the DAILY NATION separately during the events on Sunday night.

“I have had comments all day that the configuration of Farley Hill is pleasing,” Blackett said.

“It worked out pretty well. Having rebranded the event from what obtained at the East Coast with the introduction of the Sweet Soca competition, we’re well on the way to giving the sponsors and public a better overall event.

“We feel very comfortable with Farley Hill. I think we’ve adapted it very well . . . to suit the occasion,” Knight stated.

However, the chairman added that while there were no immediate plans to take the Party Monarch competition back to East Coast Road, the NCF would consider it in future, once given the go-ahead by the Ministry of the Environment.

“We’ll do our re-evaluation process after Crop-Over in terms of site locations for next year,” he said, adding that the feedback from NCF staff was positive.

“From our feedback, Farley Hill is comfortable to work with, it’s less challenging than the East Coast from the point of view of infrastructure and installation. There are many shows that are held here throughout the year so it’s an easy site to adapt to.”

Knight also responded to the issue of the impact of the 7 500-plus crowd, as estimated by head of security Louis Sealy, on the fragile park, a debate recently highlighted in the Press.

“We were hoping for about 10 000; we’ve had a really comfortable crowd. I don’t think the park suffered unduly because of it,” he said.

Both Blackett and Knight indicated the judging criteria for the Party Monarch, sponsored this year by Mount Gay and LIME, will be addressed as artistes such as TC, Natahlee and Mr Dale were judged in both competitions with the same songs.

“At the end of the day we’re looking at a product that will be best marketed to the people and what they want,” Knight said.

“We’ll be looking at it in our post-mortems and reviews to tweak and adjust what we presented [Sunday] today. They will have to be separate, but there will have to be clear and definitive descriptions of both competitions and it will be done in a way that will be communicated to prospective participants,” Blackett said.

Knight also reiterated his earlier comments on having the Sweet Soca competition, sponsored this year by Banks and 98.1, opened to private enterprise.

“Crop-Over is not something that is only reserved for the NCF, particularly from a promotional perspective. We want to encourage the development of the cultural industries and the more private promoters that come on board, the better it is for the development of Crop-Over.”

The police reported that it was an incident-free event. (MS)

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

28. July 2009 by admin.

	Email To Friend    Print Version
LONDON, England — Instead of dampening travel for its citizens and curbing the flow of tourism cash for developing countries, the British and other G-20 Governments should offer cash incentives to its travelers who visit climate-friendly destinations, proposed a development expert. Speaking at a high-profile panel organized by the UK Tourism Society, Lelei TuiSamoa LeLaulu said the new Airline Passenger Departure tax leveled by the UK Government was hindering development in poorer nations by drastically reducing the number of British tourists to the developing world. Lelei TuiSamoa LeLaulu “British tourists take and leave more cash to island nations and most developing countries than the UK Government gives in aid,” asserted LeLaulu, chairman of the Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific International (www.fspi.org.fj), the largest non-government development agency in Oceania. LeLaulu was speaking at the Tourism Society debate with the UN World Tourism Organization regarding stimulus for G-20 economies. The high profile panel debate looked at the implications of the G-20 Summit outcomes on the international tourism industry. “Tourism is the largest voluntary transfer of resources from the rich to the not-so-rich in history,” asserted LeLaulu, “and for the most part these tourism dividends go straight to benefit the communities which host the visitors.” Questioning the UK government’s taxing of travelers for their carbon emissions, LeLaulu asserted the Green Globe sustainability index indicates European and North American travelers emit less carbon in developing world destinations than they would if they stayed in their own countries, “so UK citizens would be more climate friendly in Samoa or St Lucia, for example, than they would be at home.” “Instead of deterring travel with these curious taxes, the British and other G-20 governments should issue vouchers worth US $1,000 to citizens of their countries who visited destinations which were climate friendly,” he suggested. “These vouchers could not be used on European airlines but would be cashed in when it was proved the money was used in climate-friendly hotels and other amenities at developing country destinations,” he said. “Since the recession is caused in part by people not using their savings,” he said, the G-20 economies would be stimulated “when people took money from their savings to pay travel agents and for tickets on their struggling airlines.” LeLaulu was part of a panel which included Lord Thurso MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform; Dr Taleb Rifai, Secretary General for the UNWTO, Christopher Rodrigues OBE, Chairman of VisitBritain; Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of South Africa; and Professor Geoffrey Lipman of the Christel DeHaan Tourism & Travel Research Institute and Assistant Secretary General of the UNWTO.

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

28. July 2009 by admin.

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »