12. November 2009 by admin.

DENIS KELLMAN’S COLUMN- THE DEBATE

MARCH 30, 2006

Portia Simpson-Miller must be congratulated for her commitment and loyalty to party. She has shown that being ignored and trampled by internal politics can be used as a platform to continue to be street smart. She had to sit in the shadow of Mr. P.J. Patterson, but she never allowed that to stop her from continuing to be focused on what has to be done to keep the party popular.

Portia’s popularity in Jamaica was never in doubt by the masses, but her ability and popularity was always questioned by the Negrocrats in and out of her party. The PNC has now demonstrated the importance of winning and it has shown that once you can impress the masses and demonstrate your ability to be broad that you have goodwill to propel your party and country.

It was rather interesting to hear comments of the political scientist describing and praising her elevation. This new approach to politics will help solve the E in CSME and will help these countries to increase production and punish consumption. Caribbean leaders must understand that the problems of the Caribbean cannot be found in a text book, but must be found from among the real people of the Caribbean. The Caribbean must be accepted as a unique area with a lot of potential that can only be tapped using Caribbean solutions. This new approach was started by the PNM when Patrick Manning was elevated to head his party.

Earlier, I said that the E in CSME must be dealt with. It has to be done using an approach that cannot be found in a textbook, but it must be used to write a textbook. Our Great Leaders have left us with the blueprint, but our brilliant minds have been searching all the textbooks for the solution, but to no avail. We were told by the Right Excellent Errol Barrow that Guyana must be the “breadbasket” of the Caribbean. This follows naturally that if it has all the resources and if these resources are in demand on the international market, then it means that Guyana must be seen as “the economy” of the Caribbean.

Some will ask what foolishness is being suggested by this writer again, some will say that it cannot be found in a text book, so it cannot be accepted. Some will ask if this is Kellmanomics again, or if this is another theory in “madness”?

What do you need to create a good economy? You must have a market, natural, human and financial resources. In Guyana, we have all the natural resources, the CSME countries have the financial resources or are able to source them from the international market and human resources can be found in the region or can be bought externally. Once we are happy that the above is available, then we should stop trying to focus on each economy and continue to operate as normal in each country, accepting Guyana as the main export market. Let us ponder on these things, since I am only repeating the O’Neale’s vision for the Caribbean.

CHANDERPAUL AS CAPTAIN

Sometime ago, I said that the WICB was wrong in selecting Chanderpaul as Captain, when you have Brian Charles Lara in the team. I have watched the team defeated by the lack of strategy by Captain and Coach. This occurred when Sarwan was floored. Any good captain or Coach would have sent in the most positive player in the team. Brian Charles Lara, our most experienced player, unfortunately out of form at this time, should not have been sent in to face that fast bowling. Dwayne Smith should have been the man sent in instead to tame that aggression. I cannot understand how you can have a player that is attacking and you send him in to be defensive, when he should be batting to ease the tension for Lara and Sarwan.

It is no doubt that Chanderpaul has a role to perform in the West Indies team, but it cannot be as Captain. We are destroying him by continuing to keep him as Captain, it has deprived us of the runs for which he is known. The Captain, the Board and the Coach have caused us to lose the series in New Zealand. We must understand that the West Indies team is an attacking one and not a defensive team as we saw in New Zealand.

It is time that we accept that if we are going to regain our dominance, then we have to appreciate the talent of Dwayne Smith and the experience of Brian Charles Lara. I am told that Dwayne needs to refocus, but I believe that if you are going to find solutions to a problem, you cannot run away from it, rather you must confront it, because once your opponents know your weakness, they will continue to attack you. A problem must be solved and Dwayne Smith is right in trying to deal with it, he is no coward. I am happy with his approach to the problem and believe that he will perfect it soon.

Brian Charles must be asked to Captain the team until World Cup is finished.

Please remember that we have dealt with the CSM and we must see Guyana as the E. Now that the Village Academy has worked it out, it is for the Academics to do what they can do best.

Peace, love, humility, wisdom and understanding.

(Denis Kellman is the Member of Parliament for St. Lucy, Barbados)

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12. November 2009 by admin.

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12. November 2009 by admin.

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12. November 2009 by admin.

St. Lucia Star

The 24th edition of the world-famous annual transatlantic rally, the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) has defied the economic doom and gloom and 218 yachts will head off from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on 22nd November 2009 en route to Rodney Bay in Saint Lucia.

Not only is there a distinctly healthy entry number, but there is also a record 32 nations represented in this year’s event, underlining the fact that the ARC is now an international event and the most popular way to sail across the Atlantic. The 2,700 nautical mile passage on the NE trade wind route takes the fleet, on average, between 14 and 21 days to reach its destination and the finish line.

Whilst fundamentally a fun rally for cruising yachts, the ARC also offers a more serious Racing Divisions, run under the auspices of the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC). Yachts entered in the Racing Divisions are not permitted to use their engines for propulsion (unlike the cruisers), although use of autopilots is allowed.

This year for the very first time, the yachts in the ARC Racing Divisions will carry Yellowbrick satellite tracking devices. This compact and powerful technology developed by Yellowbrick Adventure Tracking, will provide a significant benefit for participants with automatic position reports uploading to the WCC website every six hours via the Iridium Network.

The ARC distinguishes itself by successfully combining racing and cruising yachts with a mix of older and younger participants, all of whom thoroughly enjoy the varied entertainment that is on offer for all ages at both the start and finish ports.

From the outset in 1986 when the first ARC was run, this unique event has developed its own special character. Over the past 23 years many friendships have been forged in the relaxed atmosphere, and the profound sense of camaraderie has become the hallmark of this very special rally that entices people back year after year.

Since January 2006, the ARC has been run by the Cowes-based independent event management company World Cruising Club Ltd, following a management buy out from the Challenge Business. WCC always has the best interests of the participants in mind and will always try to incorporate the most popular ideas and proposals put forward to improve the event. This was the main reason for a switch in the ARC destination from Barbados to Rodney Bay in Saint Lucia back in 1990.The yachting facilities are superior to those available in Barbados and for the first time it was possible to have all the yachts in one marina at the end of the Rally, as they were before the start, thus providing a better atmosphere.

—World Cruising Club

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12. November 2009 by admin.

St. Lucia Star

Captains of the Pacific Dream were welcomed to St Lucia as the cruise season was declared open.

The cruise season has officially been declared open! On Monday November 2, the National Development Corporation (NDC) and the St Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority, (SLASPA) owners and managers of the Pointe Seraphine Duty Free Shopping Complex marked the season’s beginning in a simple, but effective gift exchange ceremony with at least one of the cruise ships in port this week.The Pacific Dream and the Ventura were in port on Monday and for the occasion the ship captain of the Pacific Dream joined the short exchange ceremony during which he expressed pleasure to be in St Lucia. After a brief first half of the proceedings at Pointe Seraphine, invited guest were taken across to La Place Carenage via ferry where it was expected that another presentation would be made to the ship captain or representative from the Ventura.

Steel pan music welcomed all onto the docks as curious visitors stopped to check out the scene but Ventura’s ship captain was unable to make the ceremony. Officials from SLASPA thanked the captain of the Pacific Dream for coming and made it known that they looked forward to having them back in the future. The same was said for the Ventura even though no representatives from the cruise ship were able to make it to the event. The Pacific Dream will be coming into St Lucia every Monday for the next five months.

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12. November 2009 by admin.

St. Lucia Star

On Wednesday the Taiwan Embassy will hand over one of its most involved projects to the government of St Lucia, the National Mental Wellness Centre which they committed to in 2007.

The completion of the Saint Lucia National Mental Wellness Centre undertaking by Taiwan is scheduled to be handed over to the government of Saint Lucia on Wednesday.The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Family Affairs, National Mobilization, Human Services and Gender Relations, is scheduled to hold the handing-over ceremony of the Saint Lucia National Mental Wellness Centre on 11th November 2009 at 10am at Millennium Highway, Coubaril. Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy and Prime Minister Stephenson King, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, President of the Senate, Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament and Senators have been invited to witness this historical moment.

When the Psychiatric Hospital Project came to a halt in 2007 due to the renewing of diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan), the government of Taiwan committed itself to completion of the project. In order to make sure that the project met international standards and to make it sustainable, experts from Taiwan visited the site before the Saint Lucia National Mental Wellness Centre project restarted on 30th October 2008.

Just over one year of construction, the Saint Lucia National Mental Wellness Centre is completed and has become one of, if not the most state-of-the-art psychiatric hospitals in the Caribbean comprising of: 84 beds for psychiatric patients; 24 beds for neurological, geriatric, and general patients; Diagnostic center for X ray; The best auditorium in Saint Lucia; merge kitchen, laundry, medical records, library rooms; administrative services for the neuro-psychiatric center and the new general hospital within the premises of the neuro-psychiatric center.

The Saint Lucia National Mental Wellness Centre is also a brand-new concept psychiatric hospital. Firstly the main difference between the old and new concept is that the old design would have served as purely a psychiatric hospital without incorporating the essential characteristics of the psychiatric patients. However, under the “Brand New Concept” the Saint Lucia Mental Wellness Centre will now serve neurology and geriatric patients as well. Secondly the “Brand New Concept” was designed with psychiatric patients in mind. For instance, the rooms for the severely mentally-ill patients are fitted with cushioned walls so that patients won’t hurt themselves as opposed to bare concrete walls in the old design. Thirdly thought was given to the safety aspect of exposed showers which are not imbedded into the walls, and now they cannot be used for any suicide attempt after being rectified and concealed. Fourthly panel glass have been designed that if broken it will not shatter and cause harm to the patients.

The completion of the Saint Lucia National Mental Wellness Centre signifies the fulfillment of commitment made by Taiwan in 2007. It also signifies the determination and commitment by the government of Saint Lucia to good health in the country.

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12. November 2009 by admin.

The newest cruise ship from the Princess Cruise Lines, Ruby Princess, made it inaugural visit to Antigua and Barbuda on Wednesday morning.

To commemorate this event, the ship’s captain, Tony Yeomans, played host to a small group of representatives from the St. John’s Taxi Association (SJTA), the St. John’s Development Corporation (SJDC), Antigua Pier Group (APG), the Antigua and Barbuda Cruise Tourism Association (ABCTA) and Brysons – the cruise line’s port agent.

In a ceremony to welcome the ship’s visitors, the captain said that he was happy to be on the island. Yoemans, who has made several calls to Antigua in the past, gave a short history of his visits to the country throughout the years and ended by saying that he was pleased with the development of Antigua’s ports.

Following the captain’s welcome, plaques were exchanged between Yoemans and the respective representatives.

Director of Policy and Planning within the Ministry of Tourism, Corthwright Marshall, made a presentation on behalf of the Minister of Tourism, John Maginley. Avonele Pole, Marketing Executive of the APG, and Nathan Dunda, ABCTA President, made presentations on behalf of their respective groups; Dundas doubled as a representative for both the ABCTA and Brysons.

Marshall, Pole and Dundas welcomed the cruise ship to Antigua and expressed their wishes for a continued relationship between the cruise line and the twin-island state in years to come.

The Ruby Princess, which celebrated its one year anniversary on Sunday, currently hosts 3,100 passengers and 1,188 crew members.

The ship, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, offers a 10-day cruise to six Caribbean destinations; the Bahamas, St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Barbados, St. Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda. She will be making calls to Antigua at 20 day intervals.

In addition to a theater which seats 846 people, a state of the art gym, spa and the other regular cruise ship amenities, one of the unique services that the Ruby Princess offers to its passengers is botox treatment.

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12. November 2009 by admin.

Individuals in the capital were left in awe as they watched a cruise ship heading towards the island abruptly stop and begin to travel in the opposite direction.

On Wednesday morning at around 7:30 a.m. the Captain of the Carnival Freedom cruise ship refused to dock at the Nevis Street pier, as was recently scheduled.

Nathan Dundas, President of the Antigua and Barbuda Cruise Tourism Association (ABCTA) told the AntiguaSun that the captain’s refusing to dock was because of the water levels at the pier.

According to Dundas, the ship’s captain feared the location designated for the Carnival Freedom was not safe for him to berth the ship.

In an immediate response to address the issue, Dundas said he contacted the cruise line’s head office and was able to communicate with the Vice President, Gordon Buck.

The joint efforts of Buck and Dundas resulted in Carnival Freedom’s return to Antigua.

It was agreed that a new berthing position would be selected for the ship and on its return, Carnival Freedom was positioned at the Heritage Quay pier.

A clearly disappointed Dundas said that a lack of proper communication and management between the Antigua Port Authority (APA) pilots and the ship’s captain was to be blamed for the Wednesday morning incident. He also highlighted that larger ships had been placed at the Nevis Street pier in the past.

Dundas continued by saying that something needs to be done to avoid the recurrence of this event.

The incident caused a delay in the berthing of other ships and the ABCTA boss said that he has already spoken to the Minister of Tourism, John Maginley and the Antigua Port Authority Manager, Agatha Dublin about the matter. He added that an investigation will be launched to unearth the source of the problem.

Dundas ended by saying that the incident is not sending a good message and had the ship’s captain decided not to return, it would have had a detrimental effect on cruise tourism in Antigua.

Yesterday, five cruise ships were stationed on the island. The Ruby Princess and the Sea Princess from the Princess Cruise Line, Carnival Freedom and Meinscheff were docked in St. John’s at the Heritage Quay and Nevis Street piers and Club Med II at Falmouth Harbour.

For the second time this week, four ships were docked at the ports in St. John’s on the same day.

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12. November 2009 by admin.

The woman who fainted at Sunday’s Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph has been identified as one of the US embassy’s consul.

Pamela Arthurton was among members of the diplomatic corps who attended the memorial service and wreath laying ceremony in remembrance of those who died during the World Wars.

It was around 9 a.m when the ceremony ended and the governor-general and prime minister were departing that Arthurton, who appeared to have been overwhelmed by the heat, collapsed.

Several soldiers who were close-by ran to her assistance. The consul was taken to an ambulance belonging to the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force that was parked on Long Street, where it is believed she was treated for heat exhaustion.

She is believed to have fully recovered after receiving medical attention.

Pamela Arthurton is based in Antigua, and is the proprietor of Carib World Travel, located in the Woods Mall.

Recent high temperatures have proven unmanageable for some people, especially at public events.

Last week, several military officers and other members of uniformed bodies fell ill under the morning sun at the ARG, during the independence ceremonial parade, keeping the Red Cross busy administering treatment for heat exhaustion.

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12. November 2009 by admin.

LENTILS PEAS AND RICE; MACARONI PIE

CREAMED POTATO; VEGETABLE CHOWMEIN

BAKED CHICKEN; BAKED PORK

BBQ SPARERIBS; FRIED KING FISH

TOSSED SALAD; COLE SLAW

STEAMED VEGETABLES

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