Soufriere Board Is Illegal
Story By
Carmy Joseph

John has called on the sitting Board to do the honorable thing and resign. He says they are unlawful and of no effect. The former SLP Choiseul MP says the Board’s has no defense against the court order. The attorney says the decision is a landmark one and should serve as a cautionary tale to governments. He says although it is understandable for incoming governments to want to appoint their people to Boards and institutions – they need to do so within the law.

The parties are contemplating pursuing contempt charges against the government for what they say is their failure to comply with the court decision. Dalson says he remains the lawful Chairman of the Soufriere body since his three year term was interrupted by the court ruled wrongful dismissal.

The Taiwanese team landed here Monday. The team which includes various specialists and nurses will work with the Ministry of Health to help develop the local medical system. This is the first time most of the experts are visiting the island, but they will be put to work during their two-week stay. Jeffery Chen is one of the Taiwanese doctors, and while he does not know exactly what his mission will entail, he looks forward to contributing to the local system. Specialists in obstetrics and gynecology, cardiology, pediatrics, urology, pharmacology and internal medicine have made the trip.

But Health Minister – Dr. Keith Mondesir is most interested in the specialist in Chinese medicine. Mondesir says that specialist could help cure ails that other doctors have failed at curing. The Taiwanese Ambassador – Tom Chou is confident in the abilities of his country’s medical programme. He says the Taiwanese Doctors will introduce local medical experts to new technologies.

The Health Minister says the exchange of knowledge is essential especially with the advances made by the Asians. He says the Ministry will work to see how the system can be strengthened and what can be learned in the process.

The Tourism Minister would not speculate on the reasons the Customs Comptroller would ask the Attorney General to investigate the matter. He says once the fact of the mistake was indicated, the adjustment was made.
But he faulted the Health Minister for a failure to pay attention to detail. Chastanet noted that similar adjustments have been made under previous governments including the Labour Party’s. The opposition has called for an independent inquiry into the matter.

It’s been twenty days since Stephum Marquais has been missing. The family is in anguish and seeking clues to find him. However, they say some people have been using their plight to play practical jokes calling to say the young man is places he is not. A reward is now being offered for information that will lead to Marquais.
The 25-year-old is mentally handicap and epileptic.

The last report of him being seen was two weeks ago in the Chassin area. The family was worried that the young man could easily find himself in a life threatening situation because of his condition. The last time he was seen, Stephum Marquais was wearing a yellow short sleeve shirt, blue short pants and slippers. Anyone who has information about the missing man is asked to contact the nearest police station or the family at 384-4325, 720-0992 or 453-7614.

Agriculture Minister – Ezechiel Joseph – says job loss at the SLBC was inevitable. His comments come days after all but 6 employees of the banana company were dismissed from their jobs. Joseph says when the company failed to sell bananas as is its mandate – it would naturally have to lose its workers. Several former SLBC employees have already been relocated. These new assignments came before this latest round of dismissals. The CSA – the union that represents the SLBC employees had called on the government to intervene on the SLBC matter.

Their request had preceded the mass dismissals. The CSA had called on the government to provide a financial blanket for their members. That request followed public speculation the Corporation was broke. Joseph says the SLBC has not asked his Ministry for financial assistance.

Ezechiel Joseph says the SLBC still has a role to play in the banana industry. He expressed hope the Interim Board that is now governing the affairs of that body can turn things around for the farmers who are shareholders of the company.

The Soufriere mp has called on the police to exercise restraint. Harold Dalson is speaking a few days after a police operation left one Bouton man dead. The community of Bouton is part of the Soufriere/ fond St Jacques constituency. Dalson says despite his support of the police, they need to think before discharging their weapons. The MP is also expressing three concerns raised by the family. First – the police did not consult any member of the community or family while conducting their search for a mentally ill

individual. The other two concerns deal with the manner St Luce died, and how he was treated afterwards. Dalson has expressed satisfaction with the decision by the Royal Saint Lucia police force to investigate the shooting death. He says the community needs closure and the findings should hopefully provide that. The police expect the investigation to be completed in two weeks.

Justice Hugh Anthony Rawlins has been confirmed as the new chief justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Justice Rawlins had been acting in that capacity since April this year. His notice of confirmation came from the office of the British high chancellor – jack straw last Wednesday. Justice Rawlins succeeds Justice Sir Brian Alleyne who retired from the position of acting chief justice in April.

The new chief justice came up through the ranks of the court, joining as one of two masters in 2000 and serving as a high court judge, a court of appeal judge and then acting chief justice. Prior to joining the court, he served as public servant and also lectured at the University of the West Indies. Chief justice Rawlins has authored and co-authored several papers on various aspects of the law, in regional and international publications.

responsibility for the Michael Jordan Brand said it is essential for parents, students and teachers to understand that there’s more to a Sport than just being a player. There’s also the business side with its enormous potential. It is the hope that such exchanges with the Trailblazers continues into the future. A number of agencies came together to make the initiative possible. The participants at the basketball clinic were drawn from schools from around the island. A similar exercise was held for players between 15 and 19 years.