Dalson Takes On The Development
Story By
Carmy Joseph

Dalson says the project is located in a remote area behind the Jalousie hotel. He says from outward appearances – it looks like a development that will take years to complete. The MP wants it investigated and stopped. The Manager of the Piton Management area - Henix Joseph – has confirmed the construction of a house he says belongs to an Italian businessman in that area. Joseph says that structure has led to severe undercutting of hillside that has the potential for an environmental disaster.

Like the Soufriere MP he is also not aware of approval from the Ministry of Planning for the project. Joseph says a 2007 Cabinet conclusion placed a moratorium on development within the Piton Management Area. That moratorium is awaiting the results of a Hyder report that is not yet complete. It would seem the project is underway without government approvals and in violation of a Cabinet conclusion.

While the opposition still weighs its response to the signing of a new regional pact, Prime Minister Stephenson King says what is needed to achieve Caribbean unity is cross-party support for the initiative. King was speaking after he signed a joint declaration with the Prime Ministers of Trinidad, St. Vincent and Grenada towards the creation of a single market and economy and political union. King says one of the biggest obstacles to regional integration is island politics and the unwillingness of successive governments to follow up on decisions of their predecessors.

The Prime Minister had praise for his predecessors for their commitment to the integration movement. He noted that the new Grenada Prime Minister – Tillman Thomas is following up on the work of Dr. Keith Mitchell and St. Lucia has done the same. King says, what he termed the insular behaviour of some leaders must change for progress to be made. The opposition is expected to make a statement on the initiative later this week. The Secretary General of CARICOM and the Director General of the OECS observed the discussions to ensure both groupings’ inclusion in the process.

The board of the Soufriere regional development foundation will meet in emergency session Wednesday. Among the items it will consider is the recent challenge to its legitimacy. A court decision handed down in April made the SRDF board appointed by the late Sir John Compton administration unlawful. The Soufriere fishermen’s cooperative and the fond Saint Jacques mothers and fathers group sued the government after their members were dismissed. Soufriere MP – Harold Dalson – said yesterday the government needs to adhere to the court decision or face contempt charges.

There has been a call for the present board to resign since it was constituted unlawfully. The parties are contemplating contempt charges against the government for what they say is government’s failure to comply with the court decision. At Wednesday’s meeting, the board will consider the legal challenge to its position and other matters.

One board member – Jimmy Haynes told us Tuesday, the meeting had been scheduled previously, but the matters raised in the press on Monday will occupy much of their attention. The meeting is scheduled for 9:00am and Haynes says a response to the claims made by Soufriere mp will be made shortly.

The Tourism Minister says Soufriere has the potential to become St. Lucia’s centre of Tourist activity, but a lot of work must be done before this status is achieved. The Minister met with tourism partners in Soufriere recently and was pointed in both praises and criticisms. Chastanet says problems like littering, negative attitudes towards tourists by some residents and a laid back attitude to the tourism industry in general are affecting the Town’s image. He says security in particular is a major concern.

Health Minister – Dr. Keith Mondesir is still blaming his former Permanent Secretary for changing the plan for the new Psychiatric hospital. But Mondesir says the island would have lost EU funding had government not acted when it did. The Health Minister says the island was given until December 15 to finalise all plans for the new facility. Mondesir says the tendering process should begin this month.

The Health Minister says he took the flack for the change in design of the new Mental Hospital, but he insists it was mis-directed. Even after parting with his Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mondesir pointed to his contribution to the national health care plan. Mondesir says right now, he’s working on supplementing the EU funding to finance the project.

The aim may have been to put the Rodney Bay bar out of business. Audrey Fredericks-Brower is the Supervisor of the Mango’s bar. She says a daylight robbery left the bar with no drinks except soda water. Two thieves stole cases of beer including Red Stripe, Piton and Heineken. They also got away with various other drinks including Baileys, rum punch and Hypnotiq. Fredericks-Brower says all evidence including a security camera points to an inside job.

The robbery occurred late Sunday morning at around 11:55am. It came days after two Mangos employees were fired following their Friday night shift. Fredericks-Brower says it was a bold move enabled by a lack of police presence in the area. The Supervisor does not yet know the total value of the stolen goods. She says the robbery has made her view her clientele in a new light. It has also made her realize how vulnerable her business is to crime.

A police sub station located in that area was removed to make way for the now demolished Coco Cabana club.
And although police units patrol the area – especially at night and on week-ends – Audrey Fredericks-Brower would like to see a more stable presence in the area.

a cruise ship at the age of 15 and vowed to visit the Island one day. Marty and his blushing bride climbed the Pitons and say they participated in just about every activity available to them. Amy says her St. Lucian experience has exceeded her expectations. The Couple’s wedding was coordinated by Elite Travel. The Company’s Owner Tammy Levent filmed the wedding as part of a reality – destination wedding series she intends to pitch to Travel Channel. Tammy Levent says St. Lucia was also her first pick for an exotic wedding and the destination of her honeymoon a decade ago.

The couple spent the first part of the visit at Ladera, got married at the Jalousie Plantation and are now enjoying the facilities at the Body Holiday Le Sport. They have recorded a shout out for US Celebrity Show “Extra” from St. Lucia.

The Poverty Reduction Fund will spend $375,000 this year – to assist needy primary and secondary school students. This is a significant improvement from the last school year when 2,000 families benefited from the program. Parents lined Leslie Land Road and flocked the Offices of the Poverty Reduction Fund Tuesday, to collect books and uniforms for their children. The Fund’s Executive Director – Joachim Henry says this year, the Program was decentralised – incorporating more rural students.

farmers. Joseph says his Ministry may have found a solution but there is a catch. This meeting in Cuba was a follow-up to a meeting held in Honduras earlier this year. The initiative came from the Honduras meeting called to discuss a possible link between Petro Caribe and the Hess Corporation

With concerns of high fuel prices and corresponding electricity bills – energy efficiency has become a global issue. Courts’ OECS Merchandizing Director – Dee Lundy – says the product gets St. Lucians started on using alternative sources of energy. She says the Ecosun is also environmentally friendly.

Financing for the Ecosun is available from RBTT. Ecosun officials say once the product is installed, consumers are guaranteed a 33% reduction in electricity consumption if they owned an electric heater previously.