potential swine flu cases associating with regular patients in the primary health care unit. He says it is a situation that is dangerous and untenable. The primary health care section deals with non-emergency cases. People who require that type of care are advised to visit a health centre or private physician. Consultant in the Accident and Emergency Department – Dr Chris Nathaniel –says that unit only caters to cold cases.

The Executive Director of the Victoria Hospital – Jenny Fevrier – says the closure of primary health care is temporary. Furthermore –it is a precautionary measure that could not be avoided. She says the acute section of the Department that deals with emergency cases like gun shot victims will remain open. Victoria Hospital is one of two hospitals in Castries.

It is a public hospital that is trafficked heavily by the majority of Saint Lucians for all manners of treatment. The closure of the primary health care unit is said to be a temporary solution aimed at preventing a potential swine flu outbreak in the country.

Lynchburg. He says the training is part of the College’s commitment to strengthen the local education system. The Principals Association President says this type of training is important to the efficient supervision of students and the evaluation of their performance. Ethelene Leonce says Principals are determined to use the information from this course to improve their schools.

This course is the latest in a series organized by Lynchburg College. The College established a partnership with the Ministry of Education in July 2003.

The Opposition Leader says this meeting comes during a period of adjustment for Saint Lucia. Dr. Anthony says he will be discussing issues like the global financial crisis, crime and governance with his members. Dr. Anthony says it is also a time of reflection for the local leg of the party. He says the SLP is preparing policy for the future. The SLP leader says the recent appointment of an economic task force is just the beginning.

While in New York, Dr. Anthony will receive the SLP’s inaugural Award for Distinguished Service. It is the highest award presented by the Saint Lucia Labour Party of New York and is intended to honour members who have given outstanding service to the party and Saint Lucia. Dr. Anthony will travel to New York on Thursday.

The Travel Counsellor says the Saint Lucian visit gave agents a different view of the island. She says the Island has more to offer than she first thought. This is the kind of reaction Tourist Board officials are hoping for. They say the annual event puts overseas based travel agents in contact with local ground handlers, as well as tour and travel operators.

Tourist Board Corporate Communications Manager – Dainea Augier - says the group will benefit from first hand experience of the tours and services they will offer to clients. The United Kingdom has become one of the tourism industry’s largest source markets. Two additional flights from the UK will commence in October. Augier says similar visits to Saint Lucia have been planned for agents from the United States and Canada. Those agents are expected to get a tourist’s experience of the Island ahead of the fall travel season.

Service Training Plus.” The Head of that Department – Betty Combie – explains the aim of the workshop. Combie says the workshops became a necessity following the constant complaints from customers on poor service. She says workshop participants also express similar frustrations about doing business in Saint Lucia. Alicia Felicien is an Airline Sales Representative at Air Caraibes. She says the course is important because it teaches the value of the customer in sustaining any business. Armed with that knowledge –employees can then better interact with customers.

The workshop was held at the Bureau of Standards office at Bisee. Participants included people from the manufacturing, travel services and medical agencies.

Despite declining production - bananas are the mainstay of the agricultural sector. General Manager of the Banana Production Unit Gregory Avril says streamlining the troubled sector can help maximize the yields of identifiably stronger farmers to compete in the global market. Those struggling with output can also be encouraged to produce more. The extension officers are vital in selling these Plans to the farmers.

AGIL Project Coordinator, Anthony Bonaparte describes extension officers as the lynchpin of the process. A highly trained and technically proficient professional is therefore needed to interface and communicate effectively with the farmers they serve. The training workshop for the Extension Service is now underway at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and runs from July 2nd, 7th, 8th and August 11th 2009.

provide patrons value at 50 cents per performer. This is the third time START members have come together to host the soca monarch preliminaries. St Prix says for some tents that have a limited number of soca performers – this is the most economical solution. Saint Lucia is home to only one all soca tent – the NG Soca Stage. Home to big guns like Q-Pid, Illah Man and Platinum George – NG will have a 15 artiste contingent in the preliminary competition. There will also be 8 competitors from Spectrum International - three from the South Calypso Tent and nine from TOT – home of the defending Power and Caribbean Monarch and Road March King Ricky T.

her favourite Carnival elements – water and her producer. To be sure – Q-Pid is no stranger to the Power Monarch finals – having gotten the nod in previous years with songs like “Water,” “Madd Again” and last year’s “ But she says this year is different because her focus has altered, slightly. Although she still wants to have a good time – she also wants a title.

Q-Pid has released a number of songs in the 2009 Carnival season. In the Power category – there have been two – “Potential Whine” with Cookies and Cream and Pressure. For her – being the lone established female in competition is not a desired prospect. She has made this appeal to her fellow female competitors.

Q-Pid continues to be in demand performing at every major event for Carnival including the launch, cooler and wet fete. But her focus right now is getting through to the Power Monarch and representing in the Groovy Finals on Saturday.