DID St Lucia drop the ball in the fight against HIV/AIDS? Or is it that we never had the ball …
HIV/AIDS Shocker
St. Lucia Team At ‘Compete’ Event
![Image of Dr. Ubaldus Raymond [PHOTO: Stan Bishop]](https://thevoiceslu.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Dr-Raymond-says-Saint-Lucias-high-debt-is-creating-headaches-for-governments-plans-mid-600x400.jpg)
OFTEN characterised by its limited natural resources and extreme vulnerability to natural disasters, the Caribbean region was not immune to the crippling effects of the global financial crisis of 2008. In fact, the period following this crisis was one known for its stagnant economic growth, depletion of vital sectors (in particular tourism) and a significant reduction in overall GDP. For a region which relies so heavily on foreign direct investment, the road to recovery post-2008 was no easy undertaking.
Massy Shows Christmas Generosity
MASSY Stores Mega has gotten into the true spirit of Christmas with a number of donations all in one day, to kick start their Christmas corporate giving initiative. The gift giving event was held at its Choc location on Wednesday morning. Sariah Best-Joseph, who is the Divisional Head Marketing and Corporate Communications at Massy Stores Ltd, made the first presentation to the Salvation Army who they partnered with on a number of the charitable organisation’s activities for 2016.
18 More Ports Police
EIGHTEEN recruits have been added to police department of The Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA). For several months the Department has been functioning below capacity and recently came to a final decision to add some new members to the team.
Combine Efforts To End AIDS
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago. Statistics show that 83 percent of reported persons with HIV in the Caribbean are in the 15-54 year age group, with 50 percent of that group being 25-34 years old. CARPHA Executive Director, Dr. C. James Hospedales said “This means the HIV/AIDS epidemic has been moving steadily into younger and younger population groups.” He cautioned that “although significant gains have been made in reducing deaths due to HIV/AIDS mainly through treatment, and in prevention of mother-to-child transmission, challenges still remain. Efforts must continue to sustain and improve the progress that has been achieved.”
Gonsalves: Airport Opening ‘Imminent’
IT appears that St Vincent and the Grenadines will not meet its year-end target for the completion and opening of its controversial Argyle International Airport. Originally scheduled to have been opened in 2011, the project has missed consecutive annual completion dates since then and there still is no definite indication when it will be ready for business.
CARICOM Secretary General Sends Out HIV/AIDS S.O.S
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Dec. 1, CMC – Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Irwin LaRocque has called on the international donor community to support the Caribbean’s response to HIV/AIDS in light of an increase in new cases across the region.
OECS Head: Target Can be Delayed
DIRECTOR General of the OECS Commission Dr.Didicus Jules says the 2020 target of for AIDS related deaths could be pushed out reach as research indicates that co-infections among people living with HIV, such as TB, cervical cancer and hepatitis C are on the rise.
Digicel Gifts for 350 ‘Special’ Kids
DIGICEL continues to maintain its strong alliance with the Special Needs community in St. Lucia with the hosting of its annual Festival of Fun Day. The festival coincides with the International Day for Persons with Disabilities observed on December 3 since 1992 by the United Nations.
Airports To Welcome Special Flights
THE Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA), the Immigration Department and the Customs and Excise Department on Wednesday, signed the Protocol for the re-opening of airports for special flight operations for airports in Saint Lucia.
ECCB In Sixth OECS Founders TV Story
HAVE you ever wondered how the East Caribbean (EC) dollar came to be pegged at $2.71 to the US dollar? …
38 Get Citizenship
ST. LUCIA’S almost two year old Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) has granted 38 citizenships, after approving eleven applications. This was disclosed at a recent public consultation hosted by the CIP unit in Gros Islet. Chairman of the Board Ryan Devaux, says 14 families and four single applicants have applied to the programme to date comprising 65 individuals in total.
Christmas Concert In V Fort December 17
THE Mouvman Ansamn of Vieux Fort invites the general public to a Christmas Concert on Saturday December 17 from 6: 00 p.m. at the Independence Square in Vieux Fort. MouvmanAnsamn was established to promote social and development programmes and to establish collaborative relationships with government, non-governmental and community institutions. Current members of the social and cultural organization include , Monty Maxwell, Raye Maxwell, Anthony Samuel, Bertha Francis, CarmicherMondesir, Brenda Annerville, Sharma James, Allison Boriel and Gandolph St. Clair.
SLASPA Ready for Barrel Trade
THE Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) has announced that all is in place to facilitate the barrel trade this holiday season. SLASPA and the Customs and Excise Department are working jointly to ensure that customers are able to clear their goods as efficiently as possible…
Vendors Owe Council $500,000
CASTRIES vendors who are in arrears of over a half million dollars to the Castries Constituency Council (CCC) could be relieved of some of that debt, that is if talks for a debt amnesty that was broached of at a Council meeting becomes a reality. According to the Council, vendors owed that amount of money over the years, which if collected would go a long way in meeting some of its expenses.
NWU, ‘Secure’ Seek Common Ground
AFTER more than two years of industrial confrontation, the National Workers Union (NWU) and Secure St. Lucia Ltd are hoping to start the New Year on better terms and are working towards concluding negotiations over a collective agreement and work conditions before the year ends.
More ‘Cops’ on Duty
THE Royal St. Lucia Police Force has launched an offensive against crime in the City of Castries by increasing the number of patrols primarily within the main commercial center. The increased patrols is part of police strategy to curb incidents of robbery, burglary and other criminal offences that always seem to surge during the Christmas season.
P.M. Reacts To Mass Killings
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, Dec 2, CMC – More than two weeks after four people were killed alleged by an 18-year-old youth, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has broken his silence on the matter. He told reporters that while he could not comment on the November 13 incident in which the four people, including a mother and her son, were killed by the youth, who has a history of mental illness, killing sprees should not be something occurring here.
Red Cross D.G. Concerned – Bring Back H.I.V. Hype
THE Director General of the St. Lucia Red Cross Terrencia Gaillard has expressed concern about the serious lack of education and awareness of the HIV/AIDS that continues to claim thousands of lives across the globe. Gaillard spoke exclusively to The VOICE, expressing her dismay and frustration over the glaring fact that the topic of HIV/AIDS has seemingly become a dormant issue to the respective bodies and institutions charged with disseminating information and educating the masses about it..
Christmas Festivals Are Here!
THE month of December is here which means that the Cultural Development Foundation is making final preparations for the festivals which form part of the annual end of year celebrations. The December Festivals are a series of three traditional and historical events which bring Saint Lucians together in the spirit of community through the showcasing of artistic creativity, with light at the core; the Lantern Festival, the Festival of Carols and the Festival of Light.