TWO of the regular contributors to the columns of this newspaper have raised the matter of a Freedom of Information Act for St Lucia, in their separate articles this week. We welcome the suggestions since they are in line with our own thinking, voiced as recently as last month, about the need for information to be made available to our citizens so as to help them enlighten themselves about issues facing the country.
THE traditional lighting up of the City of Castries popularly known as the Festival of Lights will be observed Monday night with the theme āCelebrate Light, Celebrate Jesusā. This is the time of year when the Castries Constituency Council, in collaboration with other partners, decorate the commercial center of the capital with Christmas lights and themes signifying the birth of Jesus Christ.
IN the continued vein of community development and the creation of sustainable employment, the Soufriere Regional Development Foundation (SRDF), officially opened and endorsed an entrance to the Gros Piton Nature Tail through the AnseLāIvorgne Beach on Thursday. The new hiking experience encapsulates a unique adventure in which visitors are now graced with an option through which to experience the allure of the world renowned Gros Piton climb from sea level, in addition to experiencing an adventurous sea excursion and a pristine beach with therapeutic surroundings.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Dec 9, CMC āOpposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar was ejected from the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament on Friday after she failed to heed a ruling by the Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George on a motion of a matter of national importance. The other opposition legislators walked out in solidarity with Persad-Bissessar, who had wanted the Parliament to debate the number of murders and missing people in the country āas a matter of urgent national interestā.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC -The police force has announced plans to increase stop-and-search operations during the festive season. Head of the Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay, said there will be a surge in the number of police on the ground during the festive season to counter the increase in robberies and the large migration of criminals at this time of year.
HAVANA, Cuba, CMC ā The Cuban government has given two of the worldās largest cruise lines ā Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, permission to begin sailing to the island. On Wednesday, Norwegian said the Marina, part of its Oceania Cruise lines, will sale from Miami on March 7, 2017.
ONE of the elements of the Festival of Lights is the lantern competition and this year the effort has been boosted with a $5,000 donation and 100 traditional Taiwanese unicorn lanterns to the Castries Constituency Council from the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
THE Bonne Terre Preparatory School was the vision of a private educational institution with small class learning environments. The schoolās founder Jennifer Alexander was attempting to fulfil the need to provide private education in the north of the island. The schoolās initial enrolment of nine students has multiplied throughout the years and currently the school in the only institution on island that caters for children from toddlers to Grade 11.
THE Landings Resort and Spa has announced the latest addition to its world class culinary team, Chef Bill Munn. As a 30-year culinary veteran, Chef Bill brings a well-seasoned repertoire to the Landings team taking up the Executive Chef position this summer. Guests at Wednesday nightās corporate mixer were able to enjoy an amazing array of hors dāeouvres prepared by the new resident chef and his team.
A blunder of national magnitude was displayed for all to see in front of the GreahamLouisy Building along the Castries Waterfront on Thursday morning, after the national flag was seen hoisted up on a flagpole upside down. The blunder was spotted by the President of the Media Association of St. Lucia, Miguel Fevriere as he drove to work on the cloudy morning.
ST. JOHNāS, Antigua, Dec. 9, CMC ā The Antigua and Barbuda Parliament has approved a resolution deploying āthe dastardly act of terrorismā by the circulation of a video āinciting the assassinationā of legislators here. Prime Minister Gaston Browne in piloting the resolution late Thursday, said that the matter was of āserious concernā and one of national security.
![Hilaire [Photo: Stan Bishop]](https://thevoiceslu.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Hilaire-mid-600x400.jpg)
THE St. Lucia government says it had no choice but to follow other Eastern Caribbean States in launching a Citizenship by Investment (CIP) programme here. āIt means that a person can get a passport from Dominica for EC$100,000 or get a passport from Grenada, St Kitts or Antigua and have the full rights of being here. They got OECS citizenship,ā Prime Minister Allen Chastanet said, noting that some of the Chinese nationals who came here to open restaurants, received their passports through Dominica.
THE National Television Network (NTN) is rebroadcasting the documentary series the OECS: The Founders. The six part series on the early history of the OECS premiered on NTN on Monday, 24th October 2016 and has received very positive reviews.
CASTRIES Mayor Peterson Francis has vowed to make the city safer by establishing a 50-strong constabulary force. The current 12 member constabulary will get an injection of 18 more into members by year end, said to Francis Thursday at a press conference. The move by the Council to beef up its security force comes as a result of two shooting incidents within the cityās borders earlier this week, one of which resulted in the death of 27 year old Shane Emmanuel of City Gate.
MASSY United Insurance has made a donation to the Sir John Compton Memorial Foundation. Traditionally, at Christmas time, Massy United would express their appreciation for the support and patronage of their clientele with a token gift of thanks. This year, however, the decision was made to celebrate the spirit of the season of giving by sharing with those less fortunate in the community they serve.
![Human rights advocate, Mary Francis. [PHOTO: Stan Bishop]](https://thevoiceslu.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/mayyy-600x400.jpg)
WITH Human Rights Day being observed today, attorney and human rights advocate, Mary Francis, is renewing her call for citizensā rights to be respected. As such, she is urging the political directorate and citizens to ensure that measures are in place to aid in facilitating that objective. Francis, who also serves as Coordinator of the National Centre for Legal Aid and Human Rights Inc., a non-governmental organization established in 1998 to promote and advance the importance of human rights through education and legal representation, is concerned that peopleās rights are not being treated as a priority.
Q: Hello Miss Regina, I am so tired of my mum packing to go home. She has lived with me for three years and recently she thinks she lives somewhere else. I come home from work and the caregiver says that she has been in her room packing. The caregiver says my mum becomes vexed if she tells her this is her home. Is there anything that can help my mum stop doing this? It is so draining to put everything back 3 or 4 times a week! Your advice is appreciated.
HAVING recently celebrated another International Day for Persons with Disabilities on December 3rd, it is useful to recall the progress made since the last annual observance. According to the World Bank, one billion people or roughly 15% of the world population experience some form of disability, and the prevalence is higher in developing countries like ours. These staggering statistics should prompt us to take significant steps to address that situation in our society.
![Image: Shondel āAbbyā Alexander says the challenges of being a single mother forced her to establish her business enterprise. [PHOTO: Stan Bishop]](https://thevoiceslu.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Shondel-Abby-Alexander-600x400.jpg)
AFTER becoming a single parent nine years ago, Shondel Abiola Alexander felt she had to do something extraordinary to take care of herself, her children and the mounting bills. She had a nine-to-five job at the time; however, that salary was not enough to make ends meet.
INARGUABLY, technology has taken over the lives of the vast majority of the world, and the marriage between smart phones and modern day tech has created a baby that has us all gripped by the very last brain cell. Even the most independent mind who tries to live away from norm, like a lone wolf, will at some point depend on tech.