VP Digital

Emergency Personnel At Barbados Training

SECURITY, public health and disaster management personnel from across the Caribbean are being put to the test as they participate in a training exercise aimed at improving regional responses during an emergency situation. The exercise, Synergy 2017, will present emergency scenarios that could occur in the Caribbean region. The exercise started yesterday and continue today at the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) based in Barbados.

U.S. Company To Build CIP Hotel in Grenada

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – A United States-based company is set to invest US$58 million in the Grenada tourism industry under the island’s Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) that Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell said is a way of “bringing serious investments to the country”. The five-star KimptonKawana Bay Resort, due to open in 2019, will comprise 110 luxury studio rooms and 45 suites. Twelve additional penthouse apartments will also be available for sale to private owners.

World ARC Sets Sail for Colombia

Image: World ARC participants waving goodbye as they make their way to Santa Marta. ( Photo: Anthony De Beauville)

THE 7th edition of the World ARC (2017-18) fleet set sail from Rodney Bay at noon on Saturday in near perfect weather conditions with winds up to 20 knots, creating a kaleidoscope of colours heading down the coast to Castries. Leading the was the committee vessel, Reel Extreme, with Minister of Tourism Dominic Fedee, World Cruising Club officials, members of the Saint Lucia Tourist Board, Island Global Yachting and the Saint Lucia Yacht Club, on board.

WICB’s New CEO

Image of Johnny Grave

THE West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has appointed Johnny Grave as its new Chief Executive Officer, following a rigorous recruitment process led by PricewaterhouseCoopers, Barbados. Grave joins the organization with a wealth of experience from both the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) in the UK, where he has been the Commercial Director for the past 9 years and Surrey County Cricket Club, where he held several senior leadership roles.

Windies U-19 Victors To Tour South Africa

Image: The U-19 team celebrates World Cup victory

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – The West Indies Under-19 team will have a seven-match tour of South Africa in mid-year as they continue preparation for the International Cricket Council’s Under-19 World Cup. West Indies won their first Under-19 World Cup in February 2016 in Bangladesh, under the captaincy of ShimronHetmyer. The Caribbean side will again be coached by Graeme West and will look to defend the trophy when they play in New Zealand in January, 2018.

Labour Productivity – Key Driver of Economic Growth And Competitiveness

SAINT LUCIA’S economy in recent years has demonstrated sluggish growth which is indicative of our vulnerable and fragile main economic sectors. As such, for the last five years GDP growth has averaged at -0.4 percent. Therefore the question is- How can we improve the economic conditions of the local economy that will lead to more jobs, better prices and upward social mobility?

Flow Plate Semi Finals

Image: Vieux Fort South goal scorers on Saturday. (Photo: Anthony De Beauville)

THE semifinalists of the 2016-2017 Veterans/FLOW Plate Football Championships have been decided following last weekend’s quarterfinals at the Phillip Marcellin Grounds in Vieux Fort when 23 goals were scored. Vieux Fort South got things underway with a clinical 4-0 win over Behind the College All Stars. In a battle of former champions, it was the home team that looked better from the start, getting two goals in both halves coming from the boots of Ernie Soudatt (28th. minute), Daymon Phillip (32nd. minute), Nicholas Marcellin with a beautiful bicycle shoot in the 58th. minute) and Elsberg Vital (72nd. minute) respectively.

Chastanet Promises ‘Exciting Year’

PRIME Minister Allen Chastanet says his government has an “exciting agenda” for the country this new year. The Prime Minister, also the Minister for Finance, Economic Growth, Job Creation, External Affairs and the Public Service, met with the local media at the studios of the Government Information Service last Thursday and took questions on a variety of issues affecting Saint Lucia.

UK Minister To Visit Here

Image of Baroness Anelay

BARONESS Anelay, the Foreign Office Minister for the Overseas Territories and Caribbean is visiting the region to further strengthen the UK’s links with the Caribbean. The Minister will travel for the first time to Anguilla, St Kitts and Nevis and St Lucia from 8-12 January on a visit that will focus on economic development, security and justice reform, climate change and tourism. This follows the Minister’s visit to the Cayman Islands, Barbados and Jamaica in October and His Royal Highness Prince Harry’s recent tour of the wider region.

New Year, New Habit

Image of a Fruit Smoothie

MANY people make New Year’s resolutions complete with the intention of bonding to the idea, long-term. Unfortunately, many New Year’s resolutions arrive unprepared and without proper consideration, which is why many fail to see the second week of January, let alone last. Conversely, research shows that it takes 30 days to develop a new habit. Where you wish to make changes to your life, develop your 30 days habit and it may last until the next New Year’s resolutions are due.

Equine Scientist Eyes Vieux Fort Project

Image: EquidGel being presented at a seminar in Gros Islet on December 18

THE multi billion dollar Pearl of the Caribbean planned for Vieux Fort is set to get off the ground this year with a horse breeding component but it is already generating widespread interest. St Lucian Sandra Murphy who holds a B.Sc .(Hons.) in Equine Sports Science and is a Senior Equine Nutritionist based in the UK.visited St. Lucia over the Christmas period and brought with her a new revolutionary hydration and nutrition system she developed which is being distributed worldwide.