From R-L: Damian Greaves, Ignatius Jean, Menissa Rambally and Velon John pose for a photo as members of the press make their exit

For once what Minister Philip J Pierre had to say about the immediate future status of tourism and manufacturing was not for public consumption. Nor was what Julian R Hunte had to say about where the country stands with present-day foreign relations.
Nevertheless, at the National Economic Briefing held on Tuesday at the NIC Conference Room, the Prime Minister spoke of the transparency of his government. Alas, in the same breath he repeatedly asked that the press leave before the two speakers took the podium.
“This is to allow the deliberations to continue,” he said. “The press will leave us in peace.”
Dr Anthony also gave a rundown of the rationale behind the briefing: “The purpose of the briefing was to allow economic actors to operate with adequate information about the economy and the latest action that government is undertaking.” Hollywood-speak, perhaps?
Julian Hunte would speak on external negotiations and issues related to The World Trade Organisation and the Single Market and Economy, Anthony said, and Pierre would address the prospects in tourism and manufacturing. He would also give an indication of “whether the millions of dollars that the government has put into marketing is beginning to bear fruit.”
Why all of that had to be privileged information for “stakeholders” only Dr Anthony knew. Or maybe our prime minister trusts his “stakeholders” more than he does the press.
“While we have reason to believe that the worst is now behind us and that the economy will show some tepid, timid, tentative growth this year,” the prime minister said, without citing the precise reasons for his optimism, “it must also be known that we cannot yet afford to rest. Preliminary indicators have revealed improved economic performance for the first three quarters of 2002 after declining in the previous year.”
He went on:. “There are significant risks. St Lucia’s exports may be further adversely affected by the continued weakened global economy.”
He acknowledged the possible war with Iraq as the greatest threat to the recovery of St Lucia and the Caribbean.
“All of us have to pray very hard that this war is not unleashed and the trigger is not pulled. Because we have urgent economic reasons why this war has to be avoided,” he said.
“Government has devoted a considerable proportion of its available resources to maintain even the current level of economic activity,” he said.
He lamented that government has had to carry the burden in the last few months of the economy.
“Major concessions have had to be extended to the private sector in order to stimulate domestic investment. This has been done at considerable cost and cannot continue indefinitely,” said the Prime Minister.
Before being shown the door the press was allowed to sit through a run-down of the role of the NEC by president Richard Peterkin—much of which was regurgitated information from the launch one month ago at the House of Assembly.
The second part of the economic briefing is scheduled for Thursday December 12, at 9am. On that occasion Senator Calixte George Minister of Agriculture is expected to give an address, followed by Minister of Communications Felix Finisterre. Finally Prime Minister Kenny Anthony himself will review all the sectors. It’s anyone’s guess whether the press will be permitted to cover this special occasion!

Students of the Gros Islet school had plenty to ask volunteer veterinary surgeon Jane Tomlin when they visited the animal clinic

While the thought of going under the knife can be overwhelming for some, there’s always the exception.
This was the case when a stray that had been spotted across the street from the St Lucia Animal Protection Society’s Spay and Neutering Clinic at the old Gros Islet Health Centre walked right into the operating room.
Needless to say, the dog’s willingness stunned the dedicated team of predominantly British International Veterinary Assistance volunteers on hand.
SLAPS and its team decided to conduct this clinic—not the first of its kind for St Lucia—as increasing numbers of stray animals have long been a problem for the island.
This time around, they’ve gone a step further. Not only are SLAPS members busy trapping strays, but the services of the volunteer vets and veterinary nurses have been extended to pre-screened low income pet owners who cannot afford the cost of sterilising their cats or dogs.
As for the stray population, SLAPS president Jane Tipson said a number of animals were collected near Club St Lucia, Sandals Grande Beach Resort and Spa, the St James’ Club Morgan Bay, the Rex St Lucian and Rainbow hotels and parts of Marisule, Corinth, Tapion, Morne Fortune and Pigeon Island.
“In most cases we return the animals to where we found them, but it depends on the arrangement. Where they are not wanted and are suitable as pets, we try to find them new homes,” explained Tipson. “Some of the resorts prefer having a few cats around for pest control. Besides, if all the cats are removed, the next thing you know there will be new colonies as other cats move in.”

Volunteer Veterinary Nurse Emma Booth with a spayed dog

Pigeon Island, she said, was proof that stray animal populations could be stabilised using the spay and neutering method. Since last November there have been no new kittens born at the park.
IVA director Angela Witt admitted many of the animals brought to the clinic were in bad shape—riddled with mange, ticks and fleas, and a number of dogs were undernourished and extremely thin, and almost always unvaccinated.
“Spaying and neutering animals make sense. The fewer animals there are, the more food there is. Spayed and neutered animals are more likely to stay closer to home and not roam,” Witt explained. “That means they’re less likely to get into a dog fight or get hit by a car. It also reduces their chance of uterine infection and prostatic cancer as seen in the older dogs.”
She said female dogs were usually kept overnight to ensure there were no complications after surgery. Although the volunteers request that these animals are treated gently for a few days, cats are released relatively quickly—later that evening in most cases.
Veterinary nurse Emma Booth, who said she had been impressed by the interest the clinic generated, explained that after the animals had been operated on they were “tagged” to prevent them from being trapped again by volunteers and brought to the clinic.
“In the dogs’ left ear, we put little tattoos that basically says IVA, the month and the year. So from a distance we can tell straight away whether they have been spayed or neutered,” Booth said. “With the cats, we cut a tiny slice of their left ear so we can see from a distance because it’s hard to get close to most cats.”
Meanwhile, the SLAPS volunteers said they are grateful to the Ministry of Health for allowing them to use the premises of the now unused Gros Islet Health Centre. They also thanked the Rex St Lucian Hotel for providing accommodation for the veterinary team.
As of Friday morning, some 150 animals had been spayed and neutered as part of the fortnight-long which is due to come to a close later this weekend.
At present, SLAPS has a number of adult cats and six puppies looking for new homes.

Attorney General Petrus Compton is slated to deliver the keynote address

Attorneys General, Leaders of the Opposition and other high level officials of six Eastern Caribbean countries are set to meet at the Bay Gardens Hotel on December 6 to discuss the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption. The countries to be represented are Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and host country, St Lucia.
Part of a hemispheric initiative supported by the Organisation of American States (OAS), the main goal of the meeting is to promote the ratification and implementation of the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption (IACC). The IACC itself was developed in compliance with the mandates adopted both by the Heads of State and Government at the Third Summit of the Americas (Quebec City 2001) and by the OAS General Assembly at its last ordinary sessions (Barbados, June 2002).
As an important forerunner to this historic meeting, a comprehensive study and draft model legislation have been prepared by consultant Judge Monica T Joseph and circulated to the participants for their detailed analysis in advance of the conference. These documents will form the basis of the discussions.
In addition to the line up of top regional officials, other special guests will include Dr Jorge Garcia-Gonzalez, Director of Legal Co-operation and Information, Sergio Adolfo Garcia, legal officer, OAS Technical Secretariat for Legal Cooperation Mechanisms, and Ambassador Denis Antoine, Chairman of the Permanent Council of the Organisation of American States.
At the opening ceremony, highlights will include a message from Secretary General of the OAS, Dr Cesar Gaviria, and a presentation by a senior advisor from the US Bureau of International Narcotics & Law Enforcement. The keynote address will be delivered by St Lucia’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Petrus Compton.
The conference is expected to lay the foundations for consensus on anti-corruption measures to be established in participating countries.

The rotary Club in St Lucia is working with Rotary International and the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to eradicate polio from the world.
At present there are still nine polio endemic countries—Afghanistan, Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Pakistan, Nigeria and Niger—made so primarily because of their geographic remoteness. It is more difficult and costly to bring necessary vaccines to children in these areas. Europe and India have only just been certified as polio free.
The cost of the project is immense and US$500 million still needs to be raised. The Rotary Clubs in St Lucia are expected to raise EC$120,000 through the sale of flags each costing EC$1. All money raised will go towards the broader target of US$80 million. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation promises to match on a four to one basis whatever money Rotary International contributes to the effort.
According to local appeal organisers, the eradication of polio is everyone’s business. Unless all children are reached, none of us is safe and all the efforts to date will be useless. Already, through the efforts of Rotary International, more than 2 billion children in 122 countries have been immunized with the help of over one million Rotary members who have volunteered their time and personal resources to ensure that the world’s children are protected from the debilitating effects of polio.
Locally, while parents see the value of going through the initial stages of immunization, follow up consultations are often not given the same level of importance.
“In St Lucia, all the Rotary Clubs are involved in the struggle to raise the funds necessary to bring the disease under control. The awareness continues to increase and the word is being spread among our children as efforts are being made to take the message into schools. After all, they are the hope of tomorrow,” appeal organisers said in a release issued this week.
“Our biggest challenge is to sell as many flags as possible. Without the support of the public this will be impossible. Pledge to make all things possible to day and if you are asked, purchase a flag. It only costs $1. This can save a child from severe paralysis and even death from polio.”

One of St Lucia’s most talented young groups, Taszali, will be performing at the Gosfest to be held at the National Cultural Centre December 14.
Taszali is a five man acappela group that came out four years ago and has been heard primarily in churches around the island. The group won the best acappela group award at the Gospel Awards 2000.
“We have a musical background,” said Linus Cazaubon, leader of the group. “Two of the members play instruments, so we know what we are doing.” The other members include Linus’ brother Lyton Cazaubon, Maribus Francis, Kendy Williams and Sydney Clarke.
Other acts to perform at Gosfest 2002 include Silvanus Ernest, Ann Marie Theodore, Praise Unlimited, Guidance, Vessels of Honour from Dominica and headliner Carlene Davis from Jamaica.
Gosfest 2002 is supported by Air Jamaica, Sandals St Lucia Resort and Spa, Recaii’s Wholesale, Cultural Development Foundation, Cara Suites, Daher Broadcasting Services, Radio St Lucia, Radio Caribbean, Courts St Lucia Ltd and Mayers Printing. Organisers of Gosfest have promised a high quality event.
Tickets are on sale at Sunshine Bookstore, Turah Music Store and the Christian Literature Center for $35.

Members of the St Lucia Dance Theatre Company

Dancers in St Lucia will be given the opportunity to develop their skills when the St Lucia Dance Theatre Company presents its “Dance Workshop 2002”.
The workshop, which takes place from November 28 to December 11 at the Castries Comprehensive School Auditorium, will be facilitated by Miss Annick Totquemada
Miss Torquemada is a professional dancer and choreographer from Guadeloupe who has taught in many countries including Italy, London, Paris and Guadeloupe. Her professional training is in Ballet, Modern and Jazz Dance, and she is a member of the National Confederation of Dance in Guadeloupe. Her stay in St Lucia has been made possible through the support of Sandals International.
Miss Annick will be conducting two classes daily on weekdays. Today she will conduct a special class for children from 10am to 12pm and a master class from 1pm to 3pm.
Individual dancers, dance groups and other interested persons are invited to make full use of this training opportunity. Registration can be done through members of the St Lucia Dance Theatre Company. All participants will be part of an end of workshop dance presentation scheduled for Tuesday December 10 from 6:30pm at the CCSS auditorium.