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Apr 05, 2011 at 04:04 AM
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Chocolate is sweetening the bonds linking tourism stakeholders in Saint Lucia.
The partnership between the manufacturing, agriculture and tourism sectors is even stronger now with the opening of the luxurious Hotel Chocolat, a boutique resort near Saint Lucia's charming old colonial capital, Soufričre.
Senator Allen Chastanet, Saint Lucia's Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, welcomed plans by the British-owned operator to break ground on a new Chocolate Factory to be conveniently located next door to the Hotel Chocolat.
Its accommodations are dedicated to barefoot luxury in nature-drenched and relaxing surroundings, commanding awe-inspiring panoramic vistas a thousand feet above sea level.
"The creative combination of three of Saint Lucia's vital sectors is important for Saint Lucia and for Soufričre - home of a UNESCO World Heritage Site", said Chastanet, who believes the project also helps promote environmental sustainability as well as community partnerships.
Director of Rabot Estate, Hotel Chocolat's Phil Buckley reported more than 100 farmers will benefit from the new chocolate factory, and his company is hopeful that the project will help revitalize the once-profitable cocoa industry on the island.
"Farm to table, roots to restaurants, agritourism, whatever you want to call it, it is clear that this new project is another example of our government's mission to integrate tourism and the agricultural sector as we help our farmers get back to business," proclaimed Ezechiel Joseph, Saint Lucia's Minister of Agriculture, Land, Fisheries and Forestry.
Tessa Mangal, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Consumer Affairs, agreed, adding that the manufacturing sector was alive and well in Saint Lucia.
Mangal predicted, "Saint Lucian chocolate in the global marketplace will bolster the island's brand as well as inspire new manufacturing projects to fuel economic growth."
The new chocolate factory opens next year.
The partnership between the manufacturing, agriculture and tourism sectors is even stronger now with the opening of the luxurious Hotel Chocolat, a boutique resort near Saint Lucia's charming old colonial capital, Soufričre.
Senator Allen Chastanet, Saint Lucia's Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, welcomed plans by the British-owned operator to break ground on a new Chocolate Factory to be conveniently located next door to the Hotel Chocolat.
Its accommodations are dedicated to barefoot luxury in nature-drenched and relaxing surroundings, commanding awe-inspiring panoramic vistas a thousand feet above sea level.
"The creative combination of three of Saint Lucia's vital sectors is important for Saint Lucia and for Soufričre - home of a UNESCO World Heritage Site", said Chastanet, who believes the project also helps promote environmental sustainability as well as community partnerships.
Director of Rabot Estate, Hotel Chocolat's Phil Buckley reported more than 100 farmers will benefit from the new chocolate factory, and his company is hopeful that the project will help revitalize the once-profitable cocoa industry on the island.
"Farm to table, roots to restaurants, agritourism, whatever you want to call it, it is clear that this new project is another example of our government's mission to integrate tourism and the agricultural sector as we help our farmers get back to business," proclaimed Ezechiel Joseph, Saint Lucia's Minister of Agriculture, Land, Fisheries and Forestry.
Tessa Mangal, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Consumer Affairs, agreed, adding that the manufacturing sector was alive and well in Saint Lucia.
Mangal predicted, "Saint Lucian chocolate in the global marketplace will bolster the island's brand as well as inspire new manufacturing projects to fuel economic growth."
The new chocolate factory opens next year.
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This question is not a matter of rhetoric neither is it about the heaven or the hell - those endings to which religious teachings seem to point – and which have been drilled into us from birth. In fact, that question has nothing whatsoever to do with any particular place. It has been posited out of deference to the persons who I allow into my private computer space, and speaks in this particular instance to the conduct of our Japanese brethren since the hour of their misfortune. Frankly, I had quickly deleted the first two forwarded copies of what seems an un-invited lecture on the noble qualities of our Japanese friends, confirming the resilience, dignity and co-operation with each other, in times of disaster. This observation is made here specifically for the persons who forwarded the images to me and also for those who tell me that, they look forward each Saturday morning to reading what I have to say, in these columns.
Now that I have said who specifically I am writing for this weekend, let me now explain why (the reason), I have chosen to comment, on the received e-mails. I have chosen to comment in an attempt to answer the question: Will we ever get to that place; - penned perhaps as an observation rather than as a question seeking answers. The other reason for my comment is that it was also suggested that we as a people should be prepared to practise the level of caring, displayed by our Japanese friends, in their moment of disaster. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that the Japanese people have behaved in a most admirable, sophisticated and civilized manner, befitting those who are at the cutting edge of technological advancement and prosperity. Compared to where we are as a people - in terms of educational attainment and social progress - we are some considerable distance from the Japanese in the pecking order of world progress.
Yet for all our material poverty and general want in technological achievement, compounded by our confusion and division along political and religious lines, our responses in times of natural disasters may quite readily be compared to that of the people of Japan. Before you ‘choops’ hear me out!
Speaking strictly from my personal experience, I have noticed that the times that Saint Lucians are most apprehensive about coming together for a national cause is after they have allowed themselves to be misled by politicians, church leaders and others, seeking their own selfish interests and fame.
Left to their own devices, the people of Saint Lucia – and I can only speak of that lot with some authority – will readily and willingly unite and help each other, whatever the situation. We saw such an exhibition of national spirit and oneness of purpose quite recently after the severe battering hurricane Tomas inflicted on our island. Have we forgotten so soon?
I remain convinced that, had we been able to devise a formula to factor in the mistaken – and unwanted - pregnancies which we allow to go to term, we may have been in a better place today, after the disaster wrought by Tomas. But Planned Parenthood and ridding ourselves of unwanted pregnancies are subjects which are still too delicate for frank and open discussions, in fair Helen. But the facts and figures about the unfortunate minority who fall through the cracks in the society, so to speak, are gradually – and grudgingly - being released to the public by those who can no longer keep it a secret. To no one’s surprise, the association between the lack of early childhood caring and crime is stark. Perhaps this is an area in which we need to focus if we want to get to that place, in which we find our Japanese friends. And we can achieve it if we are prepared to go beyond religious dogma and focus entirely on the talents with which the supreme ruler of the universe has endowed us. An objective appraisal should direct our attention to the sad statistics of neglect which is begging to be rectified both in terms of our sexual behaviour and by the way we approach those less fortunate who may have been deposited into the world, without love and appropriate caring. However, notwithstanding such negative social forces within our little country, it would be observed that after Tomas we witnessed the Japanese in ourselves, because we displayed many of those same qualities for which the people of Japan are now being justly praised.
Our problem may well be that, for some time now, we have been programmed to believe that speech is silver and silence is gold. To a large extent we believe it still; we would rather choke on falsehood than let those who are being a nuisance in our lives, know where to get off. Still, even in our golden silence, we don’t do that badly when compared to others in times of disaster. Believe me, Saint Lucia ranks very high in the region, and probably in the world, when it comes to helping each other in times of crisis. Unfortunately, we can only take baby steps by which to improve because the strict discipline which is needed to move forward, we have somehow come to equate with some foreign ideology.
I was also interested in the more important question which informed the behaviour of our Japanese friends in this crisis. To my mind, the crucial question which arises is this: How did the Japanese people get to that point in their civilization? The follow-up question may well be; whether they are unique in that regard, or have any other race or culture reached such a high level of civility as the Japanese?
According to our e-mail junkies and desk-top social scientists the observed qualities among Japanese in the aftermath of their tragedy were: calm, dignity, ability, grace, order, sacrifice, tenderness, training, media and conscience. In my humble opinion, we in Saint Lucia and perhaps the Caribbean too, would fall short of our Japanese brethren in only two aspects – training and the media. Training of course has to do with the level of technological development and in this neither Saint Lucia nor the rest of the Caribbean, come close to Japan. The second is the media. In the late sixties, when the West discovered that trade union leaders were no longer as pliable and useful to them in the propaganda war against the Soviet Union, they switched to a group which we know, collectively as Journalist. The journalist have been cajoled, pampered, feted and even romanced in certain instances by both sides in order to be used as the new tools of propaganda by every ideology, country, dictator, religion and criminal. In Japan the professional journalists were forced to rise to the level of dignity and restraint displayed by the people. They would have been happy to report the slightest deviation of conduct, because their minds seemed programme for exposing the worse in other people as they hide their personal pain and fears.
But let’s get back to answering the crucial question. If the people of Japan have been discovered to hold any advantage in their reaction to that dreadful earthquake and tsunami, it may be because they have also discovered the answers to another simple question, which is: How did we get from Adam and Eve, the parents of the whole human race, to the point at which God gave certain ‘chosen’ people a homeland, and did not give others? More to the point, had such a tsunami as hit Japan happened four or five thousand years ago, how would it have been recorded and passed down to future generations? I suspect (only a suspicion, mind you) that our Japanese friends along with a handful of Buddhists Monks in the hills of Tibet and the Indian and Chinese Himalayas know the answer to that question. Perhaps it also explains why they have chosen to live in such high places, so far from the sea.
The real secret to the Japanese mystique, bravery and intelligence and all the other admirable qualities we observed in them after that recent earth quake and tsunami, may well have been attained without the use of the Torah, the Bible or the Koran.
Perhaps if we really wish to get to that place we think the Japanese spirit and character resides, we ought to copy what in them we find worthy and to expunged from ourselves, what needs to be amended. The change therefore must start with us. We need to forget everyone else, including our children, our friends, our spouses, our prayer groups, and begin to change ourselves today. Do I hear an Amen? Only then will we get to that place! We possess the raw material to make it.
Now that I have said who specifically I am writing for this weekend, let me now explain why (the reason), I have chosen to comment, on the received e-mails. I have chosen to comment in an attempt to answer the question: Will we ever get to that place; - penned perhaps as an observation rather than as a question seeking answers. The other reason for my comment is that it was also suggested that we as a people should be prepared to practise the level of caring, displayed by our Japanese friends, in their moment of disaster. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that the Japanese people have behaved in a most admirable, sophisticated and civilized manner, befitting those who are at the cutting edge of technological advancement and prosperity. Compared to where we are as a people - in terms of educational attainment and social progress - we are some considerable distance from the Japanese in the pecking order of world progress.
Yet for all our material poverty and general want in technological achievement, compounded by our confusion and division along political and religious lines, our responses in times of natural disasters may quite readily be compared to that of the people of Japan. Before you ‘choops’ hear me out!
Speaking strictly from my personal experience, I have noticed that the times that Saint Lucians are most apprehensive about coming together for a national cause is after they have allowed themselves to be misled by politicians, church leaders and others, seeking their own selfish interests and fame.
Left to their own devices, the people of Saint Lucia – and I can only speak of that lot with some authority – will readily and willingly unite and help each other, whatever the situation. We saw such an exhibition of national spirit and oneness of purpose quite recently after the severe battering hurricane Tomas inflicted on our island. Have we forgotten so soon?
I remain convinced that, had we been able to devise a formula to factor in the mistaken – and unwanted - pregnancies which we allow to go to term, we may have been in a better place today, after the disaster wrought by Tomas. But Planned Parenthood and ridding ourselves of unwanted pregnancies are subjects which are still too delicate for frank and open discussions, in fair Helen. But the facts and figures about the unfortunate minority who fall through the cracks in the society, so to speak, are gradually – and grudgingly - being released to the public by those who can no longer keep it a secret. To no one’s surprise, the association between the lack of early childhood caring and crime is stark. Perhaps this is an area in which we need to focus if we want to get to that place, in which we find our Japanese friends. And we can achieve it if we are prepared to go beyond religious dogma and focus entirely on the talents with which the supreme ruler of the universe has endowed us. An objective appraisal should direct our attention to the sad statistics of neglect which is begging to be rectified both in terms of our sexual behaviour and by the way we approach those less fortunate who may have been deposited into the world, without love and appropriate caring. However, notwithstanding such negative social forces within our little country, it would be observed that after Tomas we witnessed the Japanese in ourselves, because we displayed many of those same qualities for which the people of Japan are now being justly praised.
Our problem may well be that, for some time now, we have been programmed to believe that speech is silver and silence is gold. To a large extent we believe it still; we would rather choke on falsehood than let those who are being a nuisance in our lives, know where to get off. Still, even in our golden silence, we don’t do that badly when compared to others in times of disaster. Believe me, Saint Lucia ranks very high in the region, and probably in the world, when it comes to helping each other in times of crisis. Unfortunately, we can only take baby steps by which to improve because the strict discipline which is needed to move forward, we have somehow come to equate with some foreign ideology.
I was also interested in the more important question which informed the behaviour of our Japanese friends in this crisis. To my mind, the crucial question which arises is this: How did the Japanese people get to that point in their civilization? The follow-up question may well be; whether they are unique in that regard, or have any other race or culture reached such a high level of civility as the Japanese?
According to our e-mail junkies and desk-top social scientists the observed qualities among Japanese in the aftermath of their tragedy were: calm, dignity, ability, grace, order, sacrifice, tenderness, training, media and conscience. In my humble opinion, we in Saint Lucia and perhaps the Caribbean too, would fall short of our Japanese brethren in only two aspects – training and the media. Training of course has to do with the level of technological development and in this neither Saint Lucia nor the rest of the Caribbean, come close to Japan. The second is the media. In the late sixties, when the West discovered that trade union leaders were no longer as pliable and useful to them in the propaganda war against the Soviet Union, they switched to a group which we know, collectively as Journalist. The journalist have been cajoled, pampered, feted and even romanced in certain instances by both sides in order to be used as the new tools of propaganda by every ideology, country, dictator, religion and criminal. In Japan the professional journalists were forced to rise to the level of dignity and restraint displayed by the people. They would have been happy to report the slightest deviation of conduct, because their minds seemed programme for exposing the worse in other people as they hide their personal pain and fears.
But let’s get back to answering the crucial question. If the people of Japan have been discovered to hold any advantage in their reaction to that dreadful earthquake and tsunami, it may be because they have also discovered the answers to another simple question, which is: How did we get from Adam and Eve, the parents of the whole human race, to the point at which God gave certain ‘chosen’ people a homeland, and did not give others? More to the point, had such a tsunami as hit Japan happened four or five thousand years ago, how would it have been recorded and passed down to future generations? I suspect (only a suspicion, mind you) that our Japanese friends along with a handful of Buddhists Monks in the hills of Tibet and the Indian and Chinese Himalayas know the answer to that question. Perhaps it also explains why they have chosen to live in such high places, so far from the sea.
The real secret to the Japanese mystique, bravery and intelligence and all the other admirable qualities we observed in them after that recent earth quake and tsunami, may well have been attained without the use of the Torah, the Bible or the Koran.
Perhaps if we really wish to get to that place we think the Japanese spirit and character resides, we ought to copy what in them we find worthy and to expunged from ourselves, what needs to be amended. The change therefore must start with us. We need to forget everyone else, including our children, our friends, our spouses, our prayer groups, and begin to change ourselves today. Do I hear an Amen? Only then will we get to that place! We possess the raw material to make it.
John Boy says: “Who knows they are probably contemplating not charging the business person . . . well let’s see how he/she gets out of this one! After all he/she may claim the “stuff ” was planted on his/her premises.”
Positive Lucian says: “How is it possible to charge some criminals immediately and release their names and yet it takes so long to charge others when the evidence is clear? Charging someone does not mean that they are guilty. I have to agree with the common sentiment being expressed that this has a lot to do with who is involved in the alleged crime. A crime is a crime. In fact the crimes that seem to be most “guarded” have more lasting effects than the ones where the police are quick to charge. There needs to be some kind of consistency.”
MLJ says: “Before long the evidence will disappear and they will walk, like they always do. They have their friends all over the judicial system.”
TOOT TOO BOOSHE’ says: “The police should charge someone for this huge haul of this illegal substance, lest they lose all the confidence and goodwill which has been coming their way!”
The above are just few of the comments posted on the STAR website in response to police making two drug busts in the island’s north. The general outcry from St Lucians is why hasn’t the local businessman been charged after 93.9lbs of compressed marijuana was found on his business compound.
The STAR spoke with the Assistant Police Commissioner in charge of Crime and Intelligence Frances Henry, who said there have been many significant drug seizures since late last year. Said Henry, “The police force has been under scrutiny and society has cast aspersions on us saying we only going after the small guys and we afraid to go after the big fish.
“As the executive we sat down and strategized and we can see our efforts are bearing fruit. We did research, we analyzed data and trends, both locally and internationally. We realized globalization has forced a lot of issues on us. Security is a major issue. We analyzed the intelligence and we know we are capable of handling our business. We have to do it.”
Henry admitted the recent drug seizures are part of Operation Restore Confidence. The Crime Chief says this operation has been successful so far. “We have the support of the community because we see more people coming in to give intelligence and evidence and we also have members of the community commending us for our efforts.”
We put the burning question to her, why haven’t charges been laid against the businessman arrested initially after the drug bust? She answered, “There is no special treatment for anyone. Once there is a drug bust, people’s expectations come to the fore. We cannot charge someone on assumptions.
“We have to have evidence. There are protocols we must follow and they differ by situations. After we execute a warrant, depending on the situation, we may or may not be able to charge a person immediately for an offense. Especially when we deal with certain levels of people and certain players, we have to ensure we dot all the I’s and cross all the T’s because if we don’t do a proper investigation then these people are allowed to get off and then the public rage is directed at us.
“We have to ensure our investigation is tight so we can ensure there is justice. In some circumstances we do not have the capacity to deal with the case right away. For example, if the case involves DNA we would have to send it away to be tested and so on.”
The businessman was arrested on Thursday March 16 following a raid on his place of business at Beausejour, Gros Islet and has yet to be charged. The marijuana was discovered on the premises in metal drums containing dishwashing liquid. The man has since been released on bail after submitting a medical certificate.
Said Henry, “In this particular case, we did nothing wrong. We followed protocol under the circumstances. We did what needed to be done and we hope to put this matter to rest soon.”
Commenting on the man being given bail before charges were laid Henry said, “When it comes to speculation as to why people get bailed for medical reasons, we operate under human rights guidelines.
“Our fundamental rights under the constitution are protected. If a suspect has a medical issue and it is brought to our attention by a medical professional, the police have an obligation to address it.”
Henry reinforced the police’s commitment to the people of St Lucia.
“We have to ensure that the public maintains a level of confidence in the police force. There is continuance in what we have been doing. We are relentless in our pursuit of the criminals in our society.”
Positive Lucian says: “How is it possible to charge some criminals immediately and release their names and yet it takes so long to charge others when the evidence is clear? Charging someone does not mean that they are guilty. I have to agree with the common sentiment being expressed that this has a lot to do with who is involved in the alleged crime. A crime is a crime. In fact the crimes that seem to be most “guarded” have more lasting effects than the ones where the police are quick to charge. There needs to be some kind of consistency.”
MLJ says: “Before long the evidence will disappear and they will walk, like they always do. They have their friends all over the judicial system.”
TOOT TOO BOOSHE’ says: “The police should charge someone for this huge haul of this illegal substance, lest they lose all the confidence and goodwill which has been coming their way!”
The above are just few of the comments posted on the STAR website in response to police making two drug busts in the island’s north. The general outcry from St Lucians is why hasn’t the local businessman been charged after 93.9lbs of compressed marijuana was found on his business compound.
The STAR spoke with the Assistant Police Commissioner in charge of Crime and Intelligence Frances Henry, who said there have been many significant drug seizures since late last year. Said Henry, “The police force has been under scrutiny and society has cast aspersions on us saying we only going after the small guys and we afraid to go after the big fish.
“As the executive we sat down and strategized and we can see our efforts are bearing fruit. We did research, we analyzed data and trends, both locally and internationally. We realized globalization has forced a lot of issues on us. Security is a major issue. We analyzed the intelligence and we know we are capable of handling our business. We have to do it.”
Henry admitted the recent drug seizures are part of Operation Restore Confidence. The Crime Chief says this operation has been successful so far. “We have the support of the community because we see more people coming in to give intelligence and evidence and we also have members of the community commending us for our efforts.”
We put the burning question to her, why haven’t charges been laid against the businessman arrested initially after the drug bust? She answered, “There is no special treatment for anyone. Once there is a drug bust, people’s expectations come to the fore. We cannot charge someone on assumptions.
“We have to have evidence. There are protocols we must follow and they differ by situations. After we execute a warrant, depending on the situation, we may or may not be able to charge a person immediately for an offense. Especially when we deal with certain levels of people and certain players, we have to ensure we dot all the I’s and cross all the T’s because if we don’t do a proper investigation then these people are allowed to get off and then the public rage is directed at us.
“We have to ensure our investigation is tight so we can ensure there is justice. In some circumstances we do not have the capacity to deal with the case right away. For example, if the case involves DNA we would have to send it away to be tested and so on.”
The businessman was arrested on Thursday March 16 following a raid on his place of business at Beausejour, Gros Islet and has yet to be charged. The marijuana was discovered on the premises in metal drums containing dishwashing liquid. The man has since been released on bail after submitting a medical certificate.
Said Henry, “In this particular case, we did nothing wrong. We followed protocol under the circumstances. We did what needed to be done and we hope to put this matter to rest soon.”
Commenting on the man being given bail before charges were laid Henry said, “When it comes to speculation as to why people get bailed for medical reasons, we operate under human rights guidelines.
“Our fundamental rights under the constitution are protected. If a suspect has a medical issue and it is brought to our attention by a medical professional, the police have an obligation to address it.”
Henry reinforced the police’s commitment to the people of St Lucia.
“We have to ensure that the public maintains a level of confidence in the police force. There is continuance in what we have been doing. We are relentless in our pursuit of the criminals in our society.”
History was made here on Wednesday when the Bordelais Correctional Facility held a mini graduation ceremony for inmates who had successfully written CXC English and those who had completed the ongoing literacy and numeracy program there. This gave a glimmer of hope for persons who have been calling for more focus to be placed on the rehabilitation aspect of the facility.
However, guest speaker at the ceremony and chairman of the Bordelais board for visiting justices, Michael Walker stated that presently there is very little rehabilitation going on at the institution which he described as “a disaster from the very beginning.” But as we said many present Wednesday used the opportunity as a sign of hope or to call for more support.
“This represents a small moment in our history, a small moment nonetheless that is being recognized. It is a moment that we are proud of, it is that moment that we today celebrate,” stated Education manager at Bordelais Lawrence Constantine as he welcomed inmates and invited guest to the ceremony which was held at the institution’s chapel.
During his remarks Director of Corrections Hilary Herman sought to address the issue of education and rehabilitation. “I stand here today with a sense of pride . . . the pride that I have today is derived from the realization of a small step in our education program which leads to our rehabilitation program,” Herman announced. He went on to underscore that the inmates worked hard under a non conducive environment, “possibly the worst conditions you can study under.”
“I say congratulations and thanks for taking on the vision even though it is not mandatory,” Herman continued. He then expressed the hope that someday the program would become mandatory. According to the prison chief the education program could help change the behaviour of students in addition to the skills training.
“So basic education needs to be the platform on which the rehabilitation system is based upon,” he intoned. Herman looking straight at National Security and Home Affairs Minister Guy Mayers seated in the front row, then called for three additional skills instructors and three additional remedial teachers.
“This is my dream that in the approval of the next budget cycle you will give me that dream and a present assistant director of skills instructor that can increase the number of inmates involved in the program,” he went on.
However during his address Guy Mayers steered clear of making any promises or responding to the Bordelais Director of Corrections. According to Mayers, he was very pleased to be at the ceremony and to be part of this history making event. “We know that it is not stopping here and in May another twenty nine inmates are sitting CXC exams. It is important that the education component of our rehabilitation program continues,” he said.
For Michael Walker, there was very little sign that any progress was being made towards rehabilitation at the prison or to equip some of the very skills workshops the Minister spoke of. Walker, who started work with the prison as an educator one year after it was built, said Wednesday that he had come across many good persons at the prison and even made some friends there.
“I am the sort of person who believes that you are born good, not that you are born bad. Things go wrong and I think that every single person that I have met here has a lot of good in him or her,” Walker stressed. He spoke of an earlier Creole literacy program that he was a part of at the prison. “This,” he said, “worked very well. Unfortunately like many things in Saint Lucia it died. It is very hard to make anything sustainable in this country and it is very hard to change things.”
Then this from Michael Walker: “Bordelais was a disaster from the very beginning, this is not a political statement it’s the truth. It is called correctional and rehabilitation, there was basically very little rehabilitation from the very beginning. The first four years there was no money allocated for rehabilitation. The then Government should have realized you just cannot move four, five hundred people from one place into another place, change its name and expect them all to become rehabilitated, and that’s sad.”
He then went on to praise Constantine and his crew for working under difficult conditions to educate the inmates. “I celebrate with the six of you who have passed your exams. I think it is fantastic, but we have to face reality this is not enough,” Walker said. He then called for a change in attitude of persons in this society as well, reminding them to accept that people can change.
The National Enrichment Learning Program coordinator Lucy Joseph in a lengthy enthusiastic address recalled her department being approached in 2006-2007 by the institution to collaborate on the basic literacy numeracy skills program. “We embraced this opportunity and this initiative and we went straight ahead with it,” she said. “We want to congratulate you, we applaud you and want to wish you the best in the future,’ she said to the student inmates.
Taiwanese ambassador Tom Chou also called on society to open up to giving rehabilitated inmates a second chance. “Making a mistake is not a shame if you don’t repeat it,” said Chou who said he had come to show his support. Through the embassy of the republic of China on Taiwan, the student’s exams and texts books were paid for.
The CXC results revealed that one inmate had secured a perfect score in English receiving a distinction one, two received grade twos, two- threes and a four. Those inmates received a certificate and a trophy. Several other inmates received their certificates for the completion the NELP literacy and numeracy skills program and other subject areas.
Wednesday’s landmark ceremony which was hosted by correctional officer (and POB tutor) Christella Leonce also featured original performances in poetry and song by some of the inmates. Marcus Lafeuille one of the graduates said Wednesday the only way to describe the day was love. He closed off with a wonderful rendition of the song “Can you feel the love,” by Elton John.
However, guest speaker at the ceremony and chairman of the Bordelais board for visiting justices, Michael Walker stated that presently there is very little rehabilitation going on at the institution which he described as “a disaster from the very beginning.” But as we said many present Wednesday used the opportunity as a sign of hope or to call for more support.
“This represents a small moment in our history, a small moment nonetheless that is being recognized. It is a moment that we are proud of, it is that moment that we today celebrate,” stated Education manager at Bordelais Lawrence Constantine as he welcomed inmates and invited guest to the ceremony which was held at the institution’s chapel.
During his remarks Director of Corrections Hilary Herman sought to address the issue of education and rehabilitation. “I stand here today with a sense of pride . . . the pride that I have today is derived from the realization of a small step in our education program which leads to our rehabilitation program,” Herman announced. He went on to underscore that the inmates worked hard under a non conducive environment, “possibly the worst conditions you can study under.”
“I say congratulations and thanks for taking on the vision even though it is not mandatory,” Herman continued. He then expressed the hope that someday the program would become mandatory. According to the prison chief the education program could help change the behaviour of students in addition to the skills training.
“So basic education needs to be the platform on which the rehabilitation system is based upon,” he intoned. Herman looking straight at National Security and Home Affairs Minister Guy Mayers seated in the front row, then called for three additional skills instructors and three additional remedial teachers.
“This is my dream that in the approval of the next budget cycle you will give me that dream and a present assistant director of skills instructor that can increase the number of inmates involved in the program,” he went on.
However during his address Guy Mayers steered clear of making any promises or responding to the Bordelais Director of Corrections. According to Mayers, he was very pleased to be at the ceremony and to be part of this history making event. “We know that it is not stopping here and in May another twenty nine inmates are sitting CXC exams. It is important that the education component of our rehabilitation program continues,” he said.
For Michael Walker, there was very little sign that any progress was being made towards rehabilitation at the prison or to equip some of the very skills workshops the Minister spoke of. Walker, who started work with the prison as an educator one year after it was built, said Wednesday that he had come across many good persons at the prison and even made some friends there.
“I am the sort of person who believes that you are born good, not that you are born bad. Things go wrong and I think that every single person that I have met here has a lot of good in him or her,” Walker stressed. He spoke of an earlier Creole literacy program that he was a part of at the prison. “This,” he said, “worked very well. Unfortunately like many things in Saint Lucia it died. It is very hard to make anything sustainable in this country and it is very hard to change things.”
Then this from Michael Walker: “Bordelais was a disaster from the very beginning, this is not a political statement it’s the truth. It is called correctional and rehabilitation, there was basically very little rehabilitation from the very beginning. The first four years there was no money allocated for rehabilitation. The then Government should have realized you just cannot move four, five hundred people from one place into another place, change its name and expect them all to become rehabilitated, and that’s sad.”
He then went on to praise Constantine and his crew for working under difficult conditions to educate the inmates. “I celebrate with the six of you who have passed your exams. I think it is fantastic, but we have to face reality this is not enough,” Walker said. He then called for a change in attitude of persons in this society as well, reminding them to accept that people can change.
The National Enrichment Learning Program coordinator Lucy Joseph in a lengthy enthusiastic address recalled her department being approached in 2006-2007 by the institution to collaborate on the basic literacy numeracy skills program. “We embraced this opportunity and this initiative and we went straight ahead with it,” she said. “We want to congratulate you, we applaud you and want to wish you the best in the future,’ she said to the student inmates.
Taiwanese ambassador Tom Chou also called on society to open up to giving rehabilitated inmates a second chance. “Making a mistake is not a shame if you don’t repeat it,” said Chou who said he had come to show his support. Through the embassy of the republic of China on Taiwan, the student’s exams and texts books were paid for.
The CXC results revealed that one inmate had secured a perfect score in English receiving a distinction one, two received grade twos, two- threes and a four. Those inmates received a certificate and a trophy. Several other inmates received their certificates for the completion the NELP literacy and numeracy skills program and other subject areas.
Wednesday’s landmark ceremony which was hosted by correctional officer (and POB tutor) Christella Leonce also featured original performances in poetry and song by some of the inmates. Marcus Lafeuille one of the graduates said Wednesday the only way to describe the day was love. He closed off with a wonderful rendition of the song “Can you feel the love,” by Elton John.
Rising debts is forcing Cuba to reshape its Soviet-style economy when the Communist Party Congress scheduled to meet in April will discuss and likely rectify policies that include cutting 20 percent of State workers, cutting social benefits, and eliminating state subsidies and public spending, that it has already started to implement.
The reform which the government calls “a socialist model update,” includes opening the country to foreign investment and the creation of urban production and service cooperatives. The government also announced that more than one million people – one-fifth of the work force- will be redundant from state jobs by April 01, 2011. The economic decentralization encompasses self-employment in 178 trades for those who meet the minimum requisites. The adjustment will be hitting the Ministries of the Sugar Industry, Agriculture, Construction, Public Health and Tourism according to the Workers Central Union.
The reform amounts to the biggest shake up of the economy since Fidel Castro expropriate small business in 1968 impressing the Soviet benefactors by bringing almost all workers, from Shoe shiners to Barmen under state control. The Cuban government estimates that through 2011, a total of 146,000 government jobs will be permanently eliminated. About 351,000 government officials will move to other occupations as part of the application of the economic adjustment. Of the 351,000 people, about 1000,000 must become self-employed in 83 self employed categories. Hiring will be allowed only for people who are not relatives nor live with the self-employed. Until now, payment for labor was only authorized for government entities, missed societies and foreign enterprise. The government employs 80 percent of the labor force, and in the next three years is expected to reduce its payroll to affect as many as 800,000 workers.
When Fidel Castro took power in 1959, the government began a program of sweeping economic and social changes without restoring promised liberties. Cattle and tobacco lands were nationalized while a system of cooperatives was installed. By 1960, all banks and industrial companies had been nationalized including over $1trillion worth of US owned properties mostly without compensation. But poor sugar crops resulted in farm collectivization, tight labor and rationing despite continued air from the USSR and other Communist nations. But the real calamity of the Cuban economy was the collapse of the Communist bloc. The world community witnessed the extraordinary disintegration of the Soviet Union into 15 independent states. The 1980s had already seen the internal reform and the decline of Communist power both within the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Cuba’s economy dependent on aid from Communists countries was severely shaken by the collapse.
With the Soviet and its subsidies disappeared from Cuba, Fidel reluctantly allowed Cubans to use American dollars as legal currency and encouraged petty trades such as renting rooms and setting up small restaurants to serve tourists. But most of these businesses folded because of high taxes and the complexity of obtaining licenses to operate. When Hugo Chaves of Venezuela became Cuba’s new benefactor offering cheap oil, Fidel re-centralized the economy.
Cuba’s woes continued with a series of economic disruption including lower sugar and metal prices, increase in petroleum costs, devastating hurricanes in 2001-2004 and 2008, and a major draught in the eastern half of the island increased external debt and stagnation or decreasing agriculture and industrial productivity. Last year’s sugar harvest was the worst in more than a century prompting the firing of the minister in charge. Cuba produces about 40 percent of its rice needs, importing the rest at great cost. The country imports 80 percent of its food mostly from America since the US 48-year embargo on Cuba doesn’t include food stuff. But economic woes have left the country unable to pay although it receives significant assistant from Venezuela and a lesser degree China, to keep it afloat.
Cuba last reported its foreign debt at $17.8 billion in 2007. Most analysts believe it exceeds $21billion or close to 50 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 30 percent more than its annual foreign exchange revenues. The country is excluded from most international lending organizations and depends on China as a creditor of last resort. Its propose reform are remarkably similar to those typically required under the International Monetary Fund bail-out although privatization of state assets is not on the agenda.
China is Cuba’s number one trading partner with bilateral trade of $1.6 billion a year of which Cuba exports nickel, sugar and rum and the rest is Chinese equipment, machinery and manufactured products. The Chinese reconstructed billions in Cuba‘s debts over the last six months and agreed to provide new credit in a clear show of support for Raul’s efforts to reform the economy. However, Chinese companies have reportedly express “concern” about Havana’s investment inefficiencies, late payments and repeated request to reschedule debts.
Since Raul Castro took over the reins from his ailing brother as Cuba’s President in 2006, he has often expressed his exasperation at Cuba’s chronic in efficiencies.
“We have to erase forever the notion that Cuba is the only country in the world where it is not necessary to work. The country can no longer afford this. We can either rectify the situation now or we will run out of time walking on the edge of the abyss and we will sink,” he said.
Analysts have scoured the communist leader’s every utterance and signs that he intend to pursue economic and political reform. But in small but noteworthy doses he has achieved targeting Cuba’s “excess of prohibitions.” He has opened the door to more private initiative by installing small manufacturing; he made food security a signature issue in his cautious effort to revive productivity in Cuba’s stagnated and battered economy.
Economists close to Raul have long argued for a mix economy in the mold of Viet Nam and China, and finally appear to have got their way. Although the reform does not exactly embrace capitalism, but it still represent a major departure from the egalitarian ideology that has rules the country for decades. Its calls for the expanding the private sector and opening the country to greater foreign investments, as well as the elimination of long-standing food ration system and liberalization of the real estate market. They propose to build golf courses and marinas for tourists, liquidate state owned companies that don’t turn a profit and create a Viet Nam-style “special investment zone” to attract global industry. These measures also aim to reduce state bureaucracy and create a more
heterogeneous economy with mix public-private business, cooperative, entrepreneur while making it clear that the government won’t allow anybody to get too wealthy.
Raul’s plan is to reform the island’s moribund centrally planned economy. But on the political front the changes he has introduced have been viewed as limited and inconsequential. All indication is that the new policy will correspond with the principles that only socialism is capable of conquering the difficulties that face the country. Its militaristic theme of increase efficiency, discipline and control and its insistence on setting price according to the duties of central planning is still prevalent. For example Cubans are hoping for confirmation of the rumors and the final announcement of the abolition of the “terjeta blanca” – the white card, a hard-to-acquire exit permit that allows Cubans to travel abroad, and let them leave the island freely.
The reform will be a major challenge for the Cuban people with education and funding being the biggest issue. First and foremost, the Cuban people will have to be educated and transitioned into a free market economy. They will need support in terms of investment and education to start their own business. This support will undoubtedly have to conjure from foreign sources. And, if 500,000 government employees are to be laid-off there need to be a better plan of action than just having them fend for themselves. There is really no private sector to account for these people and they won’t instantly figure out upon being fired how to else to earn money, how to start their own business, how to take over state ran business.
There is little doubt that the economic restructuring in Cuba could ultimately hurt Fidel and Raul’s grip on the country. There is a feeling of fear, apprehension and panic but it looks like those people freed from the government’s monopoly, will channel their energy and talent in other ways and will gain social and political autonomy . The impact of these measures will further widen the already evident income disparities in the country. And, that will weaken the state’s grip on the lives of Cubans.
The reform which the government calls “a socialist model update,” includes opening the country to foreign investment and the creation of urban production and service cooperatives. The government also announced that more than one million people – one-fifth of the work force- will be redundant from state jobs by April 01, 2011. The economic decentralization encompasses self-employment in 178 trades for those who meet the minimum requisites. The adjustment will be hitting the Ministries of the Sugar Industry, Agriculture, Construction, Public Health and Tourism according to the Workers Central Union.
The reform amounts to the biggest shake up of the economy since Fidel Castro expropriate small business in 1968 impressing the Soviet benefactors by bringing almost all workers, from Shoe shiners to Barmen under state control. The Cuban government estimates that through 2011, a total of 146,000 government jobs will be permanently eliminated. About 351,000 government officials will move to other occupations as part of the application of the economic adjustment. Of the 351,000 people, about 1000,000 must become self-employed in 83 self employed categories. Hiring will be allowed only for people who are not relatives nor live with the self-employed. Until now, payment for labor was only authorized for government entities, missed societies and foreign enterprise. The government employs 80 percent of the labor force, and in the next three years is expected to reduce its payroll to affect as many as 800,000 workers.
When Fidel Castro took power in 1959, the government began a program of sweeping economic and social changes without restoring promised liberties. Cattle and tobacco lands were nationalized while a system of cooperatives was installed. By 1960, all banks and industrial companies had been nationalized including over $1trillion worth of US owned properties mostly without compensation. But poor sugar crops resulted in farm collectivization, tight labor and rationing despite continued air from the USSR and other Communist nations. But the real calamity of the Cuban economy was the collapse of the Communist bloc. The world community witnessed the extraordinary disintegration of the Soviet Union into 15 independent states. The 1980s had already seen the internal reform and the decline of Communist power both within the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Cuba’s economy dependent on aid from Communists countries was severely shaken by the collapse.
With the Soviet and its subsidies disappeared from Cuba, Fidel reluctantly allowed Cubans to use American dollars as legal currency and encouraged petty trades such as renting rooms and setting up small restaurants to serve tourists. But most of these businesses folded because of high taxes and the complexity of obtaining licenses to operate. When Hugo Chaves of Venezuela became Cuba’s new benefactor offering cheap oil, Fidel re-centralized the economy.
Cuba’s woes continued with a series of economic disruption including lower sugar and metal prices, increase in petroleum costs, devastating hurricanes in 2001-2004 and 2008, and a major draught in the eastern half of the island increased external debt and stagnation or decreasing agriculture and industrial productivity. Last year’s sugar harvest was the worst in more than a century prompting the firing of the minister in charge. Cuba produces about 40 percent of its rice needs, importing the rest at great cost. The country imports 80 percent of its food mostly from America since the US 48-year embargo on Cuba doesn’t include food stuff. But economic woes have left the country unable to pay although it receives significant assistant from Venezuela and a lesser degree China, to keep it afloat.
Cuba last reported its foreign debt at $17.8 billion in 2007. Most analysts believe it exceeds $21billion or close to 50 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 30 percent more than its annual foreign exchange revenues. The country is excluded from most international lending organizations and depends on China as a creditor of last resort. Its propose reform are remarkably similar to those typically required under the International Monetary Fund bail-out although privatization of state assets is not on the agenda.
China is Cuba’s number one trading partner with bilateral trade of $1.6 billion a year of which Cuba exports nickel, sugar and rum and the rest is Chinese equipment, machinery and manufactured products. The Chinese reconstructed billions in Cuba‘s debts over the last six months and agreed to provide new credit in a clear show of support for Raul’s efforts to reform the economy. However, Chinese companies have reportedly express “concern” about Havana’s investment inefficiencies, late payments and repeated request to reschedule debts.
Since Raul Castro took over the reins from his ailing brother as Cuba’s President in 2006, he has often expressed his exasperation at Cuba’s chronic in efficiencies.
“We have to erase forever the notion that Cuba is the only country in the world where it is not necessary to work. The country can no longer afford this. We can either rectify the situation now or we will run out of time walking on the edge of the abyss and we will sink,” he said.
Analysts have scoured the communist leader’s every utterance and signs that he intend to pursue economic and political reform. But in small but noteworthy doses he has achieved targeting Cuba’s “excess of prohibitions.” He has opened the door to more private initiative by installing small manufacturing; he made food security a signature issue in his cautious effort to revive productivity in Cuba’s stagnated and battered economy.
Economists close to Raul have long argued for a mix economy in the mold of Viet Nam and China, and finally appear to have got their way. Although the reform does not exactly embrace capitalism, but it still represent a major departure from the egalitarian ideology that has rules the country for decades. Its calls for the expanding the private sector and opening the country to greater foreign investments, as well as the elimination of long-standing food ration system and liberalization of the real estate market. They propose to build golf courses and marinas for tourists, liquidate state owned companies that don’t turn a profit and create a Viet Nam-style “special investment zone” to attract global industry. These measures also aim to reduce state bureaucracy and create a more
heterogeneous economy with mix public-private business, cooperative, entrepreneur while making it clear that the government won’t allow anybody to get too wealthy.
Raul’s plan is to reform the island’s moribund centrally planned economy. But on the political front the changes he has introduced have been viewed as limited and inconsequential. All indication is that the new policy will correspond with the principles that only socialism is capable of conquering the difficulties that face the country. Its militaristic theme of increase efficiency, discipline and control and its insistence on setting price according to the duties of central planning is still prevalent. For example Cubans are hoping for confirmation of the rumors and the final announcement of the abolition of the “terjeta blanca” – the white card, a hard-to-acquire exit permit that allows Cubans to travel abroad, and let them leave the island freely.
The reform will be a major challenge for the Cuban people with education and funding being the biggest issue. First and foremost, the Cuban people will have to be educated and transitioned into a free market economy. They will need support in terms of investment and education to start their own business. This support will undoubtedly have to conjure from foreign sources. And, if 500,000 government employees are to be laid-off there need to be a better plan of action than just having them fend for themselves. There is really no private sector to account for these people and they won’t instantly figure out upon being fired how to else to earn money, how to start their own business, how to take over state ran business.
There is little doubt that the economic restructuring in Cuba could ultimately hurt Fidel and Raul’s grip on the country. There is a feeling of fear, apprehension and panic but it looks like those people freed from the government’s monopoly, will channel their energy and talent in other ways and will gain social and political autonomy . The impact of these measures will further widen the already evident income disparities in the country. And, that will weaken the state’s grip on the lives of Cubans.
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