Sam Flood Suspended "San Pewez, San Faveur"! - January 16, 2001

By Earl Bousquet

              It was a week in which Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony issued a firm statement on the crime situation, in which he warned that those bent on destabilizing the tourism industry and the economy that they would not be allowed to succeed. But it was also a week of dramatic events, during which a prominent lawyer was accused of being a wife-beater and Radio 100’s Sam Flood was sent home on indefinite leave.

                The Prime Minister’s statement on crime followed a joint meeting between the Government, the St. Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association and the Police to discuss the latest development related to security at hotels.

SLHTA’s Executive Director Rodinald Soomer was quoted on the same day in various sections of the press as being both critical and supportive of the government’s efforts, at one time saying not enough was being done and at another point welcoming the PM’s statement. In the end, the SLHTA and the Police announced they will be sending a joint team to Paradise Island in the Bahamas to observe that country’s experience in combating tourism-related crime.

                The Prime Minister also addressed the crime situation during his first press conference for the new year, in the process acknowledging there were “shortcomings” in the police force and confirming his understanding of the criticisms of the police force. He however underlined the difficulties associated with the police reform process, indicating he too was sometimes concerned about the sloth occasioned by formal processes that cannot be avoided or rushed.

                Dr Anthony also came to the defense of two of his Cabinet Ministers during the press conference, saying he did not feel calls for the resignation of Home Affairs Minister Velon John and Tourism Minister Menissa Rambally were justified. He acknowledged that the Home Affairs Minister sometimes made statements that could be considered “injudicious” but added that he also often said things that needed to be said.

                During the press conference, Dr Anthony also revealed he had been invited by the Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago on a fact finding mission to the twin island republic regarding the impasse between the Panday administration and the President of the Republic. He was invited in his capacity as lead Prime Minister with responsibility for Justice and Governance in Caricom and would be reporting to his colleagues at this week’s Canada-Caricom Summit in Jamaica.

                In that same capacity, the Prime Minister also last week wrote to the President and Opposition Leader in Guyana regarding plans for the upcoming general elections -- that after also having been involved in similar interventions in political crises in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Haiti in the latter part of last year.

                Bad news for bananas turned out to be good news for conservation, with those responsible for preservation of the national parrot saying last week that the decline in the industry over the past few years has seen an increase in the number of the once-endangered species.

                But Foreign Affairs Minister George Odlum sought to give some hope to farmers seeking to diversify their production when he disclosed that a Cuban company would also be setting up two factories on the island, one to produce baby food from bananas and another to produce a chemical compound, also from bananas.

                The foreign affairs minister also announced this week that several other OECS member-states would soon follow Dominica’s lead in moving to establish formal diplomatic relations with Libya in their continuing search to replace traditional aid sources that no longer prove reliable.

Commerce Minister and Castries East MP Philip J. Pierre called on the island’s youth to take advantage of the many opportunities for training and self-employment opened up by the government. He also disclosed that his constituency office at Marchand would soon be home to a dozen computers for training young people in computer-related skills.

                The Housing and Urban Decelopment Corporation this week invited applications from persons interested in purchasing some 17 middle-income house lots to be made available along the Millennium highway as part of the government’s pledge to provide some 500 homes for St. Lucians during its first term. HUDC also disclosed some 200 lots will soon be made available at Beausejour under the same national housing plan.

                Tourism statisticians disclosed this past week that more cruise ship visitors were disembarking in St. Lucia and more money was being made by island tour operators and taxi drivers, with St. Lucia experiencing a growth rate in that regard that surpasses other Caribbean islands.

                The Office of Private Sector Relations of the Prime Minister’s Office this week disbursed some $67,000 to the St. Lucia Industrial & Small Business Association for institutional strengthening purposes, thus continuing the government’s outreach to local small businesses. Similar assistance has also been made available by the OPSR in the case of the other Private Sector organizations, such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Employers Federation.

                A $300,000 jetty was formally commissioned in Soufriere this past week, as the government’s rehabilitation efforts continue in the island’s Tourism Mecca following recent hurricane destruction. The jetty complements other rehabilitation projects being funded by local and overseas sources.

                The Government Information Service this week continued in its pursuit of excellence in broadcasting standards, with the launching Monday of a special training programme in television production led by accomplished Trinidadian producer Christopher Laird.

                Prime Minister Anthony, who is also Information Minister, had disclosed earlier during his press conference that in addition to the broadcasting legislation being considered by government, he had also asked the Attorney General to look into the possibility of establishing a Freedom of Information Act, as well as a Press Complaints Commission, in the coming period.

                Meanwhile, in what may well turn out to be an interesting case that will spur debate about broadcasting and media standards, Human Rights Lawyer Martinus Francois is threatening to sue HTS and DBS over what he says were allegations that he beat his wife.

                In another similarly interesting case, HTS’ inimitable “Jook Bwa” was this past week sent home on suspension by the management of his station, HTS’ Radio 100. No official statement has been issued by the station, but word is that he was suspended until further notice for making wild New Year predictions that were considered to be insensitive, offensive and inciteful to violent behaviour, at a time when the nation was sill recovering from the shock of the violent attack at the Cathedral.

                To quote a phrase made popular by Jook Bwa himself, he was sent home by his employers, “san pewez, san faveur.”

[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Search Prime Minister Press Secretary ] [Site Help]

© 2001 Government Information Service. All rights reserved.

Read our privacy guidelines.