Two Banks Merge, Ambassadors Take Morgie's Blame and Islands Face Tourism Blues as Defender Escorts Ocean Warrior Out to Sea ...

by Earl Bousquet

The week began with the National Workers Union seeking assurances from the Management of two banks concerning rumours about an impending takeover or merger, challenges to the decision of the judges in the Calypso Monarch competition, more news that St. Lucia is not the only country facing tourism blues and the arrival here of an ocean vessel dedicated to sinking boats fishing for whales. By the week’s end, Barclays and CIBC had announced an impending merger, the Ambassadors Calypso Tent had taken responsibility for the extreme actions of its fans and the anti-whaling vessel was escorted out of Port Castries following reports of harassment of local fishermen by its crew.      

Barclays Bank and CIBC played a virtual cat-and-mouse game with the unions and the press regarding the rumours that one of the two international banks was about to buyout the other. Management denied the rumours but did not clarify or offer the truth.

            The National Workers Union (NWU) insisted that whatever the situation, the workers at both banks would have to be treated fairly in case of loss of jobs. The NWU called on other unions representing workers at the two banks in the Caribbean countries to be affected to take a joint approach to the representation of their members in this matter.

            But on Monday, the banks announced at a press conference that they were about to merge into what they intends to call FirstCaribbean International Bank. The merger will affect the major Caribbean branches of the two banks in several territories and will affect some 3,000 staff.

            The controversy over the Calypso Monarch crown took several twists in the past week with TC Brown’s supporters insisting he outshined his closest rival Morgie, while the first runner-up’s camp insisted he was “robbed” and “cheated.” There were also efforts to attribute to or place responsibility for Morgie’s failure to win the crown on the shoulders of the Prime Minister and the Labour Administration.

            TC Brown took the critics in stride, concentrating instead on how best he and Solange would make use of the 365 days with the crown to enhance their entertainment image and marketing value at home and abroad.

            But while TC’s camp looked to the future, Morgie’s continued to reject the judges’ decision. Reports are the defiant camp, led by Camp leader Marius Wilson, held “a coronation ceremony” for Morgie in Micoud last Friday evening as the Canada-based singer prepared to board his flight to Toronto.

            In the meantime, following much behind-the-scenes manoeuvering and negotiation. The Ambassadors Tent’s management reportedly agreed to take responsibility for the destruction of TC Brown’s crown by a group of Morgie fans, one of whom was arrested for the act.

President of the Calypso Associstion Mac Stephen Aubertin said he had asked he police to withdraw the charges against the detained member of Morgie’s camp after it was agreed that the cost of building another crown for the new monarch will be subtracted from the $15,000 prize Morgie won for placing second.

            On the tourism front, the past week saw the owners of Rex resorts confirm they had not informed the Prime Minister of their intention to close down the Royal St. Lucian and Papillion resorts. The confirmation came at a press conference called at the offices of the St. Lucia Tourist Board, where the hotels’ owners also briefed the press on current and future plans.

            There was also much news this past week from other East Caribbean islands indicating that St. Lucia was not the only country feeling the pinch of then regional downturn in tourism.

            Holland America, which is a major Florida-based Cruise Line, announced last week it was pulling out of Antigua because of harassment of visitors by taxi drivers, among other things. The pullout would deprive Antigua’s tourism industry of 6,600 visitors per month.

            St. Kitts and Nevis announced it was suspending its Hotel Occupancy Tax for fifteen months, to give a breathing space to the hotels and guest houses on the island, which were also feeling the pinch of reduced travel to the Caribbean.

            There was also news that St. Vincent and the Grenadines had unilaterally opted out of the multilateral agreement between OECS territories regarding a uniform Cruise Ship Tax for visiting passengers.

            In all cases, tourism officials indicated it was the result of the reduced airlift to the islands and competition from Cuba, Dominican republic, Puerto Rico and Mexico, where hotels with reduced overheads can offer lower prices for better service.

            But by far the most important national issue this past week had to do with the presence and activities of the Ocean Warrior, flagship of the Sea Shepherd Society.  The vessel arrived here to demonstrate its stiff opposition to whaling and specifically the fishing for whales off the endangered species list by local and regional fishermen.

            During its short stay here, the Rainbow Warrior was accused of intercepting local fishermen in St. Lucia’s territorial waters and Sea Shepherd was accused of publishing false information about St. Lucia on its website.

            Following complaints by several fishermen to the Fisheries Department of harassment by the Ocean Warrior’s crew, the vessel came to the end of its stay here and was on Monday evening escorted out of the Castries harbour by the coast guard’s flagship “Defender.”

            A government statement said the Sea Shepherd’s flagship was escorted by the flagship of the local coast guard “so that they could not interfere with local fishermen on their way out” of St. Lucia’s territorial waters.

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