However, the Prime Minister who denies these accounts adds that the island has not applied for membership in the grouping. But he indicates the island is weighing its options for international aid.Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony was invited as a special guest to observe the ALBA summit held in Venezuela on Sunday.

However he has made it clear that while Saint Lucia will engage in discussions to determine whether ties will be established with ALBA - such a move was not possible at this time.

He explains that process cannot begin due to political and constitutional considerations. In addition he says the island’s main focus at this moment is the PetroCaribe oil agreement.

The Prime Minister says the harsh reality is that sourcing aid for countries like Saint Lucia is exceedingly limited.

He explains the island has very few friends in a difficult and complex world. As a result there is a need to search for alternative funding for development and investment opportunities.

The pivot towards Latin America has raised questions about the island’s ties with the United States whose sway in the hemisphere according to the Wall Street Journal has been affected recently by political disputes in Washington over the appointment of US ambassadors to the region.

Dr. Anthony says the government of Saint Lucia values its ties with the US and has cooperated with the superpower on matters of security and other international issues.

However he thinks the US appreciates the challenges facing small island states like ours.

Dr. Anthony was not the only leader sounding a note of caution on the ambitions of the Latin American and Caribbean Bloc.

Vincentian Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves reportedly warned the grouping that detailed legal and administrative work needed to be done in the creation of a proposed single economic space.

ALBA member countries in the OECS: Antigua-Barbuda, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines garnered negative headlines this week after agreeing to deny ships flying the Falkland Islands flag entry into their ports.

The move was a show of support for fellow ALBA member, Argentina in its continued dispute with the UK over the ownership of the islands.

She too arrived too late to see her son whose body was taken by the Rambally Funeral Home soon after the gruesome discovery.

Eye-witnesses say the shooting may have occurred over a failed robbery attempt between the victim and his killer.

Gregg who would have turned 25 on June 6th this year is the seventh person killed for the year.

The officers also destroyed ten thousand seedlings and two hundred pounds of harvested marijuana.
No one was arrested during the operation.

Another operation was conducted on a plantation at Mahaut, Micoud, on Thursday 2nd February where a quantity of five hundred and ninety three grown marijuana plants and five thousand seedlings were destroyed.

Again - no arrests were made. Also, during a routine patrol at Derniere Riviere, Dennery on Monday 6th February, members of the Drug Unit intercepted a yellow Toyota motor car, registration number: PG 4207, driven by 26-year-old Genia Antoine of Aux-Leon, Dennery.

A search of the vehicle revealed a quantity of sixty-six pounds of compressed marijuana at an estimated value of $42,000EC.

Antoine was arrested and thereafter charged for possession of controlled drugs and possession with intent to supply.

He appeared in court on Wednesday 8th of February where bail was granted in the sum of $6000.00EC, cash or suitable surety on each charge.

The Richard Fredrick versus Eugene George matter surrounds a press release by George who was at the time the SLP PRO.

In that statement George alleged that following the passage of Hurricane Tomas a shipment of supplies from Trinidad was allegedly taken by Richard Fredrick and distributed by his operatives.

George says his attorney requested a meeting with Fredrick’s attorney and the judge in the matter explaining his client’s precarious situation.

WASCO Communications Consultant, Clinton Reynolds says repair crews are on schedule and work should be completed before the end of the day.

However, Reynolds points out the supply of water will not return to all households in the north immediately.

WASCO has been working tirelessly to reinstate the water infrastructure which was damaged during the passage of hurricane Tomas in October 2010.

The company has put forth a multi-million dollar investment plan which was presented to the previous UWP administration on the heels of the 2011 budget.

Reynolds says the company is optimistic the new minister responsible for public utilities will respond favorably to the water company’s restoration plans.

Reynolds emphasizes the investment plan is crucial to the long term viability of the company and the supply of the precious commodity.

Public Utilities Minister Dr James Fletcher will host a press conference on Thursday to discuss the government’s plan for WASCO.

He will also unveil the new Board that will manage the affairs of the company.

St. Marthe-an unabashed supporter of the Saint Lucia Labor Party says his employers at the hospital usually conduct searches on face book posts for violations of patient/client confidentiality by staff
He says his bosses are now investigating the damaging and untruthful claims linking him to murder and fraud.

The political supporter says the allegation he was involved in a murder case in Saint Lucia a few years ago is false.

St. Marthe says he has been able to track the origin of the accusations which he says could now cost him his livelihood.

He also contacted the relevant authorities. He claims the source of the information has connections to supporters of a major political party on the island.

While St. Marthe admits to being involved in a spirited political debate with supporters of the United Workers Party on the internet, he says the latest allegations published on the internet crossed the line.

The SLP political supporter says he also received violent threats from an individual who runs a “blog”
St. Marthe has sent a stern warning to the persons responsible for the internet rumors that he will spare no effort in clearing his name and defnding his reputation.

The Saint Lucian, resident in the United States also claims that there is a link between his current predicament and the Stanley Felix defamation case which was sparked on the internet weeks ago.

2011 was a great year for yachting with a 2% increase reported at two of the island’s marinas - the IGY Rodney Bay Marina and the Marigot Bay Marina.

So says Director of Yachting- Cuthbert Didier. With the approval of Cabinet Conclusion 717 of 2011 in August last year - Didier is expecting more good news this year.

Didier says the conclusion seeks to expand on the sector and make it more competitive through a number of incentives.

These include longer stay for visitors and 100 percent import duty and consumption tax for foreign and St. Lucian nationals.

Didier says the conclusion should also serve as motivation for people to increase the amount of charter companies on the island.

He says the Ministry of Tourism is also hoping to improve safety measures among daily chartered boats.

The Ministry of Tourism expects the new Conclusion to lead to a 15% growth in the local yachting sector.
The conclusion is supported by the IGY Marina’s General Manager- Adam Foster.

He commended Didier and the Government for its implementation. A total of 42, 000 visitors and 8,086 yachts arrived in St. Lucia last year.

A regional consultation on the development of a new OECS education strategy is underway in Saint Lucia.

Head of the OECS Education Reform Unit, Marcellus Albertin, says the unit is acting on a mandate from the OECS Heads to develop a new education strategy for the education sector in the sub region.

According to Albertin the countries of the OECS have reached a stage where the policymakers must question whether the sub region is achieving the kind of outputs and results it would like from past strategies.

The OECS education strategy consultation will look at a number of issues including balancing the focus given to various stages of education.

Albertin says in the past the heavy focus has been on primary and secondary education with the areas of early childhood and tertiary education suffering some neglect.

He says that issue and many others need to be addressed. Dr Martin Baptiste is the Education Specialist at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

Baptiste says the CDB always stands ready to assist and support member countries in areas of economic and social development.

The consultation – he says - is crucial given the heavy investments made by OECS governments in education.

Albertin says it is important for member countries to buy into the OECS ten year strategic plan upon its completion.

He says in the past getting member countries to commit to policies not just on a regional but also on a national level has been a major issue.

a cultural dance performance, visit the St John Association of Saint Lucia Headquarters and the St Lucia School of Music, as well as attend receptions hosted by the Governor-General and the Prime Minister.

Saint Lucia will be the first port of call by Their Royal Highnesses who will also visit a number of Caribbean countries including Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Trinidad & Tobago as part of the celebrations to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

So much so that in one year events like Panorama were not held due to lack of funding while other Carnival players like calypsonians bemoaned the late payment of their prize monies.

The problems began after the three year 1 million dollar injection into Carnival under former Tourism Minister Allen Chastanet expired.

Theophilus says his government will ensure there is budgetary allocation for Carnival – a move designed to ensure the summer festival is well funded and executed.

The Minister has also given an update on the status of his establishment of the new Creative Industries Ministry.

He says the challenge for government is to deliver in what is a very broad industry important to the livelihood of many talented Saint Lucians.

Saint Lucia Carnival will be held from May 28th to July 17th. Already – the Just 4 Fun Carnival band has unveiled its 2012 theme “The Spirit of Carnival” as part of preparations for the event.

ECCLA represents members in the OECS and follows the establishment of older, more established entities in Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados.

Its Director is Saint Lucian Michael Fontinelle. He says the association held the workshop to attract and educate members.

The ECCLA executive is made up of representatives from each member state in the OECS. Its President – Simon Johns-Hendrickson – is a Professor of Economics in the Virgin Islands.

He says the organization will ensure members get royalty and other payments associated with their published works.

ECCLA is registered with two international copyright bodies including the International Federation of Lithographic rights.

The body was registered in Saint Lucia with assistance from the OECS Secretariat. Its ultimate aim is to establish chapters in each of the OECS member states it represents.

She says the training program focused mainly on Bureau’s in seven countries around the region. The training she says will enable the companies to better serve the business and service sector.

Western says although the workshop focused on Bureau’s- other companies were also invited to attend.

Technical Coordinator for the Technical Action Service Unit of CARICOM- Melbour Phillip says a needs assessment in 2010 led to the implementation of the current program.

It included about seven states in the Caribbean and collaborated with a number of organizations.

The workshop was held at the Palm Haven Hotel in Rodney Bay. Staff from the Metrological Services also attended the workshop.

Forde says raising awareness about HIV/AIDS must be constant. He says people tend to become reckless when they believe the threat has dissipated.

The ultimate aim of the play he says is to reintroduce discussion on the issues of HIV/AIDS. The play is scheduled for an 8PM curtain call on February 10th 2012 at the National Cultural Center.

A donation on Wednesday assured the first place winners of their prizes of the two laptops.Winners of the Solo Competition organized by the Ministry of Education will receive a first prize of an Asus Laptop. The prizes were donated by a youth driven IT provider called Computer Business Services located in Sans Souci.

Manager- Jason James says the company was captivated by the competition as presented in a proposal from the Curriculum Specialist for Music, Jason Joseph.

Jason Joseph expressed much appreciation for the donation which he considers further motivation for the participants.

Joseph says the participation from the company is a demonstration of its value for the activity and youth.
The competition which began in December 2011 with secondary schools this year includes primary school students.

Participants attended a workshop last week on vocal training- conducted by Blaise Pascal.