The Housing Minister says Fredrick’s statements on his talk show were false and rooted in political mischief. Stanley Felix says he was fully prepared to ignore and laugh off the statements seeking to connect him to a rape conviction in the US.

The statements were posted on several Facebook pages last week. That sentiment changed however – after Castries Central MP Richard Fredrick took to the airwaves on his Radio 100 Friday morning program ‘Can I Help You.’

Felix says the MP compounded the rumors – leading him to decide the matter had to be addressed.
An attorney at law – Felix says he will defend his character both publicly and in the court of law.

Felix has a long history in the US where he attended state university in New York from 1982 – 1987.
From 1998 to 2001 he completed his masters in the US before moving to England to study Law.

On Friday – Fredrick stated following a three hour internet search, he found a website that displayed a record for Stanley Felix – one that also contained names similar to that of Felix’s relatives.

Felix has demanded an apology and full retraction of what he calls the false and malicious statements or else the matter will be taken to court – where he says Richard Fredrick will get the opportunity to present his facts before a court of law and the public.

Felix says he will go the distance to protect his reputation, seeking the maximum damages that can be awarded in such a case.

placed the spotlight once again on the level of safety at the island’s health care institutions. Authorities have launched an investigation into the discovery of a dead body at the Mental Wellness Centre last Friday.

The deceased has been identified as patient Kimbert Alexander of Marigot. Health Minister, Alvina Reynolds and other officials who visited the healthcare facility on Tuesday are awaiting the results of a probe into the matter.

She says the young man’s lifeless body along with another patient was found in his room by one of the nurses on duty.

Reynolds has cautioned against jumping to conclusions. Reynolds says she is aware of the safety and security challenges facing the personnel at the mental hospital.

In fact - she received reports of another incident at the hospital during her visit to facility on Tuesday.

The Health Minister has given assurances the administration will examine measures aimed at improving the level of security for both staff and patients at the Mental Wellness Centre.

The Police were called to the scene on Friday night and are reportedly involved in the investigation into what transpired in the room at the hospital.

Reynolds says the probe is a collaborative effort. The Health Minister has sent condolences to the family of the deceased patient.

She says the results of the autopsy will be crucial to the outcome of the investigation.

Jn Pierre – Emmanuel says the strategy is one adopted to help the country ride out the challenging economic times facing Saint Lucia and the rest of the world.

Jn Pierre – Emmanuel says Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony will make a full statement on the Tax Amnesty.
The Prime Minister is expected to explain how the amnesty will work and the rationale behind the initiative.

Teachers Union President Julian Monrose says the long list of grievances include the official’s inaction on the plight of Cuban trained Saint Lucian teachers

The Minister points out although this matter might fall under the purview of the Public service Ministry he is willing to listen to the Union.

This is the first meeting between the new Minister and the teachers union. Dr Lewis says it was convened to familiarize him with issues affecting members of the teaching profession.

On Tuesday, the regional coordinator for education international Virginia Albert-Poyote strongly supported the position taken by the St. Lucia teachers union against the PS in the Ministry of Education.

Poyote in a press statement claims one of the biggest challenges facing the education system is persons at the policy level who do not respond to the plight of teachers.

Day believes the initiative is important to reduce same sex in the prisons and to preserve family bonds. and increase the chances of success for a prisoner’s eventual return to life outside prison. The statement comes in the wake of proposed changes including the granting of conjugal visits in Trinidad. Director of the Caribbean Drug, Alcohol and Research Institute, Dr Marcus Day has called for the introduction of conjugal visits at the Borderlais Correctional Facility.

The initiative would allow inmates private time with their family and spouses. In some cases the prisoners may be allowed to have sexual intercourse. 

The request comes in the wake of proposed changes in Trinidad & Tobago prisons including the introduction of conjugal visits.

Dr Day says such an initiative will help reduce same sex contact in the island’s prisons.

Currently there is no physical contact between inmates and visitors at the Borderlais Correctional Facility.
Dr Day argues such a system is an unnecessary punishment.

Dr Day is supported by the National Aids Program within the Ministry of Health. Director Nahum Jn Baptiste contends such a move would preserve family bonds and increase the chances of success for a prisoner’s eventual return to life outside prison.

Director of Corrections, Hillary Herman says several discussions on conjugal visits in prisons have already taken place on a regional level.

He adds is a move that some regional Prison Commissioners and Directors advocate. Herman argues such a move is not a priority for the island and maintains the region’s culture would be a major stumbling block to such policy.  

He nevertheless notes such an initiative has been successful in some international countries. Within the region – prisoners in the Dominican Republic are entitled to conjugal visits.

Flights began on December 11, 2011 with 48 airline seats available three times weekly from Paris to Fort de France to Saint Lucia.

SLHTA President Karolin Troubetzkoy says the hotels welcome this opportunity in light of concerns over the challenges of airlift, visitor arrivals and occupancy in 2012.

In addition to flights from the French airline, Air Caraibes has increased its services to four flights for winter 2011-2012 from Paris to Saint Lucia.

In both instances luggage is checked through directly to Saint Lucia. Troubetzkoy says the SLHTA believes the French market holds great potential for Saint Lucia and available opportunities through the Martinique gateway should be further explored.

The President of the SLHTA has suggested the Saint Lucia Tourist Board establish a French Facebook page as part of its 2012 marketing plans.

She says a French online presence would also assist marketing activities directed at French speaking Canada.

imperative to helping deal with the epidemic. The call comes in the wake of an increase in the number of HIV/Aids related deaths on the island.Director of the National Aids Program within the Ministry of Health is calling on businesses to introduce aids testing within their organizations.

Nahum Jn Baptiste contends regular testing will serve two purposes – make people aware of their status and allow for familiarity with HIV/Aids testing.

The call comes in the aftermath of the island recording an increase in the number of HIV/Aids related deaths last year.

Jn Baptiste further applauded HIV/AIDS testing at the Borderlais Correctional Facility. The initiative was implemented approximately two years ago and done at the time when the National Aids Program Secretariat was in existence.

Jn Baptist believes such a move is important and should be introduced to the business community.

AIDS Update 2008 states - the Caribbean is the second-most affected HIV/AIDS region in the world.
And that among adults aged 15–44, AIDS has become the leading cause of death.

The publication also states the spread of HIV was driven by older men who had numerous sex partners and who had sexual relationships with young women.

The initiative is being pursued by OECS territories who want to be proactive about disaster management in a region prone to various types of disasters.

Julian Dubois of the National Emergency Management Organization NEMO says the workshop is both timely and highly beneficial to disaster management efforts in Saint Lucia.

The workshop was hosted at NEMO headquarters in Bisee.

The department believes there is more room for the promotion of the island as an eco tourism destination. Tuesday’s workshop hosted by the Forestry Department was geared at promoting Saint Lucia’s off shore as a tourism resource.

The Forestry Department’s Invasive Species Coordinator Ulrike Krauss, says Saint Lucia has a wealth of assets which can be used to promote the country as an eco tourism destination.

As part of the Invasive Alien Species Project representatives from hotels in the northern part of the island were invited to the workshop which highlighted the many rare species found in Saint Lucia and their habitats.

Krauss says through the workshop the Department hopes to foster a public/private sector partnership to market and manage these assets.

Proper management she says is key to ensuring these species do not become extinct. Krauss says an important part of the Invasive Alien Species Project is raising the awareness of all Saint Lucians to the value of these indigenous rare species.

The Forestry Department hopes to foster greater care and appreciation of those assets unique to Saint Lucia.

He says the crowning achievement for the hospital which has recorded a number of firsts in the field of medicine in Saint Lucia is the Three-Year Accreditation by Accreditation Canada International.

Nurse Eleanor, one of the pillars of the medical institution says the hospital achieved success by making patient safety its number priority.

She says the awards dinner was the reward for hard work and dedication of the staff in attaining the world class accreditation.

The private hospital is now the only one in the Eastern Caribbean Region to have achieved full accreditation for a number of services including acute Patient Care and Safety, medicine services, Control & prevention of infections in hospitals.

The Tapion Hospital awards dinner was held at the St. Lucia Golf and Country Club at Cap Estate.

Dr. Marie Grandison Didier was the guest speaker at the gala event.

The winning designer will receive - a $500 cash prize, one year free membership to the Folk Research Centre, a copy of ‘the Kwéyòl Dictionary and the right to use the logo and identify him/herself as the logo designer.

The submission deadline is midnight February 29th, 2012. Please Contact FRC for contest rules, submission requirements, registration forms and all other details.

General Manager Stuart Gooding represented the CBN at the signing ceremony.

CSA Research, Education and Industrial Relations Officer, Mac Steven Aubertin says the significance of the agreement cannot be understated.

The signed agreement provides for a general wage increase, contribution towards medical insurance, uniforms, paternity leave, scholarship and annual eye checks.

Meanwhile the CSA has applied to the Labour Commissioner for recognition on behalf of the St. Lucia Development Bank, Sports St. Lucia Inc, St. Lucia Bureau of Standards and Karib Cable.