Minister Joseph commenting on the drought situation then, said things were not so serious that water would have to be imported. More than that he said, if water were to be imported it would be very expensive. He said the practically of buying water is questionable because the factors of not just cost but storage for the water and whether the quantity would be enough for the country’s needs had to be considered closely. But according to an article by The Dominican dot Net, General manager of the Dominica Water and Sewerage Company, Bernard Etinoffe, disclosed recently that St.Lucia and several other islands have requested water from Dominica and that these were being considered on a case by case basis.
The first water shipment to St Lucia left Dominica Wednesday 3rd March and Etinoffe says that his company expects to supply approximately two million gallons of water per week, to the Island. The water executive also disclosed that the supply of water to St Lucia will not impact negatively on Dominica’s domestic water consumption. In recent weeks there have been calls by officials in Dominica for the public to exercise constraint in their water usage as drought conditions continue throughout the region. These same conditions may also adversely affect Dominica’s ability to supply water to other countries in need. In mid-February, Adrian Trotman head of the Caribbean institute for meteorology and hydrology based in Barbados issued a drought warning for the Caribbean and said at the time that drought conditions was expected to “continue until March and maybe even longer.” At the time the alert was issued, Trotman said that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Barbados and Saint Lucia were the most affected by the drought and that their situation was considered to be severe. In Trinidad & Tobago and certain parts of Guyana the drought was also considered to be serious but not critical. Trotman also said at the time that Dominica had not yet been too badly affected. The drought is posing serious problems for agriculture in all the affected countries particularly in Guyana where irrigation is widely used. In Antigua, the government recently instituted water rationing.
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The Parliamentary Representative for Vieux Fort South and Leader of the Opposition, Dr.Kenny Anthony has taken issue with the manner in which the authorities are handling the ship wreck that occurred in the waters of his constituency. On Friday, SLASPA announced that the MV Angelin had submerged fully and that a small oil spill had been contained. According to SLASPA, the situation poses no environmental threat. However a substance described by the authorities as highly toxic and dangerous remains unaccounted for. It is believed that it was taken by someone who looted items off the sunken vessel. It is for this reason, that the Vieux Fort South MP believes officials erred in their duty. Dr.Anthony says as the representative of the area, the authorities ought to have contacted him letting him know what the situation was because it is his constituency that is at risk. Given the danger involved regarding to the toxic liquid, Dr.Anthony said he ought to have been approached for assistance in encouraging residents to cooperate in order to recover the substance. Despite what the opposition Leader says is the oversight on the part of the authorities, he is calling on residents to cooperate and give whatever information they have on the whereabouts of the substance to the police. IN recent time, the Opposition has been very vocal on what it says is its exclusion from matters of national interest and that related to the six constituencies under its representation.
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The Government of Saint Lucia has collaborated with The Saint Lucia Civil Response to Haiti Committee in hosting a public lecture on Haiti, by the CARICOM Special Envoy on the International Panel for the Reconstruction of Haiti, Mr. P.J. Patterson. CARICOM felt that Mr. Patterson’s experience with Haiti while being Prime Minister of Jamaica would be an invaluable asset in bringing a much-needed perspective that respects the Haitian people's own capabilities, leadership and initiative and the sovereignty of Haiti in the relief and rebuilding efforts. The former Jamaica Prime Minister, has called on members of the Caribbean Community to change the negative perception they have of their neighbour, Haiti. The Civil Response Committee, which was formed at the end of January 2010, has invited Mr. Patterson to come to Saint Lucia to share his views on the way forward for Haiti with the Saint Lucian public. This is the first in a series of discussions planned by the Committee. The lecture will be held at the NIC Conference Centre.
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Armed robbers made off with thousands of dollars worth of computer items from the Bocage Secondary School, leaving the administration and students shocked. The three bandits came prepared and seemed to know their way around, going directly to the rooms that had the valuable items. After surprising the two watchmen, they tied them up with the rope from the flag poles on the compound and proceeded to the Principal’s office, the office of the secretary and the computer lab.The men ransacked the offices, tearing all envelopes they found in the Principal’s office. The secretary’s computer which was taken had all the school’s important records. The thieves also walked away with jewelry and cell phones that had been confiscated from students.Six CPUs, three flat screen monitors, five keyboards, two video cameras and lap tops.Equipment that the thieves were unable to carry out was found nearby.The Principal says the incident has caused tremendous loss to the school not just monetary but in teaching as well. Bocage is a school whose curriculum is based on technical vocational skills. Without the computers, the Principal says, learning has been impaired.
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