On Monday Director of RISE, Dr.Stephen King told HOT FM News that he and other team members involved in sourcing scholarships for some 79 young St.lucians were scheduled to meet with Cabinet to discuss the possibility of funding for the candidates. However, the meeting which Dr.King believed was scheduled for 2pm was never held because there was no Cabinet meeting. Dr.King says he heard about that fact on radio when Press Secretary Darnley LeBourne called RCI’s lunchtime program, NEWSPIN indicating that Cabinet was not deliberating on the matter. Dr.King says at the time he was already making his way to the Prime Minister’s Office. At issue is a request from RISE St.Lucia INC for government to guarantee loans for the 79 students to cover 30% of the cost of their studies. The scholarships which have been granted by the Illinois Institute of Technology cover 70% of the academic costs. The scholarships were forwarded through the efforts of motivational speaker and Executive Director of the Mississippi based National Association of Black Engineers, Dr.Carl Mack. Dr.Mack was a guest of RISE early last month and sparked controversy when he openly criticized the Cabinet of Ministers. Appearing on Talk with Rick Wayne, Dr.Mack said members of Cabinet were disrespectful of Prime Minister King. Dr.Mack and directors of Rise had held a meeting with Cabinet ministers and said the ministers disregarded their leader. Asked whether he thought the comments by Dr.Mack have influenced government’s lack luster attitude towards the scholarship program, Dr.King said he does want to believe so because the impact of what is being offered to the students far outweighs political pettiness. RISE had a deadline of 12 noon yesterday to get a response from government on guaranteeing the loans. However Press Secretary Darnley LeBourne has said that government will not be rushed into making a decision. Mr.LeBourne says government is being pressured into a situation that it was never involved in until this late stage. According to the Press Secretary government operated by procedure and undertakings like these require due diligence and investigation to make sure that the Institution is offering St.Lucians everything stated. But Dr. King has argued that the school is working with a set time frame and it must process new students by mid August.
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Meanwhile government has issued a statement regarding its position on the matter. The statement says the Cabinet of Ministers will give favorable consideration to any proposal for scholarships from overseas institutions only after it is satisfied that the best interest of Saint Lucian students is being met. The process of due diligence which is always applied in relation to initiatives of this nature would include among other things: background checks and research to determine specifics related to scholarship financing, areas of training and how these relate to Government training priorities and current training programmes underway, examination of screening and selection process, accommodation arrangements for students, insurance coverage, etc. Such arrangements and considerations must be spelt out in a Memorandum of Understanding document between the Government of Saint Lucia and the training institution in question. Government wishes to make it clear that to date none of these critical aspects have been attended to. With respect to any scholarship training initiatives, Government must at all times act in manner which gives consideration to the best interest of the participants in such programmes. This is a responsibility that Government takes very seriously as it is held ultimately liable for any short-coming or mishaps which might occur. Government has promised a comprehensive statement on this matter soon at which time the full facts pertaining to the proposed US Scholarship programme and Government’s policy with respect to the provision of support for such ventures will articulated.
ENDS==============Meantime, the National Workers Union has weighed in on the issue, writing to Prime Minister. In the letter dated 26th July, the NWU says the last few days have seen an intense debate and discussions via radio and television about the apparent lack of haste by the government to address an important issue of the education of our young people through the RISE scholarship programme. The NWU told the Prime Minister it is of the opinion that the education of our young people, particularly in the area of science and technology, is of paramount importance given the lack of science and technology based businesses and entrepreneurs on the island. President Tyronne Maynard says the NWU believes that the current scholarships can lay the basis for the development of a critical mass of technology professionals that can spur the development of innovation and technology based businesses, which can add another pillar to the local economy. The NWU says the issue as it understands it, is about the government giving a guarantee to assist the students to procure 30% of the cost of their education. The NWU told the Prime Minister it believes the Government and should give immediate assurance to our young people about their future careers. As far as the NWU is concerned, bureaucratic procedures should not be allowed to get in the way of those young people realizing an opportunity to enhance their possibilities in this new era that is knowledge driven.
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The Press Relations Office of the Police Force has categorically denied that there is a serial rapist on the loose in the North of the Island. Initial reports were that Gros Islet Police are investigating a number of incidents that occurred in the Rodney bay area. However Police Press Officer, Corporal Trevor Constantine says the news reports are grossly exaggerated and is generating unnecessary public panic. Corporal Constantine says Gros Islet Police are investigating only two separate reported cases of rape. The first incident he says, occurred on July 10th 2010 about 8:15pm in La Retraite. The second was on 24th July about 12:45am in the Beausejour area. However, CAFRA representative, Flavia Cherry says information she has contradicts the Police statement. Ms.Cherry says her office has received numerous complaints by women in and around the Rodney Bay area who have either been assaulted or know someone who has. She says there have been far more than two incidents but most of the women do not want to report their attack to the Police out of fear or shame. Nonetheless is urging women in the North to take every precaution.
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Free lance sports journalist, Robertson Henry is expected to be charged for the assault of another media worker. Sports Journalist with the Voice Newspaper, Anthony Debeauville was attacked by Henry Sunday at the Vieux Fort Stadium where they were covering a sports event. According to Debeauville, Robertson Henry, himself and other sports officials were having a discussion about sports in St.Lucia and the overall performance of local athletes in the CARIFTA Games. Debeauville says he held a contrary view point to Henry in the discussion, at which time, Henry struck him on the head with a camera several times. As a result, Debeauville has lost hearing in one ear, an open wound to the head and bruises on the face. He says he is pursuing legal and civil action against Robertson Henry because Henry has for too long engaged in violent behavior without repercussions. The Ministry of Youth and Sports has written a letter to Robertson Henry informing him that the Ministry is disassociating itself from any dealings with him. The Ministry has also barred Henry from the Ministry’s office and undertaking any transaction with the Ministry.
ENDS============== The Caribbean Export Development Agency in collaboration with a number of agencies including the Ministries of Commerce and International Relations held a two day Technical Workshop on the Economic Partnership Agreement signed between the European Union and CARIFORUM States. The workshop was designed to assist public sector officials and representatives of Business Support Organizations get a deeper appreciation of the EPA and consequently agitate for St. Lucia’s commitment to take full advantage of opportunities to increase exports of goods and services to Europe.It was clear from the discussions that there is a serious need for greater dissemination of information on the EPA and for St. Lucia’s public and private sectors to get more aggressive on pushing for the establishment of an EPA Implementation Unit. Among those addressing and attending the workshop was David Jordan Director of International Trade and Investments in the Min of External Affairs International Trade and Investment. Mr. Jordan noted the lack of progress made on EPA implementation, acknowledging that the EPA was quite complex and loaded with uncertainties. He surmised that St. Lucia’s participation in a liberalized global economy would come at tremendous cost and sacrifice to the economy, but that there were opportunities for access to European markets for local producers of goods and services. He said St. Lucia needed to upgrade its skills and knowledge on international trade and investment and urged the public and private sector to use their intellectual creativity in taking full advantage of provisions for capacity development within the EPA.
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