Nurse Harracksingh who is affectionately known in the constituency as “Astride,” still actively provides free nursing care to scores of elderly and disadvantaged residents who value her service immensely. A former President of the Saint Lucia Nurses Association, Nurse Harracksingh was instrumental in securing better working conditions for nurses including uniform salary payment for nurses from St. Jude’s Hospital.

Nurse Harracksingh is also very popular among the young people of the constituency where she continues to serve as the Leader of the Pathfinders and Master-guides. She is Vice President of her district’s Seventh Day Adventist Youth Ministry which serves from Mon Repos to Vieux Fort North.

Although she has unsuccessfully contested elections in the constituency since 1997, she has never had the endorsement of any of the two (2) main political parties until now. She is confident that with the backing of the Saint Lucia Labour Party, she will put an end to the poor representation of Hon.  Arsene James in Micoud South and be part of the winning team     which will form the next Government of Saint Lucia.

The Saint Lucia Labour Party welcomes Mrs. Harracksingh aboard its team of candidates and is extremely happy at the enhancement she brings, particularly among women voters and vulnerable groups.

Meanwhile, the Annual Conference of the Micoud South SLP Constituency Group takes place on Sunday September 5, at the Desruisseaux Multi-purpose Centre. The conference commences at 4:00 p.m.

This means that LIME customers will be billed at the same roaming rate regardless of which LIME market they visit and applies to LIME customers ONLY when roaming in:

• Anguilla
• Antigua & Barbuda
• Barbados
• British Virgin Islands (BVI)
• Cayman Islands
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Jamaica
• Montserrat
• St. Kitts & Nevis
• St. Lucia
• St. Vincent & the Grenadines
• Turks & Caicos
• Trinidad & Tobago

And as a special introductory offer, all customers will enjoy FREE incoming calls until November 30, 2010.

With One Rate Roaming calls are billed at one flat rate, and text messages and Data are charged at the local rates.  Blackberry customers pay no additional charges when they’re roaming in the 13 LIME markets and in Trinidad & Tobago

One Rate Roaming, which is available to both postpaid and prepaid customers in all LIME markets, is simple to access and makes it very easy for customers to calculate their roaming charges on their monthly bills.

Postpaid customers who do not already have roaming access on their LIME mobile can simply call LIME’s Contact Centre 1-800-804-2994  or visit any LIME Retail Store to request roaming services.  All LIME prepaid customers are automatically provisioned with roaming access. For postpaid customers security deposits may be required but there are no monthly subscription fees for roaming access on either prepaid or postpaid service.

*One-rate” calls are calls on-island and back home (not to other countries).

Registration will open at 11:30 am and close at 12:30 pm sharp in preparation for the Trial.

All potential players should come prepared for a rigorous work out.

The trial will be under the supervision of SLFA Technical Director Ces Podd as part of his plans to identify the Island’s best footballing talent.

“We are looking for players to enable us to strengthen and progress from our current status,” said Mr. Podd. “We want players with commitment, who want to play at a high standard and represent St. Lucia well. We will push the guys hard and now have a team in place to get the best out of the players we work with. We have a sports fitness trainer and physiotherapist working with us, so we can focus effectively on the players development in every area.”

The Trial on Saturday for young men and seniors will take approximately 2 hours and will consist of several practices and drills designed to showcase the range of ability, skills, speed, and athleticism of all attendees.

In Anse La Raye, supporters were in high spirits and turned out in large numbers to cheer on their new man, Dr. Desmond Long, known in Calypso Circles as the “Mighty Pep”. Before a packed hall and courtyard at the Anse La Raye Primary School, messages of hope and solidarity were delivered by several speakers including the candidate himself as well as the the SLP’s two Deputy Leaders – Hon. Philip J. Pierre and Hon. Alva Baptiste. Straight-up talk show host Claudius Francis delivered a stirring account of Labour’s achievements and assured supporters that the Labour family in Anse La Raye/Canaries was solid and united.

In Dennery, the mood was one of defiance and determination as hundreds turned out to register their displeasure with the poor representation of the UWP’s Edmund Estephane. After impressive reports were presented by the executive, Guest Speaker – Ms. Flavia Cherry, provided indictment after damning indictment of the UWP and made the case for SLP to mobilize to boot out the UWP. Ms. Cherry’s remarks were reinforced by other speakers from neighbouring constituencies as well as Dennery Residents who in an “Open Mike Session” pledged to work hard for Labour’s return.

Political Leader – Dr. Kenny D. Anthony was in mobilization mode as he gave pointed advice aimed at marshalling Labour’s troops into the formidable army of 1997 and 2001. Supporters listened in rapt attention to the wisdom of their leader and punctuated his delivery with spontaneous applause as pertinent points were made.

Meanwhile, Labour takes its mobilization to Micoud South this weekend with its quarterly National Council Meeting in Blanchard on Saturday and the Annual Micoud South Constituency Conference in Desruisseaux on Sunday.

This is in direct contravention of the principle of non-interference in the domestic politics of independent states. International diplomatic protocol dictates that relations between countries be conducted at the Government to Government level and not at the Government to Party level. Therefore, even if the Ambassador of Taiwan (Mr. Tom Chou) may personally be a friend of the UWP, as the representative of the Government of Taiwan he cannot disburse funds to the Gros Islet Constituency Group.

It is also most disconcerting, that the Minister of Sports –  Hon. Lenard Spider Montoute – may have selfishly misused his office in this instance, to deny another association or sporting organization, much needed equipment in favour of his UWP constituency group. Such cheap politics is very unbecoming of Hon. Minister Montoute, who holds a prominent position of power in the Government.

Ambassador Chou has displayed previous undiplomatic behaviour in the past when he dished out cash at a Hon. Richard Frederick Peace and Love Football competition and when he donated computers to the UWP Castries East Constituency Office of  Hon. Guy Mayers.

The Saint Lucia Labour Party places on record once again its condemnation of Ambassador Chou’s reprehensible behavior and calls upon the Taiwanese Government to recall him forthwith. The Labour Party regards Ambassador Chou as a political operative of the UWP and will not afford him any diplomatic privileges or courtesies whatsoever. The Labour Party looks forward to the imminent replacement of Ambassador Chou.

In that respect, it has noted a number of issues that remain problematic in terms of a definitive resolution, particularly on matters of sovereignty, territorial disputes and representation.

A decision seemed to have been adopted in the past concerning the recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), notwithstanding the ongoing negotiations undertaken under the auspices of the United Nations Security Council, with a view to achieving a political solution to this dispute over the Sahara issue.

In light of the above, the Government of Saint Lucia has decided to withhold its recognition of the “SADR”, pending the solution of the matter by the United Nations.

The Government of Saint Lucia has urged all parties to continue to negotiate in good faith and in a pragmatic manner in order to arrive at a solution to the dispute within the framework of the purposes and the principles of the United Nations Charter.

These decisions are as follows:

1. Giving priority to a special project geared towards digitizing the work of Sesenne. It is expected that some of this material will be available for the celebration of Creole Heritage Month in October of this year.
2. Naming of the road leading to Sesenne’s home and the site for the proposed museum as the “Sesenne Descartes Drive”.
3. Renaming of the endowment fund for cultural industries as: The Dame Marie Selipha “Sesenne” Descartes National Endowment for Cultural Industries; and
4. The official naming of the area where Sesenne’s home is located and the wider area known commonly as Vietnam after her. In this regard Government will seek to establish a participatory process in order to arrive at the appropriate name for this area.

The Government of Saint Lucia expresses its thanks to Saint Lucians who turned out in their thousands to pay respect to and celebrate the life and work of Sesenne. We can all feel proud as a nation that we were able to rise to the occasion and to grant our Queen of Culture a dignified send-off. Government assures all that it will act in an expeditious manner to preserve the integrity and legacy of Dame Marie Selipha “Sesenne” Descartes.

When the three grueling rounds of competition were completed, Tamarah Plante of Bocage emerged as the eventual winner. After the champion was crowned, the two remaining contestants, both in a dead heat after the final round, underwent a sudden death match that saw 11 year old Kadin Antoine of Rock Hall earn the second place spot while 11 year old Nyoh Vitee of Ravine Chabot came third. Both received monetary prices to assist them with their school obligations. All eighteen (18) participants also each received a gift bag of school supplies for the upcoming school year.

Following the event, the Parliamentary Representative, Mr. Pierre presented brand new Laptop Computers to the constituency’s top two Common Entrance performers: Chrislyn Montoute of the Bocage Primary School who scored 87 and will be going to the Castries Comprehensive Secondary School; and Tiffany Modeste of the Marchand Combined School who scored 86 and will be going to St. Joseph’s Convent.

During the presentation ceremony, Mr. Pierre emphasized the need to hold competitions like these to stimulate the minds of the constituency’s youth and focus their competitive energies into productive activities. He lamented that the contestants, all residents of Castries East may be unfairly stigmatized as children of “the ghetto,” but a sound education would ultimately be the real liberating factor in their lives. He also advised the children, that irrespective of their economic background, they possessed the ability and through the implementation of Universal Secondary Education, the avenue to become sufficiently skilled to grasp the opportunities ahead.

The activity was well supported by parents and relatives of the participants as well as prominent citizens of the Castries East Constituency. Educator and SLP Candidate for Babonneau – Miss Alvina Reynolds served as the Chief Judge, while retired School Principal – Miss Andrea Bourne was the Moderator.

Some fifty (50) children from ages 7 to 15 fifteen participated in the 2010 Summer Camp, which was held at the Fond Assau Resource Centre from Tuesday August 3^rd through to Friday August 17^th 2010. Participants were very responsive to the learning style and information presented by Ms. Reynolds, which drew out practical prevention measures and solutions from the young people themselves. The workshop was sponsored by Social Skills Development Fund (SSDF) and hosted by the Platinum Football Team of Fond Assau. The Babonneau SLP candidate has vowed to continue reaching out to young people in need of guidance; and has issued a call to Government to invest more in training young people in practical relationship and life skills.

The public is asked to note the following arrangements for Sesenne’s funeral:

-        The body of Sesenne will be exposed for viewing at the St. Lucy’s Catholic Church in the village of Micoud from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.

-        A Tribute Forum will begin from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the St. Lucy’s Catholic Church in the village of Micoud.

-        The formal funeral service will begin from 3:00 pm to approximately 5:00 pm.

-        The Cortege will leave the St. Lucy’s Church for Mon Repos following the funeral service.

-        The cortege will come to a halt at the East Coast Highway and Patience junction after which the Casket bearing the body of Sesenne will be carried by hand to the place of internment.

-        The body of Sesenne Descartes will be laid to rest on the grounds of her home at Patience during a special burial ceremony.

All Saint Lucians (those attending the funeral and otherwise) are therefore encouraged to symbolize the life and work of Sesenne by wearing culturally oriented attire or national wear during the day. We encourage all to wear their Madrass Clothing, Wob Dwiyet or National Wear. Let us come together as Saint Lucians to celebrate Sesenne our Queen of Culture in a special way. Long Live Sesenne.