"UWP does not stand a chance of being re-elected to government"

Tuesday, 28 December 2010 07:01 cmc

CASTRIES, St. Lucia CMC - Leader of the main opposition St Lucia Labour Party (SLP), Dr. Kenny Anthony, is predicting that the ruling United Workers Party (UWP) will become the latest in a number of one term governments in the Caribbean in recent times.

Political observers believe that Prime Minister Stephenson King will call fresh general elections next year and Anthony said the UWP does not stand a chance of being re-elected to government.

 “We have had one term governments in the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, in Trinidad with the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) (and) even here in St. Lucia we have had a one term government as you know, so we are in a period of extraordinary political maneuverings of one kind or the other, so that it should come as no surprise if there is a change,” he said.

 But Anthony acknowledges that the SLP faces an uphill task in winning the next general election.

 “The St. Lucia Labour Party is highly realistic, we understand that there is still work to be done, we understand that we have to continue to rebuild bridges, we understand that we have to reshape policies, we understand the natural inclination of the electorate in the Caribbean to hold the view that if we give you a term and you squander it, we are going to get rid of you, and that has been the message coming out of several elections in the region,” Anthony said.

 He said that despite going through crisis after crisis during the first two years in office, the UWP government had been able to stick together.

 He said that the issues were similar to those that plagued the 1979-82 Labour government which became fractionalised and was eventually voted out of office, giving the country its first one term government.

 “The fact is during 1979-82 within the ranks of the then St. Lucia Labour Party there was a clear cut fracture where people took different sides but that was not the case within the UWP, where the politicians know they are engaged in wrong doing but they are clinging on to each other and making sure they remain stuck together...by political glue because they understand what the consequences would be if they were to account in an election,” he added.

 Anthony, whose administration was voted out of office in favour of the UWP led by then UWP leader Sir John Compton in 2006, shrugged off suggestions that the SLP had been in effective as an opposition entity.

 “The fact is that the SLP has been careful to maintain a lid on the situation and not promote industrial unrest, especially at a time when people are going through exceedingly difficult times with the economy in turmoil and thousands of St. Lucians having lost their jobs.

 “In that kind of situation people have been looking inwards, there are obviously those who are very embarrassed by what the government is doing having voted for them the last time. They have to make an adjustment of one kind or another, but the fact of the matter is that the St. Lucia Labour Party has decided that it would take the democratic route which is to prepare for general elections.

 “I did not think that St. Lucians needed to put the country in total turmoil, I don’t think that was the right way to go at all. What must happen now is that the Labour Party must make adjustments to its policies, use this period very carefully to analyse where it went wrong and come up with new programmes and policies that will attract the electorate.

 “We have some bridges to rebuild as I think we lost the confidence of the middle class, with crime being one of the main issues, so we have to mend some fences, build some bridges and rekindle the confidence of the electorate but I certainly don’t think that the way we should do it is by putting people on the streets, they are suffering enough already and elections are not far away,” said Anthony.

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM LORNE THEOPHILUS

It is with a mixed sense of pride and humility, that I extend heartfelt Seasons Greetings to everyone within the Choiseul/Saltibus constituency, to their extended families both here and in the Diaspora. I am overwhelmed by the love, support and goodwill that has been showered upon me, since my transition to the realm of candidacy and the campaign that has ensued therefrom. In a nutshell, the experience thus far, although challenging has been nothing but amazing.

I owe this amazing experience to you, and to the safe hands of an experienced, nurturing and respected campaign team, made up of proud sons and daughters of our beloved community, who guide me as I endeavour to bring to our community the quality of representation that it truly deserves. For this all, I count myself as being blessed and eternally thankful to my creator.

As we enjoy this festive and traditional season, I cannot help but ponder on the rich traditional nature of our community. We believe that through striving we will reach the top. We believe unwaveringly in religion and our people attend church regularly in testament to this. We observe the traditional period of Lent, and engage in no outward celebrations during this period. We believe in strong family values, and it is to this that I attribute the relatively speaking crime free nature of our society, and the way that we draw together in a coudmain, to assist our fellow man. I also remember when our community with a sense of pride and togetherness won the now defunct ‘Plus Belle Village’ competition for in excess of a decade.

What this says about us as a people is that despite the odds that may confront us, we have the fortitude and resolve to aim for and achieve excellence, even when it looms dangerously in the jaws of despair. It is with this as a backdrop that I look with optimism towards the future where we work as a people united in the common purpose of achieving our dreams and making Choiseul/Saltibus the great place that it can be.

Over the past few months, you would have noted that I have been trekking our constituency in a very systematic way, accompanied by some of the best and most genuine minds and personalities that our community has produced. I have observed along with them the majestic natural beauty of the landscape of our community which is only rivaled by the beauty of our very own people. As a group we have and will continue to apply our minds towards initiatives that will improve our community as a whole, rather than selected and self serving persons within the community.

It is with this collective approach and vision, that we will transform the statistic that has grouped 1/3 of our community as poor. We must harness our resources both natural and physical and turn them into stories of success. We must move from the path that we are currently on, to a sound, planned and sustainable pattern of development which will endure to the benefit of the generations that are to come. Let us develop our people, industry and society. This is the approach of my campaign and campaign team. With your help and support we will systematically transform Choiseul/Saltibus in an organized and scientific way, whilst we observe and strengthen the traditions that are the root and fabric of us all.

As I shower you with all the best wishes of life, health and prosperity that I can humanly muster, I urge you to remember in your prayers and actions those who are less fortunate, and those that have lost their lives in the past year. 

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a bright and prosperous New Year. 

Yours Faithfully

Lorne

STATEMENT ON THE CURRENT CRIME SITUATION IN SAINT LUCIA - PART II

STATEMENT ON THE CURRENT CRIME SITUATION IN SAINT LUCIA

 By Honourable Dr. Robert K. Lewis – Parliamentary Representative for Castries South

SLP Spokesman on Crime & National Security

December 22, 2010

This Government has not approached the crime problem in any logical, rational, structured, systematic or strategic way. All we get are knee-jerk reactions when the levels of violence and murder increase. That is not how you fight crime or any societal problem. Where is the vision? Where is the strategy? Where is the plan? Where are the resources? Where is the commitment? Where is the LEADERSHIP?

There is no vision in peace and love football which ends up in war! There is no strategy in high level government officials meeting with gang leaders at the SSU headquarters, and not coming out with a plan to end the war between rival gangs in our country. There is no plan in firing a Police Commissioner only to put his deputies in charge without providing the requisite resources and enabling systems. Adequate resources have not been allocated in fighting the root causes of crime! Where is the commitment to fighting crime by this Government when the Cabinet Task Force on Crime has never reported to the Saint Lucian people on its plans and successes to date?  Where is the leadership in the fight against crime when our Prime Minister, faced with a murder in his own constituency office, can tell the world, so vociferously “NO ONE IS SAFE IN SAINT LUCIA.”

Finally, in speaking about this reckless abandonment of government’s obligation to demonstrate that it is pursuing the criminals, the Prime Minister cannot escape blame for the continuing incompetence of Minister of National Security in coming to grips with his portfolio. For it is, indeed,  the height of recklessness for Mr King to allow Minister Mayers, a nominated and not elected member of Parliament, to spend most of his time campaigning in the constituency of Castries East, begging the citizens for their vote.

If Mr Mayers wishes to proceed on his election campaign, the Prime Minister has a duty to us, the citizens, to relieve him of his functions as Minister responsible for dealing with crime, the issue of greatest concern to Saint Lucians , and give the job to someone who can do the work. 

There is grave concern in and out of Saint Lucia about the crime situation and everyone, from entrepreneurs to representatives of external agencies and governments, is hoping for a solution. The Labour Party is preparing to be part of that solution.  Saint Lucians have lost confidence in the Stephenson King Government which has demonstrated serious double standards and a glaring lack of leadership on the issue of crime. We all must be gravely concerned at the unprecedented manner in which Saint Lucia’s international reputation for law enforcement in accordance with standard international practices is being damaged.

If the Government is serious about fighting the crime menace, it needs to abandon the cosmetics and go to the heart of the problem. The so called Cabinet Task Force which serves no useful purpose must be immediately replaced by a bipartisan Select Committee of Parliament on Crime. The Saint Lucia Labour Party is willing to make members available to serve on the Select Committee. However, that Committee must have the necessary powers to subpoena information and make binding recommendations to the Government.

The Government must also show its commitment to crime fighting by releasing to the public the Report on the Prison break out in August 2010. If the people are to be partners in fighting crime, they need to know why failures in the national security system occurred and what has been done to correct those failures. They also need to trust law enforcement personnel and this would require the purging of our security forces of political plants and corrupt officers. We are aware and concerned that since the changes in the leadership of the Police Force some months ago, the intelligence arm of the Police force has been compromised and certain co-operative foreign governments have lost confidence in our Government’s commitment to fight cross-border crime like drugs and money laundering.

The record number of murders, most of them gun related, is symptomatic of the prevalence of illegal firearms on our streets. Yet firearms surrender was not included in previous initiatives such as the Peace and Love initiative which was aimed at reducing violence and murder. We need a serious gun amnesty and a cash for guns programme similar to the ones initiated during the tenure of the Labour administration and which were very successful in reducing the number of illegal firearms in the country. This Government has not shown much commitment on fighting the crime scourge. Getting guns off the streets is one of the measures in successfully reducing the crime rate in this country. And this Government has done nothing substantial in reducing the flow of guns on our streets.

STATEMENT ON THE CURRENT CRIME SITUATION IN SAINT LUCIA - PART 1

STATEMENT ON THE CURRENT CRIME SITUATION IN SAINT LUCIA

 By Honourable Dr. Robert K. Lewis – Parliamentary Representative for Castries South

SLP Spokesman on Crime & National Security

December 22, 2010

Fellow citizens of Saint Lucia at home and overseas, it gives me no joy whatsoever to have to address you on the crippling crime situation in our country. The current Government came to office promising to take a tough stance against crime, and in particular, to bring the murder rate down. However, we are witnessing a new record with some forty six (46) murders for the year so far. This represents a stunning rebuke of Prime Minister Stephenson King’s rhetoric on crime, and a recognition that the Government’s crime fighting strategy has failed.

It is worthy of note, that under the watch of Prime Minister Stephenson King some of the most gruesome criminal activities have taken place in our country. This includes the shooting and attempted murder of a Magistrate, the killing of two (2) Police Officers, the multiple execution style murders in Vanard, the bloody gangland multiple murders of Anse La Raye and the latest senseless murder of Castries businesswoman, Mrs Vanita Murpuri affectionately known as Mama. Mama’s brutal and premature death is a sad commentary on the state of crime in our country. The Government, therefore, cannot afford to ignore the deep social issues associated with crime.

Prime Minister King and his Cabinet seem to believe that they are the sole repositories of wisdom on fighting crime. Time and time again, the Government has rejected calls from the Opposition for a joint Parliamentary approach to dealing with the crime issue. I have myself on occasion stood as a lone voice urging the Government to have a full Parliamentary session on crime, only to be greeted by a wall of silence from the Prime Minister and his colleagues. I continue to believe that fighting crime is not a partisan issue and needs to be a collaborative approach that engages all sectors of our society Obviously, the Stephenson King administration does not believe this, yet has absolutely no response to crime, unlike the Saint Lucia Labour Party which has a plan that was being implemented while in office and which will be fine tuned before it returns to the seat of government. Additionally, there seem a disturbing closeness between prominent members of the criminal underworld and certain members of the UWP government ... a situation which may very well be providing these elements with a sense of protection from the ruling party and which helps to embolden them.

Today the Government’s irresponsibility has caught up with them and regrettably it is the Saint Lucian people who are paying the price. Hundreds of families have lost loved ones, many of whom were breadwinners or potential breadwinners. Those left behind are now left to struggle even more to make ends meet, but our Government has shown no genuine concern for the cries of the people. Some citizens are now locked up in their homes afraid to go out while others are fearful of working night and walking the streets late. That state of fear is a direct consequence of our Government’s failure to act appropriately, properly and decisively to arrest the growing crime rate.

So there is no point in the Prime Minister talking tough for public relations purposes but doing nothing to stop illegality by his Cabinet and Party colleagues. Saint Lucians have heard the Prime Minister make tough pronouncements on how he intends handling crime and other illegalities before.  Example is the greatest teacher especially from our leaders; but if our Governmental leaders are poor examples, then, our children will value and learn the wrong things. Our young people must see and discern congruence between what is said and what is practiced by our leaders. The Prime Minister has not been tough on, or taken action against, any of his colleagues who have been chastised for illegality or found wanting by the courts, Therefore, the criminal elements in our country do not take him seriously. Prime Minister King should stop playing to the cameras and get real. Prime Minister King needs to set the example by taking the appropriate action against those in his Government who have broken the laws of the country.  

The time for action is overdue. The prime minister must respond to the crime situation with the utmost urgency, not in words only but being decisive in his actions. We must hold him to his words. We cannot continue to talk tough. It is time for action!

Lunar Eclipse, Winter Solstice Meet Tonight:: Is it the end of the World?

Get ready for a total lunar eclipse happening tonight at starting at about 1:32 a.m.

"For the first time since 1638 (372 years ago), the total lunar eclipse and the winter solstice will both happen on the exact same night. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is situated precisely between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow on the moon. The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year, marking the first day of winter.

Because the moon will be giant in the sky, you need only a clear view and a reasonable pair of eyes to witness the eclipse in all its glory. You will identify it as the dark orange ball hanging over in the southwestern portion of the sky. There should only be one."

It's one in a lifetime event; so don't miss it. You should be seeing from 1.32 am until 2.44 am.

Source: http://sachem.patch.com/articles/lunar-eclipse-winter-solstice-meet-tonight

Facts about the Lunar Eclipse:

1. The eclipse will last for 72 minutes.
2. It will be the darkest day of the year, and in the early morning the moon may turn blood-red.
3. It’s not the end of the world; but it is an extremely rare astronomical event.
4. For the first time in 372 years, the year’s winter solstice will fall on the same day as a lunar eclipse.
5. Although people in the past saw it as a portent of something evil happening, with the moon turning red on them,  it’s a coincidence — nothing will crash and the earth won’t end.