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1 Saturday September 6th 2003 Saint Lucia NATIONWIDE

EDITORIAL

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Saint Lucia

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No.27. Saturday September 6th 2003

FIGHTING ST LUCIAN SUCCESS

BNTF Project ManagerClive Hippolyte.

MORE FUNDING

KIDS ON THE NEW BLOCK

POVERTYSEVEN YEARS

FOR B.N.T.F.

cont’d on page 8

G o v e r n m e n t ’ sislandwide crusadeagainst poverty is gettinga welcome boost throughan injection of US$1.76million in grant fundingfrom the CanadianInternational DevelopmentAgency (CIDA).

These resources, coming through anagreement signed last month by PrimeMinister Hon. Dr. Kenny D. Anthony, willincrease the poverty-fighting budget of theCaribbean Development Bank (CDB)/Government of St Lucia-financed BasicNeeds Trust Fund (BNTF) over the nextseven years.

Under the agreement, the Government ofSt Lucia is required to provide EC$425,000to complement the Canadian contributionto the 5th BNTF programme (BNTF 5) whichruns from this year to 2010.

Working under the aegis of the Ministry ofSocial Transformation and alongside thePoverty Reduction Fund (PRF) in pursuit

of the same objective, the BNTF has helpedgovernment to improve the quality of life,especially in poor rural communities, duringthe past six years.

“The CIDA funding will augment the CDBfunding, bringing the total funding availablefor BNTF 5 activities to $14.8 million,” saysClive Hippolyte, Project Manager of theBNTF. “For the next number of years, wewould have nearly $15 million to spend onpoverty reduction activities.

BNTF has pursued a wide range ofinterventions in targeted rural and urbancommunities– from the construction offootpaths to provide better access tohomes, to repairing schools to improve theenvironment for learning, to enhancing thewater supply in some districts.

Starting in October, BNTF plans toimplement a total of 32 projects during thecurrent financial year.

A condition of the CIDA funding is that notmore than 20 per cent of the total resourcesshould be allocated for the construction ofrural roads, drains and footpaths. There isan additional requirement that BNTF shouldplace some emphasis on addressing theneeds of persons infected with HIV/AIDS,and pursue prevention interventions tocombat the spread of this killer diseasethrough education.

“One of our precondi t ions for thedisbursement of funds under BNTF 5 is thepreparation of an operations manual, in ad-dition to a poverty reduction plan,” Hippolytealso points out. “Under the amendments,we will have to do an environmental assess-ment for every sub-project and also we willhave to do a gender analysis…”

“As to our poverty reduction plan,” heexplains, “we are hoping to feature anumber of components – namely expend21 per cent of our funds on water projects,

Students at the new Dame Pearlette LouisyPrimary School, located at Union, enjoy theirfirst lunch break at the first school day onMonday Septem ber 01, 2003. (See story on page 3)

Everyone loves success, andwhenever something is or appears tobe successful, people are naturallyeager to try the formula to see if theytoo will reap similar results.

It may surprise many St. Lucians tolearn that a number of bold initiativestaken by government over the last sixyears, are increasingly being viewedabroad as success stories.

What’s ironic is that critics wereparticularly vocal in berating theGovernment for pursuing these policieswhich they claim were taking thecountry down the wrong path. A goodexample is the decision to construct theBordelais Correctional Facility, in theface of overwhelming evidence that theold Bridge Street prison had outlived itsusefulness and, more or less, hadbecome a national security risk.

Now, neighbouring St. Vincent and theGrenadines is proceeding with theconstruct ion of a new pr ison.Furthermore, the Government inKingstown is following the St. Luciaexample o f a Nat iona l Cr imeCommission, having inaugurated asimilar body a fortnight ago withassistance from University of the WestIndies (UWI) Professor RameshDeosaran.

Barbados too is taking the sameapproach in the quest for effectivesolutions to the national crime problem.Ear l ier th is week, the Nat ionalCommission on Law and Orderlaunched a series of island-wide publicconsultations.

Remember too how St. Lucia ’sapproach to restructuring the bananaindustry was roundly crit icized?Despite this, the other WindwardIslands are looking at adopting thesame privatization model in whichcontrol of the industry was passed fromGovernment to farmers.

There’s a powerful lesson in all of this.It’s that people are never eager toembrace models, which are regardedas recipes for failure. St. Lucia,therefore, can be justifiably proud thatothers apparently are seeking to learnfrom its success.

Saturday September 6th 2003 Saint Lucia NATIONWIDE2

REACHING OUT ON HEALTH MATTERS

cont’d on page 8

The Ministry of Health, HumanServices and Family Affairs is steppingup its public outreach in a bid tosensitize St Lucians and promotebetter understanding of critical issuesaffecting the delivery of health care onthe island.

“I really think we must come out to thepeople and speak with them,” saidHealth Minister, Hon. Damian Greaves,as he interacted with listeners as thein-studio guest on Radio St Lucia’s Inthe Public Interest (IPI) programme onMonday, August 18.

“We have started community meetings aswell,” Greaves pointed out, promisinghealth officials would make themselvesavailable for more of this type of interactionwith the public during the coming weeks.

The sensitization campaign comes as thesix-year-old Labour Government pursuesa comprehensive overhaul of St Lucia’shealth care system. The focus includesconstruct ion of new genera l andpsychiatric hospitals, enhancing theservice capacity of community healthcentres, and improving the quality of carein general.

Until these initiatives deliver significantresults in the coming years, the Ministryof Health faces the formidable challengeof maintaining an acceptable level ofservice at the more than 100-year-oldVictoria Hospital (VH), considered to haveoutlived its usefulness long ago.

New Emergency Water Supply System: a recent improvement at VH

Victoria Hospital: patients generally seem satisfied with service

The Ministry of Health, Human Services and FamilyAffairs is stepping up its public sensitisation ofprogrammes and new initiatives.

There have been some successes so far.Compared with the not too distant past,the Accident and Emergency Departmenttoday is delivering better service as a resultof organizational changes. A few newservices have been added like a renal unitwith 10 dialysis machines which costGovernment some $3 million to set up.

VH’s surroundings today are the cleanestthey have been in years, thanks to anextensive clean-up undertaken by theMinistry of Health with help from theNational Conservation Authority (NCA), theMinistry of Communications and Works,among others.

Health Services Improving

Most importantly, as Greaves found out forhimself during several recent visits to VH,most patients, based on what they told theminister, seem generally satisfied with thequality of care from doctors and nurses.

“It just takes one person to come on theradio and talk about treatment they aredissatisfied with and then everything isblown out of proportion,” he observed.

“Basically, our health services areimproving,” Greaves said. “There are a lotof things that we can improve ..… evenour management at the Ministry of Health… and that is what the business of healthsector reform is all about.”

By far, the biggest health challenge facingGovernment relates to financing. There is

the perennial problem, existing not only inSt Lucia but most other developingcountries and in some developed countriesas well, of limited resources in relation toneeds.

What compounds the challenge is the factthat Government is expected to shoulderthe financing burden very much on its ownbecause of a widespread belief among thepopulation that i t is Government’sresponsibility to take care of citizens’health care needs.

This viewpoint is reflected in a generalreluctance by the public to pay for health

care at Government-run institutions. VH,for example, is currently owed over $1.8million by the public for medical servicesrendered, including dialysis treatmentwhich costs $150 per session, per patient.

“Health is certainly a main priority of theGovernment but we have to acknowledgeour difficulty in terms of the financialresources available,” Greaves explained.“Happily we are now looking at … nationalhealth insurance which we think is animportant area of development for us…”

However, the minister issued this caveat: :“I want people to understand that nationalhealth insurance is not the panacea. …Itis not the be all and end all of everything.There will have to be a mix of mechanisms… in order to be able to deal with theproblem effectively and efficiently.”

Sharing Costs and Services

As Government strives to deliver anacceptable standard of care within theprevailing constraints, it also faces asituation where public expectations of thelocal health care system are risingbecause cit izens are continuouslyexposed, mainly through cable television,to what obtains in developed countries.

Ironically, health care in the United States,the developed country which dominatescable television here, is a predominantlyprivate sector-driven activity. To get the bestavailable care in the United States,citizens accept they must dig deep intotheir pockets if their health insurancedoesn’t provide adequate coverage.

Because it will not be economicallyfeasible for St Lucia to provide all thespecialist medical services needed bycitizens, Greaves said Government isseeking a solution through the possibilityof sharing certain types of services with


GOOD START

A teacher prepares students for the post-luch classes at the new school.

Despite a few hitches here andthere, the 2003-2004 academic yearstarted “on a fairly good note” whenschools reopened for classes lastMonday, September 1, following thelong summer holidays.

Minister of Education, Human ResourceDevelopment, Youth and Sports, Hon.Mario F. Michel, gave this assessmentin the House of Assembly the followingday in a deta i led br ie f ing forlawmakers and the general public.

The start of the new school year coincidedwith some notable achievements by theMinistry of Education. Topping the list wasthe official end to the ‘shift system’ whichrestricted hundreds of St Lucians whoattended the Ave Maria Girls Primary andthe RC Boys Primary to a half-day ofschooling over the past 25 years.

“That was supposed to be a temporaryarrangement established in 1978 when thetwo schools were put on the shift system

TO SCHOOL YEAR

allegedly to correct a temporary problemthat was occurring in the Castries area,”Michel remarked.

“It went on for 25 years and it has nowbeen formally brought to an end by theestablishment of the new Dame PearletteLouisy Primary School,” he added.

Built at a cost of EC$8 million, the Union-based school named after the island’sincumbent Governor-General, who is anoutstanding educator, opened its doors forthe first time on Monday. There were 918students on the register, 132 short of fullcapacity. It’s the most modern primaryschool in the Eastern Caribbean.

Also opening its doors for the first timewas the new Ciceron Secondary School,br inging the six-year-old LabourGovernment a step closer towards itsambitious goal of universal secondaryeducation for all by the year 2006.Construction of two additional schools overthe next few years will realize the goal.

Built to accommodate 525 students, therewere just over 300 students in theclassroom at Ciceron on Monday. They arein forms 1 to 3. Forms 4 and 5 have notyet been filled.

In other changes, what up to last term wasthe technical wing of the Vieux Fort PrimarySchool is now an independent educationinstitution going by the name of the VieuxFort Technical Institute.

The institute will continue to cater tostudents from the south of the island whohave exhausted their chances to gain asecondary school place through theCommon Entrance Examination. Theinstitute offers these students training invarious vocational and technical subjects.

A number of schools have also beendisestabl ished, amalgamated orconsolidated. Among them is the newReunion Primary in Choiseul, createdthrough an amalgamation of the formerChoiseul Infants and Primary Schools.

The Babonneau Infants has beendisestablished and amalgamated withBabonneau Primary to form one institution.The Laborie Infants Schools too wasdisestablished. Girls from the school arenow attending the Laborie Girls Primaryand the boys, the Laborie Boys Primary.

The Entrepot Infants Schools too wasdisestablished. Teachers and studentshave been transferred to the new DamePearlette Louisy Primary School and theformer school premises are now part of theEntrepot Secondary School.

“…the programme of amalgamating andconsolidating is an effort by the Ministryto ensure that we rat ional ize themanagement and leadership of the variousschools in St Lucia,” Michel explained.

“In some cases, you have these schoolslocated on the same compound, an infantschool and a primary school, with, in somecases, diminishing school population aswe increase the intake of students intosecondary schools,” the minister added.

“In some cases, the population of theprimary school, in fact, decreased and whatwe are seeking to do, where i t isconsidered appropriate, is to amalgamateand consolidate various educationinstitutions so as to make the best use ofthe resources available to use.”

The Fond St Jacques Infants and PrimarySchools were earmarked foramalgamat ion. However , becausenecessary construction work has notfinished in time for the start of the newschool, a temporary shift system has hadto be introduced at these two schools tofacilitate the work to take place.

The measure, which will see infantsattending school during the morning andprimary students in the afternoon, is fortwo months. Saying this move had taken“some of the joy” he felt over the end of theshift system in Castries, Michel vowed toensure the measure does not exceed thetimeframe.

Three schools did not open on Mondaybecause construction work was notcompleted on time. Workmen at the AveMaria Girls Primary and the Ave Maria GirlsInfants were allowed Monday and Tuesdayto clean up the premises so that classescould begin on Wednesday.

In the case of the Ti Rocher CombinedSchool, classes are scheduled to beginnext Monday, September 8. The additionalweek is to allow completion of a new roof.

Michel disclosed that some schoolsstarted the year without principals. Whereappointments can be made, he said theMinistry would proceed with identifying andputting people in place “in the next fewweeks”.

Minister of Education, Human ResourceDevelopment, Youth and Sports, Hon. MarioF. Michel

Built at a cost of EC$8 million, theUnion-based primary schoolwas named after the island’sincumbent Governor-General,who is an outstanding educator.There were 918 students on theregister, 132 short of ful lcapacity. It’s the most modernschool in the Eastern Caribbean.

Applicants should possess A Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism Management, Hospital Management, Economics or relatedfield plus 2 years experience in a post at Grade 10 and above; a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism Management, HospitalityManagement, Economics or related field plus 8 years total experience in a post at Grade 7 and above ; a Diploma inTourism Management, Hospitality Management, Economics or related field plus 3 years experience in a post at Grade10

Duties and Responsibilities include:

(1) Assisting in the processing of fiscal incentives to the tourism sector including the appraisal of applications andmonitoring of beneficiaries;

(2) Preparing technical reports and projects proposals for projects in the tourism sector;

(3) Analysing tourism statistics and keep Government informed of the performance of the sector on the basis ofsystematic appraisal of the performance criteria;

(4) monitor relevant developments in tourism whether at a national or international level and advising on theimplications and any consequent desirable reactions of Government;

Salary

Salary is in the range of $40,145.41 - $42,387.40 per annum (grade 12)

Applications on the prescribed form along with certified copies of all documents pertaining to qualificationsshould be submitted to:

The SecretaryPublic Service CommissionBlock AWaterfrontCastries

to reach her no later than September 26, 2003.

Note: Please be advised that unsuitable applications will not be acknowledged.

VACANCY NOTICEPOST OF TOURISM OFFICER I


BUILDING FOR PEOPLE ANDMAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Hand-over of new computer to Edward Mongroo, president of the SoufriereFishermen’s Cooperative. MP Walter Francois applauds.

IN THE SOUTH AND SOUTH WEST OF THE ISLANDWhenever Prime Minister, Hon.

Dr. Kenny D. Anthony, goes on touraround the island, it often means a longday on the road with a series of stopsat communities along the way, andlively discussions with residents.

For journalists who accompanied thePrime Minister and other governmentofficials on a Tuesday, August 19 tourof multi-million-dollar capital projectse i ther in progress or recent lycompleted in the south and southwestof the island, the experience was nodifferent.

At 9.38 a.m., a bus transporting mediarepresentatives from DBS, GIS/NTN,Nat ionwide, Radio St Lucia, OneCaribbean, and St Lucia OneStop.comdeparted from in front of the GraehamLouisy Administrative Building on theWaterfront, for the eight-hour-long journey.

Deputy Chief Fisheries Officer, SarahGeorge, describes features of the complex.

The breakwater (on the right) at the new fisheries complex in Choiseul, provides a welcomeshield against flooding.

After an hour-long ride along the windingwest coast road which passes through theRoseau Val ley, Anse-la-Raye andCanaries, the bus pulled up just before 11a.m. at the first stop of the tour — thebrand new Soufriere Fisheries Complexwhich the Government of Japan officiallyhanded over to the Government of St Luciaa few months ago.

Following the completion of fuel storagefacilities and the installation of a fuel pumpthe previous week, the Soufr iereFishermen’s Cooperative was busy puttingeverything else in place for its members tomove in within the following week. TheCooperative will be responsible formanaging the EC$7 million complex.

“It is a substantial investment and it is partof Government’s initiative really to justprovide the right level of infrastructure atthe various communities so that we canhave good quality fish not only sold to ourlocal population but also the tourismmarket which is required to maintain verygood standards in the quality of the foodthey offer,” said Deputy Chief FisheriesOfficer, Sarah George.

As Prime Minister Anthony mingled withthe fishermen who eagerly engaged him inconversation, journalists were given anextensive tour of the sprawling waterfrontfacility boasting everything you’d expectto find in a modern fisheries complexanywhere in the world.

From an ice-making plant, lockers andshowers for the f ishermen, anadministrat ive bloc, a shop wherefishermen can purchase equipment and

other supplies before heading out to sea,facilities for boat repairs, and covered stallsfor the hygienic preparation of fish and othersea food for sale to the public.

“We are proud of this facility. We will beoptimizing this facility,” remarked Hon.Walter Francois, Member of Parliament forSoufriere, outlining plans for its use as thecenterpiece of an integrated approach,involving the development of the surroundingarea as a commercial centre for the saleof vegetables, meat, etc.

To assist the Soufriere Fishermen’sCooperative to effectively manage theproperty, Dr. Anthony handed over an IBMNetvista computer, complete with printer,

to the president, Edward Mongroo, whowelcomed the gift from Government.

In brief remarks, Dr. Anthony pointed tothe growing contribution of fishing to StLucia’s economy. Not ing thatmodernization of the sector has been “oneof the great thrusts” of his six-year-oldLabour administration, Dr Anthonyreiterated that Canaries and Anse-la-Rayeare next in line to receive modern fishingfacilities under a development cooperationprogramme with the Government of Japan.

More Dollars from Fishing

“The returns from the fishing industry aresignificant,” he pointed out. “I can tell youthat the economy of Vieux Fort is largelysustained by the weekly earnings of thefishermen. True enough, fishermen neverlike to tell us how much they earn, but Ican tell you from discussions with themthat the amounts are very , veryrespectable.”

After a sumptuous buffet lunch at theworld-renowned Ladera Resort, it was onto the second stop – the new ChoiseulFisher ies Complex. Vis ib le s ignseverywhere along the bumpy route told thestory that the new Vieux Fort to Soufrierehighway is taking shape and that roadusers are experiencing some discomfort,as expected in these situations.

The Choiseul complex was also handedover by the Government of Japan to theGovernment of St Lucia at the same timeas the Soufriere complex. To understandthe giant leap into modernity whichChoiseul fishermen will make when they

move in, you only have to look across the streetat the rundown facilities which served as the baseof their operations for the past several years.

The facility, however, means much more toChoiseul than providing a vastly improvedenvironment for fishing. Through a breakwater inthe sea, the complex offers the community muchwelcomed protection from recurring flooding,especially during stormy weather when thechoppy sea furiously rushes ashore.

“When the assessment was done for building afacility in this location, this was one of the areaswhere the Government was very interested intrying to address in having a product that couldbuild a substantial structure that would protect

Canaries and Anse-la-Raye are next in line to receive modernfishing facilities under a development cooperation programmewith the Government of Japan.

The old base of operations for Choiseul fishermen.


BUILDING FOR PEOPLE AND

Prime Minister Dr. Kenny D. Anthony discusses some issues related to protection fromerosion with Senator Calixte George and officials of the construction company.

THE FUTURE

The breakwater (on the right) at the new fisheries complex in Choiseul, provides a welcome

not only the fishing vessels and the operationsof the fishermen but also the waterfront area ofthe community,” Deputy Chief Fisheries Officer,Sarah George, explained.

“We hope that Choiseul will be well protectedshould we experience any rough seas during thisyear and years to come,” she added. “Apart fromthat, most of the actual structures that are onthe facility are actually very similar to what wesaw in Soufriere but with a bit more capacity.”

The complex was the first significant developmentproject that Choiseul has received fromGovernment in over 30 years. The ChoiseulFishermen’s Cooperative, through presidentEusebe James, also received a gift of an IBM

Netvista computer from Dr. Anthony toassist in the effective management of thefacility.

The $43 million Highway

Departing from the complex around 3 p.m.,the focus of the tour next shifted to roadimprovement with a 10-minute stop nearthe Choiseul cemetery. It was to allow Dr.Anthony and the media to see how a newearth-retaining technology is facilitatingmajor widening of the road at the top of thehill nearby, as part of the $47 million VieuxFort to Soufriere highway.

“It is a new system brought to St Lucia. Itis tensile technology for retaining walls,”explained Tam Smith, resident manager ofLagan Holdings, the Irish contractorexecuting the project. “The wall is built up

in layers using reinforced plastic mesh andthere is a free draining system at the front.”

He added: “We brought some people downfrom America, they trained some of theLucians, and then we handed over to themon a subcontract. This is as good as you’llget anywhere in the world and the qualityis excellent. We have got about 30 to 35walls to complete and this was the firstone done.”

Minutes later, at Lagan’s headquarters inLa Fargue, project officials confirmed whatalmost everyone had expected to hear.That the new highway could not becompleted in the 18-month period endingDecember, as originally projected.

The reason: a variety of problems rangingfrom an unexpectedly large amount ofut i l i t ies-re lated work involv ing

telecommunications cable in particular, tochallenges presented by the earth thatprompted a redesign of sections of the roadin some instances. However, the goodnews was that project to date is runningwell within budget.

“What we encountered right at thebeginning of the job was a massiveincrease in the amount of utilities work thatwe had to do,” explained Derek Farr,resident manager of Diwi Consult, aninternational firm managing the project forthe Government of St Lucia.

“Take the telecommunications ducts,” headded. “We initially expected to put inaround 24 ½ thousand metres oftelecommunications ducts. That’s nowrisen to about 78,000 metres … three timesthe amount of work we originally envisaged.” Making it clear he was not defending

anyone, Agriculture Minister, Senator Hon.Calixte George, agreed that the uniquetype of volcanic soil found in St Luciapresented challenges for road constructionthat would not be experienced elsewhere.As an experienced agriculturist, the formerCommunications and Works Minister isvery knowledgeable about soil types on theisland.

“I just want the press to appreciatesomething and that is unlike other areasof the world where you have uniformed(soil) conditions, you may find that it maycost more to build a road in St Lucia thanother places,” he explained. “In the caseof St Lucia, you’d be surprised to knowthere are about 52 different types ofconditions in the soils arising out of thegeology and these change within very shortdistances.”

Tam Smith, Lagan Holdings’ residentmanager

Prime Minister Anthony, gets the full attention of two Soufriere fishermen.

cont’d on page 7

Canaries and Anse-la-Raye are next in line to receive modernfishing facilities under a development cooperation programmewith the Government of Japan.

The old base of operations for Choiseul fishermen.


THE HIGHWAY REPORT

The Contract.

Contract RDP 001/2 - Soufriere to BlackBay - comprises the reconstruction ofapproximately 28 km of the existingPrimary Road between the town ofSoufriere and the village of Black Bay,passing through Choiseul. The route formsthe main trunk road for traffic traveling alongthe south west coast of St. Lucia and isthe access to many tourist attractions andhotels. The works include vertical andhorizontal alignment improvements,drainage improvements and the upgradingand replacement of major structures.

This contract was originally issued fortender in May 2001, following which bidswere received on 19 th Ju ly 2001.Subsequently, the bidding and appraisalprocedure was aborted by the Governmentof St. Lucia and tender documents werere-issued in September 2001. At this time,bids were invited for two separatecontracts, RDP 001 Soufriere to Choiseuland RDP 002 Choiseul to Black Bay. Thesewere opened at the office of the CentralTenders Board on 12th November 2001.

Seven contractors submitted separateeligible bids for both contracts RDP 001and RDP 002 and five included an offer ofdiscount conditional on the award of bothcontracts. The award was made to LaganHoldings Ltd and was based on theirdiscounted offer. At the time of the award,it was agreed by the Government of St.Lucia and the contractor to enter into asingle contract that comprises bothprojects RDP 001 and RDP 002. The nameof this combined contract is “Contract RDP001/”

The following report was preparedby Diwi Consult, an internationalcompany managing the roadproject for the Government of StLucia, and distributed to the newsmedia during the Prime Minister’stour on Tuesday, August 19, 2003.

Vital Statistics.

Name of Contract: “RDP 001/2, Soufriereto Black Bay”Contract Description: The reconstructionof 28 km of roadway between Soufriere andBlack Bay through Choiseul.Contractor: Lagan Holdings Ltd, 1 9Clarendon Road, Belfast BT1 3BG,Northern IrelandEmployer: Government of St. Lucia throughthe Ministry of Communications,Works, Transport and Pubic UtilitiesConsultant : DIWI Consult InternationalGmbHFinancial Assistance: The CaribbeanDevelopment Bank - Loan No. 12/OR/-STLContract Price: EC$43,750,000.00.Contract Signed on: 6th June 2002Start Date: 1st July 2002.

Earth-retaining wall built using newtechnology

The old Riviere Doree bridge has outlived its capacity to manage the overflows duringheavy rainfall.

Progress to end of July 2003

Mobilization by the contractor is completefor this stage of works. Additional plant andlabour resources will be mobilized for roadpavement works.

The project manager’s and the contractor’ssite offices and laboratories were fullyoperational.

Mobilisation of the contractor’s expatriatestaff is complete. Employment of locallabour is ongoing. A substantial amount ofplant and equipment is on site.

Surveying and setting out operations wereongoing.

RDP001: Soufriere to Choiseul Clearingand grubbing operations continued on RDP001 and, at the end of the month,approximately 90% of the bush clearingand 85% of grubbing of the length of RDP001 is complete.

Bulk earthworks continued near Soufriereworking from Chainage 0+400 towardsMyers Bridge and Victoria. Earthworks

were suspended at CH 0+650 at theintervention of a landowner who queried theextent of the earthworks and the relatedland take. The issue had not been resolvedby the end of the month. Cut to spoilquantities reached 95% of the billedquantities at the end of the month. Majorfill operations are complete, remaining filloperations continued around Chainage6+500 and Chainage 11+000.

Construction of Myers Bridge is nearlycomplete except for the outlet structure,which requires, prior to construction,services to be relocated and the existingbox culvert to be demolished.

Construction of gabion walls from Chainage1+000 to 1+360 and from 7+250 to 7+750is complete. A masonry retaining wall hasbeen completed at Choiseul and works

continued on two masonry walls at Ch0+900 and Ch 0+100.Excavation for areinforced earth retaining wall nearSoufriere, Ch 0+170, commenced.Construction of pipe culverts continued onRDP001 between Chainage 0+000 and6+000. The contractor continued withconstruction of Type 1 road side drainsfrom Ch 0+700 to Ch 3+500 and aroundCh 12+000

Approximately 85% of electrical poles andoverhead cables had been relocated onRDP001 at the end of the month.Telecommunication line plant relocation onthis section reached 85% by the end ofthe month.

The contractor continued relocation oftelecommunication works with trenchingand the laying of new ducting on RDP001near Myers Bridge, working towardsSoufriere.

Water works commenced on RDP001 atthe end of the month with production andplacing of valve boxes.

The new Rivier Doree bridge under construction will ensure smooth communicationsin all seasons

cont’d on page 7

Derek Farr, project manager of DiwiConsultants

Approximately 85% of electrical poles and overheadcables had been relocated on RDP001 at the end ofthe month. Telecommunication line plant relocation onthis section reached 85% by the end of the month.


With a significant portion of preparatorywork now out of the way, actualconstruction of the highway will finally getgoing during the coming month followingthe arrival of Lagan’s asphalt plant on theisland. The first stretch of road to be pavedruns from Black Bay to the Wilrock Quarrysite in Laborie. Afterwards, work shifts tothe Soufriere end and will advance towardsconclusion at Wilrock which is supplyingstone for the project.

Vieux Fort Fire Station

Lagan Holdings is promising to deliver aquality road that will be safe and will standup for at least 30 years. Dr. Anthony urgedthe contractor to reduce the discomfort formotorists and other road users in themeantime by ensuring that by-pass roadsare at least “passable” so that an alternativeroute is available.

“I think that will lessen the complaintsconsiderably….,” he said. Following aquick stop at the new River Doree bridge,it was on to the site of the new Vieux FortFire Station which had reached thefoundation stage. After 10 minutes there,the touring party made its way to the newVieux Fort multi-purpose sports courtswhich were scheduled to be officiallyopened the following day.

A newsman from HTS jointed the touringparty at this point. Speaking with reportersthere, Dr. Anthony expressed satisfactionwith general improvements in Vieux Fort

BUILDING FOR PEOPLE AND THE FUTUREfrom page 5

Sergeant Burke explains features of the new Vieux Fort police station.

RDP 002: Choiseul to Black Bay : Clearingand grubbing operations continued onremaining short sections which werepreviously left out. By the end of the month,approximately 95% of clearing and grubbingwas complete on RDP 002 .

Bulk earthworks, with reference to cut to spoiland fill operations for widening the existingroad and for improvements of the alignment,are nearly complete with cut to spoil reachingabout 70% of the billed quantities for RDP002. The remaining earthworks will includethe removal and excavation of the existingbituminous surface and existing pavementto the required level.

Fill operations resumed on RDP 002, withfill in offline sections between Laborie andBlack Bay. Backfill around and abovecompleted culverts continued. The amountof cut fill reached about 40% of the billedquantities for RDP002 at the end of the month.However, excavation of the existing roadpavement has not yet commenced.

Construction of two masonry retaining wallsat Laborie is complete.

Reinforced earth retaining walls at Ch 0+300and Ch 13+000 were completed.Construction of a reinforced earth retainingwall at Ch 0+100 near Choiseul continuedand excavation and preparations for theconstruction of retaining walls at River Doreeand at Laborie were ongoing.

Construction of 900mm, 1200mm and1500mm diameter pipe culverts and boxculverts continued. Twenty-nine pipe culvertsand three box culverts were substantiallycompleted by the end of July andconstruction of several other culverts hadcommenced.

The contractor continued construction of Type1 road side drains at several locations atthe LHS and RHS of the road.

Works on River Doree Bridge continued withthe construction of the structural screedacross the bridge deck and the parapetupstands. Backfill behind abutmentscommenced.

Trenching and ducting fortelecommunication works continued and, atthe end of the month, approximately 10 300metres were complete and the precastjunction boxes were placed on site. Cablingand commissioning works were completedby Cable and Wireless at the LaborieBypass.

Water works continued with laying of pipes,installation of valves, fire hydrants and houseconnections. The construction of valvechambers continued. At the end of the month,approximately 10 500 metres of water pipeshad been completed. Pressure tests of newwater pipe sections were carried out at LaFargue and at the Laborie Bypass. By theend of the month, WASCO had not acceptedany section of the new water pipe line.

The two approved traffic diversions wereoperational during the whole month of July2003. These were from Black Bay to Augierjunction and the closure of the LaborieBypass with traffic diverted through LaborieVillage.

Works for reinstating pedestrian andvehicular accesses continued.

Relocation of fences, hedges and walls andcrop compensation procedures continuedalong the new road alignment on both RDP002 and RDP 001.

Payments

At the end of July 2003, the certified cumulativevalue of work done, excluding the AdvancePayment amounts to approximately EC$15.1million which is 34% of the contract price.

Personnel

The contractor advised that the following staffwere employed on site on the last day of July2003. Local Personnel - 289; ExpatriatePersonnel: 25

During the month of July 2003, the contractorhad subcontracted work to 14 localsubcontractors for construction of gabions,masonry walls, valve chambers, bridge andbox culvert construction, earth retaining wallsand road side drains.

Contractor’s Plant and Equipment

A substantial amount of plant and equipmentis now on site, including two concrete plants.The asphalt plant has not been mobilized todate.

At the end of July 2003, the following‘local’ equipment was on hire:§ 19 (nineteen) tipper trucks§ 2 (two) water trucks§ 7 (seven) excavators§ 2 (two) wheel loaders§ 3 (three) dozer§ 5 (five) backhoes§ 2 (two) rollers§ 2 (two) cranes

Project Experts

The Project Manager’s staff employed onsite at the end of July 2003 issummarized as:One Resident EngineerTwo Assistant Resident EngineersTwo Engineer’s Technical AssistantsOne Senior Laboratory TechnicianFour TechniciansThree Laboratory Technicians.

THE HIGHWAY REPORT

during his six years as parliamentaryrepresentative. He pointed, among otherthings, to improved drainage, constructionof new roads, and signs of increasedbusiness confidence reflected in theconstruct ion of a number of newcommercial buildings.

Afterwards, Dawn French, director of theNational Emergency ManagementOrganisation (NEMO), took reporters tosee a new warehouse NEMO is buildingc lose to the Communi ty Co l legecompound, to store first aid kits, hard hats,and other supplies for use in the event ofan emergency in Vieux Fort.

Under a World Bank-financed project,eight other warehouses are going up inother parts of the island at a cost ofapproximately $80,000 each. NEMO plans

from page 6

eventually to have a warehouse to serveeach of the 18 disaster managementcommittees on the island.

“We will be putting these under the controlof the district committees,” Miss Frenchsaid. At the final stop, just after 5 p.m.,Sergeant Kennedy Burt took the media ona tour through the almost completed VieuxFort Police Station, an impressive edificebuilt by a team of young contractors.

Equipped, among other things, with bulletproof glass to protect officers in thereception area, a private interview room forrape victims and facilities that allowidentification parades to be conductedwhere members of the public can point outsuspects without the suspects seeingthem, the Vieux Fort station clearly sets anew standard on the island.The tour endedat 7.30 p.m.

NEMO’s warehouse under construction

At the end of July 2003, the certified cumulative value of workdone, excluding the Advance Payment amounts to approximatelyEC$15.1 million which is 34% of the contract price.

The following staff wereemployed on site on the last dayof July 2003. Local Personnel - 289; Expatriate Personnel: 25

Warehouses for emergencysupplies are being constructedall over the island.


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from page 2

THIS WEEK ON NTN

Highlights:Week of Sept. 8-13, 2003

Young Leaders DebatingCompetition SMC vs. Corinth

Monday at 8:30 pm.Special Lecture: The Social &

Economic Significance of Men’sParticipation in Society. Wednesday at 8:30 pm.

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18 per cent on educational projects – ruralschools, secondary, primary schools andday care centres, 16 per cent on healthprojects, namely repairs to health centresand other health facilities, 10 per cent onaccess roads, 10 per cent on the physicalwealth of vulnerable persons, seven per centon skills training and six per cent onsanitation.”

Projects earmarked for implementationduring the 2003-2004 period include thereplacement of the asbestos roof on theCDC housing estate in Soufr iere,construction of a $500,000 communitymarket in Laborie near the Rudy John park,and construction of a building in Roseaufor use by the Mill-a-Raye women’s groupwhich is launching an agro-tourism project.

“We are hoping to derive a high impact interms of reducing poverty not necessarilyin terms of provision of footpaths and drains,but skills training, water enhancementprojects, the enhancement of publicfacilities,” Hippolyte says.

other countries in the Organization ofEastern Caribbean States (OECS).

Discussions have been taking place at thelevel of Ministers of Health.

Here’s what’s envisaged, supposing thatSt Lucia decides to set up an oncologycentre for the treatment of cancer. Underthe sharing of medical services proposal,the centre will provide the best availabletreatment in the OECS and will cater tocitizens from throughout the sub-region.The same would apply in the case whereanother country decides to focus ontreating heart disease and so on, and soon.

As Government looks towards the openingof the brand new general hospital in anotherfive years or so, it’s already taking stepsto address the critical issue of staffing,especially in medicine where there is afairly rapid turn-over.

At present, a record 135 St Lucians arestudying medicine in Cuba, at theUniversity of the West Indies and at the StGeorge’s University in Grenada. Because

AWARENESS ON HEALTH MATTERSfrom page 1

FIGHTING POVERTYthere are not enough openings for thesedoctors to be employed in the public sectoras general practit ioners when theygraduate, Government is encouraging themto go on to specialize in areas such asnephrology, cardiology and pediatricsurgery.

Such expertise will be needed at the new$67 million hospital which the EuropeanUnion (EU) is financing.

Greaves met recently with some final yearmedical students to discuss an incentiverelated to the proposal. “I have been giventhe mandate by Cabinet to offer them awaiver of their bonds to pursue specialistareas that are direly needed now and willbe direly needed in the future,” he said.

Greaves also dealt with the vexing issue ofacquiring equipment for use at VH – a topicthat has been very much in the news lately.The first thing citizens must understand,he explained, is that it takes more thanthe purchase of equipment to provide aneffective solution.

Among key considerat ions are theavailability of trained staff to operate and

maintain the equipment, appropriatefacilities for housing the said equipment,and the ready availability of spare partsfrom the manufacturers.

“You may decide ‘OK I want to buy thispiece of equipment!’ but there are otheranci l lary costs that one may notnecessarily take into account or anticipatethat you have to do it now to optimize theuse of the equipment,” Greaves explained.

“Nobody wants to purchase equipmentwhich cannot be maintained, where youdo not put certain things in place and thenit sits there as a white elephant,” he added.“We want to ensure that we carefully utilizethe public funds.”

“We do not want a situation as obtained inthe past where pieces of equipment areacquired and then for some reason theyremain in the store room and cannot beused.”

New Vieux Fort Fire Station starts to take shape.

THE NEW FIRE STATION UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN VIEUX-FORT. THEMODERNISATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOUTH OF THE ISLAND IN-CLUDES A WAREHOUSE FOR THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENTORGANISATION (NEMO) AND A NEW POLICE STATION.

NEMO WEBSITE: www.geocities.com/slunemo

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