BOUSQUET HOSTS CHRISTMAS PARTY

A massive Christmas Party was hosted for children of the district at the Delcer Combined School on Sunday 21, December 2008.At the party the children were served eats and drinks and were each given toys.

Bousquet Recognised By Lucians In New York

New York group names Rufus Man of Year!
December 29, 2008 by Star-Publishing

A group of St Lucians who operate the New York-based website St LuciaWeekly.com, has chosen Choiseul MP Rufus Bousquet as their person of the year 2008. The website explains that when choosing their person of the year they looked for an individual who had had the most impact on St Lucians at home and abroad.
“In selecting our person of the year we didn’t seek someone we always agreed with,” stated the website. “Instead, our primary criterion was one who generated tremendous public interest for better or for worse. We made an extreme effort to try to name a non-politician and hence, cricketer extraordinaire Darren Sammy leaped into our top five. However, it was hard to make the argument for Sammy’s impact on St Lucians worldwide. Secondary to that, many St Lucians are still not aware of Sammy’s accomplishments or even who he is.” So why Rufus Bousquet?
The website explains: “He was fired by Sir John Compton, scorned by an unforgiving public, vilified by a lurking opposition, scolded by the media for past deeds and despised by colleagues, yet the man still got exactly what he demanded: a key ministerial appointment and to see the back of Ausbert d’Auvergne as he left his ministry. It’s strongly debated whether or not Stephenson King would have been the current prime minister if Rufus did not get what he wanted. And in getting what he wanted he got the very essential ministry of trade and investment (even more critical in this economic environment).”
The website also suggests that “out of all the current ministers Rufus Bousquet continues to show the most loyalty and respect to the current PM by briefing him immediately upon returning from overseas missions unlike the others who may send a report days later.” “Think what you may about Rufus, but it is almost factual that he commanded our attention, was the star in our conversations, and impacted our lives in 2008. Tantamount to that fact, the man simply personifies tenacity.”
Readers will not soon forget that Rufus Bousquet was at the center of a storm earlier this year when it seemed the Stephenson King government would live or die, dependent on what Mr Bousquet did or did not do. At the time the Choiseul MP and Dennery north MP Marcus Nicholas had withdrawn support for prime minister King based on his decision not to dismiss Ausbert d’Auvergne as Minister for Economic Affairs. Three other ministers stood ready to support Bousquet. However, following secret negotiations the prime minister announced d’Auvergne’s resignation, By reliable account Mr King and his Cabinet later met at the prime minister’s residence at which time the prime minister agreed to return to Rufus Bousquet the portfolios that had been controversially taken away from him by a terminally ill prime minister Compton. And now the popular expectation is that more changes are in store for Mr Bousquet in the new year.
One response to the website’s choice for person of the year came from an Adolphus Beckles who claimed to have grown up with Bousquet on Cedars Road. Stated Beckles: “. . . my recollection is that he was a person of few words and great personal goals. Rufus was not the people’s choice in that era but he gained the respect and popularity as a direct result of the prominence of his family.Today, he has accomplished many goals by his efforts to endure, his determination and tenacity to acquire his heart’s desires, including the continuation of the political legacy of his father JMD Bousquet. This is the legacy that I know and I’ve witnessed it unfold.” The STAR’s highly anticipated person of the year 2008 announcement will come on January 26, 2009 so keep voting on our website at http://www.stluciastar.com/.

Reprinted from the December 29,2008 issue of The Star Newspaper

La Maze Residents Air Their Grievances

As The District/Parliamentary Rep. continues to have Townhall meetings across his costituency, it was the community of La Maze who had their turn to air their grievances to the Rep.

The meeting was held at the multi-purpose centre at about 7:30pm on December 11, 2008.Also present at that meeting was the Community Development Officer, Mr. Mc. Arthur Phillip.

The issue of the management of the Centre happen to take center stage as many residents echoed their displeasure with the way the present and non active committee manage the centre.ran things.The young persons of the area spoke about their inaccessibility to the building to have meetings and other fund-raising activities. Statement of accounts could not be produced by the President of the defunct committee.

after much discussion with tempers flaring at times it was suggested to appoint an interim caretaker of the Centre who would be in custody of the keys until January 9.2009 when a new committee will be elected to serve for one year.

The caretaker person is Nelta Francis who was an IT instructor at the centre's IT lab.All the computers are presently out of order

Also the condition of the road was brought up and theRep. noted the cocern and promised to look into the matter in the new year.

The meeting came to an end at about 9:30pm.

Bousquet assists a Senior Citizen

At a recently held town - hall meeting with the residents of Gia Bois The District /Parliamentary Representative, after being told of the plight of an elderly lady by the name of Veronique Annius in the community, made a donation of $1500.00 towards the constuction of toilet/bath facilities for the woman.

Recieving the cheque to commence the project was Mr. Mathurin Jean, a retired Head Teacher. who was at the meeting.

Expressing their concerns, the rsidents seem to be unaimous about the deplorable condition of the road. The residents made mention of monies collected in the community to hire a backhoe to carry out repairs to the worst area of the road. Mr. Bousquet hailed their efforts and have promised to send a Grader and roller to do some repairs. He warned that the worst part will be tackled now and the rest in the new year.Mr Boussquet also brought to their attention why this stretch of road may have been neglected.

Another concern of the residents was the installation of telephone. The meetin was well attende and ended at about 7:30pm.

Another Bus Shelter In Choiseul

There is no question about it, that Bousquet has delivered more to Choiseul in his short period as Parliamentary Representative than any other politician who has represented Choiseul barring his dad. Bousquet is very receptive and sensitive to the needs of his Constituents. Can't take that away from him.

The latest near completion project is a bus shelter in the Delcer community. This project has been a long-awaited one.

Activist Mr. Jimmy Haynes was very instrumental in securing the land for the erection of the project.

The project is being constructed at an estimated cost of $12000.00 The Bus Shelter is due to be opened on Sunday December 21, 2008.

Presently another project in underway in Jetrine. Look out for photos tomorrow.

JMD Bousquet Football Tournament Reaches Finals

On Sunday December 14,2008, Retired Young and the Village Team did battle to claim the JMD Bousquet Trophy at the La fargue Playing field

A massive crowd turned out to support their individual team. Present was also representatives of the main sponsor, The District and Parliamentary Representative,The Hon. Rufus G. Bousquet. Due to Government business, he was unable to be present as he is out of state.

The match was a very exciting one as each team brought their fans to the edge of their seats as raids were made on each others goals. Eventually it was the skilled craft of Dave Albert of Retired Young who managed to decieve the defenders of the Village Team to score the loan goal in this thrilling match.

At the end of the match supporters of Retired Young invaded the pitch to give support to their team.

At the prize giving ceremony Retired Young collected the trophy and a cheque for $1200.00. Also receiving a plaque for outstanding service towards sports in the district was Nigel Mitchel,the referee of the match and the ex-President of the Sports Council

Speaker of House Visits Constituency Office

On Wednesday December 10, 2008 Speaker of The House of Parliament The Hon. Rosemarie Husbands-Mathurin , together with The Clerk of Parliament made a courtesy call on the Constituency Office.

The visit is actually part of a series of visits to all Constituency Offices to familiarise themselves with the running of these offices The Hon. Speaker and The Clerk of Parliament were hoping to meet with the District Representative but this was not possible since The Rep.'s Office Day is on Fridays.

However The Speaker of The House and The Clerk of Parliament are scheduled to meet with Mr. Bousquet on Friday 12th, December 2008.