Only a warped sensibility would discern in Rufus Bousquet a man without sin. Indeed, he would be among the first to admit he has fallen to temptation more often than was good for him. That alone makes him different from many of us who see sin only in others, never in the man (or woman) in the mirror. Still crazy (like a fox!) after all these years, Rufus Bousquet, perhaps more than most, is cognizant of man’s frailties. Unlike many of his critics, he has learned to forgive so that others might appreciate the virtues in forgiveness. It is unlikely you will ever hear the 50-year-old veteran politician brutalizing the character of another politician.
Hear him well, his parliamentary addresses tend to relate to issues, home grown and imported, whether or not contagious. While many of his House colleagues indulged in contumelious exchanges at the last budget debate, much of what Bousquet said predicted the fallout from the so-called economic meltdown that is now the world’s primary topic. Bousquet is an ideas man, articulate, forward looking, absolutely at home in the Era of Obama. This time around, we at the STAR could find no one more deserving of our Person of the Year award!
By Rick Wayne
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Person Of The Year (cont'd)
Bousquet their Person of the Year, on the basis that “we didn’t seek someone we always agreed with. Instead, our primary criterion was one who generated tremendous public interest and, for better or for worse, impacted the lives of Saint Lucians at home and abroad.” Just as Time magazine has done from time immemorial.
Saint Lucia.com also noted that Bousquet was proving to be the prime minister’s strongest supporter, that he always reports promptly on his return from overseas assignments, unlike some who simply never bother, and others who come and go without the prime minister’s knowledge. Perhaps it is that promptness in reporting that recently inspired the prime minister to let Bousquet deputize for him at two important overseas conferences.
I would add that his reported loyaBousquet to stand up and speak his mind publicly, whenever it occurs to him that the prime minister is not acting in the best interests of the country. As he has on more than one occasion demonstrated, loyalty to country, in particular, to the people of his Choiseul constituency, comes first.
It is hardly a secret that the trade minister is far from happy about the behavior of some of his colleagues toward the more deprived of our nation, especially in the current economic climate. It remains to be seen if he can persuade his fellow Cabinet ministers to tighten their elastic belts in the best interests of Saint Lucia’s poor—or whether it will take public action by him before the government does what needs to be done.
The persistent word is that he remains to be persuaded that a bailout for the nation’s leading hoteliers will redound to the benefit of the tourism industry as a whole. He is concerned that other stressed-out business people might see their government as practicing a kind of economic apartheid at the expense of native entrepreneurs, for whom life has always been more difficult than that of foreign-based counterparts.
The word is that the recent announcement by the prime minister of impending increases in the price of certain staples caught the trade minister off guard. If true, I suspect we’ll soon be hearing from Rufus Bousquet. Who knows what it will take to convince the finance minister that the hoteliers must show slate before public funds are handed over to them, whether in cash or in kind? For my part, I believe Rufus Bousquet will do what he has to do in the public interest, regardless of the risks to his political career. He’s been down that road before and knows the pitfalls; still he will not be dissuaded. It’s just the way he’s made.
Like Saint Lucia.com, our choice for Person of the Year was never restricted to goody-goody-two-shoes types. Which is not to say they are excluded from consideration. We are just as much interested in them as we are in other candidates whose actions, positive or otherwise, impacted on our lives during the year under scrutiny.
Saint Lucia.com also noted that Bousquet was proving to be the prime minister’s strongest supporter, that he always reports promptly on his return from overseas assignments, unlike some who simply never bother, and others who come and go without the prime minister’s knowledge. Perhaps it is that promptness in reporting that recently inspired the prime minister to let Bousquet deputize for him at two important overseas conferences.
I would add that his reported loyaBousquet to stand up and speak his mind publicly, whenever it occurs to him that the prime minister is not acting in the best interests of the country. As he has on more than one occasion demonstrated, loyalty to country, in particular, to the people of his Choiseul constituency, comes first.
It is hardly a secret that the trade minister is far from happy about the behavior of some of his colleagues toward the more deprived of our nation, especially in the current economic climate. It remains to be seen if he can persuade his fellow Cabinet ministers to tighten their elastic belts in the best interests of Saint Lucia’s poor—or whether it will take public action by him before the government does what needs to be done.
The persistent word is that he remains to be persuaded that a bailout for the nation’s leading hoteliers will redound to the benefit of the tourism industry as a whole. He is concerned that other stressed-out business people might see their government as practicing a kind of economic apartheid at the expense of native entrepreneurs, for whom life has always been more difficult than that of foreign-based counterparts.
The word is that the recent announcement by the prime minister of impending increases in the price of certain staples caught the trade minister off guard. If true, I suspect we’ll soon be hearing from Rufus Bousquet. Who knows what it will take to convince the finance minister that the hoteliers must show slate before public funds are handed over to them, whether in cash or in kind? For my part, I believe Rufus Bousquet will do what he has to do in the public interest, regardless of the risks to his political career. He’s been down that road before and knows the pitfalls; still he will not be dissuaded. It’s just the way he’s made.
Like Saint Lucia.com, our choice for Person of the Year was never restricted to goody-goody-two-shoes types. Which is not to say they are excluded from consideration. We are just as much interested in them as we are in other candidates whose actions, positive or otherwise, impacted on our lives during the year under scrutiny.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Perso Of The Year 2008 (cont'd)
It should also be acknowledged that the nation’s ambivalence toward Rufus Bousquet is not disconnected from the political history of his deceased father JMD, about whom we were similarly disposed in his time. The same might also be said about Rufus’ uncle Allan, also expired. In their heyday, reams were written—in George Odlum’s Crusader especially—about the two parliamentarians, much of it egregiously unflattering. From the convenient perspective of the paper’s holier-than-thou publisher, Allan Bousquet was without university credits, therefore unqualified to operate Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Education.
Odlum contemptuously referred to Allan Bousquet as “Fairty,” indicative of how the minister mispronounced thirty. As for JMD, suffice it to say his handling of his work-permits portfolio inspired angry public demonstrations led by a politically ambiguous, not yet fully uncovered Odlum—but that, as they say, is for another show. It is enough to say that for many, including the alleged visionary John Compton, there was never a greater role model than Allan Bousquet, in or out of the education ministry. Meanwhile, in the hearts of the Choiseul people, JMD lives on as their immortal folk hero.
But this is not about Muhammad Ali. Neither is it about the early Bousquets who have long passed, unlike Rufus who is still very much with us. So obviously that in last weekend’s Voice, much of it devoted to an attributed HTS review of the main events of 2008, Rufus Bousquet predominates.
Almost from the moment he wiped out the Labour Party opposition in the 2007 elections, he has been regular fodder for the press. He was the central, if seemingly vacillating figure in the much debated issue of the new government’s relationship with Taiwan, despite Sir John’s involvement. Bousquet was credited with choosing to go with Taipei, not Beijing, despite the prime minister’s expressed contrary wishes at the last minute—and after related documents had been signed. Of course, there’s a whole lot more to that particular episode than has so far been revealed. Count on it, that will be corrected in due course.
In the meantime, even as the foreign minister Bousquet was being systematically scapegoated in some quarters, and accused of hastening the eighty-something Sir John’s final departure, the government, in address after public address, was describing its relationship with Taiwan as close to life saving. Project after government project was credited to special diplomatic arrangements with the Taiwanese—all of which made a mockery of the notion that a near comatose Sir John, with his wonky signature on a related letter, fired his foreign minister for securing the oh so fruitful arrangements in the first place.
The Bruce Tucker brouhaha added fresh spice to the media’s favorite luncheon meat. For weeks, out of work taxi operators, underemployed male seamstresses and other just plain unemployed losers burned up the phone wires, inadvertently contributing to the main communication provider’s declared end of year profit of some $50 million.
Odlum contemptuously referred to Allan Bousquet as “Fairty,” indicative of how the minister mispronounced thirty. As for JMD, suffice it to say his handling of his work-permits portfolio inspired angry public demonstrations led by a politically ambiguous, not yet fully uncovered Odlum—but that, as they say, is for another show. It is enough to say that for many, including the alleged visionary John Compton, there was never a greater role model than Allan Bousquet, in or out of the education ministry. Meanwhile, in the hearts of the Choiseul people, JMD lives on as their immortal folk hero.
But this is not about Muhammad Ali. Neither is it about the early Bousquets who have long passed, unlike Rufus who is still very much with us. So obviously that in last weekend’s Voice, much of it devoted to an attributed HTS review of the main events of 2008, Rufus Bousquet predominates.
Almost from the moment he wiped out the Labour Party opposition in the 2007 elections, he has been regular fodder for the press. He was the central, if seemingly vacillating figure in the much debated issue of the new government’s relationship with Taiwan, despite Sir John’s involvement. Bousquet was credited with choosing to go with Taipei, not Beijing, despite the prime minister’s expressed contrary wishes at the last minute—and after related documents had been signed. Of course, there’s a whole lot more to that particular episode than has so far been revealed. Count on it, that will be corrected in due course.
In the meantime, even as the foreign minister Bousquet was being systematically scapegoated in some quarters, and accused of hastening the eighty-something Sir John’s final departure, the government, in address after public address, was describing its relationship with Taiwan as close to life saving. Project after government project was credited to special diplomatic arrangements with the Taiwanese—all of which made a mockery of the notion that a near comatose Sir John, with his wonky signature on a related letter, fired his foreign minister for securing the oh so fruitful arrangements in the first place.
The Bruce Tucker brouhaha added fresh spice to the media’s favorite luncheon meat. For weeks, out of work taxi operators, underemployed male seamstresses and other just plain unemployed losers burned up the phone wires, inadvertently contributing to the main communication provider’s declared end of year profit of some $50 million.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Person Of The Year 2008
The Star Newspaper has named Rufus Busquet as Person of the Yesr. Following is the artcle penned by respected lournalist Rick Wayne It will be posted in four parts.
Person of the Year 2008!
January 26, 2009 by Star-Publishing
Rufus Bousquet: The dish that ran away with the spoon!
Far less love him than hate him. Or imagine they do. Which is reminiscent of Muhammad Ali before his conversion to Islam, when he was Cassius Clay and widely derided as “The Louisville Lip,” “The Mouth that Roared,” and several other pejoratives, each more demeaning than the one before.
Back in the day, the young Clay was hated. That the handsome, young, brash and unapologetically garrulous fighter from Louisville, Kentucky was savvy enough to turn the widespread loathing to his economic advantage was further proof that while some imagined he was crazy—in actual fact Clay was only crazy like a fox!
Remember when his fights were guaranteed box-office blockbusters? Maybe you don’t, dear under-forty reader. But your daddy would know. Or your mama. In his heyday, as many went to fights of Clay to witness yet another dazzling ring performance as bought tickets hoping to see the big mouth go down for the count. Of course, that never happened. Even though he went down once or twice—no one ever counted him out.
That he took to predicting the rounds when he would dispatch his abruptly outclassed opponents—famously including the demolition man Sonny Liston and George Foreman when his left hand could knock down brick walls—only generated more animus that inspired further stampedes to the box-office. Who would have imagined that following a controversial name change the former Cassius Clay would be revered the world over—even in the evidently unloving Middle East—as Muhammad Ali, World’s Most Lovable Man? Yes, who indeed?
By whatever name, Rufus Bousquet has been despised, loathed, abhorred, cursed, pilloried, and yes, intensely hated by people who never met him, let alone looked him in the eye. Their impressions of the man were created and sustained by a relentless press desperate to make up for its own pre-Jessica shortcomings. Which is not to say their target was a saint, altogether undeserving of the media attention!
Rufus Bousquet has also known love. How else could he have been elected to parliament as many times as he has since 1992? If only his faceless tormentors would bear that in mind, they might better understand the vicissitudes of small-island politics, including that your present adoring palm carriers can tomorrow turn on you shouting “crucify him! crucify him!” It’s the way of politics. So it was in the days of George Charles and John Compton, all the way to George Odlum and Julian Hunte. And lest we forget, Kenny Anthony, who once walked on water—as Barack Obama now walks on water!
Person of the Year 2008!
January 26, 2009 by Star-Publishing
Rufus Bousquet: The dish that ran away with the spoon!
Far less love him than hate him. Or imagine they do. Which is reminiscent of Muhammad Ali before his conversion to Islam, when he was Cassius Clay and widely derided as “The Louisville Lip,” “The Mouth that Roared,” and several other pejoratives, each more demeaning than the one before.
Back in the day, the young Clay was hated. That the handsome, young, brash and unapologetically garrulous fighter from Louisville, Kentucky was savvy enough to turn the widespread loathing to his economic advantage was further proof that while some imagined he was crazy—in actual fact Clay was only crazy like a fox!
Remember when his fights were guaranteed box-office blockbusters? Maybe you don’t, dear under-forty reader. But your daddy would know. Or your mama. In his heyday, as many went to fights of Clay to witness yet another dazzling ring performance as bought tickets hoping to see the big mouth go down for the count. Of course, that never happened. Even though he went down once or twice—no one ever counted him out.
That he took to predicting the rounds when he would dispatch his abruptly outclassed opponents—famously including the demolition man Sonny Liston and George Foreman when his left hand could knock down brick walls—only generated more animus that inspired further stampedes to the box-office. Who would have imagined that following a controversial name change the former Cassius Clay would be revered the world over—even in the evidently unloving Middle East—as Muhammad Ali, World’s Most Lovable Man? Yes, who indeed?
By whatever name, Rufus Bousquet has been despised, loathed, abhorred, cursed, pilloried, and yes, intensely hated by people who never met him, let alone looked him in the eye. Their impressions of the man were created and sustained by a relentless press desperate to make up for its own pre-Jessica shortcomings. Which is not to say their target was a saint, altogether undeserving of the media attention!
Rufus Bousquet has also known love. How else could he have been elected to parliament as many times as he has since 1992? If only his faceless tormentors would bear that in mind, they might better understand the vicissitudes of small-island politics, including that your present adoring palm carriers can tomorrow turn on you shouting “crucify him! crucify him!” It’s the way of politics. So it was in the days of George Charles and John Compton, all the way to George Odlum and Julian Hunte. And lest we forget, Kenny Anthony, who once walked on water—as Barack Obama now walks on water!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Bousquet Meets With Sports Enthusiasts
On Saturday January 24, 2009 The District Representative met with some key persons in the district who have been involved in sports. Some of these key persons were The Community Development Officer, Mr Mc Arthur Phillip, Mr. Glen Albert, Mr John Mathurin, District Education Officer, Miss Kay Clarke , Principal , Rivere Doree Combined School, and Mr. Jonathan Chalon, President, Choiseul Sports Council. Other persons there represented their different communities, like Caffierre, Balca and Village
Bousquet informed those present that he is disappointed with the way sports is being managed in the district. He made reference to reports reaching him about the dismall performance of the Football Committee during The JMD Bousquet Football Tournament. He emphasised the point that he is willing to give assistance in whatever way needed and that is why he has called this meeting with this selected group hoping to be able to chart a way forward.
Bousquet went on to lay some of his plans for sports for the year.
1) Field for Delcer
2) Multi-purpose court for La Pointe
3) Field for Morne Jacques
4) Pavilions for La Fargue
5) Upgrading of the Caffiere Field
The Park Estate Field was recently upgraded while the Coco field in Dacretin is currently being upgraded.
The meeting focussed mainly on the reasons for the decline of sports in the district. Glen noted " Some of the guys here have seen sports at its best and at its lowest ebb and with proper reflection we can find out what is causing its downfall. " He went on to recognise Mac for being able to get into the communities to get the clubs and teams going.
There seem to be a consensus among the persons present that poor administration and a lack of co-ordination are main reasons for where sports is today.
Mac told the meeting that when he resumes work he has some ideas wherby he hoping to integrate sports into his work calender.He also noted that a Sports Officer is needed for the district. This The Rep. says in forthcoming.
A second meeting is scheduled in two weeks time.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Bousquet In Top Gear
Yet another road project has commenced in the district. The community of Coco a small enclave inn Dacretin is to benefit from a road rehabilitation project. Presently tractors and backhoes are leveling the surface to lay the asphalt.
Speaking with a resident she said " Rufus is a grat man whom God has sent for us. He is a man of the people who understands our needs." The playing field will also be upgraded.
Presntly works are ongoing on the Morne Jacques/Dugard road.
Bousquet, making the people happy.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Fond Sabre Residents Get Footpath
It was late last year that the people living in Fond Sabre ( Jetrine ) had difficulty crossing a ravine. A bride was built and the residents showed much gratitude for the the speedy response by The District Representative to build that bridge.
That was only the tip of the ice berg as now The Rep. has undertaken the construction of a three hundred (300) feet footpath which leads from the bridge to the residents living area. The project is expected to be completed in a week's time.
Bousquet without a shadow of a doubt continues to touch the lives of his constituents. Bravo!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Obama's Inaugural Speech (cont'd)
As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment -- a moment that will define a generation -- it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends -- hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence -- the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed -- why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends -- hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence -- the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed -- why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Obama's Inaugural Speech (cont'd)
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control -- and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart -- not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort -- even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West: Know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort -- even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West: Know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Obama's Inaugural Speech (cont'd)
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the fainthearted -- for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long, rugged path toward prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.
For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.
For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again, these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions -- that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act -- not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions -- who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them -- that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works -- whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account -- to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day -- because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.
For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.
For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again, these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions -- that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act -- not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions -- who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them -- that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works -- whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account -- to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day -- because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Obama's Inaugural Speech
We are happy to bring you Obama's Inaugration Speech. It will be posted in four parts.
Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States and the nation's first African-American president Tuesday. This is a transcript of his prepared speech
My fellow citizens:
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often, the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebearers, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land -- a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America: They will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
My fellow citizens:
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often, the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebearers, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land -- a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America: They will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
Monday, January 19, 2009
La Maze Bus Shelter Completed
The residents of La maze and Montete are breathing a sigh of relieve as they witnessed the completion of the Bus Shelter at the La Maze/Montete junction.
The shelter has been in a state of disrepair for sometime now. The bus shelter wsas renovated by giving it a completely new face lift.
The Rep. was happy to see this project completed as the La Mazeand Montete residents have been asking for this. The project was completed at a cost of $5000.00.
The District Representative informed the people that his next project for the area is the construction of the La Maze road which will be done this year
Friday, January 09, 2009
Bousquet starts New Year with a bang.
The District Representative has added another project to his repertoire. A Jetrine project is completed and the resident are jubilant.
A 100 yds. footpath which commenced in December last year is completed. The footpath was built at an estimated cost of $14,000.000
Look out for Mr. Bousquet's achievements i the district as of tomorrow.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
University of Vermont may provide Solar power for Multi-Purpose Court
Mr Thomas Desisto of the University of Vermont together with the Director of Consumer Affairs paid a courtesy call on the Choiseul-Saltibus constituency Office today. The purpose of the visit is a follow-up of discussions with the District Representative to look into the likelihood of starting a few projects in the district.Included in the touring party was Mr. Anthony Herman secretary of The Board of Directors of the Choiseul Cooperative Credit Union.
Mr. Desisto works with the The Center for Rural Studies (CRS) at the University. The Center for Rural Studies is a nonprofit, fee-for-service research organization that addresses social, economic, and resource-based problems of rural people and communities. Based in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Vermont, the Center provides consulting, research, and program evaluation services in Vermont, the United States, and abroad. The Center also serves as the U.S. Census Bureau's Vermont State Data Center.
The Projects that were discussed are: 1) The powering of the Multi-Purpose court with either Solar or Wind energy. 2) The establishment of an IT lab for the Delcer School to serve the School and Community. 3) Solar energy for Sabre Wisha and construction of public amenites. 4) The possibility of setting up a non treated water network from Delcer to Piaye for farmers.
Mr. Desisto has taken these sugestions to his superiors for consideration.
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