Flambeau Countdown 2014

The gloves are tied securely on the wrists of both Allen and Claudius as they launch last minute pushes vie-te-vie in the final round of the match to see who captures the crown. It, for sure, will not be these lethal blows that they hurdle at each other that will determine the winner, but a set of soft heads judges that can be swayed either way once the deal/cut is just right.
Many political pundits have given Allen the edge over Claudius, but it would serve Allen well to remember his last defeat in Soufriere where he was not only fighting the opposition but also members within his own party as well.
A paralell can be drawn here as well. It is rumoured that Claudius in tagging with Frederick and Rufus, as well as a few prominent persons who were once in Allen's corner to try to secure the leadership from him.
Rufus, for sure has made the first move where he had his cronies nominate Claudius for the race. Why did it have to be Choiseul? Why not Castries Central or even Castries North? Who is financing Claudius' campaign?
Can Claudius pull this fight off? Quite likely the other set of pundits reiterate. Claudius is young, energetic, educated, can speak kweyole, can put Flambeau back on its feet are some of the points brought forward for this new found politician.
UWP has never been so organized. From the time Allen took over the leadership, one can see purpose and a clear direction where the party is heading, and it would serve them well to continue in this vein regardless who pulls it off on D-day.
Yes, forces are at work for both Allen and Claudius and the fight is a dog-eat-dog one. Let's hope that the same unfounded gossip which came out from the last convention does not find root when the Sunday results are announced.

Earth Blackout for 3 Days!

NASA has confirmed that the three days of darkness will take place this year on days 21, 22 and 23 December. The land will remain during these three days without sun, night ie in total darkness due to a solar storm ....
This is the head of NASA Charles Bolden who made the announcement and asked everyone to remain calm. This will be the product of a solar storm, the largest in the last 50 years for a period of 72 hours. Note that in the responses of Light Beings to questions Monique Mathieu by his members "From Heaven to Earth," she wrote: "The three days of darkness will actually take place. This will be an extremely difficult time for humanity. source : science.nasa.gov
Dedan C.G.Jn Baptiste

Some Facts About Ebola

Here's some background information about Ebola, a virus with a high fatality rate that was first identified in Africa in 1976.

Facts: Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a disease caused by one of five different Ebola viruses. Four of the strains can cause severe illness in humans and animals. The fifth, Reston virus, has caused illness in some animals, but not in humans.

The first human outbreaks occurred in 1976, one in northern Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo) in Central Africa: and the other, in southern Sudan (now South Sudan). The virus is named after the Ebola River, where the virus was first recognized in 1976, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Ebola is extremely infectious but not extremely contagious. It is infectious, because an infinitesimally small amount can cause illness. Laboratory experiments on nonhuman primates suggest that even a single virus may be enough to trigger a fatal infection.
Instead, Ebola could be considered moderately contagious, because the virus is not transmitted through the air.
The most contagious diseases, such as measles or influenza, virus particles are airborne.
Humans can be infected by other humans if they come in contact with body fluids from an infected person or contaminated objects from infected persons. Humans can also be exposed to the virus, for example, by butchering infected animals.
While the exact reservoir of Ebola viruses is still unknown, researchers believe the most likely natural hosts are fruit bats.

Symptoms of Ebola typically include: weakness, fever, aches, diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain. Additional experiences include rash, red eyes, chest pain, throat soreness, difficulty breathing or swallowing and bleeding (including internal).
Typically, symptoms appear 8-10 days after exposure to the virus, but the incubation period can span two to 21 days.
Unprotected health care workers are susceptible to infection because of their close contact with patients during treatment.

Deadly human Ebola outbreaks have been confirmed in the following countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Gabon, South Sudan, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Republic of the Congo (ROC), Guinea and Liberia.

According to the World Health Organization, "there is no specific treatment or vaccine," and the fatality rate can be up to 90%. Patients are given supportive care, which includes providing fluids and electrolytes and food.

There are five subspecies of the Ebola virus: Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV), Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV), Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV), Taï Forest ebolavirus (TAFV) and Reston ebolavirus (RESTV)

Statistics: The CDC reports that there have been 5,848 cases of Ebola since 1976, resulting in 3,246 deaths. (as of September 25, 2014)

Timeline: *Includes outbreaks resulting in more than 100 deaths or special cases.

1976 – First recognition of the EBOV disease is in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo). The outbreak has 318 reported human cases, leading to 280 deaths. An SUDV outbreak also occurs in Sudan (now South Sudan), which incurs 284 cases and 151 deaths.

1989 – In Reston, Virginia, macaque monkeys imported from the Philippines are found to be infected with the Ebola virus (later named the Ebola-Reston virus).

1990 – In Texas and Virginia quarantine facilities, four humans develop Ebola antibodies after contact with monkeys imported from the Philippines. None of the humans has symptoms.

1995 – An outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) leads to 315 reported cases and at least 250 deaths.

2000-2001 – A Ugandan outbreak (SUDV) results in 425 human cases and 224 deaths.

2001-2002 – An EBOV outbreak occurs on the border of Gabon and Republic of the Congo (ROC), which results in 53 deaths on the Gabon side and at least 43 deaths on the Republic of the Congo side.

December 2002 - April 2003 – An EBOV outbreak in Republic of the Congo results in 143 reported cases and 128 deaths.

2007 – An EBOV outbreak occurs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), 187 of the 264 cases reported result in death. In late 2007, an outbreak in Uganda leads to 37 deaths. 149 cases were reported.

November 2008 – The Ebola-Reston virus (RESTV) is detected in five humans in the Philippines. They are workers on a pig farm and slaughterhouse and suffer no symptoms. This is the first known occurrence of the Reston virus in pigs.

August 26, 2014 – The Ministry of Health in the Democratic Republic of the Congo notifies the World Health Organization of an Ebola outbreak in the country. It is the seventh outbreak in the country since 1976, when the virus was first identified near the Ebola river. The outbreak is not related to the ongoing outbreak in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. As of September 21, 68 cases and 41 deaths have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

2014 West Africa Outbreak: Confirmed or suspected cases of Ebola as of September 21, 2014 (World Health Organization):

Guinea – 1022 cases, 635 deaths

Liberia – 3280 cases, 1677 deaths

Nigeria – 20 cases, 8 deaths

Senegal – 1 case, 0 deaths

Sierra Leone – 1940 cases, 597 deaths

Is The Choiseul Development Foundation In Hibernation?

 

Biens Charlemagne

I was very taken aback and surprised, when I read this post on Facebook. Actually it was posted in the group What's Going On In Choiseul?
It was posted by  Biens Charlemagne, who coincidentally happens to be the chairman of the SLP Choiseul Constituency Branch. He wrote:
"My Thoughts
Is there a real Development Foundation in Choiseul?
What is the mandate of this group, who constitutes this group?
Blochay.... What really is that?
Why was there no other activities other than a failed Jourvert with youth parading in the skimpiest outfits.
...

why not a craft festival instead of jouvert jam
Why not a parade of of costume bands?
why not use resources in choiseul rather than giving Jerrrico thousands of dollors that will never be spent in choiseul?
Why Why Why."

For starters, it mystifies me as to why it took Biens two years to ask these questions? what is he contemplating?

Augustin aka Bolo Charles openned the comments innings of  biens' post:

•  This is perhaps how we define our Choiseul! It is apparent that the Foundation is immersed in its own "mission-critical" challenges which has in turn aptly defined them. What is the way going forward? I wish I knew!'

It would be quite interesting if Bolo could have expanded on "immersed in its own"mission-critical" challenges which in turn aptly define them' That would be something.I am sure we have not heard the last of him on this issue, though i have this gut feeling that he would rather stay quiet on this.........he does not want to rock the boat.

John Satney  president  of CDF

  The idea of a Choiseul Development Foundation/ Committee must have come about by the Social Transformation Officer. I remember vividly his enthusiasm about the whole project. How the group was formed remains a mystery to many Choiseulians. It is no secret that some of the members on the Foundation/Committee were persons with strong political inclinations...prove me wrong if you can. John Satney, Goddard Darchiville two members who actually lived in Castries, held top positions on the Foundation.

Jimmy Haynes, in his turn at the wicket to answer Mr Charlemagne's question, "Is there a real Foundation in Choiseul?' puts it like this:

• Unfortunately, the Choiseul Foundation is a Boy &Girls Club which despite its huge appetite for public assistance preferably financial and goodwill is accountable to only itself. Some Foundation.

So the Boys' and Girls' Club have vanished into thin air?Have they left any financial audit reports or any minutes?

     Immediately after general elections 2011, there was that zeal, that euphoria about good things ah gwan, and there was this bubbling of energy after a victory. Then came along a brain child of the Foundation, "BLOTJE EN CHWASEZ"This sub group got down to the nitty gritty of it and by August had plans well on the way for a FIRST activity in the district. Their Facebook page posted this itenary in September 2012

Blotje Carnival Queen Contestants (2013)

Another scene with the Contestants

    Choiseul Cultural Festival
Sunday 16th September-Mini Launch
Sunday 23rd September- Sports
Saturday 29th September- Music Festival
Sunday 30th September- Craft & Agicultural Festival & Country & Western
Monday 1st October- J'Overt, Craft & Agricultural Festival & Parade of Bands

   

Rufus Bousquet

    The festival went on into 2013. Rumours were circulation that the finances are not forthcoming and that the carnival queen pageant may not come off. Whether or not it came off is not the concern here. .One will recall on more that on occasion before 2012, Many will remember how Bousquet used his influence to source funding ($10,000.00) for the carnival pageant...during the period which was managed by a Carnival Development Committee,which was headed by Feria Modeste.

Below is another Facebook post by the Blotje group

September 2013

Eve Aimable, worked with Blotje

  Look out for Choiseul Cultural Festival 2013 dubbed 'Blotje' This will include a complete package this year...and yes..the famous Queen Pageant is back after a short absence..from September 28 to October 7..will include an Anse Citorn Fish Lime each Friday from September 13 in Choiseul Village...(more details later)
This CDF was so hyped-up and enthusiastic that John Satney president, also spoke to the Star about this new initiative.  “We decided that we wanted to have not just another carnival but something different. We wanted this to be a part of the tourism product to show diversity in the arts and culture under a different name,” Satney says. “The idea is that hopefully  this will not just impact Saint Lucia but the diaspora as well,” he added.

    Now in 2014, the Blotje En Chawzey group and the CDF are scattered, disenfranchised and lack the motivation to move on. Was it the Rep's attitude toward the constituency that caused this year's activities to be so low-keyed?Is something brewing that Choiseulians need to know about? Don't the CDF still want according to Satney, ..."be a part of the tourism product...?"

      There are no Fb post from the Blotje group for 2014? What does this tell you?

What interests me, and hopefully other Choiseulians, is why out of the blue  Biens is concerned about the ineptitude,of the CDF and asks these questions? Is he looking forward to taking it over? One will recall the masquerade he and some of his friends created in an attempt to overthrow the Executive of the Delcer Farmer's Association. What became of this escapade?

    Beins will do well to let sleeping dogs lie. Goddard and Satney rate themselves as big fishes in Choiseul politics...remember the former's contribution of a bus to Club 60? Also one must not forget the deal he also made with the Choiseul Constituency Council for over $200,000.00 for that piece of shit that lies on the Fisheries Complex compounds. You scratch my back, I scratch yours style of politics that still goes on in Choiseul.

 

The Parliamentary Rep

 Will Beins champion the cause and ask for fresh elections? Does this CDF have a constitution?  When last did they have a meeting? Who are the person's that put this year's activities together?Where did the money to pay Jericho come from? These questions  which he asked may have merit but they have no legs...not with the let downs and broken promises,as well as the poor representation by our Rep.  Who will anyone put their neck on the block to find ou?. It would serve Biens well, with  all the disgruntlement about his Rep now going on, to put his energies into his Constituency group and try to see if he can pull off the Parliamentary seat for his Party, come next year or early 2016.

   My take, the relevant authorities should set up a one-man committee to investigate this CDF/BLOTJE and come up with a forensic audit report and recommendations, and take it from there. Get Choiseulians who live in Choiseul to man the foundation. I recommend  Mr Augustin Charles as my first choice to carry out this investigation.

Choiseulians, wake up and smell the coffee.

Editor's note: The statements by the individuals in this post are unedited.