Pakistan take 2-0 lead in 5-match series

Pakistani teengage prodigy Ahmed Shehzad scored a patient hundred, his 2nd in ODIs, to secure a comfortable seven wicket victory for the visitors over the West Indies at St. Lucia on Monday. Needing 221 for the win, Pakistan went about their task in…

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The Constituency's Progress in Sports

As an ex-national cricket player, umpire, referee, coach and administrator of sports, I make no bones to boldly say that Choiseul Sports has come a long way during the past four years - there are more organized teams, more committed players, better abled administrators (Sports Council), improved playing facilities, more dedicated coaches, more organized tournaments and last but not least, a more supportive and understanding Parliamentary Rep whose love for sports is unmatched among his collegues.

That being said I will move to setting Constituency's sports achievements in point form.
Over the past four years we have seen:
1. The lighting of the La Fargue Multi-purpose Court.
2. The construction of a mini court in the village.
3. The upgrading of the Dacretin (Coco) and Caffiere fields.
4. The construction of the Jetrine and Delcer fields.
5. The construction of tthe children's playground.
6. The donation of sometimes, complete set of cricket and footbal gear to almost every team or club in the constituency, including the Choiseul Secondary School's football team.
7. The sponsorship of the JMD Bousquet tournament to the tune of over $5000.00 each season.
8. The sponsorship of the Bousquet T20 cricket competition.
9. The sponsorship of a cricket tournament by the Choiseul Credit Union.
10. The sponsorship of a one time footbal tournament by a gentleman, whose name does not come to mind.
11. Contributions to Individual Primary Schools to host their annual sports competition.
12. The selection of at least seven local boys on last year's St. Lucia's U-19 Cricket Team.
13. A dedicated effort by certain individuals and by extension the Sports Council to provide technical assistance (coaching) to the players.
14. The resurfacing of the Mongouge Cour
These, among other lesser contributions is where our sports is now.
During this year and continuing the sporting fraternity will see the commencement of the long awaited stadium, the construction of a multi-purpose court in La Pointe, the construction of recreational parks in numerous communities, and much more input by the Rep and by extension the Government.
However, as a sportsman, i have to say that there are certain things I am disappointed with.
a) There seems be be a lack of drive in the present day admininistrators to get the constituency involved in other forms of compettitive sports. Such as netball, volleyball,athletics and table tennis, to name just a few.
b) I am disgusted at the use the La Fargue Multi-purpos Court is being managed.
I think it is time to fix this.
As a Councilor I am going to recommend that a committee of three persons be appointed to run and manage this court.
My choice to the Village Council will be, Mr. Glen Albert - Chairman, Mr. Tracy Henry and Ms. Verlisha Frank.
c) I am also not too happy with the efforts of the Youth and Sports Council in the mobilisation of the youth.
This was all too glaring after the passage of Tomas. Where were the leaders to get the youth involved in giving a hand to those affected? There are other issues which is not this blog's forte.
In closing Sports in the constituency is on the up and will continue to do so.
All of this under Bousquet's,
watch.

Bousquet's Achievements in Education

Now that the 2011 - 2012 Budget Debate is over, both the Parliamentarians and by extension the nation will return to their usual routine. Since elections are constitutionally due not later than March 2011, you can rest assured that the campaign will intensify.

During Bousquet's contribution he briefly, due to the time constraints mentioned his phenomenal contribution to Education in his constituency. This post aims at giving the reader an indepth look of his achievements in this field in the constituency.
The Rep's thrust in education actually started with his assessment of the Common Entrance Examinations. He thought that he could motivate the students if he could only offer some form of incentive. Taking into consideration the trend that the world is taking towards IT, he settled for Laptops and printers.
In 2008, the year the program began, the two top students of the above mentioned exam each got a laptop. In 2009, the top five students each got a laptop and printer. Last year every top student for each primary school in the constituency received a laptop. A desktop was also given to a child from Fiette, who topped the island.
A further four laptops and a desktop and printer have been presented to the schools to be used by the students. To date a total of eighteen laptops, two desktops and seven printers have been presented in just three years.
Three school made requests for photo copier/printer.These were presented at special ceremonies held at the respective schools.
Another school which complained about lack of sufficient storage water, were able to get two one-thousand gallon tanks as well as guttering.
The Choiseul Secondary School's IT lab have every computer upgraded to meet the demands of the pupils. The school also received a complete intercom system so that the principal,from his office can be in touch with every class and vice versa.The school's football team was also presentedwith gear for every player on the team.
It would be unfair not to mention the agricultural project that Bousquet was instrumental in bringing to the school....compliments the Taiwanese Government.
In the line of personal development, the Rep is proud to be associated with Choiseulians students who have been awarded scholarships to study in China, Taiwan, Cuba and elsewhere.
Requests have been made to Rufus to include CXC students in the package. This year this will be added to the list.
A new category is being discussed now - 'The top teacher for the year'.
An IT centre is to be constructed this year. Bousquet aims to visit every school in his constituency this year.
In closing, it needs to be mentioned here that numerous humanitarian gestures were given to the most needy parents to assist with school books and uniforms.
Bousquet,here to make an impact in Education!!!

Labour so - called uncorrupt administration exposed

St. Lucians now have quite a bit to chew on after listening to Richard, Rufus and finally King.
Kenny in his two hour presentation found all faults in the Budget. He said that Ezekiel is the worst agriculture minister ever. He said that the government could not have had a growth of 4.4% but according to certain trends he would presume it is below this percentage. He said there in nothing in the budget to talk about. (Yet he spoke on it for two hours) He lamented the fact that the government did not grant any subsidy to the petroleum dealers. And the litany of complains went on and on. He concluded by categorising the budget as 'The Ti Canal Budget'.
But he had it coming, because Richard took to the podium immediately after him. There was silence in the House; the Mace trembled, the opposition members began to turn and twist in their chair and the audience in the gallery waited with abated breath. Kenny's demise was at hand.
Richard tore into Kenny's presentation like a hungry wolf getting a meal after a long wait. Kenny, glued to his chair had no answer to Richard's onslaught.
The usual Rochamel came up and so was the West Coast Road and do not forget the NCA scandal. But what stunned the nation was the Oil exploration deal with personal royalties for a minister. Could you believe what you heard? Talking about corruption, there it is in your face. Not one attempt was made by the Leader of the opposition to clear the air.
Rufus dealt him Kenny a scathing attack on this same marine exploration deal. Rufus, in no uncertain ways made it known to the House that has repeatedly misled the House.
King, in his rebuttal, classified the leader of the opposition as a reckless and uncaring leader. He mentioned about the biggest direct award contract given in St. Lucia....the construction of the prison for $50m. King continued to expose the poor decisions Kenny took during his tenure.
What was really amazing was that Kenny didn't have the balls to be in the House during the rebuttal. He knew that he would be challenged for the way he manipulated the figures, especially on unemployment. King did not spare him, and repeatedly called him a reckless leader.
Well the 'harlay karsay' of the budget is finally over but not without being given a clear direction of where the country is going. Bravo to King's administration.
St. Lucian will not make another mistake.
Ps. In my last post I complimented Robert on his vision for education and youth. King had me to think otherwise. The PM said that what Robert did was extract all these from the budget and repackage it. Shame on Robert.

Robert Lewis' Budget Manifesto

Robert Lewis has always been a favorite politician of mine. However I think he is among a wrong bunch of wolves. If Compton was alive, Lewis would have been on the other side. I stand corrected. The following points are Lewis' vision for Education and the youth which he presented in his budget contribution.
He says 'If elected to office a Labour government will,'
1. Structured early education - preschool education free of charge
2. Minimum standard examinations - Take results of this exams to remediate.
3. Reform of Primary school curriculum - emotional intelligence - importance of ITC.
4. Vision and hearing test for free
5. Bursaries for graduates of primary school children.
6. Reform in Secondary school system
7. Laptop to every child entering form 4
8. Support for after school clubs
9. Community service as mandate for graduation
10. Increase tertiary enrollment - sixty per cent bursaries for enrolment
11. Teacher professional development
12. University accredition bill to be passed in parliament
13. Comprehensive youth implementation program
14. Islandwide WiFi access
15. Revitalize club structure
16. Local coverage of all sporting activities by NTN
17. Database of all national sportsmen to be rewarded appropriately.
Very Interesting and creative.
Today the public heard from Ezekiel Joseph, Robert Lewis, Edmund Estaphane, Janine Compton, Kenny Anthony and Richard Frederick.

La Maze Road Works Proceeding Smoothly

The local contractor who was given the task to rehabilitate the La Maze Community Road must come in for high praise. He has completed the excavation process. The laying of materials for the sub-base is in place, and now the final layer of surface materials are being laid.
The Debreuil- Roblot road was very busy yesterday.... all day as trucks hauled materials for the works.
This project has added a new dimension to the landsape in La Maze. There is also a sense of pride among the people as they get a feeling of a people being given recognition.
The road rehab has been ongoing for three weeks now and is due to end in another one to two weeks. Looking at the works it is unimaginable to picture what was there before as a road.
As I prepare this post my mind just flashed on Richard's powerpoint presentation, and thought to myself, that I should prepare such a presentation on the before and after pics on this road. Let's see where the people were before and now.

The Opposition's Manifeso Budget Style Debate.

Opposition after opposition speaker at this year's Budget Debate were using the oppurtunity as a platform to read out some form of a party manifesto. Well, according to them, if not now, when? Wait for the bell! This must have been a strategic ploy by the Labour Parliamentarians to let the nation hear about their utopian plans.
I was flabbergasted. Is this what a budget debate is suppose to bring out? I really thought that the opposition's ploy was suppose to show the nation, flaws in the Budget? But ahwah, it's a campaign spree.
It leaves one to wonder whether the oppositon is getting cold feet.

I am now listening to Pierre crying over the 'Great Wall Of Pierre' and saying how vindictive, vicious, and petty St. Lucians are. Felt the guy's pain. Honestly.
I was happy to hear Pierre talk about the need for infrastructural works in his constituency. Yet still, my good lady friend seems to feel that such works are not neccessary in Choiseul, and are only for votes. That's why I still think she's a myopican. No offense. 'Have a life,' is her new phrase now. Lol

Fredrick move for an adjournment. Before putting the motion to the House, the Speaker brought to Dalson's attention his poor mannerisms in the House...... his use of offensive language.
Speakers for the day were Marcus Nicholas, Harold Dalson, Kieth Mondesir, Arsene James, Moses Jn. Baptiste, and Phillip Pierre.
More campaigning tomorrow? Trust me' it has just started.