Reduce Your High Water Bills With These Tips From Our Plumbing Department!

Water is a major utility in any community, making it a significant concern for homeowners, renters, and commercial property owners alike. A high water bill is troublesome not only because of the financial cost, but also because it indicates that precious water may be going to waste somewhere. When your water bill is higher than normal, it’s important to track down the cause and correct it as soon as possible. With this in mind, here are a few common reasons for a high water bill, and what you can do to address them. Leaky/Running Toilets Running Toilet? Shut Your Flapper and Catch That Leak. Toilets account for a high percentage of the indoor water use for the average St Lucian home. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that they pose a major leak risk. A running or leaky toilet can waste up a staggering 6,000 gallons per month and add to a hefty water bill. There are two common methods of checking for a toilet leak: * The Sound Check: Simply walk up to your toilet and listen. If you hear an odd hiss-like noise, you may have a leak and will want to check the tank flapper, water line connections, and seals further. * The Dye Test: For this test, you’ll need some food coloring or a dye tablet. Take the lid off of your toilet’s tank and put in a couple of drops of coloring (or a dye tablet). After you’ve put the dye in the tank, wait for 15-20 minutes and check the toilet bowl for dye. If dye is present, then there’s a leak allowing tank water to flow into the bowl. In most cases, these leaks will be caused by a faulty flapper in the toilet tank. This is a relatively easy fix that only requires a short trip to one of our stores and a few minutes of work.  Leaky Faucets & Fixtures Don’t Ignore a Leaky Faucet Leaky faucet fixtures are another common cause of high water bills. The heavier the leak, the more water gets wasted, and the higher the water bill will be. For example, a faucet that’s leaking about one drip per second can waste about 17 gallons over the course of a day. Thankfully, a leaking faucet is relatively easy to spot and fix. A simple visual check of your faucets, shower heads, and other fixtures is all it takes to identify a leak at the fixture. The most common cause of a faucet leak is a faulty rubber washer in the faucet handle. In most cases, you can shut off the water to the leaky faucet, unscrew the handle, remove the bad washer, and replace it with a new one. Lateral Line LeaksIn some cases, one of the underground pipes feeding water from your metered connection to your home may have a crack or loose joint. The causes of these leaks vary, but things such as pipe age, seismic activity, tree root intrusion, and animal activity are often contributing factors.When trying to tell if the leak is in your lateral line water supply pipe, the amount of extra water consumption noted on your utility bill can serve as an indicator.For these leaks, the best solution is to contact a professional. A professional can recommend the best solution for the problem.    Old, Outdated Fixtures & Toilets Modernize your outdated fixtures and toilets Many homes on island have old plumbing fixtures. In recent years, there have been numerous efficiency improvements made to common water fixtures, such as new-model aerators for faucets, low-flow water-saving toilets, and water-saving shower heads. This rarely shows up as a sudden problem—it’s usually something that comes with the house and has you paying higher than expected water bills from day one. Check your home’s faucets, toilets, showerheads, and other water-using equipment for WaterSense labeling, or date of manufacture.  Cultivate Good Water Habits Stop Being a Water Waster  All the water that goes down the drain, clean or dirty, ends up mixing with raw sewage, getting contaminated, and meeting the same fate. Try to stay aware of this precious resource disappearing and:  * Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving  * Always wash laundry and dishes with full loads  * When washing dishes by hand, fill up the sink and turn off the water.  * Take shorter showers or, as the old joke goes, shower with a friend  To put things in perspective, take a quick look at your next water bill when it arrives. It probably won't be costing you too much, but the average household consumes multiple thousands of gallons each month. See if you can make this number go down. If you're the graphing type, go nuts. Shop with us today or call us at Corinth Main Road 758-450-7247 / Babonneau 758-450-5759 / Monchy 758-450-7248 / Vide Boutielle 758-450-7368. Our plumbing consumer sales representatives are available to assist you with all of your home plumbing repair and replacement needs.                                                                        
http://dlvr.it/RbLqgQ

Deciding on the Right Type of Fence for Your Home

Fences are important because they not only serve a key role in the exterior appearance of your home; they also provide a number of benefits such as security or privacy for homeowners. Before you go out and pick any option, have a specific goal in mind before installing a new fence. Picking a fence based on a specific purpose helps homeowners choose the right type of fence for them. When it’s all said and done, the right type of fence will be the one that looks nice, but most importantly serves its purpose and meets the goals of the homeowner.. Whether your goal is to add some décor around your home, increase security, gain privacy, to block visual stimuli from pets, or to keep your pets in, there’s a fence option for you.  While selecting the right fence, be sure to consider costs, maintenance, and to check with your local authorities to ensure the fence you’re going for isn’t prohibited. Fence Types Before we jump into all yard fencing options, you have to know your options. The 5 most popular types of fences are: * Aluminum * Wood * PVC * Wall * Chain Link Aluminum Fencing Aluminum fencing is a low-maintenance option. Aluminum fences are great decorative fixtures as they blend well with just about any home and require little maintenance. The only maintenance will come during installation when you choose to paint and decorate it. On the flip side, these fences are not as strong and won’t provide any level of security or privacy to the owner. Wood Fencing You can't beat the look of classic wood fencing. Wood fences are by far among the most popular options as they come in many styles. If you’re looking for privacy, security, and a fence that will last you a lifetime go with a wood fence.  They give homeowners a warm and welcoming feeling and without the headache of breaking the bank.The quality of the wood fence will depend on the type of wood you choose; however its flexibility to add additional features makes it well worth it. PVC Fencing Searching for a budget-friendly fence option? PVC is right for you. Hands down, the cheapest way to fence in your yard is by using one made of PVC. These fences use PVC to replace wooden stakes and pickets, and although not nearly as sturdy, they can certainly serve their purpose. The posts are PVC sleeves that go on top of wooden posts to add stability to the fence, but also cut down on material costs by using less wood. Sometimes, the PVC stakes are attached with an adhesive to the cross bars and other times, they are fastened with screws. This type of fencing comes in a variety of different heights and colors. Because of its PVC makeup, the fence is very resistant to the elements and can last for years. CONCRETE FENCING The easiest and least expensive to maintain What makes concrete fencing great? Concrete blocks serve as very durable retaining walls that provide the best sound buffers against outside noises. Concrete fences are also the easiest and least expensive to maintain. You can also easily add to or modify concrete fences later with different height and design options. Construction is relatively easy and doesn’t require heavy machinery or other big equipment. Concrete blocks are the strongest and longest lasting fencing material and only earthquakes can cause damage. It also lasts several decades. Chain Link Fencing Chain link fencing is functional and affordable. The last type of fence type to consider is chain link fencing. Just about everyone knows this type of fence. Homeowners, as well as school administrators (very popular), will be delighted to know that they are cheap, durable and need very little maintenance (like many of the other options).Yet, where this fence may lack in creativity, it makes up for in price and durability. While security and privacy are certainly the top two functions of all home fences, design and creativity should never take a back seat. Like all the choices before it, do your homework. Write down your needs, goals, and restrictions to discover and select the best fence for your home. With all the fencing choices available, no home in St Lucia needs to sacrifice looks for security. Call or visit us at our stores conveniently located in Corinth (450-7247),Vide Bouteille (450-7246), Monchy (450-7248), and Babonneau(450-5759) for all the fencing products you need.  
http://dlvr.it/Rb8tn2

Have The Choiseul Credit Union Messed Up Paying Interest This Last Quarter?

Silvanus Fontenard

              By Silvanus Fontenard

Some people are now angry that credit unions might be buying Government bonds to help pay their own salaries. However these same people stayed silent when Choiseul Credit Union bought over 30 million dollars in Government Bonds and treasury bills between 2013 and 2016.

Wow! How hypocritical. I don't believe in bond purchasing by community organizations because governments do not have longevity - the interest rates can change with the tide and that most governments are insolvent anyway. However, because of the crisis, it could be the only time one can consider tolerating the bonds because it will be used to help pay public servants and we all have to chip in.

 What I don't understand is that the very people who thought it was OK between 2013 and 2016 when there was no crisis are up in arms now. Is it because their cousins and party friends were the ones making those decisions? These are the questions the people of Choiseul must ask now that the credit union is using COVID as an excuse to reduce interest rates on savings by 75 percent as quietly like mice, from 4 percent to one percent without informing the members. They are only finding out when they go in to do business.

Why won't they say that they messed up by buying truckloads of bonds and were taking large sums which they are unable to lend out from unsavoury characters from outside Choiseul and Soufriere who do not qualify for membership under our bye laws. They have created a crisis and are now using COVID as the excuse.

COVID has not impacted us much. The hotel workers who are the ones most affected are still getting some reduced level of income from the NIC and their employers in some instances. Those who contribute to the NIC will continue to receive the support until September so where is the justification for blaming COVID. They messed up and now have an excuse.

It is easy to manage this current situation if you know anything about "Managing Cooperatives in a free market or Crisis Management". Obviously many of the board members accept the positions but never educated themselves on how to run the organization. It's not just about being on a board - one must get to know the philosophy, guiding principles and regulations which prescribe their operations to the letter , otherwise you have chaos when faced with challenges.

 COVID's problems are not really here yet. They will come after September so brace yourselves. These inept and crooked monkeys whom you entrust with your livelihoods and life savings will make you run to hell with a smile because it will appear to be a better place than where they are taking you.

All I wish to say to those who have called me to complain is " be prepared for a very rocky road". The journey is just beginning, you have not seen anything yet. May GOD bless you in this impending crisis?

End.

Editor's note: Fontenard have always stood up to the faux pas of this organisation. An article he wrote in 2017 http://choiseul-inform.blogspot.com/2017/03/choiseul-credit-union-behind-by-2m-plus.html still make for a good read.

Will Rufus Bousquet Chance Running as an Independent in 2021?

Rufus Bousquet’s surprise appearance in Choiseul last Sunday has left room for much speculation – whether he intends to enter the race for the next General Elections, constitutionally due in June 2021. According to reliable sources Bousquet was seen at many watering holes feeling the pulse of his comrades

.

Rufus Bousquet

Rufus, a master tactician at campaigning,  must have had a plan in  mind as he made his rounds around the constituency.

Further sources reveal that the guy is considering running on an independent ticket……hmmmmm! Though with all his political prowess, Bousquet may have an uphill task knocking Bradley off – not sure if Choiseulians are ready for independent candidates just yet.

Bousquet's political history shows that he served in the government under Prime Minister John Compton as Minister for Financial Services and the National Development Corporation before being dismissed in 1995. Following the UWP victory in December 2006, he became Minister for External Affairs, International Financial Services, Information and Broadcasting in Compton's new government, sworn in on 19 December.

The incumbent Bradley Felix

On May 1, 2007, he signed an agreement with Taiwanese foreign minister James Huang restoring diplomatic relations between the two countries at the expense of St. Lucia's relations with the People's Republic of China. In early June 2007 Bousquet was dismissed from the government by Compton; some speculation attributed the dismissal to the restoration of relations with Taiwan.

Bousquet expressed his readiness to seek the UWP leadership at its planned convention in October 2007. Following Compton's death on September 7, 2007, reports indicated that Bousquet only supported the designation of Acting Prime Minister Stephenson King as Prime Minister on the condition that he be brought back into the cabinet, but he was not included in it when a cabinet reshuffle occurred on September 12.

Pauline Antoine-Prosper

On June 6, 2008, having restored a good relationship with the Prime Minister and the cabinet, The Honorable Rufus Bousquet was sworn in as Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce, Investment and Consumer Affairs . In February 2009, the Prime Minister gave up his position as foreign minister and restored Bousquet to the position. 

In the November 28, 2011 General Elections he obtained a total of 2756 votes whereas his opponent, Lorne Theophilus, obtained 2810 of the constituent's votes thus ending his run as parliamentary representative for Choiseul.

In all of Bousquet’s political life he has never won two straight terms and has always been flogged by underdogs with no political experience. Therefore it leaves one to wonder whether with no political base whether his intention is not purely as a disruptor. This article  is a clear indicator as to the amount of work which needs to be done by Rufus to win back the confidence of the his supporters – and to make matters more difficult he may be running on an independent ticket.

The 2021 race for the Choiseul/Saltibus Constituency may be a three-cornered fight with Bradley Felix, the incumbent (UWP), Pauline Antoine-Prosper or Alphonsus St Rose (SLP) and hopefully Rufus Bousquet (IND.)

Could Coconut Oil Be a Potential Cure For Covid-19?

"A corona virus patient in Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia has in fact claimed to have recovered from the disease after taking virgin coconut oil (VCO).

According to newspaper reports, the patient, Monica Sihaloho, while in isolation, initially consumed two tablespoons of VCO without the knowledge of the doctor.

As her condition needed oxygen to breathe, she decided to drink a full bottle of VCO. The effect was immediately felt and her condition gradually improved. 

On the fifth day of isolation, she was declared negative of Covid-19 and was allowed to go home.  At home, she continued to regularly consume VCO."  Source - http://metronewscentral.net/in-and-around-the-metro/pgh-studies-virgin-coconut-oil-as-possible-treatment-to-covid-19

While American scientists explore Hydro Chloroquine and other drugs for the corona virus disease cure, those from the Philippines are looking into the possible benefits of virgin coconut oil on COVID-19 patients.

The research aims to find out if coconut oil may reduce the duration or severity of symptoms.

Current evidence suggests coconut oil and its derivatives are safe and effective antiviral compounds in both humans and animals. COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2 for short.

The respiratory infection presents with common symptoms such as fever, dry cough and shortness of breath.

There is no vaccine available at the moment to treat the viral disease that has so far claimed about 82,000  lives worldwide and has infected 1,500,000 people - 301,000 have recovered.

Scientists believe that virgin coconut oil has been proven to be a preventive agent
against viral infections, such as the corona virus.

Several in-vitro, animal and human studies support the potential of coconut oil and derivatives of coconut oil as effective and safe agents against a virus like COVID-19. 

Studies into other viruses demonstrate that at least three modes of action occur that explain the antiviral activity in coconut oil.

Given the significant scientific evidence for the antiviral activity of coconut oil and its overall safety, scientists urge clinical studies to be conducted in patients infected with COVID-19.

Because virgin coconut oil is safe and widely available, many doctors are of the opinion that it is useful to consider coconut oil as a general preventive agent against viral and microbial infections. A tablespoon daily will do a world of good.

Rayneau -The Store of the Future: Rayneau Optimistic About COVID -19 - “This will p...

Rayneau -The Store of the Future: Rayneau Optimistic About COVID -19 - “This will p...: Rayneau Group of Companies is remaining concerned—but optimistic—about COVID-19 . In these extremely challenging times, Rayneau Group ...

BOATS TAKING ST LUCIANS FROM MARTNIQUE TO LOUVETTE | THEY JUST WON'T LISTEN