Happy Valentine's Day

     February has long been a month of romance. It is the month associated with Valentine's Day celebrations. We have, time and again, heard the name St. Valentine being uttered before us in this season of love. The origin of this lovers day goes back as early as 270 A.D and started with the clash between a kindly priest and a mighty ruler.
     Every year, the fourteenth day of the month of February has millions across the world presenting their loved ones with candy, flowers, chocolates and other lovely gifts. In many countries, restaurants and eateries are seen to be filled with couples who are eager to celebrate their relationship and the joy of their togetherness through delicious cuisine.      There hardly seems to be a young man or woman who is not keen to make the most of the day.
    The reason behind all of this is a kindly cleric named Valentine who died more than a thousand years ago.
    It is not exactly known why the 14th of February is known as Valentine's Day or if the noble Valentine really had any relation to this day. The history of Valentine's Day is impossible to be obtained from any archive and the veil of centuries gone by has made the origin behind this day more difficult to trace. It is only some legends that are our source for the history of Valentine's Day.
   The modern St. Valentine's Day celebrations are said to have been derived from both ancient Christian and Roman tradition. As per one legend, the holiday has originated from the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalis/Lupercalia, a fertility celebration that used to observed annually on February 15. But the rise of Christianity in Europe saw many pagan holidays being renamed for and dedicated to the early Christian martyrs. Lupercalia was no exception. In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius turned Lupercalia into a Christian feast day and set its observance a day earlier, on February 14. He proclaimed February 14 to be the feast day in honor of Saint Valentine, a Roman martyr who lived in the 3rd century. It is this St. Valentine whom the modern Valentine's Day honors.
NB: Click on the site below to learn more

Adapted from http://www.theholidayspot.com/valentine/history_of_valentine.htm

Just want to share this Valentine's Day present which was sent to me.

Bousquet visits fire victims

Parliamentary Representative Rufus Bousquet made it his duty to pay the last week's fire victims from Roblot. The Francois family lost their home and all  their belongings in a fire that completely destroyed their home on Sunday February 7, 2010.

Bousquet had discussions with the family members as to how he can offer assistance. The Rep was deeply moved by the family's account of the incident. This pic is the site where the Francois' home once stood

Spitting in your eye and calling it rain

   One would not imagine that at a conference of delegates  Dr. Anthony would accuse the United Workers party of fraud at the last General Elections held since 2006. He told his audience that voters from other constituenccies were taken to vote in constituencies which they did not belong and that's why UWP won. A low blow.
  The  reappointed leader of the opposition must have been suffering from amnesia not to remember that is was his administration that was in power during the last election and for him to let this happen under his watch. However what is also very amusing is that it took the Dr. three years to let the St.Lucian public know that.

   Lately some of the SLP staunch supporters in Choiseul have been echoing what Kenny said, but giving it a Choiseul slant. When will these people learn to accept defeat? Are they not aware that our side, when we scrutinised the voters list  of 2006 we realised that over two hundred (200) of our new voters were deliberately registered in wrong polling stations? Persons from Delcer were registered in Saltibus, Roblot in Mongouge, Dugard in Jetrine and the list goes on and on. Is this not a form of fraud with the intention to frustrate our voters? " Par e se ah," come again. That is what we suspected but a well oiled election day machinery did not give them a chance. We burst their skin, and we will do it again, come next election. Case closed.

  Rufus in his reply to Kenny's accusations, ask him " You want to know if I won by fraud, you are from Choiseul, come run againt me to find out." Well Kenny will not take that gamble.  However those thinking of running against Bousquet have their work cut out for them.

In the last poll we asked you "Do you think Councilors should be allowed more than one term?" Your vote:
Yes - 20%
                                                       No - 40%
                                                       I don't know - 20%
                                                       I don't care - 20%

Fire in Roblot

The residents of Roblot had their work cut out for them as they tried using the bucket brigade method to extinguish a fire that engulfed a house in the community. The fire started at about 12:20pm and quickly consumed the wooden structure. Two houses nearby  only got charred.

Forty minutes later the fire engine from Soufriere arrived only to see the remains of what was once a family home. The house was owned by Magdeline Francois The other occupant is her son Aaron. She lost all her belongings including Aaron's laptop. Almost all persons in this small community came to the Francois's aid but there was little they could do.

RBTT Young Leaders Holds Ecumenical Service

The Choiseul Secondary School RBTT Young Leaders are on the move. These young leaders under the supervision of Ms. Descartes held an ecumencal service at the Choiseul Catholic Church on Monday February 1, 2010. This service is one of the activities planned by the Young leaders as part of their project for this year.
The theme for this year is " Holistic Wellness - The  Journey Towards a More Fulfilling Life."

The church was filled to capacity as over seven hundred students absorbed much of the comments by the invited guests. The service commenced with the school's choir singing songs of praise and worship followed by the Nationl Anthem.(type in choiseul secondary school choir in youtube to see video)  Tenisha Peter, the president of the group, welcomed everyone to the service (type Tenisha Peter in youtube for video) while Mr. Lionel a teacher at the school delivered the opening prayer.

Father Clement Francis was charged with the delivery of the Reflection  for the 1st  reading  taken from Matthew 6:24-38 which was read by Zia Bernard.  Father Francis was very eloquent in his delivery and impressed on the young congregation to seek the  Kingdom of God first and everthing else will be added to them. He urged the congregation to pray with meaning as it will remind them to seek the Kingdom of God.

 The second reading from Deuteronomy 8:6-14 was done by Jamal Jean and reflected upon by Pastor Jean. The pastor known for his flair reminded the students of the need to stay  focussed and away from bad company and thus crime. He made reference to the state of violence  in the country and implore on the student to put Jesus in their life to avoid the temptations of this world.
The service was not all talk. Kerzel, Daliya and Kimberly did a wonderful rendition of "Draw Me Close."
Prayers /Intentions were delivered by individual students for the Nation, Church, Youth Government, Family, The Sick and Shut-in, School, Haiti and Religious Leaders.

Mr. Pius Stephen delivered the feature address and elaborated on the importance of the physical, emotional, social and spiritual well-being.
A well choreographed dance involving about  ten to fifteen students breathed a sigh of relief from the almost half hour presentation of Mr, Stephen.

 Father Arul, the local priest gave the closing prayer while Ms. Fera Descartes moved the vote of thanks.

                         Great project and good luck to the Young Leaders. BRAVO!!!!!!!!
Check out the videos on youtube. More to be posted soon

Where is Choiseul on the Haiti Issue?

   On January 12, 2010 at approximately 4:53 pm an eathquake with a magnituge of 7.0 on the Richter Scale struck the impoverished nation of Haiti. It is estimated that about 200,000 persons  may have perished.  More who have survived the quake are suffering. From this moment on, aid has been pouring in at an alarming rate to this sister country.

   Relief efforts are ongoing  by almost every nation around the globe and the people of Haiti really, really need it. Our Government has made a donation of $500,000.00 to the Haiti Relief fund, and a number of individual groups  around the island are organising to get supplies to send to Haiti.

   Where as I applaud such acts of humanity, I would rather see it being done on a district level, for example what are the constituencies of Choiseul/Saltibus, Laborie or for that matter any other district contributing towards our brothers and sisters in Haiti. But wait! Do Choiseulians really care about the plight of the Haitians? Hmmm! I have my doubts, because I have not heard of any organised effort to help this striken nation. But wait, the Catholic church in the district has raised $4092.00 towards the effort.  BRAVO!
  There seem to be scant regard for these poor people among our  own people. Have you ever heard in the watering holes or any other place, the Haiti earthquake being discussed, and what should Choiseulians do to help? Ahwah, par e se a! But you will hear them talking about the C and W dance tonight at Country Lime or Tete Morne or where the next bram is.  
    Where are the Mothers' and Fathers' groups? Where are the churches, whose mission seem to only increase their membership? Where are the Choiseul  and Saltibus Credit Co-operative Credit Unions? Where is the Fishermen's Co-operative? Where is the local branch of the Teachers' Union? Where is the Choiseul Mini Bus Association? Where is the Village Council? Where are the Gas Stations? Where is the Bellevue Farmers' Co-operative? Where is the Choiseul Youth and Sports Council? What are the schools doing to have our kids show concern to the suffering in Haiti by giving $1.00 towards the fund? And last but not least where is DotCom?

   Can't all of these groups or institutions do something for Haiti? Can't they come together and organise a FAIR or CONCERT or OPEN AIR  SESSION on the field or even a BEACH BASH? Think it will take place? Don't count on it. Political partisanship is killing them as well as their hyposcrisy, naievity and their myopic sense of  true comradry in times of help. Choiseulians need to step up to the plate and show that they are not an uncaring district but rather persons that have a deep love and appreciation for all in need.
  Will Choiseul go down in history as a district that showed no remorse for the suffering that is happening in Haiti? I think not.
  A group or an institution needs to lead the way to organise the groups and institutions  and by extension Choiseulians and  Saltibusians to give generously towards Haiti.   I think they can and they will. Keep your fingers crossed.

                                                                  CHOISEUL, HELP HAITI, PLEASE!!!!!!

Pray for the people of Haiti

Lord I just want to say THANK YOU.

Because when I woke up and knew where my children were

Because this morning my home was still standing

Because this morning I am still crying

Because my spouse, my child, my brother or sister, my parent does not need to be buried

or pulled out from underneath a pile of concrete

Because this morning I am able to drink a glass of water

Because this morning I am able to turn on the lights

Because this morning I was able to take a shower

Because this morning I was not planning a funeral

But most of all, I thank you this morning because I still have life

and a voice to cry out for the people of Haiti

Lord, I cry out to you, the One that makes the impossible, possible

The One that turns darkness to light

I cry out that You give those brothers strength

That You give them peace that surpasses all understanding

That You may open up the streets so that help can come

That You may provide doctors, nurses, food, water and all that they need in a blink of a eye

For all those who have lost family members, give them peace, give them hope, give them courage to continue to go on!

Protect the children and shield them with your power

I pray all this in the name of JESUS!!!

St. Lucia is truly blessed!!!!!!!

Reproduced from a friend's email


Check tomorrow's post. A  real shocker?