St. LUCIA GETS READY FOR 2008/2009 BUDGET!
March 28, 2008
Edward Harris at Large!
St. LUCIA GETS READY FOR 2008/2009 BUDGET!
Hope you enjoyed your Easter Holidays and took time off to reflect on the Ultimate Sacrifice that has given us the liberty we enjoy today with abundant living and the hope of eternal life. Jesus is risen! That is the hope of all believers, that one day we will be joint heirs with Him in the Kingdom that he has prepared for us.
There is no doubt that most of the people in St. Lucia uphold the Christian Faith. The Government is cognizant of this deep conviction on the part of the citizens that it recently endorsed a National Day of Prayer and Fasting.
With the passage of tornados and the disasters around the world that we hear about on the news and the earthquakes that are frequenting the region, many God Chasers will proclaim that the Kingdom is at hand. My experience at first hand in Barbados on November 29, 2007 and the subsequent tremors, one as recent as Tuesday, 25th March, 2008 give me cause for concern. The recent forecast of possible waves 12 to 16 feet high is something that should be taken seriously. What precautionary measures have been put in place? I feel that a serious look at areas that are prone to flooding should be made and action taken to ensure the safety of the residents. It appears as though some villages will have to be relocated to higher ground. I hope that assistance is being sought from international agencies to make this possible.
Difficult times are ahead for salaried workers and pensioners as increases in cost of living continue unabated. There is urgent need for the Consumers Association to be fully equipped to serve the needs of consumers in informing and educating the people on their rights if any. These days the consumer is not respected and because we are not, it appears as though we do not have rights. Someone has to speak up for the consumers and bring to the attention of the nation, the serious negative advantage that is being taken on them by unscrupulous businesses. Something has to be done and done urgently as consumers grapple with the already high cost of living.
As the Government prepares to present its Budget of estimates of income and expenditure for the period 2008/2009, speculation is rife. Many people believe that enough is not happening at the level of Government but the main driver in the economy which is Tourism continues to grow. Others argue that the scope and magnitude of the several development plans to be implemented across the country are engaging the attention of members of the Cabinet. In the meantime, businesspersons are grappling with increased costs of operations and in some cases declining sales due to pressure on the budgets of consumers.
The days leading up to the Easter weekend saw a hive of activity as the streets of Castries were filled with visitors and locals, many getting into their purses and wallets to ensure the feel good, look good effect during the holidays. A few entertainment promoters did very well as their shows got good responses and the patrons expressed satisfaction. I even got into trouble with my knee as I might have been out of step to one of the oldies on Easter Sunday night at the one man band – Love Connection from Guyana at the Wharf Beach Bar and Restaurant, Choc, Castries.
The town of Gros Islet is on the move and I suspect that very soon it will have to be upgraded to the status of a city. Many visitors to the area on Friday nights just stay in Main Street and don’t get into the side streets. Lots of great things are happening in the Gros Islet area as it relates to bars, restaurants and general entertainment businesses. My recent find is OBAR Lounge, Bar and Club on the water’s edge past the Boat Yard. This night club has taken St. Lucia to the next level. The young proprietor is excited about the prospects of this new business which is nearing completion. However, due to demand from persons who visited the premises, the Club now opens two nights a week – Friday and Saturday with a live band from midnight. I was so impressed about my discovery two weeks ago that I called a few of my friends and told them I found a place and the next thing I knew, we had a party going. Congratulations to the Proprietor, Mr. Valentine Vitalis who hails from Anse La Raye.
St. Lucia is creating a number of World Class Tourism offerings that St. Lucians cannot only be proud about but enjoy! Visitors for St. Lucia Jazz this year will have much more to do in the North in terms of entertainment than last year. A few upscale places include MOHITOS, OBAR, LANDINGS and others in the process of coming on stream. There will be something for everyone.
See you for St. Lucia Jazz, May 2 – 11, 2008!
Keep the Faith, God is in Charge, Dream Big and Expect Miracles all the time!!!
Edward Harris
Biblicist, Freelance Journalist, Author, Business & PR Consultant, Realtor, Sales & Marketing Specialist, Networker, Private Sector Advocate, Motivational Speaker
Email: eaharrisdestiny@gmail.com
Websites: http://www.Edwardharris.ws http://www.stluciasimplybeautiful.com http://www.stluciarealtors.com http://EdwardHarris.myvisalus.com