Black Immigrant Daily News

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Following a two-year hiatus, Bank of Saint Lucia is set to host the return of the signature ‘Own Your Home Showcase’ on Saturday November 19th 2022 at the Harbor Club, Rodney Bay.

The third instalment of the series is intended to connect prospective homeowners with key service providers and bank personnel with the objective of bringing them one step closer to the reality of owning their own home.

Bank of Saint Lucia recognizes that owning a home is one of the most significant investments an individual can make in their lifetime and the Bank is committed to providing the requisite guidance to potential homeowners.

Senior Manager – Retail Banking, Arleta Rate Mitchel indicated that: “The journey to home ownership to many is an intimidating process. As a home ownership banking partner, it is our responsibility to make it easier and to equip prospective homeowners with as much information as possible to make the best decisions for them and their families. This requires ongoing engagement regarding affordability and discussions on the available options and of course connecting future homeowners with reliable service providers in order to realize the dream of homeownership. ‘Own Your Home’ provides the forum to do just that, and we look forward to engaging, connecting and inspiring on the journey to home ownership.”

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‘Own Your Home’ will feature two components.

The showcase, which is open to the general public and runs from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with an exhibition featuring service providers and professionals involved in the process of home ownership including contractors, architects, surveyors, lawyers, building suppliers, home security providers, green energy providers and others.

The closed-door seminar will run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will feature key presentations from subject matter experts who are integrally involved in the mortgage loan process – lawyers, quantity surveyors, architects, green energy service providers and bankers. To register for the seminar interested future homeowners can visit the Bank’s website or social media pages. Seats are limited.

Following the hosting of the Own Your Home showcase, the event moves to the south of the island in February 2023 for the Own Your Home Showcase– ‘South Edition’.

SOURCE: Bank of Saint Lucia. Headline photo courtesy Tierra Mallorca (Unsplash.com)

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Black Immigrant Daily News

T-3. The FIFA World Cup tournament is within touching distance and the world will pause to zoom in to Qatar, the host of the first World Cup in the Middle East.

The world’s best players, coaches, referees and sporting technology will be on show for one month, it is sports’ very own Hollywood event.

One of the stars that will feature at the event is Ghana, also known as the “Black Stars”.

The African representatives have qualified for their fourth FIFA World Cup, and have been placed in a very competitive group, one which some would refer to as the “group of death”.

The Black Stars will be seeking revenge against Uruguay who eliminated them in the quarterfinal in 2010 in very controversial fashion.

Ghana were on course to be the first African team to reach the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup, but Luis Suarez had other plans.

After missing the party in 2018, Ghana will not only want to defeat Uruguay, but all others to prove that they deserve to be amongst the world’s best.

Country: Ghana

Capital: Accra

Population: 31.7 million

Confederation: Confederation of African Football (CAF)

Group: H

Professional League: Ghana Premier League

World Cup appearances: 4 (2022)

Qualification status: CAF playoff winner versus Nigeria

Key players: Tariq Lamptey (Brighton & Hove Albion, England), Thomas Partey (Arsenal, England), Jordan Ayem (Crystal Palace, England), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao, Spain), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City)

Coach: Otto Addo (Ghanian/German)

Group mates: Portugal, South Korea, Uruguay

Predictions: An unpredictable group, where everyone has a chance, but I believe the “Black Stars” may have to battle for third spot with South Korea and look forward to the next World Cup in 2026.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Editor

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Black Immigrant Daily News

DEAR EDITOR:

I’m sure we’ve all seen the videos/photos recently circulating on social media showing a Vitz that was parked overnight at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Center which was apparently vandalized.

It has taken me a while to write this, but I feel this needs to be said. Many persons have found this situation funny but it is not. THAT WAS A DOCTOR’S VEHICLE (rented of course).

Now I have been working at said institution since 2017 and I happen to be a doctor myself. In the short time that I have been there I have seen the vehicles of many of my colleagues (nurses and doctors) in a similar predicament.

From all 4 wheels being removed, to emblems, side view mirrors, windshields/windows smashed and valuables removed, and the list goes on. There has even been an instance where a complete stranger walked into the hospital, into the doctor’s lounge and removed a doctor’s bag with laptop, phone, wallet, etc. and walked back out.

Now for those of you who are unaware. We doctors work everyday from 8am to whatever time the work is done (we frequently find ourselves at work at 8pm and even later on occasions) and we have our “on call days/duty days” where we work a full 24 hours or more at a time.

Now can you imagine working for 28, 32 or even 36 hours non stop without food or even proper rest to take care of persons, all while neglecting yourself, and when you finally get the chance to leave work you meet your vehicle vandalized!!?? Can that be right!? Can it be right that we slave over patients day in and day out, just to be taken advantage of?! For the general public to find our misfortune “funny”…

I’m sure we’ve all seen the signs around the parking lot; basically you park at your own risk, and apparently that includes employees as well.

But this has happened far too many times to count. Something needs to be done. Why can’t the security guards patrol the parking lots at different intervals instead of spending their entire shift sleeping?! Why are we the employees left to fend for ourselves!? Why can’t we get proper lighting around the parking areas that are all dangerously dark and get WORKING security cameras!?

There are clear areas designated for doctor’s parking where even a regular civilian is allowed to park, so on many occasions I have to circle the hospital for half of my lifetime trying to find a spot, but I cannot even dream of parking in a taxi’s spot or the spot designated for the staff bus or they will threaten to tow my vehicle.

The safety of your staff to include their personal effects while on the compound should be just as important as the work they do. We are human beings first before we are doctors, nurses and orderlies.

Regards,Disgruntled ANTIGUAN doctor

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PSA industrial court staff representative Duaine Hewitt speaks to the media as he leads a protest on Independence Square, Port of Spain on Wednesday. Hewitt is making a plea for more information on contract positions in the public service. – Photo by Ayanna Kinsale

DUAINE HEWITT, head of the Industrial Court section of the Public Services Association (PSA), alleged a response to his queries about the landscape of jobs in the Public Service, as he spoke to a half-hour protest of about 150 workers at Independence Square, Port of Spain, on Wednesday.

He lamented the responses garnered by his flurry of requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA.)

Hewitt also said that while wider talks between the union and Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) Dr Darryl Dindial on a proposed four per cent wage hike were before the Industrial Court, smaller matters affecting workers could be addressed.

Recent letters from the government service were short on details of the various numbers of public service positions, he lamented.

Hewitt cited a letter dated September 21 from a freedom of information officer in the Personnel Department.

It referred to his original question in a letter dated August 22 asking for the number of contract positions and salaries paid in the Public Service, and similar details for short-term contract positions and for permanent positions. Regarding the four FOIA requests for details of contact and short-term contract positions, the Personnel Department letter replied, “The information being sought is not in the possession of the Personnel Department.”

Hewitt asked aloud how could such basic information not be known.

PSA members participate in a small protest on Independence Square, in Port of Spain, on Wednesday. – Ayanna Kinsale

Further, the Personnel Department letter also said Hewitt’s inquiry had asked details about a “consequential policy” which says someone can’t be paid if they are acting in a post whose substantive occupant is also acting in a higher post but has not yet got approval by the Services Commissions Department (SCD.)

The official response letter continued, “The information being sought is not in possession of the Personnel Department.”

Hewitt also referred to queries under the FOIA to the SCD by himself on August 22 and by Darren Ali, head of the PSA’s Treasury Division unit, on October 12, 2021.

He cited the SCD’s response, “The payment of acting allowances in the Public Service does not fall under the purview of the Service Commission Department. Your query can be directed to the head of the accounts department in your respective ministry/department.”

Hewitt marvelled that the Personnel Department and SCD did not know about a consequential policy and he asked aloud whether the policy was something simply made up within individual ministry’s. Hewitt also expressed concerns about alleged delays in filling vacancies, unfair bypassing for acting appointments, delay in first approval for acting appointments, delay in staff reports/performance appraisals, delay in increments, and the whereabouts of a seniority listing.

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