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President Paula-Mae Weekes, right, with Annette Nicholason-Alfred, who was named honorary distinguished fellow at UTT’s graduation ceremony at the National Academy for the Performing Arts in Port of Spain, Tuesday. – SUREASH CHOLAI

ANNETTE NICHOLSON-ALFRED is hoping that her being made an honorary distinguished fellow by the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) will inspire other Tobagonians.

Nicholson-Alfred, 76, one of the island’s cultural luminaries, was awarded the title of distinguished fellow at a ceremony at the National Academy for the Performing Arts in Port of Spain on Tuesday.

RC Archbishop of Port of Spain Jason Gordon, businessman Langston Roach and late pan arranger and educator Desmond Waithe, also received the award.

Nicholson-Alfred said she knew both Roach and Waithe.

She told Newsday on Wednesday, “Langston Roach and I were in the same year at Bishop’s High School and I met Desmond Waithe at Mausica Teachers’ College during the 1970s, because he was involved in music and singing.”

Nicholson-Alfred, who received the Public Service Medal of Merit (Gold) in 2005, has had a distinguished career in culture, community service and education.

She is a former independent senator and founder of the Mt Pleasant-based Itsy Bitsy Playhouse and Folk Theatre, which serves as a platform for many up-and-coming artistes.

She is also the author of several books, including Come Sing With Ti Netty, a compilation of folk songs from Tobago and other parts of the Caribbean. It was launched at the Scarborough Library in October 2021.

Nicholson-Alfred, from Charlotteville, first worked as a public servant and later went into teaching

While teaching, Nicholson-Alfred also worked extensively in culture and was awarded a scholarship to New York University, where she spent several years. On her return, she re-entered the public service as a cultural officer.

“I was always a part of some group doing cultural things, because I had the Tobago Academy of the Performing Arts. I still work with Charlotteville Heritage Performers. I have the Itsy Bitsy Players. So I have always been involved in that type of work with some group and the church.”

On Wednesday, Nicholson-Alfred said she is extremely grateful to have been acknowledged.

“I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the conferral of the honorary distinguished fellow. I feel honoured to have my work and my contribution recognised by the UTT.

“I would like to say thanks, not only to UTT for selecting me, but I am happy to know that my life’s passion has resonated with others.”

She also thanked her husband and family, the Plymouth Best Village group of the 1970s, Mausica Teachers’ College, Charlotteville Heritage Performers and the Tobago cultural fraternity for supporting her work over the years.

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On Tuesday November 1st, known globally as All Saints Day, Prime Minister and Political Leader Hon. Philip J. Pierre announced the resumption of works at the St. Jude Hospital.

For 13 years, the people of the south have suffered due to the lack of a proper medical facility after the St. Jude Hospital fire in 2009.

When the UWP Administration took office in 2016, they found the original reconstruction project, at 80% completion.

They immediately commissioned an audit, which revealed that there was no need to stop construction on the hospital.

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Yet, for three years, they abandoned construction at St. Jude and in the fourth year of their term they started to build a second structure that they were unable to complete and to date has cost the people of Saint Lucia over $120 million for only one floor of the building.

In its 2021 manifesto, the SLP promised that “The St. Jude Hospital will be reopened within the shortest possible time.” (See pg.20 point 3, voteslp.org)

Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, during his 2022/23 Budget Address announced that work would resume at the St. Jude Hospital before the end of this year.

The Prime Minister has kept his promise and was on the SJH reconstruction site yesterday, November 1st along with other Cabinet Ministers to witness the start of site preparations and exterior works to move the project towards completion in the shortest possible time.

The SLP continues to lend its support to Political Leader Hon. Philip J. Pierre as he leads a Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to executing its mandate of Putting People First.

The SLP encourages supporters to remain focused that while the Opposition Protests, we will continue to Progress!

 SOURCE: Saint Lucia Labour Party. Headline photo: Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre visits site of St. Jude Hospital on November 1, 2022

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REAL NEWS- The bar of a Hispanic woman was broken into and money and alcoholic beverages removed, and the Police are now probing the incident.

Reports say the Villa woman reported to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) that her business, Matha Bar, located on Bay Street, Villa, had been broken into.

The woman reportedly secured the establishment and returned the following day to discover that someone had used a breaking implement to remove the hinges from a western double door to gain access to the building.

Reportedly the intruder stole a bottle of Cavalier Rum valued at $25 and a bottle of Black Label Rum valued at $155 from the bar counter.

Additionally, the thief then used a tool to open a coin container on the pool table and removed a quantity of coins.

This offence reportedly occurred between 11:45 p.m. on Monday, October 31 and 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 1.

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Woodland residents were led by the South Oropouche Riverine Action Group leader Edward Moodie and the Woodland flood action group. Photo by Lincoln Holder

SOUTH Oropouche Riverine Flood Action Group president Edward Moodie, Penal/Debe Regional Corporation chairman Dr Allen Sammy and Oropouche West MP Davendranath Tancoo have called on Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan to urgently address the flooding concerns of residents of South Oropouche and environs.

They did so when they took part in a protest outside of the offices of the ministry’s drainage division in Penal on Wednesday.

Moodie said flooding has been bad in the area in recent times because rivers have not been dredged and riverbanks have not been cleared.

“We are asking for the ministry to come in and do justice.”

He said some of the ministry’s equipment on some riverbanks is damaging those banks.

“We need (river)banks to be properly built.”

Referring to two water pumps in Tulsa Trace and another in Woodland, Moodie said there are problems keeping one of the pumps at Tulsa Trace active on a regular basis.

“If you have a pump, make sure that you have the manpower and the diesel and the electricity so that pump will work.”

Moodie described the pump as a derelict piece of metal and said it has not worked for the last three years. He called for a properly working pump to be installed in Woodland.

“Without that pump, Woodland would be in a (flooding) demise for years to come.”

Moodie recalled that under previous PNM and UNC governments, there were always water pumps in Woodland.

The protest was staged outside the Penal office of the Ministry of Works and Transport on Wednesday to highlight the ongoing flooding in the area. Photo by Lincoln Holder

“We are asking for maintenance of the rivers. We are asking for that pump in Woodland (to be operational). We are asking for justice for our people because we have had enough.”

Sammy said, “We have suffered for too long. The resources of the state, clearly are being mismanaged.”

He added that the authorities appear clueless about how to manage flooding in the area.

Sammy said in 2018, he submitted a plan to address flooding in the Penal/Debe area and on a national level to Sinanan.

“Yet they have ignored every single proposal that we have made.”

Sammy said the relevant authorities must work with communities in different parts of the country to tackle flooding.

“Why are we neglecting our communities? Why are we neglecting our people?”

Asked if Sinanan should take a hands-on approach to tackling flooding in the area, Moodie replied, “Taking a hands-on approach, but with consultation.”

He said his group has a better idea of causes of flooding on the ground and can provide the ministry with that information.

Oropouche West MP Dave Tancoo stands with Woodland residents. Photo by Lincoln Holder

Reiterating his view that people in South Oropouche and environs have been been disrespected over their concerns about flooding, Moodie said, “Let us meet. Let us shake hands. Let us work together to resolve the issue of flooding.”

Sammy said the corporation stands ready to co-operate with any group to tackle flooding in the area.

Tancoo agreed with Moodie and Sammy’s views.

“The Minister of Works is very familiar with what the problems are and what the solutions are.”

Tancoo also said at Mosquito Creek, some of the old infrastructure from a 36-inch water transmission line which collapsed into the nearby Godineau River on October 18 is still in the river. The line and its supporting infrastructure were repaired on October 21.

He said, “What we noticed today is that there are a lot of waterlilies that are backed up behind that structure, right in the mouth of the river.”

Tancoo said this means there is less run-off at the mouth of the river and the water could back up inland.

“It may be one of the reasons why we still have flooding for four and five days in Woodland and surrounding areas.”

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