Micah George

Micah George is an established name in the journalism landscape in St. Lucia. He started his journalism tutelage under the critical eye of the Star Newspaper Publisher and well known journalist, Rick Wayne, as a freelancer. A few months later he moved to the Voice Newspaper under the guidance of the paper’s recognized editor, Guy Ellis in 1988.

Since then he has remained with the Voice Newspaper, progressing from a cub reporter covering court cases and the police to a senior journalist with a focus on parliamentary issues, government and politics. Read full bio...

CRIMINAL STUDENTS – Police Show Off Weapons And Drugs Seized

Image: The collection of weapons seized from students. [PHOTO: By PhotoMike]

TED King, the police corporal in charge of the northern section of the Community Relations Branch is calling for crime prevention programmes targeting secondary school students following an astounding amount of weapons and illegal drugs seized from them last year and the year before. Warning that offenders and victims of crime are getting younger at an alarming rate, which should be a cause for concern to the nation, he promised that his department will continue its pro-active approach in educating the youth through school presentations, organizing crime prevention programmes and conducting professional random school searches and interventions.

Chastanet Tells About Other Big Project

A confidential letter from the former administration to a prospective investor in England almost a year ago is today turning out to be a subject of debate between the government and the opposition St. Lucia Labour Party. Both parties made mention of the letter at separate press conferences Thursday. Prime Minister Allen Chastanet called it “an interesting letter” while Philip J. Pierre, SLP and parliamentary opposition leader, called it “a letter of comfort”.

Citizenship Made Easier

Image of Chief Executive Officer of the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), Cindy Emmanuel-McLean

IT is now cheaper to acquire St Lucia citizenship by way of investment. This follows changes to the regulations governing the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) just announced by the government. The qualifying contribution for an applicant for St. Lucia citizenship is now US$100,000 or half what it was when the programme was announced at the beginning of last year.

Police Welfare Prez Not Staying On, Regrets Not Being Able To Unite The Force

PRESIDENT of the Police Welfare Association, Cameron Laure will not be seeking re-election when the Association meets in February to elect a new executive. Laure, who has served on the executive as president for two successive terms and prior to that was vice president, says it’s a promise he had made to his wife, but at the same time he feels that it is time to step down and for another person “with a bit more enthusiasm to step in.”

JAZZ – Time For Change

THE event known as ‘St. Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival’ will no longer carry that name, however the primary activities staged under that banner have not been abolished, contrary to reports that may have given the impression this was the case. The misunderstanding lies in a move by government to group all national festivals under one banner which is loosely being called the Summer Music Festival to be managed by a Festival Commission. This Commission is expected to be established hopefully within the first week of next month, according to Donovan Williams, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture.

Talents on Display at Festival of Lights

Image: Festival of Lights

MONDAY night’s Festival of Lights lived up to its hype this year with a magnificent display of lights that captivated the thousands who flooded Derek Walcott Square and surrounding streets. From blazing up the Central Library building with a digital light display to the switching on of the lights to illuminate the square, the producers of the extravaganza at least went beyond the first half of the night’s theme ‘Celebrate Light Celebrate Jesus’.

Police In All Out War on Crime

THE Royal St. Lucia Police Force has unleashed its strategy for combating criminal acts this festive season with a major component focusing on community assistance. Police Commissioner Severin Moncherry is appealing to the public to get involved in the fight against crime by reporting suspicious characters to the police and acts of criminality they have witnessed or are witnessing, whatever the case maybe.

Bouton – No Longer ‘Behind God’s Back’

Image: The Bouton Combined School [PHOTO: By PhotoMike]

SIX miles from the town of Soufriere is a small community that at one time was the butt of several jokes in the country on account of the lack of attention given it by government. Unknown to many who laughed at the jokes was that this community, Bouton, was home to some of the most glorious scenery this country could produce. Despite the several modern and technological strides Bouton has made today, many still view it as a place that is “behind-God’s-back.”

Forestiere Housing Project Coming — 74 Lots To Be Made Available

THE National Housing Corporation (NHC) is looking at the development of house lots in Forestiere as the vehicle through which it will dig itself out of the financial mess it presently is in. The Corporation is in a position where it cannot pay its bills due to several matters before the courts arising from deals and agreements with contractors and companies that either did not materialize or fell through leaving the Corporation to deal with the expenses generated.

Vendors Call For VAT Ease

Image of Peter “RasIpa” Isaac

ARCADE vendors in Castries are asking on the Castries Constituency Council (CCC) not to introduce the value added tax to their monthly rental fee which is $120. 00 as this would be going against an exemption they say was given to them by the previous government. The Council recently informed vendors that the monthly rental of booths at the arcade would be moved to $138 as a result of a sales tax effective this month. This was the first time vendors were being billed by the Council hence the introduction of the sales tax.

IMPACS Action Soon

Image of Home Affairs Minister, Hermangild Francis

POLICE officers who have been fingered in a report by a team from the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) investigating fatal shooting incidents six years ago will soon know their fate. The entire police force has been asked to assist in bringing closure to the matter which has been hanging over its head for several months.

HELLO HARRY! – Prince Comes In Today for Whirlwind Visit

Image of Prince Harry

ST. LUCIA’S appreciation of the English Monarchy will be tested today when, Prince Henry of Wales, familiarly known as Prince Harry touches St. Lucian soil to start a short visit. It is part of a 14 day official engagement in countries of the Caribbean in which the Queen is Sovereign, except Guyana which is a republic but is part pf the Commonwealth of Nations. It is also to mark the occasion of Antigua and Barbuda’s 35th Anniversary of Independence and the 50th for Barbados and Guyana.