Paw ol Le Paradis A P R I L 2 0 0 7 V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 2

D C G P R O P E R T I E S L I M I T E D

T O P O ’ T H E M O R N E ,

M O R N E F O R T U N E

R E D T A P E L A N E ,

P O B O X 3 7 6 ,

C A S T R I E S ,

S T . L U C I A , W . I

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S P E C I A L P O I N T S O F I N T E R E S T :

• Revolutionising the Tourism

Industry...Page 1 & 2

• Le Paradis’ Branding Partner -

Westin Hotels and Resorts...Pg 2

• Greg Norman Golf Course

Construction Progress...Page 3

• Construction vs. Conserva-

tion...Page 3

• The White Breasted Thrasher &

Le Paradis Development Can They Really Co-exist?...Page 4

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

Luxurious new Carib-bean Resort threaten to eclipse Barbados...

1

Le Paradis Residences & Greg Norman Golf Course Construction Progress.

3

The Magnificent Frigate Birds are Here!

4

Wild St. Lucia-Trekking the Nature Trail.

5

Partners & Friends Presentations.

6

St. Lucia Jazz Festival Line-up.

7

Getting to know Praslin: Mamiku Bo-tanical Gardens.

8

When it comes to luxury living abroad, it doesn’t get much better than an exclusive home on a golf resort in the Caribbean. And while Barbados has traditionally been recognized as the prime tropical golfing destination with estates such as the Royal Westmoreland, it is now facing some fierce competition.

Golfing champion Greg Norman has created Anguilla’s first 18-hole golf course at the St Regis Resort, and is also behind the course at Westin Le Paradis resort in St Lucia, which has a 14th hole

on a peninsula 30 metres high, sur-rounded by ocean. It recently won two Bentley International P r o p e r t y Awards.

‘There has been an explosion of interest in golf in recent years,’ says Allison Harvey of

Harvey Mellor International Properties.

The distinguishing factor on Caribbean courses is the naturally stunning environ-ment and dramatic scenery. But these resorts are about more than just the golf. They feature five-star hotels, spas, tennis academies, equestrian centres, private beach clubs and services to cater to your every whim. Owners at the St Regis Resort even get their own personal but-ler who will arrange everything from a gourmet dinner in their villa to a cham-pagne celebration on the beach.

A very important component of revolutionising the regional tourism sector is getting Caribbean people to really understand the industry and its importance to their economies, St. Lucian Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Allen Chastanet recently told the Business Express.

Chastanet unveiled some of the key initiatives he will be under-taking in order to transform the tourism product in St. Lucia to a world class standard. One of these initiatives involves changing the concept of the airport into a facility that imitates the services associated with a hotel. In addition, he espoused that the perception of Caribbean nationals that a job in tourism is one of servitude as apposed to service must be altered if the region were to take advantage of the opportunities in the mar-ket place post 911.

On the topic of understanding tourism, Chastanet said that tourism is possibly one of the only industries that can turn around a country's economy.

"We have to start explaining tourism in terms that the average person can relate to,” Chastanet said. "I'm going to start meas-uring tourism in St. Lucia by revenue per room and revenue per employee and revenue by acre of land and so on, so people can see that the major contribution of the local economy comes from tourism and then they will understand the impor-tance and the need to develop the industry" he continued.

He went on to explain: "The enemy of a destination is an empty room and it does two things, it is an opportunity fore-gone but more importantly it is one person who has not come to St. Lucia, had a good time and gone to spread the word and that is how we have to count it. As long as people start recog-nizing the importance of tourism, the foreign exchange it brings in and the importance of the jobs created then there is a chance for a change in perceptions and effort”

Another major component in building an exceptional tourism product in the Caribbean is branding.

"Branding has global reach and bringing some brands to the destination increases the credibility of the destination. The destination will now become more credible and more visible in the market place through existing brands," Chastanet said.

The above mentioned is in context of a new upscale, full service, condominium hotel that is to be opened on Praslin Bay in St. Lucia called

Le Paradis. The resort is a member of the Westin Hotels and Resorts, which operates some 121 hotels, and resorts in 31 countries.

The Westin brand is owned by Star-wood Hotels and Resorts which was ranked "Highest in Guest Satisfaction among Upscale Hotel Chains" by J.D. Power and Associates' 2004 by Global Traveler Magazine.

Le Paradis will be a four star hotel.

Chastanet said with respect to the branded hotel now opening, "It is up to St Lucia now to piggy back on that and start finding what the St Lucia brand is and more importantly to deliver on the expectations of being a recognized and credible band. “ The Minister continued: “The establishment of this hotel in St. Lucia is a very important achievement and investment in the tourism industry in St. Lucia and there are many other flag ship hotels coming to the country.”

...Continue on Page 2

REVOLUTIONISING THE TOURISM INDUSTRY Excerpt from the Trinidad & Tobago Express, 11’ April 2007 By Driselle Ramjohn

Luxurious new Caribbean resorts threaten to eclipse Barbados as the ultimate golfing haven Excerpt from the SO LONDON Magazine, April 2007 By Kate Andrew

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P A W O L L E P A R A D I S

"All of a sudden you hear Ritz is there, Westin is there and so many more coming."

He explained, however that there must be some balance with local enterprises.

"What will happen now, is by building that creditability with the destination other peo-ple who are developing independent hotels

are now going to have a better opportunity of succeeding. Where as if I just build an independent hotel, “it” is a less than credible destination, success now becomes an even bigger challenge, The benefit of having this branded hotel is limitless,” the Minister said.

He further explained, "Every single Westin, Starwood, has a directory of their hotels and now St. Lucia is going to be there and the quality of the investment they are mak-ing, it will feature as one of their premium resorts and people will comes as they always feel that traveling over seas is exotic".

"Just look in the region, there is only a hand-ful of Westin developments in the Carib-bean so this one will stand out, so everyday

its free marketing and free publicity. You will have the Westin people going out and talk-ing about this new brand that they have and all that is free publicity," Chastanet said.

Kierron Dobly also shared the Minister's view.

Dobly is the founder, major shareholder and managing director of DCG Properties Ltd.

The company was formed in order to de-velop the proposed multi-phased destination resort at Praslin Bay in St. Lucia.

Dobly explained that the resort would be something that the Caribbean may have never experienced before.

"Le Paradis is 554 acres of beautiful land from sea level to 620 feet above sea level. The prime location is on the Eastern Sea-board of St. Lucia which is 20 minutes from the international airport," Dolby said.

The first phase of the project is already under construction and is scheduled to begin operations in August 2008.

"Under the first phase we will be providing a four star flag Starwood Westin Hotel which is very well recognised in the US and the Caribbean, together with a Greg Norman (golf legend) design golf course which will be managed by Troon Golf management so those three brands right now are the key to our first phase," Dolby said.

"The Westin Hotel will be primarily, within phase one, a condominium hotel and the owners of those condos have the option of putting them into the rental programme or not. The rental programme works where people can put their condos up for rent 48 weeks out of the year and they will receive the returns on this investment. You literally purchase and own the property outright but it actually sits within a development and you are provided, literally as a hotel room," he explained.

The condos are currently up for sale in one, two and three bedroom categories.

"This gives the opportunity for somebody to purchase real estate at the ground floor prices and into the years as the hotel devel-ops you achieve capital appreciation of your property. The revenues you earn from the renting of the condo can be used to pay your running costs as well. Of course the rental programme is optional," Dolby said.

"Topography, the location, the brand; it is an

all encompassing resort with all the ameni-ties. “All condos with ocean view, the spa, the clubhouse, little marine villages, upscale boutique shopping. What compliments the resort itself are the brands, brands bring a certain contribution," he added.

"The long-term vision is taking the market up to the high end market and offering the varying amenities," he said.

REVOLUTIONISING THE TOURISM INDUSTRY ...Continuation from Page 1

Westin is owned and managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. who is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world which grew from 850 to over 870 proper-ties in more than 95 countries in 1 year.

Starwood Hotels are fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts internationally with 9 renowned brands: St. Re-gis, The Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton, W Hotels, Le Méridien and the recently announced Aloft and Element. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts.

Westin Hotels and Resorts will manage the Le Paradis residence hotel and the Westin branded residences, providing a consistent and proven level of high quality management. Westin was established in 1930 with 17 hotels – now 161 in 35 countries (and growing).

Le Paradis’ Branding Partner-Westin Hotels and Resorts Westin received the 2004 JD Power and Associates Award for Highest in Guest Satisfaction among Upscale Hotel Chains and Won the 2005 & 2006 for Best Domestic Hotel Chain by Global Trav-eler Magazine.

They boasts the most acclaimed loyalty program in the industry, Starwood Pre-ferred Guest® which increased from 27 million members in 2006 to over 33 million members in 2007. In 2004,. SPG® received the Freddie award for Program of the Year in both America and Internationally, for the fifth consecu-tive year and took top honors for Best Website, Best Award Redemption, Best Customer Service and Best Elite Level.

325,000 customer interactions occur daily via Westin’s Centralized Marketing Delivery with over 25,000 highly trained agents who will be marketing Le Paradis and ensuring residences in the Westin Rental Program are in all of Starwood’s distribution channels.

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V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 2

Thumbs up to Ashtrom.

Construction companies need to take a page from Ashtrom’s book. Construction is rapidly pro-gressing on the condo blocks that will form the Le Paradis Residences and the Westin hotel.

The foundations and ground floor slab on block

nine (9) and ten (10) are 100% complete. The superstructure for these blocks have begun. Condo blocks two (2) and four (4) foundations are complete.

Blocks one (1), three (3), seven (7), and eight (8) are also seeing tremendous progress with their foundations 90% complete.

Ashtrom International Limited has brought with them some innovative methods of building which enables them to build faster and stronger struc-tures.

Block 9 - Formwork for the superstructure in progress.

LE PARADIS RESIDENCES & WESTIN HOTEL CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS

Block 10 - Superstructure 20% complete.

Block 7 - Formwork for the substruc-ture walls are 80% complete.

13’ April 2007

• Earthworks completed on all 18 holes including practice ground; approxi-mately 500,000 yds3 of earth moving and filling.

• Shaping completed on 17 holes including tees, fairways and greens. The shaping is outstanding on hole No 5 due to the excavation works asso-ciated with the 4 million gallon storage reservoir which is 40% complete.

• Further to the Greg Norman inspection on 22’ January, 2007 work changes were made to

hole: -No’s 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16, the majority of these changes have been effected in respect of earth moving and now requires final shaping.

• All course drainage material is now on site. Land drainage to holes 1, 2, 3, 4 and the prac-tice ground is complete and installation con-tinues for the remainder of the course design. • All course irrigation materials have now

been delivered to the site. This includes all HDPE pipe work and fittings, pressure control, irrigation heads and the master computer control system. On site installation training is currently being provided by the manufacturing specialists and installation commences, week commencing 23’ April 2008, by the on site golf course construction team. • Pumping equipment is currently in transit to the island. This includes pumps and control equipment for both golf irrigation and the pota-

ble and non-potable deep bore underground wells. It is anticipated that installation will com-mence, week commencing 30’ April 2007, in-cluding the infrastructural electric feeds and pipe work connections.

• The DCG team has now sourced the quan-tity and quality of sand that is required for the plating of the golf course and practice grounds

total volume requires approximately 70,000 yds3. It is anticipated that the plating of the golf course will commence mid May 2007 to systematically follow the instruction of drain-age and irrigation systems.

• The Troon golf management course super-intendent, Mike Hummel, commenced full time, early January 2007 and continues to work with the golf course contractors and

the DCG Team to supervise and become familiar with all aspects of the course. Temporary offices and storage facilities commence construction early May 2007, to provide a base for opera-tions until permanent facilities are con-structed.

LE PARADIS GREG NORMAN GOLF COURSE CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS

Hole 2 Green

Hole 15 Fairway

Hole 17 Tee

Hole 2 Fairway

Irrigation pipes stored on construction contractor’s

compound

Hole 7 Fairway

With construction moving rapidly ahead at Le Paradis, conservationists have been concerned about the po-tential impact of the construction on the environment.

DCG Properties Ltd. Environmental Consultant Mr. Peter Ernest was adamant that the developer and the construction companies took all pos-sible measurers to ensure that protection of the Praslin environment was placed as number one on the list of priorities.

The companies involved in the construction of the Greg Norman golf course have taken the initiative by creating solutions such as to build siltation ponds

Construction vs. Conservation

to enable sediments and storm water to settle before entering the bay . This process will eliminate the chances of harmful particles damaging the quality of the water draining into the sea. During the construction, land has been cleared which will be resurfaced with grass and sand to form the golf course. While the bare land is still exposed to the elements, measures have been taken to ensure that soil erosion is mini-mized. Strips of forest are left in designated areas with counter drains being built to control storm water thus reducing the potential for gully erosion.

Mr. Ernest says that every possible effort has been made to protect the envi-ronment during construction.

Praslin is part of one of the national heritage sites in St. Lucia; the Frégate Island Nature Reserve are two tiny off shore islands which acts as bird sanctuaries during the nesting which extends from May to July for domestic and migratory bird species.

P A W O L L E P A R A D I S

The Magnificent Frigate Birds are here! Close to the headland that forms the Westin Le Paradis Resort on the northern side of Praslin Bay, are the small, rocky Frégate Is-lands. The Islands are site of a nesting colony of Frigate and other birds.

The Magnificent Frigate birds (Fregata Magnificent) arrives at the frigate islands in early Mach and remains until late August each year. The birds can be seen in active clusters very early in the morning from about 5:00 AM and also when the sun goes down about 6:00 PM.

They migrate from Africa during the early part of the year, crossing the Atlantic Ocean on their way to St. Lucia. From St. Lucia they journey through the Caribbean and then back to Africa.

Frigate birds are large, with iridescent black feathers with long wings (male wingspan can reach 2.3 metres) and deeply-forked tails.

The females have a white underbelly while the males have inflatable red-coloured throat pouches, which they inflate to attract females during the mating season.

The Frigate birds have been referred to as the “Pirates of the Sea” or “Man of War”. Reason being is that they hover over the surface of the sea and attack other birds feeding off their catch.

These birds produce very little oil and therefore do swim or land in

the sea. They cannot walk well, and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan to body weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week, landing only to roost or breed on trees or cliffs.

They lay one or two white eggs. Both parents take turns feeding for the first three months but then only by the mother for another eight months. It takes so long to rear a chick that Frigate birds cannot breed every year. It is typical to see juveniles as big as their parents waiting to be fed. When they sit waiting for endless hours in the hot sun, they assume an energy-efficient posture in which their head hangs down, and they sit so still that they seem

dead. But when the parent returns, they will wake up, bob their head, and scream until the parent opens its mouth. The starving juvenile plunges its head down the parent's throat and feeds at last.

Unfortunately the numbers of the birds are rapidly decreasing. About twenty years ago, the numbers were in the thousands but have decreased to little over one hundred in recent times. To protect this diminishing species, persons are not allowed on the mangrove islands.

Mr. Ernest Environmental Consultant to DCG Properties Ltd. has stated that the construction of phase 1A of the Le Paradis Resi-dences have not effected the arrival and nesting habits of the birds.

Magnificent Frigate Bird

A glass that is half used can be inter-preted as half empty by the pessimis-tic examiner or half full by the opti-mist. In the absence of empirical data we become vulnerable to both ex-tremes.

Status, Distribution, Popula-tion and Mitigation of Impacts on the WBT In 2006 through active interven-tion between the Durrell Conser-vation Trust, the St. Lucia Forestry Department and the DCG Devel-opment a scientifically robust dataset on the distribution, popula-tion size and potential impacts on the White-breasted Thrasher (Ramphocinclus brachyurus sanc-taeluciae) was established. The information obtained from that study has significantly improved our knowledge of the status of this species. Furthermore, the out-come of that study provided the recommendations for mitigating the impacts of the Le Paradis de-velopment on the WBT population and presented the basis for the design of a monitoring programme.

The findings of that investigation are consistent with a previous study conducted by Dr. Helen Temple using different survey techniques but obtaining similar results.

Latest population figures indicate

that approximately 1122 individu-als reside within the southern areas. Out of that total 364 WBT exists inside the Le Paradis devel-opment and 758 outside the prop-erty boundary. This unique species live on the east coast of St Lucia, between Praslin in the south and Petite Anse in the north is classi-fied as ‘endangered’, with a global population of approximately 1250 breeding adults. Just over 250 of these live on Martinique’s Caravelle Peninsula, and the re-mainder 80% of the world popula-tion is found in St. Lucia, (Dr.Helen Temple Study, 2004 Cambridge University, UK).

Ecology Habitat requirements: The White-breasted Thrasher occupies coastal scrub and dry woodland on the east coast of St Lucia, though it is absent from the densest and lowest scrub (areas with a canopy height of less than 3.5m). It can be found in transitional forest (intermediate between the dry forest of the coastal strip and the humid forest of the interior), but has never been encountered more than 3km inland.

Breeding biology: The breeding season occurs between April and September, typically peaking in June and July. Up to two success-ful broods may be reared in a

The White Breasted Thrasher and Le Paradis Development Can They Really Co-exist? By Peter Ernest – DCG Environmentalist

P A G E 4 V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 2

season. Nesting occurs only in woodland of the type de-scribed above (coastal scrub, dry woodland and transitional woodland, with a canopy height of over 3.5m). Open habitats (gardens, farmland, clearings) are not used.

Threats: Habitat loss and Predation by introduced species such as mongoose, rats, ferocious cats and dogs are thought to be the main factors responsible for the destruction of the White-breasted Thrasher species. (Dr. Helen Temple, 2004)

Mitigation of Impacts The overall objective of the Le Paradis development is to identify practical strategies using best practice to foster har-monious interaction between man and nature. It is our view that man cannot destroy nature without ultimately destroying himself hence the need to strike a balance between develop-ment and conservation which is perceived to be inextricably linked.

The recommended mitigative measures to safeguard the WBT includes but not limited to the following:

Photo: Courtesy Dr. Helen Temple, 2004

St. Lucia Iguana The Iguana is the largest lizard found on the mainland of St. Lucia. Iguanas are tree dwellers that are often seen on the ground. They feed on leaves, shoots and fruits. Iguanas are mostly green, with brown or black markings and a crest of spines along the neck.

They grow up to six feet in length about half of which is the whip-like tail. If surprised in the top of a tree, it may escape by crashing to the ground and running off. They also are excellent swimmers. The females lay up to seventeen eggs in the ground which take about fourteen weeks to hatch.

Iguanas are now mostly found along the northeast and eastern coast of the island such as Louvet and Gran Anse.

Wild St. Lucia - Trekking The Nature Trail

Tours along St. Lucia's Atlantic Coast offers outstanding views of the Island’s scenery, geographical features and biodiversity. For Instance, the Eastern Nature Trail tour which forms part of Le Paradis project site traverses breeding ground of the frigate bird and other endemic species of the island of St. Lucia home to numerous rare species.

St. Lucia Black Finch

The Black Finch is about 13-14 cm in length. It is found in both moist and dry forest areas. It for-ages in the leaf litter in dense understory. The Finch usually nests in a spherical nest of twigs built in a low shrub or palm about 2 m above ground.

The St. Lucia Oriole The adult Oriole grows to about 22 cm in length. It is found in woodlands in-cluding dry and moist forest. It is un-common and perhaps becoming scarcer.

It feeds on insects, fruits, flowers and nectar. The Oriole builds a nest sewn under a leaf or palm well above the ground.

St. Lucia Bull Finch

The Bull Finch similar to the Black–Finch is about 13-14 cm in length. It is found in both moist and dry forest areas. It forages in the leaf litter in dense understory. The Finch usually nests in a spherical nest of twigs built in a low shrub or palm about 2 m above ground.

St. Lucia Land Tortoise

Our local Land Tortoise (Geochelone car-bonarla) commonly called the Molocoy, was introduced to St Lucia many years ago. The hard shell of the Molocoy is divided into large scales with a row of small ones around the edge. The shell forms the only protection for the Molocoy and it withdraws its head at the first sign of disturbance. In the cool of the evening or after a shower of rain, they emerge from their borrows to feed on fruit, succulent grasses and carrion. They mate throughout the year and the female may lay, in a shallow hole which she digs in soft earth, up to 3 clutches of white round eggs a year. The eggs hatch in about 6 months and the little ones crawl out of the loose soil. The adults grow to about 2 feet in length and take many years to attain this size.

The St. Lucia Pewee

The adult Pewee grows to about 15 cm in length. It is quite common and resides mostly in moist forest, but also found in dry forest areas. It perches low and sallies for insects. The Pewee nests in a cup-shaped nest made of leaves and moss placed on a branch.

P A G E 5

P A W O L L E P A R A D I S

1. Adopt a development model phased over a reasonable timeline and leaving as much natural vegetation intact as possible within the develop-ment site to provide sufficient connectivity to adjacent forest.

2. Design and implement specific lethal control programmes for non native invasive species that will affect WBT.

3. Set aside specific areas as nature reserve within the development site for the benefit of wildlife.

4. Raising Public Awareness of the WBT – There has been several media releases on the subject, the more recent one took place on 17th February, 2006 during which the St. Lucia Media interviewed representatives of the Le Paradis Praslin Bay Project, Durrell Wild Life Conservation Trust and the St. Lucia Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture on na-tional television about the WBT Monitoring Project.

5. Continue sensitizing local communities, schools and construction workers about the project and keep apprising them of how wildlife con-servation concerns at the site are being addressed and what roles they can play in protecting the species.

6. Prohibit free roaming of domesticated animals such as cats and dogs during the construction and operations of the hotel.

7. Encourage ongoing monitoring of the WBT population during and after

completion of the project to identify any change in population status and adopt corrective measures deem necessary to safe-guard the species wher-ever possible.

8. Support initiatives by the Government St. Lucia and other stakeholders to create additional reserves for the protection of wild-life within the developer’s capacity to assist.

Conclusion Ongoing monitoring of the WBT population have not shown any decline in the popula-tion statistics and the upcoming nesting season will further augment our understanding of the resilience of the species. In addition, it is encouraging to note that sighting of the species in satellite locations within the Praslin site in areas not previously observed is encouraging. We cannot allow ourselves to become too complacent at this time but must continue to be vigilant in our efforts to ensure that the WBT is here to stay. It is known to have occupied the Praslin area since 1993.

Coming in the next issue… ‘Wet your Appetite’-The first look at the Le Paradis Marina & Marina Village

P A G E 6 V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 2

DCG Properties Limited hosted four successful “Partners & Friends” cocktail presentations on March 30th, March 31st, April 02nd and April 3rd 2007 at the Top O’The Morne offices. The Island’s top real estate agents, lawyers, govern-ment officials, members of the business sector and the media were out in full force meeting with the Manag-ing Director, Mr. Kierron Dolby and the DCG team. Mr. Dolby took this opportunity to introduce his team and share his vision for Le Paradis Beach and Golf Re-sort with persons present.

PARTNERS & FRIENDS PRESENTAIONS

P A W O L L E P A R A D I S

Photo left: Host-ess greeting guests in St. Lucia’s na-tional costume. Photo below left: Mr. Salvador Perez & guest from Bryden & Partners Limited. Photo below middle: Govern-ment officials & the DCG team enjoy-ing the fine wine and cheeses while taking in the vision of Le Paradis.

Photo left: DCG Properties Ltd. Managing Director Mr. Kierron Dolby with St. Lucia’s Prime Minister the Right Hon. Sir John Compton. Photo below: Minster of Trans-port & Public Utilities Hon. Guy Joseph & Hon. Allen Chastanet, Minister of Tourism discuss the site plan with DCG Sales Execu-tive Arica Benshoof.

Big thank you to:

Mrs. Ruth Seon-McFarlane and Ms. Millina Cox of Admac Limited for provide the gourmet cheese.

&

Mr. Salvador Perez from Bryden & Partners Limited for the fine wine.

Photo below: L-R - Min. of Health & Labour Hon. Ste-phenson King, Min. in Social Transformation Hon. Tessa Mangal, Min. of Trade & Commerce Hon. Guy Mayers with DCG MD Mr. Kierron Dolby.

Photo below: DCG Director of Marketing & Hos-pitality Suzanne Gryspeerdt with Sales Executive Adam Benshoof.

Photo below right: Prime Minister Sir John Compton with DCG Sales Executive Kaya Piwko.

The official dates for the 2007 Jazz Festival is 4 -13 May.

The St Lucia Jazz Festival has become one of the major events on St. Lucia's calendar of events.

During the month of May, the island moves to the beat of jazz when music fills the air and tourism takes on a whole new meaning to all.

What started as simply a marketing event to boost tourism industry arrivals during a low peak period, has now become one of the top 2 jazz festivals in the world and is the second biggest event in the Caribbean next to the Trinidad carnival.

Calendar of Events April - June 2007 P A G E 7

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V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 2

Date Venue Artists

Friday May 4th

Mindoo Phillip Park

Morgan Heritage Bunji Garlin & Faye-ann Lyons Cable & Wireless B-Mobile Artistes

Saturday May 5th

Fond D'Or Nature Heritage Park

Tabou Combo Bilomen Ronald Boo Hinkson Barbara Cadet Monty Maxwell

Sunday May 6th

Rudy John Beach Park, Laborie

Kali Prolifik Emerson Nurse Ma Mi La Kay

Monday May 7th

La Place Carenage Phase 5

Monday May 7th

Derek Walcott Square

Emerson Nurse Ziggy Walcott

Monday May 7th

Derek Walcott Square

Quavers Tracy Hamlin

Tuesday May 8th

La Place Carenage Tabernacle Gospel Jazz Band

Tuesday May 8th

Derek Walcott Square

Harvey Millar Meshach

Tuesday May 8th

Derek Walcott Square

Sally & KK Crazy

Wednesday May 9th

La Place Carenage Revolution with Meshach Taylor

Wednesday May 9th

St. Jude Hospital, Vieux Fort

Nicole David Charly Trio Laborie Steel Pan

Wednesday May 9th

Derek Walcott Square

Black Antz Boo Hinkson

Date Venue Artists

Thursday May 10th

Derek Walcott Square

Barbara Cadet Tempest

Thursday May 10th

La Place Carenage

Vert-X

Thursday May 10th

Pigeon Island Tania Maria David Murray & The Gwo-Ka Masters W.E.S Group

Friday May 11th Pigeon Island John Legend Bluemango

Friday May 11th Pointe Seraphine Duty Free Com-plex

Soul Food featuring Rob Taylor Miller Lay Project featuring Harvey Miller Quavers Ma Mi Kweyol Harmonites

Friday May 11th Derek Walcott Square

Rob Taylor TBA

Saturday May 12th

Pigeon Island Al Jarreau/George Benson Gerald Albright Norman Brown Package Boo Hinkson & Friends Thunder Box with special guest Steven Seagal

Sunday May 13th Pigeon Island Natalie Cole Isaac Hayes George Duke & Kirk Whalum Sunshine Anderson Package Pete Escovedo

MAIN VENUE

Pigeon Island - Home of the St. Lucia Jazz Festival, Pigeon Island is one of the Caribbean's most historic landmarks and certainly one of the most beautiful spots in St. Lucia. Connected to the mainland by

a causeway and surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, Pigeon Island serves as the ideal venue for the 2 closing days of the Festival. Many entertainers have said that this is the most beautiful venue that they have ever per-formed at and many have returned. Pigeon Island National Park - In 1999 the Pigeon Island Side Lawn was introduced. Located on Pigeon Island, directly in front of the Cap-tain's Cellar (a historic hangout of the military hierarchy), this venue hosts two evening performances. Starlit nights create the perfect ambi-ence for a night you won't want to miss!

Performers on stage at Pigeon Island

the Baron de Micoud, a colonel in the French army and a f o r m e r governor of St. Lucia when it was in French hands. The n a m e 'Mamiku' is an adapta-tion of the title of the Baron's wife, who was known as Madame de Micoud (and in true creole fash-ion, the estate would have been known as Ma Micoud's estate).

By 1796 the estate house was no longer a family home to French aristocrats, but a Brit-ish military post, set up by the famous Gen-eral Sir John Moore.

The post endured much action, culminating in a famous battle with the 'Brigands' which Sir John recounts in his diary. This battle left 15

The Mamiku Botanical Gardens located 5 minutes away from Le Paradis is a floral paradise built on a priceless slice of St Lucia's his-tory. Located on 12 acres of skill-fully landscaped ga rdens and woodland, fea-tures include a Creole medicine bush garden, endangered St Lucian trees and an excavation site at which 18th-century shards of pottery have been discov-ered.

The ruins of the old estate house, situated on the hill at Mamiku Gardens have an inter-esting, yet macabre history.

The estate was originally acquired in 1766 by

soldiers dead, 20 wounded and the de Micoud home a burnt-out ruin. The captain of the post committed suicide after the battle so as not to live out his life in disgrace and for two hundred years, the de Micoud estate ruins were left virtually undisturbed.

This was not, however, the end of Mamiku Estate. It even-tually returned to its former glory as a prof-itable sugar estate. Today, Mamiku Estate is a hardworking plantation producing bananas, tropical flowers and fruits, with the botanical gardens a re-cently-added enterprise.

An ongoing archaeological dig has uncovered fragments of 18th century pottery on the site The entire estate has been owned and operated by the Shingleton-Smith family since 1906.

GETTING TO KNOW PRASLIN

P A G E 8

P A W O L L E P A R A D I S

V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 2

Calendar of Events April - June 2007 APRIL

April 06 Good Friday April 08 Easter Sunday April 09 Easter Monday April 22 Earth Day TBA Festival of Comedy April 23 - 25 The Rodney Bay Village Music BASH April 25 World Cup Cricket 2nd Semi Final – Australia vs. South Africa April 25 & 26 Sir Vivian Richards Golf Tournament April 29 St. Lucia Rhythm & Spice Festival April 22 - May 6 National Arts Festival (tentative)

MAY

May 1 Labour Day May 4 - 13 St Lucia Jazz Festival May 19 St. Lucia Golf Open May 23 - 27 Senior Squash Island and Team May 25 - 28 Table Tennis Competition May 28 Whit Monday TBA Ruby Club Event

JUNE

June 3 Official Carnival Launch June 5 Walk for the Environment June 7 Corpus Christi June 24 Fisherman’s Feast

Dates in Bold are observed as public holidays.

Ducana is a popular West Indian dish which is a sweet potato dumpling mixed with coco-nut, sugar and spices steamed in a banana leaf that often accompanies salt fish. Ingredients: 1 dry coconut 2 lbs sweet potato 2 - 2 ½ lbs cornmeal or plain flour ¾ lb brown sugar 6 cups water or coconut milk 3 teaspoons vanilla essence 1 teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper Banana leaves or foil 2 oz raisins (optional) Method: 1 Grate coconuts and sweet potato (peeled) into a bowl. 2 Add remaining ingredients and mix well to the consistency of a thick batter – the

spoon should be able to stand in the mixture. If the mixture is too thick then you may proceed to add a little water/milk, if the mixture may seem too watery add a little more flour.

3 If using banana leaves, pass them through very hot water to soften them and allow them to fold easily – passing them over an open flame will also do the trick. However, if you don’t have banana trees growing in your backyard, or if you prefer less of a production, using foil offers a much easier alternative and doesn’t seem to affect the taste significantly.

4 Spoon the mixture onto the middle of the leaf or foil, which should be cut into rectan-gles. You can control the size of the ducana by the size of the leaf/foil.

5 Fold into a neat rectangular package, making sure the leaf/foil is big enough to prop-erly encase the batter; and tie the leaf with string (no string necessary with foil).

6 Place into pot of boiling water; steam for about 45 minutes or until they are firm. 7 At the end of the cooking time carefully remove the banana left/foil and serve with

saltfish.

Serving: 12 or more, depending on how big or small you want them.

Ducana Origin

Since the enforced arrival of West African emigrants to the Carib-bean in the sixteenth century, the main ingredients of the original African dishes form a basic part of those of the Caribbean to the present day. These foods are cassava, corn meal, sweet potatoes,

yams, plantains and bananas.

Ducana, (also known as Dokono, Duckanoo, Conkies, Kenkey or simply ‘Tie-A-Leaf’ on other Caribbean islands), is a slightly sweet dish containing corn meal or sweet potato and cooked in plantain or banana leaves.

Local Dish of the Month - Ducana