 Hello and welcome to interview. I am Jolene Beset-Joseph and this is a production of the Government Information Service. Today we are joined by representatives from the St Lucia International Association. Based in St Lucia, the association's aim is to assist individuals returning to St Lucia with reintegration. Here to tell us a little more about the association, sorry, I am actually joined today by the Secretary of the St Lucia International Association and the Union of St Lucia Overseas Association, Ms. Bernie Clary and Chairperson from the North, Ms. Mora Bernard. Ladies, thank you so much for joining me today. Thank you for having us. Okay, now, first things first, let's find out exactly what the association is. Can you give me a little, a bit more details about the association? Well, the St Lucia International Association, also known as SLIA, was founded in April of 2000 just prior to that, a few months before a small number of returned nationals, they were encountering some difficulties. You know what, it's like we're settling in any place that you haven't been for a while. So they thought by coming together, that would provide them with one voice to address the issues, the difficulties they had settling, and to go to the various authorities, the relevant authorities to see how they can best help. So that's how it started. And as I said, it was a small number, but that quickly increased as more returnees were coming to St Lucia. And because of that, there was a South chapter established as well. So in the South, we have Mrs Lucille Oku, who unfortunately cannot be with us today. She regrets that. And in the North, our founding members, I should really mention two prominent people, Mr Michael, Mike Augustine, and also Mr Angus Filogen, who were both chair persons of the association. And it really did help. It helped in the sense that we got the returnees together to share what they were experiencing, the difficulties they were experiencing, to socialize as well. And basically, that was it. And we've continued to be, you know, we continue to function as best we can. Okay. All right. Can you actually give me some insight into the kind of, maybe issues, I think problems would be too strong or worse, but issues that maybe returnees may be having that the association can actually help them with? With settling, sometimes, especially I can, experiencing from myself, I came down with my son, and he still needed to be in education. And there's a member of the association who was very, very instrumental in assisting me in getting him into the system. That was one of the things as well. And also, I suppose, Bernie, would you like to add anything to that? Well, coming together, somebody coming to St. Lucia, I mean, the people we have assisted basically is our members or friends of our members who have actually come and come to us and say, well, you know, we are in this problem, so we try and assist as best as we can. But when you can see the, I mean, Morrow was an exception, because most of the people who come back are not actually retirees, senior people who left St. Lucia when they were young, so they go back to their families, and the difficulties they encounter is mostly, you know, getting their stuff here, reintegrating into the communities where they come from. They find sometimes it is difficult. So that kind of issue, those kind of issues, I think too serious. Okay, no problem. But something like that, again, that I believe that was brought up and something that stood out to me when I was reading up about the association is that the fact that you do actually have two chapters, the North and the South. Do you find that maybe there might be things that people are experiencing in the South that maybe the people in North aren't experiencing, and that way you can help as well? I think they're quite similar, similar problems encountered. Okay. Yes. And I should also say that although there's a North and the South, we do meet two to three times a year. We celebrate Independence Anniversary. We have a yearly Sandy Beach party, which is a great hit. So yes, similar problems are encountered. Okay, no problem. And can I also say that the South has a much bigger group than we have in the North. That wasn't the case initially. We started off with a big group. Okay. And I'm sure you, you know, when people are aware that quite a few returned nationals return to the UK and elsewhere. Okay, yes. Yes. And the aging, there's the aging problem as well. Okay, no problem. Okay. Now this conversation is going very well, but I know that right now we're going to have to just take a short break. And when we come back, we'll carry on and find out more about the association. We'll be back in a moment. Pamela, I noticed that you built your retaining wall on my property. You'll have to give me my land back or compensate me for that. My contractor isn't dumb. I trust that he will not build anything on your property. Where is your proof? Let's go to court. This situation does not require you to go to court. Looks like we have to go through mediation here. Mediation is a way people resolve conflicts like this. Someone, a third party, comes to speak to both parties. This person is called the mediator. The mediator is impartial. He or she makes sure that communication between both parties is effective and efficient. So the mediator is a judge? No, the mediator is not a judge. Mediators, unlike judges, do not decide cases or impose settlements. Let me get a mediator to handle this retaining wall and that kitchen. Yes, your kitchen also falls on my land. Let me call the mediator. Welcome back to interview. I am Jordan B.Sett Joseph and today I'm joined by members of the St. Lucian International Association. Now, ladies, before we went to the break, you were telling me a bit about the activities because it's not only just a case of you helping people out if issues do arrive. There's that social aspect of the association as well. So tell me about some of the stuff that you do as an association. Well, bearing in mind the aims of the association, which is self-development, community outreach, socializing, which is crucial, we meet on a monthly basis. We have our meetings. But we also, looking at self-development, we have guest speakers coming to address us with their expertise. In fact, recently we had someone from a former fireman come and address us about the safety aspect. We've had Dr. King, Amanda King come to address us about skeletal and bone disorders. And we think about the aging population now within our association. So that's one aspect. And when it comes to outreach, community outreach, we have adopted the Sisters of Charity Nursing Home at the hospital, Hospital Road, and we assist them financially. We've been doing that for a few years. And Christmas time, we have the Hampers. Hampers for persons identified in various communities and also a few institutions as well. I think that's basically, yes, and fun, fun, fun. Yes, we do have the parties. Okay. Yes. In fact, the Christmas luncheon is coming up. Yes. Okay. That's brilliant. Now, you see, you're telling me all of this, but then where can one go to find out more about the association? Because if, like, for instance, somebody out there is watching this right now and they want to know how to contact the association and maybe just, you know, be in touch with you about what would one do? Is it a case of calling or do you have a Facebook page? Is there some way we can get in touch with you? That is where we will say that the age and technology don't come together so well, because we have been trying to establish a Facebook page, but unfortunately, all of our members are a little too scared. I feel they are a little too old to actually get into that. Okay. Okay. So getting in touch with us will probably be through a member or I'm not even sure if we are, are we in there three or four months, but through contact with members, a member, a particular member or any member whether from the south or from the north. Okay. That would be the best way. And I can also give a contact number which is 489-7216. Okay, brilliant. And our base is at the Lions Den and I'd like to see how grateful we are that through the years we've been housed there. We worked in partnership with them at one time and if there are any fundraising events, we, you know, we work in partnership as well. So we had the Lions Den the last Friday of every month. Okay. And in fact, I would love to extend an invitation to those interested to attend our open session. We have an open afternoon to evening next week Friday the 29th. Okay. So it's going to be fun as well. So opportunity to, to ask questions and also to have some, some fun. Going to make it a social open, open day. Sounds good. Okay. Brilliant. Now moving on, I know as well that there is a bi-annual convention in Calvary slated for 2020. Tell us a little bit about that. What is the convention actually about? Well, the convention is a meeting where all solution associations come together to exchange ideas and to discuss the issues that are affecting them. And it's all over the world. Wherever there is solutions, there is usually an association and that convention is a grouping of all of us together. We meet every two years in a different location and next year 2020 it will be in Calgary. Okay. And basically that's what we'll be doing discussing the issues that affect St. Lucian's and of course trying to keep in touch with what is happening in St. Lucia at our home, our homeland. Okay. And usually an invitation is extended to the government, to the authorities to come and address us about what is happening here because a lot of people, a lot of St. Lucian's living in the wider world don't actually get to know what is happening within St. Lucia although with technology now that is changing drastically. Yeah. So basically that's what the convention is about. Okay. Is it the first time the associations are going to be a part of the convention or you've been there before? Oh no, because we are a member of US LOA. Okay. Yes. So in fact last year's convention was great. It was in the UK and I am very, very heartened and pleased that the burning issues that were discussed last year have been, well are being addressed. Okay. And one of the crucial points last year among the delegates was that our policy, the diaspora policy had not been implemented. I mean, and we've been discussing that since 20, no, 20, yes, 2010. Okay. And we can see that it's been implemented now. Now we have a diaspora office. We have an ambassador for the diaspora and that is already starting to make a difference. Excellent. So they are listening to us. That is brilliant. That's great. Well ladies, it's been fantastic talking to you because as I said, I didn't even know about the association and it's great that you were able to come on the show and actually share with us and the audience, you know, tell them exactly what's going on. I hope you do come back another day and talk to us some more. But for now, I'm going to say goodbye to you. And again, thank you for being part of the interview. Thank you again for inviting us. Great. Thank you everybody out there for watching the interview. However, for now, it's me, Jelene Bisa, saying goodbye.