Competition to Name New Hospital is re launched

According to personnel from the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Human Services and Gender Relations, submission should project a national tone and should take into consideration the significant contribution of the European Union in the construction and equipping of the hospital. The rationale for the proposed name must be included as part of the submission. The name must also be original, creative and possess a simplicity befitting a hospital facility. The competition’s winner will receive EC$1000. Individuals who submitted entries in response to the first call for a name for the new hospital in 2012 have the option of withdrawing and resubmitting, in response to the second call.

Competition will end on Friday 31st May, 2013.
Details of the competition can be found on the Victoria Hospital Facebook Group OR can
be collected at the Bureau of Health Education, Ministry of Health, Wellness, Human Services
and Gender Relations, Sir Stanislaus James Building, Waterfront, Castries.

Wed 29th of May – 6.30 p.m | CINE-CLUB special festival de Cannes | De Rouille et d’Os / Rust and Bone

De Rouille et d’os est un film dramatique Franco-Belge réalisé en 2012 par Jacques Audiard mettant en scène Marion Cotillard et Matthias Schoenaerts. Le film est basé sur le recueil de nouvelles du même nom par Craig Davidson. Il raconte l’histoire d’un jeune chômeur de 25 ans qui se prend d’affection pour une dresseuse d’orques gravement handicapée suite à un accident. Le film fut en compétition pour la Palme d’Or au Festival de Cannes 2012 et a reçu d’excellentes critiques. Le film a également été nominé pour un Screen Actors Guild Award, deux Golden Globes, deux BAFTA Awards et neuf Césars, dont quatre remportés.

Rust and Bone is a 2012 French-Belgian romantic drama film directed by Jacques Audiard, starring Marion Cotillard and Matthias Schoenaerts, based on Craig Davidson’s short story collection with the same name. It tells the story of an unemployed 25-year-old man who develop a special feeling with a killer whale trainer seriously handicapped after an accident. The film competed for the Palme d’Or at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and received positive early reviews and a ten-minute standing ovation at the end of its screening. It has also been nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award, two Golden Globes, two BAFTA Awards and nine César Awards, winning four.

Director: Jacques Audiard
Stars: Marion Cotillard, Matthias Schoenaerts
Runtime : 120 min
Trailer here
Synopsis and review by THE TIME HERE

The participation of a Lucian delegation to the Challenge Guymargua in Martinique (13th-15th of February 2013)

The Challenge GUYane/MARtinique/GUAdeloupe (GUYMARGUA) is a biennial under-14 sporting and cultural event, which seeks to foster a spirit of tolerance, collaboration and understanding and a sense of responsibility among the three French departments of Americas (DFAs), namely Guadeloupe, Martinique, and French Guyana. Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Stefani, Director of the Alliance Française and The Union National du Sport Scolaire (UNSS) and especially the UNSS department in Martinique, St Lucia was invited, for the first time, to participate to the event. A delegation of 20 students from Monchy Combined School in Gros Ilet and Vide Bouteille School in Castries were hosted with the other delegation in Fort de France, Martinique from the 13th of February to the 15th of March 2013.

Eric Ildefonse | Special interview

The Alliance Francaise has invited the Jazz pianist and compositor Eric Ildefonse for the Jazz and Arts Festival of Saint Lucia. In addition to his performance on the 5th May at Balenbouche, Eric Ildefonse animated a music workshop at the Castries School of Music. There, he agreed to be interviewed about the Jazz and Arts Festival and his workshops.

Jazz and Arts Festival, a new concept

Eric Ildefonse laments that in this new concept there is not enough Jazz, as he says « I feel the great atmosphere and the warnth of the people but I would loved to hear more jazz music being played.  » however « there were  Jazz in the south & Jazz on the square where there were some amazing jazzy performances ». According to Eric, the patrons were really welcoming; the Lucians are musically curious, they recognized in his music reaching their own « they recognize in this music which swings, despite the fact that they are English; my music is from a neighboring island and they are also Creoles so we manage to understand each other and I find it fantastic ».

The Caribbean Jazz, a choice, a recognition

Eric has chosen the Caribbean Jazz because he found that there was missing a certain « Africanness » in Jazz. As an African descendant, he wanted to work on the drum rhythm which was a little forgotten; he wanted to deepen his African knowledge where he really recognizes himself. His album « Reconnaissance » is, according to the artist, very close to Saint Lucian music. In fact, it contains Calypso, Ska, Chachacha, Samba … This album is focused on Caribbean music, the saxophonist Luther Francois from Saint Lucia, is also present on it: « it was the opportunity for Saint Lucians to discover Luther playing another type of music and therefore a great reason to buy the album » he adds smilingly.

« It was my dream, and with the help of the Alliance Francaise we realised it »

Since 2008, Eric Ildefonse has been animating several music workshops. He explains that he directed the « Africanness » towards music and this year, with the Castries School of Music workshop, it was the opportunity to share this evolution with those students: « « It was my dream, and with the help of the Alliance Francaise we realised it » stated the artist. Eric appears to have grown from this experience because he has learnt a lot from these young people having to find his inner child, in order to communicate better with them. He found this exchanges wonderful and to his amazement, this audience was very receptive:  » The young people were highly receptive, they even participated, they were involved and wanted more. I found this extraordinary, the future lies there, very young, very innocent. I am glad that i was able to plant a little seed in their curiosity and make them want to focus on several instruments and have a look at their « Africanness. »

Eric has a message….

 » The unification between Martinique and St. Lucia artists is possible, you can also merge your music to our own, listen to this music. Do not miss out on a good and enjoyable time  »