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Contact:
Earl Bousquet
Tuesday, October 5, 2005 -
Prime Minister Dr. Kenny D. Anthony has congratulated the National Printing
Corporation (NPC) on the continuing evolution of the all-colour, on-line St.
Lucia Government Gazette.
Dr. Anthony offered his congratulations to the NPC on Tuesday as it observed two
years of ongoing changes at the establishment formerly known as the Government
Printery.
He said he was “quite impressed with the progress made in enhancing both the
appearance and content of the Gazette to make it both easier on the eyes and
more pleasant and useful to the public.”
NPC General Manager Edmund Regis this week explained that as part of new changes
introduced two years ago, the Corporation sought to reinvent its flagship
publication with a new look aimed at making it “more interesting,
reader-friendly and relevant.”
The Gazette has been traditionally known as an ordinary, dull, black-and-white
publication with no photos. It featured an endless range of Government Notices,
Vacancy Advertisements, Laws, Statutory Instruments and the like. And since laws
cannot come into effect before they are published in the Gazette, the
publication usually includes bulky copies of new laws Passed in parliament.
Mr. Regis said the NPC considered that dull and bulky look was “to ex-officio
and not sufficiently appealing to the General Public.”
Thus the change…
For over a year now the Gazette, which is now a weekly publication of Government
business, has boasted a bold, striking, new appearance. In April 2003, its first
new-look issue featured a full-colour cover page featuring Government House, the
Official residence of the Governor General.
The present new-look Gazette, apart from its colour cover, also features news
releases from various Government quarters, extracts from the Constitution of
Saint Lucia, as well as what Mr. Regis described as “items that exemplify the
preservation and appreciation of St. Lucia’s rich and varied, natural, cultural
and historical heritage.”
He said the new publication also highlights on its cover page “illustrations of
features that are uniquely St. Lucian,” and which would “heighten our sense of
national pride.”
Five new illustrated color covers have been published so far in the new Gazette.
Apart from the inaugural photo of the
Governor General’s residence, others depicted the La Sikwi Sugar Mill, Famous
Landmarks of St. Lucia (such as The Pitons and Pigeon Island), national cultural
icon Sesenne, the 25th Anniversary of Independence and images from Emancipation.
The current issue features St.
Lucia’s national tree, the Calabash, which shall remain until year’s end.
However, that’s not the only new feature.
Mr. Regis says “a major new feature”
that started with the latest issue is “a weekly update on St. Lucia’s
preparations for Cricket World Cup 2007” that will appear on the inside of the
back page of every issue.
According to Mr. Regis, this is “to
maintain public interest and awareness towards the island’s commitment to
hosting the best Cricket World Cup ever.”
Prime Minister Anthony said he was
“pleased with the new features in the Gazette, especially the decision to
include information on our preparations for Cricket World Cup 2007, which will
help spread the word that we are committed to hosting the best World Cup ever!”
The new Gazette, which is available
on subscription, is also available on the Internet at
www.slugovprintery.com
and its e-mail address is npc@gosl.gov.lc
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