FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022 VOLUME 116, No.35 www.thevincentian.com EC$1.50 M’mentReparationsgrowingPage7 DLitt for PageBecket15No cameras at PageG’town4 $$ for Rose PlacePagefishers28 “ThingsPagePMtight,”5
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Grant Connell, attorney for the defendant, drilled the Commissioner of Police about his alleged part in acts of abuse inflicted on Zackrie Latham.
Commissioner of Police Colin John stoically denied any part in alleged physical abuse of the defendant.
The Commissioner, in his evidence, admitted that he was playing dominoes at the office of the Major Crime Unit (MUC) on June 19 last year, when Head of that Unit- ASP Richards, who led the investigations into the matter, brought Latham, handcuffed, to the MCU office. Commissioner John denied having any interaction with Latham.
COMMISSIONERS OF POLICE (CoP) COLIN JOHNhas denied allegations of abuse and savagery against former police officer Zackrie Latham who is charged with burglary, and corruption, in connection with the disappearance of guns and ammunition from the Georgetown Police Station earlier last year. John made the denial while responding to questions from Latham’s lawyer Grant Connell, when the trial resumed before Magistrate Zoila EllisBrowne at the Calliaqua Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.Atthe voir dire (trial within a trial) stage of the trial, Latham had given evidence in which he accused various police officers, including the Commissioner, of abusing him. At that stage the only medical report available was the one which deemed him fit to return to police custody for incarceration, after being examined by Dr. Felicia Foye at the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH). In light of what came out at the voir dire, and the delay in getting the other medical report which dealt with Dr. Foye’s findings, Connell made an application to the Court for the Commissioner, Dr. Foye, Assistant Superintendent Adrian Francois, and a Station orderly at the Georgetown Police Station to be summoned as witnesses, stating that their evidence was essential to the just decision of the case. The Court granted the application.
CoP TAKES STAND: DENIES INFLICTING ABUSE
BY: HAYDN HUGGINS
CoP on the stand
AFTER seeking “Sanctuary” during the pre-COVID-19 West Indian American Carnival Parade in 2019, the Brooklyn, New Yorkbased Mas Productions Unlimited is visiting the “Safari” during this year’s extravaganza. “The Standard will be representing the animals,” Vincentian Band leader Wesley Millington told THE VINCENTIAN at the mas camp on Remsen Avenue in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn.“Thisyear, it should be interesting… . “We’re sticking to the traditional design and principle. We try to make the portrayal like it’s themed to be,” added the veteran Vincentian mas designer and producer, who hails from Sion Hill.“When you look at the costumes, it should be selfexplanatory,” continued Millington, who has been producing mas for Mas Productions Unlimited for 30 years. “We’re making the masks for the kids to match theGivencostumes.”thelimited time to prepare for Labor Day and that it’s not going to be a fullscale carnival, the presentation will comprise only three sections in the Junior Mas: ‘Lion Hunter’, ‘Zebra’ and ‘Leopard’. “The only reason why we’re doing this is to keep the kids involved, to participating,”keephe added. “This band (production) started for 2020; then, everything shutMillingtondown.” said, this year, the West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA), organizer of the Brooklynbased annual Caribbean carnival is judging all junior bands together, with one“Thoseprize.”of us are doing it (producing mas) for culture’s sake,” he said. “This is the only incentive.” In 2019, Mas Productions Unlimited placed second in the small band category. Mierah Millington, 15, Millington’s granddaughter, said she will be playing with Mas Productions Unlimited for the very first time, portraying “Lion Hunter”. “I feel like I’m going to have a lot of honestly,”fun,she told THE VINCENTIAN. “I grew up aroundTrinidadianmas.” Gail Mathias brought along grandchildren,herEthan Hodge, 10, and Aubrie PinderMathias, 8, to play with Mas Productions Unlimited. Ethan, who will be playing mas for the first time, portraying ‘Zebra’, said: “I saw the carnival (in Brooklyn) before, and I walked down the street.”Aubrie will be portraying ‘Leopard’.Thechildren donned their costumes and modelled them for THE VINCENTIAN. The five-day West Indian American Day Carnival starts on Thursday (Sept 01), culminating on Monday, Sept. 6, known as Labor Day in the US, with the massive Carnival Parade on Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway. Mierah Millington, 15, portrays ‘Lion Hunter’. Ethan Hodge, 10, models the ‘Zebra’ design.
CarnivalCaribbeanforin
Story and photos by Nelson A. King US naking@verizon.netCORRESPONDENT
2. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022 THE VINCENTIAN NewsV FLOW
Aubrie ‘Leopard’.Mathias,Pinder-8,portrays
ÂSafariÊ
NY
“School is scheduled to commence on Monday 5th September,” he announced, stating that there was no decision to change the date. He explained that during the previous two years and especially during the volcanic eruption in 2021, schools were used for other purposes, like evacuation centres. He described such buildings as “battered” from 24/7 use necessitated repairs. “These schools are under repairs and thus, some persons would have had concerns but ....we have been assured by the agency that is preparing these schools, that we will be up and ready,” he assured.Inaddressing the situation of the St. Vincent Grammar School which he described as “the school in question more than any other,” he disclosed that it was discovered that the classrooms for the Form 1 entrants had become termite naturally,“...Weinfested.feltthat,wecould not do visitsthatsectionlate”,thereforeThebuilding,”ornotintoourfacilityrepairssubstantiativeonthemainandthenhavenewentrantsgoingafacilitythatwasuptothesamelevelstandardasthemainheoffered.decisionwasmade,“rathertohavethatrepaired.HeassuredthepublicduringhisregulartotheSVGS
Curtis King, Minister of Education, said that this occurred between the later part of 2021 and into the second term of the TeachertwoincludehaveAugust2021SR&Oissuewhileacademic2021/2022year.Hemadethecommentdiscussingtheregardingthenumber28ofonWEFMon28.AmongthosewhosincereturnedtwoTeacherI’s;TeacherII’s;16III’s;one
“I want to suggest to you that your interaction with him is when you pulled out a black plastic bag, covered his face, and squeezed it, so that he (Latham) could not breath”, Connell continued. The Commissioner denied this.
Doctor takes the stand Reading from the draft medical report on her findings, Dr. Foye said Latham’s left ear and jaw were swollen, and he complained of pains to the right side of his chest, and jaw. She said there was slight redness to the right side of his head, and had a bruise“Whenthere.Itouched his chest, he said he felt pain. He said he was attacked”.
The lawyer referenced the draft medical report on the doctor’s findings which was read in Court by Dr. Foye, and tendered in evidence, the original copy was not available.
Connell further suggested that though Latham was handcuffed, he struggled and managed to burst a hole in the bag, allowing him to breathe, but the Commissioner repeated the act. John again denied having any interaction with Latham.“That is an act of savagery. Placing a black plastic bag over the head of someone so they could not breathe, is an act of savagery,” Connell told the Commissioner who replied, “I had no interaction with“Whathim.”did officer Richards do after he brought him (Latham) in?” Connell asked the Commissioner, who responded, “I think he left with him. He is a competent officer.”
as
by the screeningsanitisingspacing,tomasking,mandatory(CMO)MedicalChiefOfficerincludingthreesixfeetand through regular testing.
Education Minister Curtis King confirmed that some ‘dismissed’ teacher have been returned to their substantive posts.
by GLORIAH... INFORMATION HAS BEEN circulating across St. Vincent and the Grenadines that the new school year will officially begin on 5th September or there about. THE VINCENTIAN, up to press time, remains unsure of the source of that information. The Ministry of Education has refuted the “misinformation” to the effect that the new school year will not officially begin on Monday, 5th September, 2022.
CoP takes stand:Denies inflicting abuse
Of this figure, 10 are said to have been rehired despite not having taken the vaccination.
V News 3 THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022 . 3.
The doctor said she had referred him to a specialist at the Male Surgical Ward because he said he was feeling pain in his left ear. She said she was thinking that the ear drum may have burst or cut or perforated. She noted that there was yellow secretion at the entrance of his left ear. He had no known medical history.
Zackrie Latham was said to have a swollen ear, jaw and a redness about the right side of his face when he was presented at the MCMH.
When Connell asked the doctor whether she examined Latham’s neck, she said, “I don’t have it documented here, but we normally do a thorough examination”.WhenCrown Counsel Jackson-Richards asked Dr. Foye, “You cannot say with certainty that the ear drum was burst, she replied, “No, nor perforated”.
Crown Counsel Maria Jackson Richards did not question the Commissioner as to whether the allegations were true or not, instead she asked him whether he was in the habit of walking around with plastic bags, and he said no. She also questioned him in relation to his height in comparison to Latham’s height.
CONNELL, HOWEVER, SUGGESTED, “You attacked this young man and told him he had to talk. I am suggesting to you that you allowed your officers to abuse this man. He was slapped that caused injury to his ear, and was hit in the chest that caused tenderness.”
adhere to the
Dr. Foye said she did not ask Latham where the injuries came from, when questioned by Connell. She said there was no MRI or CT Scan done, but an X-ray was done of his skull and chest, which did not show any fractures. She said an X-ray would reveal the nature of the injuries.
Schools to reopen as scheduled 30 teachers have returned
Jackson-Richards then asked, “What else the yellow substance could come from?” Dr. Foye replied, “It could come from an infected ear”.When the prosecutor asked if she did a thorough examination in this case, the Doctor said, “I think I did”.The Prosecutor also asked, “If a person complains of being struck in the stomach with a hard object, what would you expect to see?” The doctor replied, “Swelling and discolouration”, but when she was asked, “Did you see any of this”? She said Connellno.has made an application for the original copy of the medical report of Dr. Foye’s findings.
compound, there was evidence of a steady and meaningful pace of work that determined to make the facility ready.
The matter has been adjourned to November 8 to accommodate the next witness slated to testify, who is currently ill.
“These persons are not required to be vaccinated as was said, obviously these persons had to write and accept the offer,” the education minister said, adding that they have received correspondenceappropriate from the Public Commission.ServiceAccordingto King, the government has been trying to fill the void created when some teachers opted for early retirement as was opened to them The overall intention was to (23repeatedlydeadlinesee10Kingteachersencouragetore-apply;explainedbutonlyre-applied.Andoutofadesiretoteacherreturn,thewasextendedwithAugustbeingthelatestdate.DD)
Continued from front page.
Teacher IV and seven Teacher returnedteachersV’s.Those to 20 primary and 10 unvaccinatedsaid.schoolssecondaryKingThe 10 of the batch of 30 must protocols outlined
Speaking on Radio NBC earlier this week, Minister of Education Curtis King assured that all stakeholders were working assiduously to make sure that schools will be ready for reopening on the planned date, September 5.
A cursory inquiry spoke to students looking forward to returning to school after a truncated 2021-22 school year.
TO DATE, 30 TEACHERS previously deemed as having abandoned their posts over non-compliance with the mandate to take the COVID-19 vaccine, have since returned to their positions.substantive
Youth remanded on gun, ammo charges
THERE AREno security cameras on the compound of the Georgetown Police Station. This was revealed by Commissioner of Police Colin John while responding to questions by attorney Grant Connell, who is representing former police officer Zackrie Latham, being tried on charges of burglary and corruption, in connection with the disappearance of guns and ammunition from the Georgetown Police Station early last year. “Are there any security cameras on the building of the Georgetown Police Station?” Connell asked the Commissioner, who replied, “No, there are not cameras on the building of the Georgetown Police Station.”However, when Connell asked the top cop if there were security cameras at the office of the Major Crime Unit (MCU), located at the Central Police Station, he replied, “For security reasons I would not say if there are cameras there”.
Connell was questioning the Commissioner in relation to allegations of abuse against Latham at the MCU office on June 19 last year, after he was brought in by MCU head, ASP Elgin Richards, the lead investigator in the matter. John could not say how many firearms and how much ammunition were at the Georgetown Police Station. He said there was a Superintendent of Police in charge and an Assistant Superintendent. When the Commissioner was questioned as to whether there was any register created specifically for the Armory, he said no. When Connell asked, “So the only record you could be guided by is when the officers hand over shift?” the Commissioner said, “That’s not the only record, there is also the firearms diary and the monthly report.” But Connell noted that the firearms diary only showed what firearms were issued.
Carl Quow leaves the court in a police transport on his way to prison.
No security cameras at Police Station
The security measures or lack thereof at the Georgetown Police Station came into focus during the trial of a matter involving the disappearance of firearms from the station.
CARL QUOW, a 21-yearold labourer who stuck a gun in the side of a 16year-old secondary school student, July 23 this year, was on Monday sentenced to one year and five months. The 34 days spent on remand will be deducted from his sentence. Chief CourtathandedRechanneMagistrateBrownedownthepenaltytheSeriousOffencesaftershefound
Prosecutor Renrick Cato requested a custodial sentence. He highlighted the time the incident occurred and the method of assault. “To actually follow him in the direction of his home, and put a gun at his side, is zero tolerance in this Court. We cannot allow persons to use firearms as if they are illegal, especially on young persons”, Cato said.The Prosecutor said that fortunately for the defendant, he was not charged with possession of the firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison, in sentimentsMagistrate’stheCourt.Brownesharedtheexpressed by Cato. She found no mitigating factors in relation to the offence, but took the defendant’s age into account, stating that he was still at the stage of risk taking, and the part of the brain which allows for making reasoned decisions is not fully developed.
CourtsV 4. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022 THE VINCENTIAN
Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS
When Connell asked him whether the security at the Georgetown Police Station could be compromised by someone jumping over a back wall, and climbing up a flight of stairs, he said, “There have been concerns, but persons should be alert. He said steps were being taken to address some of these concerns, but many of them are beyond their control.Assistant Superintendent of Police Adrian Francois who said he was at the time assisting the Superintendent at the Georgetown Police Station, and made patrols of the police stations in all divisions, during which he checked the diaries, was also summoned to testify, at Connell’s request. But he too could not say how many firearms and how much ammunition were at the station on any given day.Francois could only tell the Court what firearms were issued, as reflected in the firearms diary. He said the Armory was located upstairs adjacent to his office, and when asked whether the security of the Georgetown Police Station could have been compromised by someone jumping over a back wall and climbing up a flight of stairs, he replied in the affirmative.Whenasked whether there are security cameras there, Francois replied, “Not that I know of.” When Connell asked him, “Is it correct to say that at no given date, can you say how many firearms were at the station?” Francois said, “That information would be in the diary when the NCO’s take over Latham,shift”.25,is facing charges of entering the Armory of the Georgetown Police Station, as a trespasser, and stealing three boxes of .40 ammunition, and entering that Armory as a trespasser and stealing one box of .40 ammunition, the property of the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
During the trial a voir dire was held, during which Connell challenged the admissibility of the notes of the lead investigator, ASP Richards, and the electronic interview the police conducted with hisLathamclient. is the last person before the Court on charges in connection with the matter. The others Avi King, Meshash Dublin, both 26, and former national footballer Myron Samuel have all received sentences; but Samuel was released after appealing to the Mercy Committee on medical grounds.
DAVID RICHARDS, 26-year-old resident of Calder, will return to the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday, September 6 for bail review. Richards is charged with possession of a .22 rifle, and four rounds of ammunition. Richards pleaded not guilty to both charges when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne at the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday.HewasRichardsunrepresented.wasremanded pending bail review, after Prosecutor Renrick Cato objected to bail at thisCatojuncture.toldthe Court that police were investigating a series of burglaries and gun-related offences, in which Richards is a person of interest.
Jail time for assaulting student
He was initially slapped with 13 charges but he was freed on ten of those at the Calliaqua Magistrate’s Court on May 17 this year, after Magistrate Zoila Ellis-Browne upheld a no case submission by Connell. Five of them were for firearm possession, one for ammunition possession, two for the sale of firearms, one for the sale of a magazine with ammunition, and one for money laundering.
Quow guilty of criminally assaulting the 16-yearoldQuow,student.aresident of Chauncey was charged with assault with intent to commit an offence, to wit,Thewounding.complainant told the Court that he and others were “hanging out” out at a shop in Chauncey on the night in question, when Quow proceeded to question him about an incident at school involving one of his (Quow) friends.
The complainant said that as he made his way home, around midnight, Quow assaulted him with a gun, in the vicinity of the Chauncey Methodist Church.“When I reach by the Church gap, he hold on to me hand and put de gun by me side, and say, ‘You can’t talk now, you nah bad now’. Me laugh and pull way me hand.” the youngster recounted. According to the complainant, another teenager, also a student who was in the area, came on the scene and asked Quow to let him go, which he did, and the complainant went home. The youngster who came to complainant’sthe assistance, also testified for the prosecution himgivenrecentsimilartheyconvictionsQuowMagistratechancewasremindedthehimaskedevidencealso515investigator,footballnationalplayedyear-oldthestudents,teenageevidencecomplainant’scorroboratedandthestory.TheCourtalsoheardfromotherboys,allwhowereonscene,includinga13-whosaidhefootballfortheUnder-14team.TheConstableEnriqueHaywoodtookthestand.Quowoptednottogivefromthedock.Uponconviction,QuowtheCourttogiveasecondchance,butChiefMagistratehimthathegivenasecondbefore.Inhersummationthenotedthathadtwopreviousandthoughwerenotofanature,totheone,theCourthadadirectivethenfortojointhepolice youth club in his community, but he disobeyed that directive and is now before the Court on another charge. Quow, who unrepresented,wastold the Court when questioned by the Magistrate, that he was a Form One student dropout adding that he had joined the cadets, and the directive of the Court was for him to go to Marion House, and to join the police youthTheclub.Magistrate noted that the recent offence carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment. She highlighted the seriousness of the charge, as well as the facts and circumstances of the Shecase.highlighted the ages of the complainant and the other youngsters who testified, noting that one of the witnesses was a 13-year-old, and compared those to the age of the defendant. She added that the incident occurred in the vicinity of a Church and that a firearm was used.
SVG poverty rate above average Dr. Ralph Gonsalves ‘painted a tight fiscal situation’ staying away from saying it was anything like a situation of doom. Signs of poverty were highlighted in the aftermath of the April 2021 eruption of the volcano.
The International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database as of June 2022, and as per availability of data, listed unemployment rates as follows: Antigua and Barbuda — 26%; Barbados — 30.6%; Dominica — 40%; Grenada — 29%; Haiti — 35.7%; Jamaica — 26.1%; St. Lucia — 38.7%; , Trinidad and Tobago — 12.7; St. Vincent and the Grenadines — 41.1%. (Source: UNICEF Annual Report 2021.)
SVG Fiscal Situation: „THINGS TIGHT‰
ACCORDING TO A 2021 UNICEF report, in 2016, “30% of people in St. Vincent and the Grenadines were living in poverty and 3% were indigent (indigence entails living in a level of poverty in which real hardship and deprivation are suffered and comforts of life are whollyThatlacking).”ratepositioned St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ poverty rate as higher than the average of 23% for the Eastern Caribbean. As far as the demographics (age) were concerned, the report cited that, more than 1 in 3 or 38% of children ages 0-17 and 37% of adolescents ages 10-19 were living in poverty, which was higher than the poverty rate for adults aged 18+ years (30%). While the poverty rate for young people ages 10-24 was not available because it has yet to be calculated, the Report said that child and adolescent poverty rates were slightly higher than the averages for the Eastern Caribbean (33% and 34% respectively).Adolescents (ages 10-19) living in female-headed households were more likely to live in poverty (41%) than adolescents living in male-headed households (31%). Whereas, adolescents living in male-headed households (3%) were equally likely to live in indigence as adolescents living in female-headed households (3%).
Current expenditure, Gonsalves disclosed, was EC$385 million, which hovered around the figure for the same period in 2021. Of this amount, EC$192 million went towards paying wages and salaries and making NIS contributions; EC$23 million towards servicing the national debt; and EC$111 million to statutory bodies, the Community College and social assistance programmes. As for capital expenditure for the first seven months of the year, this stood at EC$63 million, “a little down from last year,” according to Dr. Gonsalves.Andwhile he pointed to some major activity which is anticipated to positively impact government’s situation for the second half of the financial year, he reiterated that while government is “holding things together… it’s tight.”
Impact of COVID-19 It was projected, as per the Report, that with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, that severe poverty rates will increase in the Eastern Caribbean, impacting children in particular. For children in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, severe poverty is projected to increase fourfold from 3% pre-pandemic to 12% as a result of the pandemic for all in the population.
Unemployment And as far as another socioeconomic scourge — unemploymentwas concern, the 2021 UNICEF Report stated that Youth were twice as likely as adults to be unemployed. Youth ages 20-24 (78%) were four times more likely to be employed than youth aged 15-19 (18%); whereas, youth ages 15-19 (41%) were twice as likely to be unemployed than youth aged 20-24 years (19%).
In terms of gender, male youth (50%) were slightly more likely to participate in the labour force than female youth (45%); male youth (50%) were also more likely to be unemployed than female youth (39%).
ACCORDING TO PRIME MINISTERDr. Ralph Gonsalves, as he spoke on NBC radio last week Wednesday, St. Vincent and the Grenadines recorded, as of the end of July, an overall deficit (combined capital and current accounts) of EC$53 million, an increase over last year’s figure of EC$40 million. Against this backdrop, Dr. Gonsalves said with a mixed interpretation, that the Finance Ministry was “holding things together,” though, he admitted, “it’s tight.”This, he said, was due to the fact that the primary revenue earners, including taxes on goods and service, were holding their own, There was, however, a “big drop” in revenue raised through the Alien Land Holding License and stamp duties, and property transactions in Mustique in Governmentparticular. has in the past referred to this (Mustique, etc.) as a major contributor to its revenue and its generation of EC$18 million for January to July 2022 was disappointing to say the least, when compared to EC$62 million in 2021.So, when the combined figure for Revenue and Grants for the period concerned, was computed, it showed a decrease from EC$427 million to EC$386Revenue,million.however, increased negligibly from EC$381.9 in 2021 to EC$ 282.7 million in 2022.
NewsV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022. 5.
No gaping hole in education system
THE IMPLEMENTATIONof SR&O number 28 of 2021 which resulted in several teachers losing their jobs has left no gaping hole in the education system. Curtis King, Minister of Education made the comment on August 28 on WEFM adding that when the document was implemented late 2021 and a number of teachers and public servants that were not exempted from taking the COVID-19 vaccine were deemed as having abandoned their individual post. “We said that it was of paramount importance that school continued,” King“Everythingsaid. showed that being away from the classroom was having a negative impact on the students,” he continued.According to the education minister of the 2,200 teachers in the country, 212 had initially indicated that they were not interested in taking the vaccine.Thiscreated some challenges within the education system with the creation of several vacancies King explained.
And the ministry of education hired persons on contracts and those contracts ended on July 15. Regarding performance, King said that some of the relief teachers performed well, while some did not. However, he said that no system was“In‘fool-proof’.thesystem, we have good teachers and poor ones and those on contract, some performed well and other did not. The overall thing is that the system functioned,” King reasoned. But he explained that the one real measure for the public is the performance of the students at exams and what he termed, ‘high-stake’ exams such as the Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA) and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC).
The results for the CPEA dropped one percentage point over the results of 2021 and for the first time this year, students writing CSEC examinations were administered the regular two papers which was last administered in 2019.For the past two years, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the eruption of the La Soufriere volcano, students were only administered Paper One, multiple choice.Therefore, the minister of education said that he was anticipating highly this year’s CSEC results, which was expected to be released to the ministry on September 1. “Let us see how the students perform…I will hope that when the performances are being compared that they compare apple with apple and not bananas with apples,” King said. He added that persons ought to compare this year’s results to that in 2019 further saying that the students who wrote exams this year had to put up with interruptions for three years. “But they were in a state of readiness to write the exams,” he said. (DD) While it was not smooth sailing with the hiring of replacement teachers, Education Minister Curtis King needed no convincing that the system functioned.
“We were determined that schools should operate, and we did the relevant infrastructure work to get staff, even if it meant re-hiring retired teachers, relief workers, etc.,” said the education minister.
6. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN NewsV
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022. 7. HeritageV The
OscarMovementReparationsisGrowing!Allenwouldbeproud
Oscar Allen, who described himself professionally as a “farm operator”, in whose memory the lecture is named.
Dorbrene O’Marde, couched his lecture in light of the ongoing work of the Reparations Movement in the Caribbean.
Citing that “Reparations money ...is tightly controlled within international regulations,” he suggested that the establishment of a funding mechanism for CARICOM reparations is really an important step, “that those persons who are guilty of crimes and are prepared to acknowledge it, have a structured path to which they can make payments if their response is compensation.”O’Marde,who is also the Chairperson of the Antigua and Barbuda Reparations Support Committee, noted that the recent pronouncement by Prince Charles that the time has come for a conversation about the wrongs of slavery, is another important step towards the acknowledgement of the role played by the Royals.Notwithstanding, reparation was not a simple fix, O’Marde posited.
But he believed that the late Oscar Allen would be pleased with the progress made, as it reflected his tenants of atonement, repair to injury and development, which are needed because of the complexities of slavery. “Reparations movement would be the great political movement of the 21st century, and there is nothing that can stop it because it is embedded in the search for justice, equality and democracy,” the Antigua-born O’Marde asserted.Theevent was punctuated by cultural performances from persons from the Diamond community where the late Oscar Allen lived and was described as a vibrant activist, who was at times not unlike a mystic especially in periods when he shared his love for God.
The cultural activist, playwright, director, producer, author, Reparations PlenipotentiaryAmbassador/Ambassadorsaid,“The Caribbean’s more non-confrontational and negotiation type approach,” will ensure that more can be achieved. In recognition of this approach, O’Marde said they have been, for example, partnering with transatlantic corporations such as the telecommunications company DIGICEL, through its Chairman DennisO’Brien,O’Brien.O’Marde disclosed, has directed that a funding system for reparation for Caribbean countries be established within DIGICEL.
A section of those who attended the lecture.
AS ACTIVITIESto mark Emancipation Month continued to varying levels of impact, assurance has been given that the momentum of the Reparations Movement is mounting. This observation came from one of the Vice Presidents of the CARICOM Reparations Commission, Dorbrene O’Marde.O’Marde made this pronouncement on August 11th at The UWI Open Campus, Kingstown, as he delivered the 2022 Oscar Allen Emancipation Memorial Lecture on the theme, “Celebrate Freedom Repair theTheDamage”.lecture was hosted by the Friends of Oscar Allen and the University of the West Indies Open Campus, as part of the Campus’s Emancipation activities.O’Marde revealed that major strides have been made at globalizing support for the reparations struggle, and intensifying the pressure on Europe to join the Caribbean at table negotiations. He highlighted that the CARICOM Reparations Movement has already engaged with oragnisations such as the UN, OAS, African Union and UK parliament, as part of the reinvigoration of a global initiative.
Allen’s brother, Sir Errol Allen, remarked that his late sibling, who was the last of nine, loved reading philosophy, history and politics. His hope is that Oscar’s writing would be re-published.
Doing their jobs as we expect them to, could well mean the difference between a guilty and a not-guilty verdict. They must be determined in their investigations; not give up at the first obstacle thrown in their way; not allow the case to go cold before it gets to ‘room temperature’, so to speak. They must be creative without being aggressive; must use their initiative and not wait for the directive to come from on top. Far too often, the victim’s family is greeted with “Nothing came out of it,” or “Our investigations are continuing.” This has got to become a thing of the past.But even as police offices produce at the highest level, bring the felons to court and are confident that they have “got their man,” the court is likely, given how the system allows the case to play out, to tap the miscreants on their wrists or spewed them back onto the streets buoyed enough to pick up where they left off.
Make it worse, the families of the victims of crime have now to accept that murder, along with every other crime it seems, is ‘bailable’. Families of victims of crime are at the mercy of the discretion of the judiciary when it comes to the granting of bail.
Speaking of street vendors, in lieu of an all-out brawl with the vendors in the mid-town market area, how about budgeting some funds to convert the street west of the market building (from Bay Street to Middle Street) into a safe, structured pedestrian mall? I see no value in continuing to allow vehicles in this area.Another suggestion for this year’s budget cycle is that we set aside some funds to begin a five-year programme of renaming streets in and around Kingstown. The meaningless names of our streets dawned on me as I walked around ‘town’ with a friend who was visiting after more than forty years overseas. For example, what do the following street names mean to the average Vincentian: “Halifax Street, Grenville Street, Egmont Street”? How about renaming these streets in honor of a few notable and distinguished patriots like Loue Boucher, Shake Kean, Lennox “Scully” Hunte, Pat Prescott and John Horne, to name a few options? I am not tied to any of these names, just examples of people I think should be memorialized for various contributions to our young nation. Horatio
NOT SO LONG AGO A READER called to express concern about the lack generally of progress in the investigations of crimes here. That same reader called on the heels of the discovery of a lifeless female body on the tarmac of the decommissioned E. T. Joshua airport to repeat the concern expressed earlier, and went further to say our justice system is ‘doing a great harm’ to the families of victims of crime, which we would prefer not to admit. It was indeed a conversation that set us Letreflecting.usagree from the outset that we cannot address crime in its fullest sense unless we also given attention to how we can deliver justice for the victims of crime and their families. Every time innocent blood is spattered on our land, the act cries out for an accounting. And if there is none, it is not far-fetched to say that that consequence emboldens those who harbor thoughts of murder, and/or encourage more wanton acts of miscreant if not criminal behaviour. So, to put it bluntly, if justice is not forthcoming revenge could well become the norm. And if that becomes the new normal, we set ourselves on a descent into anarchy if not barbarism. To say that our police are not trying would be to say they are standing by idly as the guilty ones continue unabated. But the police, in as much as we are made to believe otherwise, seem to lack effective techniques in interviewing and investigating as it relates to following through ‘on a case’. There are a few basic requirements that an investigation demands: What evidence is needed in court? How should one set out to find such evidence? How does one elicit relevant information from suspects and witnesses without having to resort to nefarious means? Do we have at our disposal the means to gather and analyse the science surrounding the crime, i.e. blood-spatter evidence, DNA profiling, crime-scene reconstruction, forensic analysis, etc.? In giving justice to the victims of crime and their families, police officers, whom we task with leading the way in this regard, must view themselves as professionals and act accordingly.
Ours is a situation in which we have to trust the discretion of the judiciary to grant or not grant bail.
Sometimes it seems we forget that we are responsible for “we”. If we want a just society, we have to build it ourselves, we to mean the government, opposition, judiciary, police and citizenry.Andwhen we accept our responsibility for governing to benefit ourselves, we will wake up to the fact that there is a suffering class called the family of the victims of crime.
8. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN ViewsV
Maybe those who have to suffer after their loved ones have suffered at the hand of some miscreant, would appreciate if we adopted the practice in Canada, where anyone found in possession of an illegal firearm will serve a mandatory jail sentence.
Editorial Managing Editor: Desiree Richards Editor: Cyprian Neehall Telephone: 784-456-1123 Fax: 784-451-2129 Website: www.thevincentian.com Email: Mailingvinpub@thevincentian.comAddress:TheVincentianPublishing Co. Ltd., P.O. Box 592, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines. The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Budget Planning again! Keeping crime victims’ families in mind
Currently, this area is being used as a cattle grazing site; we can do better than that. We should initiate a study to determine the best use of this valuable land adjacent to our multimillion investment, the AIA. I believe that developing “Super Pads” for an industrial park on the ground between the airport and the old Argyle road is an opportunity for economic development. Buildings on this site would have to be height restricted, and also, they might be reasons to limit the number of people allowed to assemble in any one building or the area as a whole for safety reasons. But a careful selection of the right kind of industries could be a boost to our job creation efforts. Businesses suitable for this area could include packaging and redistribution centers for import and export.Iwould also like to see some funds be allocated to refurbish the Craft Center in Frenches. And since I have no confidence in our ability to relocate the vegetable vendors up to the old “Geest Shed,” I am proposing we consider opening a Craft Market in that location. I am not giving up on the suggestion to convert the Heritage Square area into a pedestrian mall where local agroprocess vendors can sell their products. We need a place where we can go and get all locally processed agro products. Small agro-processing entrepreneurs should have a place to sell their products since not everyone can access the local supermarket.
SINCE I HAVE NOT SEEN AN opportunity for public input into the five or ten-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), I will have to use this forum to share my thoughts for this year. You see, this CIP should work every year. Around this time, community members should be given an opportunity to articulate their wants and needs for their community. The budget staff should then compile this information and pass it on to the elected officers and the technical team for consideration. If the item is determined to have some merit, it should be given to the appropriate ministry to develop rough cost estimates and a priority ranking. The department should then develop a justification for the project - economic value, social value, and other details like job creation during development, construction, and completion. All this information is essential in the early stages of the project. This information can help secure grant funding if the opportunity presents itself. Sometimes a fully developed lowpriority project could be catapulted to the front of the list because grant funding became available. We never turned down grant funding for any fully vetted project by the community and the elected officials. So in this framework, I would likely put forward a few projects for consideration by the relevant officials. I would also encourage others to contact local officials with their ideas. I would like to see a beach/shoreline protection project for the east side of the airport.
Any bets on such a law passing here? Certainly not in the current climate of political impunity which excuses and justifies even the most egregious sin against the population.
* Cricket has its home at Arnos Vale; football now has two sites (Brighton and Cane Grove) it can calls home; track and field has its home; tennis has its home; what about the indoor sports?
I Man came up with two national ‘Dream Teams’ that I Man would have loved to see in play against one another. Here are my teams: And to crown it off, Mr. Editor, I Man will give one team to Carlo Ancelotti and the other to Pep Guardiola to manage. Talk about a dream!!!
Look at what it says we should do with VAT. They want us to lower the rate, they don’t say how much revenue we are going to lose and worse, they gave no idea about how they are going to go about making up for that loss. And then all this talk about creating jobs as though that is something they can do overnight.
* Why is it that you only see police in places like Pole Yard, Paul’s Avenue, Sharpes, Glen, Ottley Hall when they looking for somebody of interest? Why are there no (regular) patrols in these areas?
A football dream
TO BREAKthe monotony of the goings and comings between our two national political leaders, I Man wondered off into the world of I Man favourite sport — football — in search of some soothing.IMan came up with something I Man felt would tickle the fancy of football enthusiast across the country and with your permission, Mr. Editor, would like to share it accordingly.
* Is that ‘watchman’ who got overpowered at the AIA one of the ‘old type’ watchmen or was he an officer assigned by one of the private security firms here?*By the way, who is in charge of security at the AIA?*Why is it that some fisher folks are saying that the National Fisher Folk Organisation has been compromised by its leadership?
Trevor The PartyNewOppositionDemocratic(NDP)
* How come is the PM, Dr. Gonsalves, giving an overview of our fiscal situation and not the Finance Minister? Is the PM still the Finance Minister or what?
* Why is it that all we hear about what our overseas Missions are doing is soliciting donations for this or that and during times of disaster? Don’t they do other things? Like what?
* And after all that, do we still need this elaborate stadium or just a proper multi-purpose indoor sports facility?
From E.T. Joshua to R.E. Gonsalves
Clive Bish I Bishop Part 1 WHEN JOSHUAleft the political battle field in Trinidad and entered the politic arena in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the 1950s, the economy of this country was based on productionestate–agriculturalofsugar cane, arrowroot, coconut and Sea Island cotton. Each of those endeavours gave rise to its own factoriessugar, arrowroot, oils and fats (soap) and cotton (ginnery) – a number of spinoff cottage industries. With the collapse of the above, the economy became a one-crop driven by banana and bound for the UK, though, we would continue to export vegetables, root and tree crops to regional and international countries. Under R.M. Cato-led St. Vincent Labour Party (SVLP), food production continued unabated and the establishment of the Marketing Cooperation (circa 1970s) was founded to assist with the marketing and sale of locally grown food crops internationally.regionallyespecially,andBythattime, the Grenadines was home to a developing tourism industry with a foothold on the StatehoodCatomainland.ledusintoin1969 and Independence in 1979. Tourism took a stronger footing and brought with it imported food. In 1972 there was an election tie: Cato — SVLP 6 seats, Joshua — Peoples’ Political Party (PPP) 6 seats and Mitchell — one seat (Grenadines). Mitchell joined with Joshua to form government and became the second Premier. Mitchell was a governmentTheprematuregovernmentmantra.hishealthyhealthyforeignimportationleader.nationalistic-mindedHestoppedtheoflotsoffood.Growlocalandeatlocalfood,wasgovernment’sTheMitchell/Joshuacametoaendin1974.SVLPremainedinfrom1974to 1984. When Mitchell’s NDP swept them out and went on to win all 15 seats in 1989 general elections.Mitchell and the NDP swept the SVLP Party government out of office in 1984, and in 1989 took all 15 Gonsalvesseats.started his political leadership journey in 1979 with the 3-headed monster party, the United People’s Movement (UPM). None of the leaders — Renwick Rose, Parnell Campbell, Ralph Gonsalves — won his seat, or any other UPM companyCampbellcandidate.andjoinedthe NDP, Gonsalves quit and formed his MNU (Movement for National Unity), leaving Adrian Saunders leader of the UPM which didn’t last too long, for Saunders migrated.Mr.Editor, you and I are two of the ‘energies’ who sat as counsellors to Gonsalves in his MNU. We allowed him to join with his chief political enemy — the Labour Party - whose leader, Cato, saw him as the darkest moment in the politics of MitchellSVG.asked to keep his communistic ideology on the back burner and learn from him (Mitchell).Mitchell was the first P.M that linked us with Cuba. (Don’t forget that one of our sons died in the education revolution in Cuba, under the Mitchell government). We will continue with Gonsalves becoming P.M, his contribution (good or bad) to the development of our civilization and beyond, in our next writing. Christian Democrat YES, I understand that our democracy is supposed to be built on open and fair battle among political parties who are jostling for the seat of government. In our case, it has been a history of a two-party system, i.e. the Peoples Political Party (PPP) versus the St. Vincent Labour Party (SVLP): the SVLP versus the New Democratic Party (NDP); and the NDP versus the Unity Labour Party (ULP).Iunderstand that there will always be an opposition voice. But what bothers me is that it becomes difficult to figure out what is the real intent and motivation behind some of the NDP’s positions on national issues and the programmes theyVerysuggest.often I am led to conclude that all the NDP wants to do is oppose and in so doing it obstructs progress.Lookat what it wanted during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It called for a shutdown of the country, which was totally unnecessary, only because other countries were doing it.
PEOPLE ARE ASKING⁄..
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022. 9. LettersV
I tell you, Mr. Editor, if they don’t wake up soon, they will be banished to the halls of opposition politics for the rest of their existence. By the way, am I correct in saying, dating back to 1979, that the ULP has spent the least time in Opposition, 1998 - 2001?
(Excerpts of Dr. Friday’s National Address Pt. 3)
Working together, we will improve the political and economic conditions of SVG
Buccama workers
WHATof the teachers, public servants and police officers who were fired because of the government’s misguided vaccine mandate? I have called for their reinstatement. Prime Minister Gonsalves recently announced that teachers would have to re-apply to get their jobs back. So, there is no guarantee of them getting their jobs back. The government might pick and choose who to ‘rehire’. Further, rehired workers would have to start over, with no guarantee of getting their benefits or long service awards. To tell teachers that they must reapply for their jobs is disrespectful to them, for they have served long and selflessly and will continue to devote their lives to helping our children. The punitive measures against unvaccinated teachers and health care workers must stop. All over the world, governments, businesses, and other organizations have rejected Covid-19 vaccine mandates, and have earnestly begun the process of learning to live with the disease, which will be with us for a very long time, perhaps forever.TheGonsalves government mishandled the COVID crisis from the beginning and continues to do so. They are out of touch with the concerns of the people because they have been isolated in a bubble for far too long, shielded from the everyday concerns of the people.
Confronting “Job-like Afflictions”: The Pandemic, La Soufriere eruptions and Inflation
10. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN ViewsV
Conclusion My dear people, we can have a bright future. I want our young people to be able to remain here and have a good life, with employment, decent health care, safe communities and with optimism about our country’s future.How we get there is a conversation truly worth having. So, we will talk again over the coming weeks as I continue to show how we intend to reach our goal of improving the political and economic conditions in our country. I believe in our country. And, I know we can do better. Working together we will meet the present challenges and we will embark on the path to a bright future.
Reinstate Unvaccinated Teachers,Public Servants
Note, the recent embarrassing episode in which a memo from the Ministry of Health, signed by the Permanent Secretary, indicated that health workers would have to take a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot every five months only for the Minister to deny it the following day saying that there was a transcription error and no such decision had been taken by the government. How could this be the result of a transcription error? Was the Cabinet meeting conducted in French or another foreign language? Do you believe that explanation? I don’t! This is more bungling by the government and a clear failure of governance in this important public health matter.
Fix homes in the North Further, too many people in the North of the country whose homes were damaged by the volcano still don’t have a roof over their heads. Their homes have not been repaired though the government got money to do it. It is long overdue. They must not be kept waiting any longer.
The ULP administration continues to manage the country well despite the many challenges. We have seen over $55 million in direct humanitarian and social protection support to those most impacted by the Pandemic and the volcano and an additional $20 million in volcano-related support, that was delivered directly from NGOs to vulnerable persons. The ULP remains the party for the poor and working class, doing all that it can to cushion the many negative effects caused not by the ULP administration but continues to be creative in providing many forms of support while the Opposition seeks to create confusion and mayhem and has no idea how to deal with these challenges much less in managing a country. As Former Attorney General Mr.Parnel Campbell of blessed memory once said, he slept comfortably at night knowing “Comrade Ralph” and the ULP managing the country in these challenging uncertain times.
NEMO and BRAGSA please fix the people’s homes and help the people, who have suffered so much for so long, to return to their normal lives. Forget about political partisanship. We are One People! Give help according to need. That is the only valid basis for distributing governmental resources.
After losing all his earthly wealth, his children, and his own health, while enduring false accusations and disdain from his community, Job continued to hope and trust in the Lord (Job 27:2 4) The issue THE CONSENSUSamong many Vincentians, including those who support the opposition New Democratic Party, is that we are in one of the most challenging years in the history of the development of the country. Never in our history have we experienced both a pandemic and thirty-two explosive volcanic eruptions simultaneously, events that only happen once every century. These two events disrupted the socio-economic fabric of our society since we experienced 20,000 of our family and friends evacuating to evade the devastation wrought by volcanic eruptions and the loss of loved ones to COVID19 and now, because of disruptions in the supply chain and the war in Ukraine, we are experiencing, as all over the world, skyrocketing inflation rate. The explosive eruptions had a crippling impact across Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, having ejected over 500,000 tonnes of ash, lahars and pyroclastic flow destroying buildings and farms across the northern third of Saint Vincent. Over 770 homes were damaged or destroyed. Preliminary analysis from the United Nations Development Programme estimates loss and damage of $635 million, an astronomicalMeanwhile,sum.the COVID19 pandemic has resulted in the loss of one hundred and fifteen lives of our loved ones and resulted in severe economic slowdown activities across all sectors while affecting the way we socialize with one another. However, while we experience “Job-like” afflictions of the volcanic eruptions and the pandemic, we are currently experiencing the onslaught of heightened inflation. How can a small country like St. Vincent and the Grenadines survive these massive blows to its socio-economy? How has the ULP administration respond to these challenges? The response Despite all these “Job-like” afflictions, despite supply chain disruptions, despite the devastation and disruption wrought by the volcanic eruptions and rising inflation, the ULP administration has governed the country through a state of normalcy. This is a combination of the resilience and productivity of our people, and the active policies and strategic interventions by the government.Duringthe height of the pandemic, the ULP administration implemented a wide range of measures contained in the Recovery & Stimulus Package has directly touched well over 33,000 Vincentians. These include but are not limited to the free distribution of 40,443 “Love Box” food packages, income support to 5000 farmers, 2302 vendors, 340 taxi and tour operators,441 omnibus drivers, 107 cartmen,425 creative professionals, 500 vulnerable persons, duty-free concession on 25,000 barrels, unemployment benefit for 3642 persons through the NIS, and loan moratorium from the banks benefitting 2423 Vincentians. Additionally, with the explosive eruptions of la Soufriere further disrupting lives and livelihood, the ULP administration stepped in and assisted through a plethora of initiatives geared towards providing shelter, food, and income support. Thankfully, with the assistance of international, local and regional agencies given the influence of “Comrade Ralph” and his government along with the central government’s intervention, the ULP administration has provided a significant amount of support through the delivery of over 100,000 meals, direct one-off income support for all 10,000 farmers and continued income support for farmers and fishers in red and orange zones, accommodating 402 persons with vulnerabilities in hotels and guest homes, payment of cash grants through World Food Programme, cash transfers to 490 school vendors, 91 tourism site vendors and 221 small business owners in the red and orange zones.Already, persons who moved into their new homes at Orange Hill are joyous with the homes built by the government, while many persons continue to receive income support and this initiative will be expanded to yellow and green zones for vulnerable families. With increasing inflation around us, the ULP government continues to monitor the situation and approach this issue with prudence and enterprise. In this regard, the ULP administration responded swiftly to this challenge by using levers available to the state to help cushion the negative impact on all citizens. In this regard, we have seen the reduction of excise tax on fuel from 18 % to 9%, provision of fuel subsidy for motorists, and zero-rated VAT on VINLEC domestic consumers’ bills once using less than 250-kilowatt units per hour, benefitting over 50% of domestic customers, the distribution of love boxes, the removal of Customs Service Charge on fuel for VINLEC, and LPG gas, the subsidization of fertilizers and flour, payment of 900,000 to arrowroot farmers, provision of bank cards to over 5000 persons under VEEP initiative and the negotiations with Venezuela for cheaper fuel along with the many essential items that are VAT exempted and zero-rated. What Ah Government! Conclusion
The surest way to improve our standard of living is to grow our economy and provide employment for our people. That is why we support efforts to revive the troubled Buccament Bay hotel project. However, despite extravagant promises from the government about jobs for us, it appears that foreign workers, mainly from the Dominican Republic–hold most of the jobs. So, what happen to Vincentians; we don’t need jobs? We have a serious unemployment problem in the country. Does the government not know this? Instead of talking about who will succeed him, Prime Minister Gonsalves should address this situation and give the assurance that our people have priority for available jobs at the project. Plan for affordable cost of living Across the OECS and the wider Caribbean, governments have cut fuel taxes, reduced import charges, controlled the prices of basic goods, increased direct supports to those most in need and helped with utility bills. Wherever I go in the country, I hear the cry from ordinary people that they need help. “Why is the government not helping me with the high cost of living?” “Do they even have a plan to deal with this problem?”Dayafter day, it becomes more difficult to make ends meet. I know of your struggle to pay light bills, to put food on the table, and to buy shoes, clothes, books to send your children back to school in September. A few days of road work might help a bit but can’t cover most of the bills. More relief is needed.
* Increase the number of zero-rated VAT items. This will reduce grocery bills for everyone * Immediately repeal the Customs Service Charge increase to reduce import costs; * Increase support for lower income families by expanding existing support programs and ensure that the support is distributed based on need and not by political favour; * Provide import duty concessions for the transportation industry, which is to say minivans, buses, and taxis, and* End the unlimited increase in the VINLEC bill by putting a cap on the fuel surcharge and improve efficiency.
We in the NDP have a plan to immediately help to ease the effects of rising cost of living and ensure that we protect families. We urge the following:*Reduce VAT from 16% to 13% and ensure that the savings are passed on to ordinary consumers. This will help everyone across the board;
Send comments, criticisms & suggestions to jomosanga@gmail com
You and I are “wired” to accomplish so many great and noble things but, for a host of reasons (excuses) we often function below ourManycapacity.individuals falter and fail when faced with life’s challenges. We can appear to be so calm and composed when life is fine — when everything is going according to plan and there are no obstacles in the way. But life’s seas will not always be calm. The placid ocean will periodically throw up some high waves. Our ship will sometimes be battered. Our sails may even get torn. But … we need not be defeated. We are hardwired for struggle. We were designed to succeed. We have the capacity to win. We can still reach that distant shore … and drop anchor in the harbor of success. Yes, battered ships may appear to take in water at times. We may see the water reach beyond the Plimsoll Line too — seemingly pulling us into the deepest abyss. We may want to give in and give up when things are not going right for us. But all is not lost … we still have the capacity to make it through. We were hardwired for struggle. Deep down within each of us there is that potential, that capacity to overcome struggle. Yes, we were hardwired for struggle. It is just that we so very often give up and give in to defeat. We take the easy way out. We abandon the task (that pursuit of a most noble dream) and pretend to be like a dead fish floating downstream when we have the capacity to swim against the tide. Struggle! There is beauty in struggle! The battle with disease or a tragic accident can bring out the best in us (even though we shudder at the thought of coping with the physical and/or emotional pain). The loss of a job or a close relative or friend, as traumatic as those experiences are, can reveal our strength of character and determination. The darker the circumstances may appear the brighter the light of our determination will show. And so, we rekindle our courage and we polish that fortitude and determination that has brought us thus far. We press on with new gusto; new commitment, new hope; new confidence. We know that even as we consider the probability that we may fall in the strugglethat will not deter us from the pursuit or support of a cause we believe to be just and noble. It shall not deter us for we were hardwired for struggle! Send comments, criticisms & suggestions julesferdinand@gmail.comto
“THE PROBABILITY THAT WE MAYfall in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just; it shall not deter me.” - Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) 16th US president 1861-65, elected 2 terms. Several years ago, while addressing a group of young adults, I commented that we were hardwired for struggle. I was making the point that we should value struggle and to consider that, in so many cases, we have the capacity to bear much more than we had previously thought possible — we are hardwired for struggle. One young lady appeared offended that I would describe God’s wonder of creation as “wiring”. It was certainly not my intention to appear to be detracting from God’s handy work. The converse was true: I was seeking to assure the audience that the same God who designed us so beautifully in relation to the physical characteristics also provided the capacity for courage against great odds, perseverance, fortitude, and so on. As we ponder the significance of the thoughts expressed in the preceding paragraph it is probably useful (in the interest of the younger readers) to provide an analogy that is linked to modern technology. After all, that is the realm in which the younger generation (and many older citizens too) comfortably dwell in on a regular basis. They readily grasp the concepts that are related to hardware (physical structures) and software (programmes). But even those of us who describe ourselves as novices in relation to the modern technology can appreciate the example that I now choose to bring the points out in relation to our capacity to cope with a variety of life’s challenges andDostruggles.youhave a cell phone? Most persons reading this article will have at least one cell phone. Some will actually have more than one. What are the functions that your cell phone is capable of doing? Even some of the least expensive cell phones, in addition to making and receiving telephone calls, can send text messages; store contact information; store notes, messages, and reminders; provide date and time; take still photographs and videos; operate as a calculator; have calendars; display maps; emit global positioning signals, etc. Yes, these small, innocent-looking gadgets have so many functions. They are loaded with capabilities. How many of these features do you use? And why aren’t you using the others? Yes, we are already getting the point — we do not always use many of the functions that we have been blessed with.
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022. 11. OpinionV
Hardwired for struggle
Africa’s Contribution to World Civilization
‘IN THE PAST, THE VENERATION given to Africa was enormous, whether for its natural genius, its appreciation for learning, or its religious organisation. This continent nurtured the growth of a number of men of great value, whose genius and assiduousness have made an inestimable contribution to the knowledge of human affairs.’—the Rector of the University of Wittenberg, Johannes Gottfried Kraus, 1734. ‘How is it, a people, now forgotten, discovered, while others were yet barbarians, the elements of the arts and the sciences. A race of men now rejected from society for their dark skin and frizzled hair, founded on the study of the laws of nature, those civil and religious systems which still govern the universe.’ Count Volney 1791 How did we get from there, where Africa and Africans were celebrated for their contributions to the world? Why did Europe’s intellectual elite, people who ought to know better, write some of the most untruthful, hurtful and harmful stories of our ancestors? To appreciate the basis for the almost demonic assault by Europe on all things African, we have to remember that by the 17th century, Europe had embarked on its project of conquest, slavery and colonialism; it needed a justification for its Here’sbarbarism.asample of the intellectual dishonesty that undergirds the system of white supremacy. These ideas and the centuries-long genocidal system of slavery and colonialism help to explain the level of self-hatred that eats away at the soul of Africans on the continent and across the diaspora. They also help to preserve the exploitative system of capitalism, which drives racism and prevents the unity and solidarity of the working of the world.‘Africa is said to be unhistorical; undeveloped spirit — still involved in the conditions of mere nature; devoid of morality, religions and political constitution.’ The Philosophy of History, George Hegel 1813. Hence he holds that there is a justification for Europe’s enslavement and colonisation of Africa. For him, slavery causes the ‘increase of human feeling among the Negroes.’ In his Essays and Treatises on Several Subjects (1753-4), David Hume wrote: ‘I am apt to suspect the negroes, and in general all the other species of men (for there are four or five different kinds) to be naturally inferior to the whites…There never was a civilised nation of any other complexion than white, nor any individual eminent either in action or speculation.’Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) built on Hume (1711-76), and stressed that the fundamental difference between blacks and whites ‘appears to be as great in regard to mental capacities as in colour’, before concluding in Physical Geography: ‘Humanity is at its greatest perfection in the race of the whites.’ In France, Voltaire (1694-1778), Essay on Universal History (1756), wrote that if Africans’ ‘intelligence is not of another species than ours, then it is greatly inferior’.What did all of these ‘enlightenment thinkers have in common? They either invested heavily in the slave trade or were apologists for slavery. The dishonesty and conceit of these men are laughable except for their dangerous legacy which has done so much to sicken the white mind and harm the African psyche.Somuch that Europe claims is not theirs. White men are credited with developing the age of reason. However, ‘discoveries’ long buried are rising like a phoenix.Anton Amo, a Ghanian (1703 to 1755) in On the Impassivity of the Human Mind (1734), supported and disagreed with Rene Descartes. Descartes believes that the soul (mind) can act and suffer together with the body. Hence, Amo writes: ‘In reply to these words, we caution and dissent: we concede that the mind acts together with the body by the mediation of a mutual union. But we deny that it suffers together with the body.’ Is this the thought process of an inferior mind or an intellectual contemporary?Anentirecentury earlier, the Ethiopian Zera Yacob (1599-1692) wrote in Hatata (meaning inquires) in 1632: ‘All men are equal in the presence of God; and all are intelligent since they are his creatures; he did not assign one people for life, another for death, one for mercy, another for judgment. Our reason teaches us that this sort of discrimination cannot exist.’Yet John Locke is credited with proclaiming the notion that all men were created equal. He, however, went on to draft the slave constitution of Carolina in 1669.Immanuel Kant, in Observations on the Feeling of the Beautiful and Sublime 1764, wrote: ‘A woman is embarrassed little that she does not possess certain high insights.’ And in his lectures on ethics, he proclaimed: ‘The desire of a man for a woman is not directed to her as a human being, on the contrary, the woman’s humanity is of no concern to haim; and the only object of his desire is herContrastsex.’ these ‘enlightenment’ views with Yacob, the African: ‘The Creator in His wisdom has made blood flow monthly from the womb of women, for them to bear children…therefore the law of Moses, which states that menstruating women are impure, is against nature and the Creator, since it impedes marriage and the entire life of a woman, and it spoils the law of mutual help, prevents the bringing up of children and destroys love.’Yacob married a woman who formerly worked as a servant and maintained she should ‘no longer be a servant, but rather his peer because husband and wife are equal in marriage.’ Who then are the enlightened ones? Yacob and Amo are two examples of African reason and humanity. If Europeans had not stifled and retarded African thought, imagine a world in which we would be living. As the scholarship of our ancestors is revealed and becomes known, African people will realise that greatness flows in our veins. They will discard their shame and continue a journey that will free them from mental slavery. This is why the struggle for reparations must include the effort to return the art, artefacts and literary works to African and its people. Our legacy is either stolen, lost or hidden. Once we know the great contributions we made to civilisation, African will fly yet again.
Businesses in the high tech industry are willing to relocate to Singapore as employees in Singapore take a very short period to train and be fully employed. In SVG, there is far too much focus on tourism. The days of Sun and Sand and Sea are dead.
IT IS CLEARthat we deserve and should have new leadership in many organizations and even in Government. A close look at those who should hold the reigns of power will show that they are well qualified and experienced. Those close to the Old Guard are fearful of ruining their chances by letting them know that it is time to go. Many of us regret the opportunity lost and the talents wasted by our failure to install the new, vibrant, and inspirational leader. The damage done by the tired, old leadership would take years to undo if it is not permanent.
THE LEADER of SVG Green Party, Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, strongly contends that high skills training is urgently needed to move SVG into prosperity. The strong emphasis on offering subordinate, low-paid employment in the tourism sector — such as cooking the food, serving the food and making up the beds - is out of date. It has no long term future for our country and is unacceptable.Wemusttake a look at countries that are doing extremely well, such as Singapore, with very high quality education and technical skills training.
12. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022 THE VINCENTIAN ViewsV
Visionary SVG Green Party Leader, Mr Ivan O’Neal, believes that SVG must urgently become part of the green world, and start up a green jobs training programme, as this would give Vincentians the skills needed to get highly paid jobs in green industries in SVG and abroad. A green jobs training programme would empower our people, and give them valuable skills and a lifetime ability to earn money.There are many jobs worldwide in the Green industry, yet the ULP regime lacks the vision to train our people to do these jobs. A Green government will set up a green jobs training programme to give our people the skills and an internationally recognised qualification, so they can work in the solar, wind, hydro and other green industries. With the skills learned and qualifications gained, people will be able to get work in SVG and all over the world. Many green jobs abroad have salaries in excess of EC$80,000 a year.For example, completing a solar PV (photovoltaic) training course would enable a person to become a solar panel installer and enter an exciting, growing market. The training programme would teach the skills needed to install solar PV panels, and also the skills to install domestic electrics, meaning the person would have two ways to generate an income, by doing PV or electrical installation jobs.With a green jobs training programme, people would be able to set up their own business and earn money independently. There is a huge potential for green jobs in SVG, but the incompetent ULP regime seems happy to let our people suffer in poverty and unemployment. A Green government would create hundreds of new green jobs to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life of Vincentians.Thereismoney to be made in green industries; there are jobs available in green industries. Vincentian people need to be trained so that they can get these green jobs and get a share of the billions of dollars being made in green industries.Investment in engineering and skills training will bring a much higher yield and rate of return on capital invested than anything we will ever see in tourism in SVG. The focus on tourism in SVG is killing our economy and perpetuates generational poverty. A focus on engineering in SVG will bring prosperity to the people.According to Warrant Officer Ivan O’Neal, BSc (Hons) MSc, MBA, since Independence in October 1979, our socalled leaders have done absolutely nothing to drive industrialisation to boost employment and the economy.
Unfounded fear of new leadership
by Anthony G. Stewart, PhD
In our own families, our children grow up and become leaders of their own families. Attempting to lead our grown children would make our families and theirs dysfunctional. Secondary Schools may be dysfunctional if the leadership is unable to guarantee that all its students pass Math, English and three other subjects, have at least one skill, and are able to live and make a living. We cannot hide behind the results of the high achievers and suppress those at the bottom of the class. All our students are important and those at the bottom need more attention to meet the standard required for progress. Evaluation of school leaders should be done regularly by teachers and students so that they can adjust themselves forTheprogress.CivilService is the engine of Government and the Service Commissions must take their task seriously by complying with their own mandate to appoint workers on merit. Stagnation caused by those in leadership who either do not know what to do or lack the confidence to do anything, needs to be banished. Stumbling blocks need to be moved out of the way and efficiency allowed to reign.ThePolice can restore confidence in the law and peace-keeping if promotion is done by merit and examination, and their action is independent of politicians. We are at a stage where our Community College needs to cater for the training needs of the Police. The Police should be an integral part of the community where they operate. Temporary policing cannot serve the interest of the outlying areas. Their housing and educational needs must be met. The problem of Leadership in Government is not one of age, although that is a factor, but one of tiredness, both physical and mental. Once the goal of building the International Airport (which some claim is a financial millstone around our necks) was achieved, mental laziness set in and investment mistakes continue to be made. I cannot imagine that Renee Baptiste, Stalky John, Ken Boyea, Saboto Caesar or Curtis King would make the same decisions. Although commanding only a minority of the population of the country, apparently, no effort is made to consider the views of the Majority. Dr. Godwin Friday, Major St. Clair Leacock, and the other Opposition Parliamentarians represent the views of the Majority Population of the country and their views should be given full Leadershipconsideration.intheElectoral Office is critical in ensuring free and fair elections. Voters should not be allowed in areas in which they do not live and opposition parties should have a full say in the operations of the office.
The unbiased role of the Speaker of the House is critical to free Parliamentary Debates and the independence of the Office must be guarded.Freedom of the Press is critical to our Democracy and should be promoted. Leaders should encourage freedom to speak and write. Reading of the local newspapers should be promoted, and encouraged especially in all our schools and among our leaders and workers.
Technical skills training is urgently needed
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022. 13. NewsV
Brendon Child – Principal of the Sandy Bay Secondary School.
A section of the graduates showing off their skills last Sunday
Graduates pose with their certificates, in the company of Government and other officials.
Principal welcomes back pan
The Sandy Bay Secondary School training programme was a spin-off of the Annual Sion Hill Euphonium Streel Orchestra’s Training Programme held during the long August school break. The Sandy Bay programme was held from 25th July to 27th SeptimusAugust.Caine of the Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra conducted the training. He was assisted by St Clair Lewis . At last Sunday’s Graduation Ceremony, Warren Knights- Chairman of the Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra, Ms. I’ Sheka De RiggsVice- President of the Youlou Pan Movement(YPM) , along with Mrs. Dularie Malcolm - Administrative Director of the Mustique Charitable Trust and Child, made brief remarks. Parliamentary Representative for North Windward- Hon Montgomery Daniel and Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, also addressed the ceremony.
WHEN TWENTY – SEVEN STUDENTS OF the Sandy Bay Secondary School got enrolled in the Steel Pan Training Programme during July of this year, it was especially pleasing to the school’s Principal- Brendon Child. He welcomed the re-establishment of the steel pan programme in the school, following some years of relative inactivity.Theschool is currently being housed at Mount Young, following re-location as a consequence of the La Soufrière eruptions in April, 2021. Despite the accommodations,comfortablesurroundings and amenities, Child disclosed that there were a few psycho—social challenges that confronted some of the students. In an interview with the VINCENTIAN, Child shared: “Coming out from the La Soufrière eruptions, students were still traumatized and you could have seen it in their attitudes. Some students did not work well and they had a hard time settling down…It was challenging for teachers to get them in the classroom for long periods, because they were away from the classroom because of Covid and so on.”He said that he and senior members of staff racked their brains in an attempt to come up with ways to keep the students focused. However, as fate would have it, their concerns were allayed with a timely phone call. “We got the call from Mr (Warren) Knights (of the Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra) who said the Mustique Charitable Trust said that they had the interest in carrying out a pan programme in the school. We immediately jumped at the opportunity,” Child recalled. Noting that the re-introduction of the pan programme to the school, proved a good fillip to the institution, Child disclosed, “The students really participated, they showed their interest, they came every day and we can see the benefits of that interest….From some of them not even playing a pan before, it is amazing the way they caught on”. Child is hopeful that more students will get involved when the 2022/2023 academic year begins next week.
“I look forward to see more students come forward and play pan as extracurricular activities really help students to focus more on their academics,” Child posited.
14. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN DiaporaV
PHIL STEWART, CO-ORGANIZERof the annual Union Island Day Picnic, says “Peace, Love and Unity”, the theme of this year’s celebration, was stressed on Sunday, Aug. 28, at Canarsie Park, on Seaview Avenue, in Brooklyn, New York. “We have a reasonable crowd,” Stewart told THE VINCENTIAN, flanked by co-organizers Angela Stowe-Edwards and Victor Hypolite, Jr. The other coorganizer was Burnis Hutchinson.“Wegota lot of people from the mainland (St Vincent), Jamaica and other islands,” Stewart added. “The theme of the picnic is ‘Peace, Love and Unity’ of all the islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We’re trying to promote peace among us.” Carmen McMillan — who was born in Chateaubelair, but grew up in Trinidad and Tobago before migrating to New York — said she fully endorsed the picnic’s theme. “It’s my first time, but I’m enjoying it,” she said, after Vincentian soca artiste Edson “Lively” McDonald handed her a drink. “I like how the people unite together. It’s good.” As he feasted on a plate of local delicacies, Glenroy “Goebel” Phillips — an executive member of the Vincy Day USA Committee, organizer of the massive Vincy Day Picnic at Heckscher State Park in East Islip, Long Is., New York — said “Peace, Love and Unity” is important to the community.“Thisiswhat it means to be a Vincentian,” said the Sion Hill native. “I’m enjoying myself.” Standing next to Phillips, Samuel “Kala” Gordon said he loved the camaraderie and entertainment, as the band, Caribbean Connection, blasted Caribbean rhythms. “First time seeing the Diaspora community spirit,” intoned Leon Romeo, formerly from Rose Place, Kingstown. “The picnic allows us to see many people we’ve not seen in years.”Wearing a T-shirt with the Vincentian colors of green, blue and gold, Jeffrey Glasgow, of Campden Park, said he was having a good time. “I love it,” he said, flanked by his Jamaican-born wife, Carol. “Nice, just right! Camaraderie is good, everybody is good, perfect for summer.” A few yards away, Bernard Wyllie, a former minister of government in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and erstwhile diplomat at the Vincentian Consulate in New York, held court with Dr. Stewart.
live entertainment. Carmena
Union Island Day Picnic: ÂPeace, Love and UnityÊ
Victor
Caribbean Connection provides McMillan with Vincy soca artiste Edson “Lively” McDonald. L-R: Hypolite, Angela Stowe-Edwards and Phil Stewart
“Culturally, I’m supporting my country,” McIntosh said. “The picnic is very nice. The crowd was very supportive.”Hypolite, whose father, inwhoaddedlastconnectionthis,generationyoungerimportantfrom.ancestorswherecontinuecommunity,build“ansaidtorecentlyHypolite,VictorSr.,returnedUnionIsland,thepicnicisopportunitytogenerationaltothespiritmycame“It’smoreforthetoseetomakeathat’llalifetime,”Hypolite,wasbornBrooklyn.
Signage at
Co-organizers,
Dr. Kendall Stewart, right, with former St. Vincent and the Grenadines Government Minister Bernard Wyllie
Story and photos by Nelson A. naking@verizon.netUSKingCORRESPONDENT
Union Island Day Picnic.
“It’s a nice get-together,” Wyllie said. “People were not able to gather around in the last two years (because of the COVID-19 pandemic).” Dr. Stewart, the former representative for the 45th Council District in Brooklyn, who hails from Union Island, chimed in: “It’s very nice. It’s always good. The weather is alwaysMarygood.”Harry-Stewart, Dr. Stewart’s sister-in-law, Phil’s wife, said she loved the picnic, but added: “I just wish it was Union Island, Canouan and Mayreau (islands in the southern St. Vincent Grenadines). “It’s something we’re thinking about, working on,” said Mary, who was born in Canouan.” She, however, said the Union Island Day Picnic is “a brilliant idea.” “You get to taste home-cooked food,” MaryDenisecontinued.Craigg, a member of the Brooklyn-based group VincyCares, who hails from Gomea, said she loved the picnic and “enjoyed the food.” After belching out soca and reggae vibes, Dan “Daka” Primus-Griffith, of Sion Hill, lead vocalist with Caribbean Connection, said the picnic was “very good.”“Itwas an exceptionally good day,” said the former vocalist with the Vincentian bands Touch, Asterisks and Strange Vibration. “I was happy to see people I’ve not seen in years.” Miles McIntosh, the Vincentianborn lead guitarist with Caribbean Connection, brought along his Guyanese-born wife.
Editor’s Note: Alston BECKET Cyrus is a native of the western coastal town of Layou on mainland St. Vincent. He resides there for the better part of the year, travelling to the USA for purposes of business and other personal reasons. It is to the town of Layou, his place of birth and nurturing, that he not only expresses but personifies a deep commitment. It is there that he chose to found his philanthropic organization — The Becket Benefit Organisation (BBO) - which reaches out to the community with assistance in areas of education and health, and extends assistance generally and especially to children.
THE VINCENTIAN joins with all well-wishing Vincentians home and abroad, in congratulating Alston BECKEt Cyrus on being awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters (DLitt) by the University of the West Indies. There is hardly another person who is as deserving of such recognition and elevation, for his contribution to the upliftment and ennobling of the Vincentian and Caribbean cultural landscape has been unquestionable immense.
THE UNIVERSITY OF THEWest Indies (The UWI) will welcome 16 outstanding global citizens to its graduation stage this year. The honorary graduands, recognised for their contributions to several areas including Sport, Culture, Law, Business, and Science will join the 2022 graduating class in-person this year, as a majority of campuses return to face-to-face ceremonies, to be held between October 8 and November 5. Among the honored 16 is St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ cultural icon and Goodwill Ambassador — Alston BECKET Cyrus. He will receive an Honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt), to be conferred at the Graduation ceremony of the Five Island Campus, Antigua and Barbuda. BECKET joins the ranks of a prestigious list of fewer than 500 persons awarded honorary doctorates by The UWI, among whom are Vincentians Dr. Edgar Julian Duncan and Franklyn Mc Intosh, who received an Honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) and an Honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt) respectively, in 2020. The UWI offered the following profile as accompaniment to its announcement of the bestowing of the Honorary Doctaorate on BECKET: “Alston BECKET Cyrus is an outstanding Caribbean soca/raggasoca/calypso artiste and composer. He has fostered an illustrious 47-year career with 28 albums; numerous award-winning singles; one movie soundtrack–‘Disco Calypso’, in the motion picture The Deep; five compositions featured in four American TV programmes including “Full House” and “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno”, and eight Road March titles, all to his credit.
He first came to the spotlight in 1975 when he was crowned Vacilla/Esa1994world’slabel,PolydorwasGermany,languages.recordedandlabelfromwhich‘Teaser’arrangerCalypso/ReggaeMcIntosh,withwhichHigh’includeinternationalKISS.DonnaartistesinCasablancarecordsignedCalypsoniansonlyHeandColombia,America,acrossperformedlongatHistory’songsMonarchVincent’sSt.Calypsowithtwo‘Carnivaland‘MassVictoria’.Inhiscareer,hehasonstagesNorthBritain,SpaintheCaribbean.isalsooneofafewtobebyamajorlabel:Records1977,alongsidesuchasSummerandBECKET’shits‘Coming(1977)onheworkedDr.Frankieacclaimedand(1990)wasreleasedBECKET’sownCocoaRecordssubsequentlyinovertenIn‘Teaser’releasedbyrecordingoneofthelargest.In‘EllameChica’, the Spanish version of ‘Teaser’ was named Salsa/Tropical Song of the Year by Billboard/Univision.Whileheiswellknown for entertaining songs like ‘Small Pin’, ‘Gal Ah Rush Me’ and ‘Doh Eat And Lie Down’ his music has gone beyond party music. He made regional and international social commentary on a wide array of topics including politics, cricket, black pride and human rights with songs like ‘I am an African’; ‘Grenada Will Rise Again’; ‘Laramania’; ‘President Obama’ and his 1984 song ‘Love is the Answer’ which was remade in 2011 to commemorate 9/11. In commemoration of the Caribbean hosting the 2007 Cricket World Cup, BECKET released ‘Cricket Is We Ting’, an album containing ten original tracks all about cricket.In2000, Alston BECKET Cyrus became the first Caribbean artiste to perform at the US Open tennis tournament and was listed as one of the 17 Outstanding Caribbean Personalities of the 20th Century. In 2001 he was named a Goodwill Ambassador for St. Vincent and the Grenadines and in 2010 became the first soca/calypso artiste to perform at the Montreal International Reggae Festival, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.”
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022. 15. NewsV
Alston BECKET Cyrus.
BECKET to get DoctorateHonorary
ARRANGING MUSIC IS AN ART and if there is one master of this art, it is St. Vincent and the Grenadines own Franklyn ‘Frankie’ Mc Intosh, referred to in the hallowed walls of music as ‘the Maestro’. Frankie was in St. Vincent and the Grenadines this week availed himself of the National Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio programme called ‘Talk yo talk’, a show that was formalised by Rondy Luta’ McIntosh and Rodney AnchormanSmall.Johnny P Starker and Programme Manager Colville Harry occupied Frankie on air, but it was clear that there might not have been enough time to traverse the life, times, contributions and achievements of ‘the Maestro’, as brief as Frankie would want you believe his memoirs are. It was perhaps coincidental that while here, news broke that Alston BECKET Cyrus, the man with whom Frankie collaborated to create his most telling impact on the Caribbean musical landscape, was in line for a UWI Honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt), an award that was conferred on Frankie in 2020. Frankie will be the first to congratulate BECKET. As far as accolades are concerned, ‘the Maestro’ is especially proud of the honour bestowed on him by the administration of former Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell, that of having his picture placed on a commemorative stamp July 1997. That honour Frankie kept secret until it exploded into the public domain, when someone posted the stamp on social media. And in recalling his exposure to music and live music, Frankie described being lifted up the stairs of the Working Men’s Association Hall in Paul’s Avenue at age two and half, by the late AssociationEllsworthtrumpeter/flugelhornist‘Shake’Keane.TheHallwasthebeacon of like entertainment — live music — in St. Vincent during the 1940s, 1950s and the early 1960s. That two-year-old, introduced to music by his father and schooled in the theory and practice of music by music teacher Eunic Horne, would devote his life from thereon in to music — the study, writing, playing and arranging of that beautiful art. Those who are desirous of familiarising themselves further with musical arranging and musical arrangers can look forward, according to Frankie, to the year-end release of a book, “Arts of the Arranger”, the work of Ray Allen who is acclaimed for his involvement with the regional music industry.Andjust in case readers are still unaware of the qualification of this widely respected Vincentian, Frankie is a classically-trained Jazz musician, with the BA degree in music from the Brooklyn College of the City University of New York (CUNY), an MA degree in Jazz Performance from the New York University (NYU) School of Education, and a licensed teacher from the NYC Board of Education.Heisdescribed as a devoted family man who is married to Patricia McIntosh (née Olivacce) for nearly half a century, and has four children, Ahmad, Omar, Jamilah and Hakim, and eight grandchildren. (WKA)
ÂThe MaestroÊ shares Âjust a littleÊ
Franklyn ‘Frankie’ Mc Intosh (DLitt) –distinguished son of the soil.
16. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022 THE VINCENTIAN NewsV
(Editor’s Note: The following is a submission by the KCCU which we are pleased to carry verbatim) AT THE KINGSTOWN COOPERATIVE Credit Union Limited (KCCU), we pride ourselves on “changing lives, one member at a time”; a mantra we have extended to the entire Vincentian public through the official opening of a brand new Western Union agency office at our Kingstown Branch on August 29, 2022.
Over 800 to receive tuition scholarship
Opens Western Union Office
“I’m told by the authorities that some of those who applied, but weren’t considered, did not have their admission to the university; some had not taken all the documentation. It’s a huge number,” he said and added, “There were 1100something people who applied, so I’m trying to find resources for another 50 or so.” The Prime Minister also expressed his delight at the wide variety of subjects pursued by scholarship recipients and reminded that his government’s Education Revolution is committed to ensure that all ages of youth is educated. It was disclosed that each scholarship will cover the cost of tuition for one academic year, and will carry a maximum value of EC $25,000.00. Medical programmes are granted a maximum value of $10,000.00.
Mrs. Cynthis Hope-Browne, past Presdient KCCU, cut the ribbon to declare the Western Union branch open. The Western Union window located in the KCCU Kingstown Branch Offcie.
The decision to expand on this service, currently being offered at our Mesopotamia branch, came about after the eruption of the La Soufrière La Soufriere Volcano in April 2021, which witnessed an increase in the number of transactions completed. The eruption highlighted how vital access to these services were to the Vincentian public. as well as the inconveniences faced from having few alternatives. As such, the motivation behind KCCU fulfilling this commitment was guided by three key objectives: * making sending and receiving monies to and from loved ones easier; * mitigating some of the challenges faced with corresponding banking relations; and * meeting our social obligation by providing a well needed service. The opening of this new Western Union agency by KCCU signifies the second such agency in Kingstown.capital This new KCCU service will make it more convenient for persons needing to send/receive monies from abroad. It is our overall mission at KCCU to provide affordable high &peoplemembersdevelopmentneedsgearedfinancialqualityservices,towardstheandofourandtheofSt.VincenttheGrenadines.
KCCU by GLORIAH... IN 2021, THE GOVERNMENT of St. Vincent and the Grenadines awarded some seven hundred tertiary level tuition scholarships to eligible applicants. This year, the number has increased to over eight hundred, according to Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves who delivered the information as he spoke on NBC Radio’s Face to Face programme last Wednesday, 30th August.ThePrime Minister, who holds the portfolio of Tertiary Education and has recently taken on that of Post-secondary Education, informed listeners that, “At present, the Public Service Commission’s training division is contacting 815 recipients of tuition scholarships by e-mail and other means.” He reported that the initiative was well subscribed but some applicants who did not seek to include their admission to university or did not include all the required documentation, were not considered. He shared though, that about another fifty persons may still be included.
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022. 17. NewsV
T&T to face CCJ over BAICO money
Dr. Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, has not responded to request by the ECCU to sit with them in discussion. (Credit: NationWide.News)
The Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) says it will take the Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) government to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) regarding the non-payment of millions of US dollars linked to the collapse of Trinidad-based insurance companies CLICO and British American Insurance Company (BAICO) in 2009. Chairman of the ECCU subcommittee on insurance, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, said the decision to take the Keith Rowley administration before the Port of Spain-based CCJ was taken over the weekend. The ECCU groups the islands of Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Prime Minister Browne said the meeting agreed unanimously to take the T&T government to court after three failed attempts to get them to pay the outstanding funds. “…I suspect, knowing Keith (Rowley) he is not going to climb down, but at the same time we have a job to do to protect and promote the interest of the Eastern Caribbean Currency policy holders and stakeholders generally.“Soonthe basis that all diplomatic efforts have failed then we now have to as a last resort engage legal counsels who will pursue the amount outstanding. I chaired the meeting of the sub-committee on insurance and the decision of the committee is for us to pursue legal action against the government of Trinidad and Tobago. “So within the upcoming weeks we will be engaging legal counsel to get a further brief on our legal position and at the same time pursue the issue at the Caribbean Court of Justice in its Original Jurisdiction, Browne said.
The ECCU said that Trinidad and Tobago had made a commitment to pay US$100 million to its member countries, but only US$40 million was disbursed following the collapse of CL Financial, the owners of CLICO and British American Insurance Company (BAICO).InOctober last year, a group of British American and CLICO policyholders in the Eastern Caribbean filed a lawsuit at the CCJ against the T&T government and Prime Minister Browne said that the ECCU decision to follow suit had been in the works for several years. “For the last seven years we have been trying to engage Dr. Keith Rowley to have a sit down and to see how we could resolve the issue to even probably issue some bonds at a low interest rate…so it doesn’t affect the cash flows of Trinidad and Tobago. “I have to tell you all of the efforts to engage Dr Rowley would have failed. The previous chairman (of the ECCU sub-committee) was Dr Ralph Gonsalves (Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines) and several years ago he contemplated taking this issue to court. “But we decided to press on with the hope that Dr Rowley would have engaged,” Browne said. He said, however, that the latest decision to take the matter before the CCJ should not be viewed as a personal fight between himself and Prime Minister Rowley.
“No one should see this as a hostile position between myself and Prime Minister Rowley. I think we are still reasonably good friends, but we have a difference of opinion among the family and the only way to settle this is to take it to the Caribbean Court of Justice and that on the basis we are successful then Trinidad and Tobago will be forced to pay.
“Now the basis of this litigation, as I have said before, is based on the discriminatory act by Trinidad and Tobago in which they took care of their people and they left the Eastern Caribbean policyholders to hold the bag and you have to understand that these companies are limited liability companies and the assets they acquired monies from the Eastern Caribbean were utilised to acquire these assets,” Browne added. Since taking over the chairmanship of the sub-committee on insurance in the ECCU last year, Browne has said that significant progress has been made in recovering some of the investments in CLICO made by residents of the Eastern Caribbean. He noted for example that Barbados government has agreed to pay US$37 million for the real estate assets of CLICO International in Barbados, and for BAICO “we will be getting some US$9.2 million from the government of St Kitts for the Nevis Island Administration Fund. (Daily Express, T&T) Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and Chairman of the ECCU sub-committee on insurance, has given notice of the planned ECCU action. (Credit: caricom.org)
18. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN RegionalV
The other bill passed last Tuesday was the Aliens Land Holding Regulations Amendment Bill, 2022 presented by Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves.Thenext sitting of Parliament is scheduled for Monday, October 10 at 10am.
In his presentation, Gonsalves assured the Parliament that the Government was taking steps to ensure that the law which governs the delivery of financial services here keeps pace with changes in the international arena. He disclosed that international agencies have noted what they describe as “soft regulations” in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which raises concerns about money laundering and the funding of terrorist activities.
BillAmendmentBusinesspassed
Finance Minister Camillo Gonsalves said the Bill was another step by the government to ensure that the relevant local laws kept pace with the changes in the market.international
Services
He explained that the amendments will tighten the regulations for the five microfinance institutions operating in SVG: Courts SVG Ltd., Fast Cash, Quick Cash, Advance Cash and Cash Wiz.Among the objectives of the bill is to help create some legitimacy to the business operation of the companies that carry on their services, while promoting a stable expansion of the industry, while protecting“Second,consumers.itcanensure the viability of the industry and encourage the relevant entities to operate efficiently and promote fair market pricing particularly in relation to issues such as onerous contractual terms, excessive interest rate and over indebtedness,” said the finance minister.
The Bill was presented by Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Camillo Gonsalves at the Parliament’s sitting of Tuesday 30th August.
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022.19. ParliamentV
He outlined the third objective of the bill as being to streamline the finances of the micro finance institutions in conformity with international best practices.
“The Money Services Business Amendment Act is one whose language and practice have outstripped the evolution in the sector in a number of ways. In ways relating to the emergence and continued growth of what’s call the micro finance sector’ in areas relating to the regulation of mobile cash app, in areas relating to regulating the physical premises in which we receive remittances, the physical store front of those facilities if you will and final in our continuing quest to remain apace with the ever evolving anti money laundering and financing of terrorism requirements of the international community. There are areas that have been identified by our international partners, as us having a soft set of regulations. The money services bill seeks to tighten all these areas,” Minister Gonsalves told Parliament
LAW MAKERS in St. Vincent and the Grenadines have passed the money Services Business Amendment Bill.
St. Vincent Brewery Ltd – A Culture of Safety SVBL employee wear Personal protective equipment (PPE) while on the job. A Safety Meetings are an ongoing part of the orientation at the SVBL.
There are designated areas for cell phone use, designated walkways and designated areas for vehicle traffic. All new SVBL employees are trained in company safety and environmental policy as part of their onboarding.According to Safety Supply Analyst, Mr Kurtley Jack, safety is about positive influence and creating awareness. This includes regular safety meetings, held twice daily (one for each shift), employees being encouraged to report unsafe conditions and behaviour, safety data being displayed for transparency and shared to all the Departments. He indicated that from the participation of the workers in safety meetings, they are usually very open and interactive in meetings and clearly feel a sense of ownership in keeping their workplace safe. According to Mr Jack, who has worked with the Brewery for five (5) years “It’s intriguing and no two days areSVBLalike”.is proud of its stance as a leader in St Vincent & the Grenadines in setting high standards & keeping their employees safe. As the prominently displayed safety statistics would attest, with over 897 days without an injury resulting in lost time among full time employees and a current record of over 1268 days without incident among casual employees, surpassing the previous record of 983 days, there is much to be proudSVBLof. currently employs some 212 employees. (Submitted by SVBL)
20. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022 THE VINCENTIANV
THE ST. VINCENT BREWERY (SVBL) is embracing safety as a way of life through safety standards set for its employees. SVBL prides itself on implementing and maintaining global safety standards and developing a companywide safety culture. At SVBL, Safety is non-negotiable.SVBLispart of the multi-national company Anheuser-Busch Inbev (ABI), the world’s largest brewer, headquartered in Lueven, Belgium, with an ecosystem that includes major hubs in Brazil, Mexico and the Dominican Republic and has been using international best practices as its benchmark, including Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) standards that are practised by their regional group of companies, including all the Caribbean breweries under the ABI umbrella and throughout the “Middle-America” zone. From the moment someone enters the gates of the SVBL compound, they are entering a high-level safety zone. The objective is to have every worker return home safely to their family. For their own safety, employees are educated in the general safety rules, such as appropriate and safe attire, including no wearing of jewellery on the compound, wearing long pants, as opposed to shorts, work boots, and strict wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE).
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 05, 2022. 21.
THIS ISthe 3rd man my mother has taken from me and made her own. The first two guys I took home to her and she ended up taking over. The last guy I had she went into my phone without me knowing, got his information and ended up contacting him. When I confronted her on her behaviour, she let me know it was not her fault she loves young guys. How can I get my mother to stop snatching my men?
IHAVE BEENlending my co-worker money more often than I could count. Every time he borrowed he would promise to pay back within a certain time but he never did. He is now owing me $2,000.00 I threatened to take legal action against him and that is when he propositioned me to have him “sex” the debt off. He did this because he knows from what I told him that I am something of a sex maniac. Although his offer sounded tempting I refused and he has since been threatening me. Every day at work he would issue threats to me and I am very uncomfortable with it. I need to know how to handle this.
DearFrustratedFrustrated,
AdviceV 22. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022 THE VINCENTIAN
Yes, your mother should be more respectful and leave your men alone. She is free to date younger men if that is her fancy, but should get those men on her own. To be brutally honest with you, your bigger problem is the type of men to whom you are attracted. A man who would readily ditch you for your mother is of the lowest quality and does not deserve to be a part of your life.No one can take anyone from you. It is that person’s decision to leave you for another. Try to make better choices. George
DearWorriedWorried,
George
Take legal action It’s your “business”
George
Dear George,
A motherman-snatching
Dear George,
Dear George, PLEASE do not judge me.I have been doing “business” with this guy for the longest while. He is married and recently he offered me 500 dollars monthly for sexual favours. He said his wife is not into the sex thing anymore so he decided to get it Theelsewhere.problemis, I told him that I need more than 500 dollars since cost of living has risen. He is not prepared to increase his offer by any more than 50 dollars but I am holding out for 800 dollars.Doyou think I should just accept his offer since it is better than nothing or do you think I should hold out for the 800 dollars? I do not want to come across as cheap.
DearUnsureUnsure, I am not going to judge you at all. In this case, the decision is yours and yours alone. You said this is all business so you have to boil this down to the crunching of numbers. You have to decide what the value of your product is and whether it is worth taking the risk to hold out for the additional amount.
Two things: take the matter to the management at your work and report the threats made to you. Your workplace may have a harassment policy and it would not hurt to bring this to the attention of management. All threats to you in person must be taken seriously and you should take this to the police. It does not appear that your coworker has any intention of paying you back and putting the matter into legal circles should help to bring an immediate resolution to the matter.
CAPRICORN (DEC 22.- JAN. 20) You will be drawn to individuals who can provide you with both intellectual conversation and physical passion. Be professional, and you will advance much more quickly.
9. 38.37.36.34.32.31.30.29.27.26.25.21.20.15.14.11.10.ClientElectric-company“__gloomofnight…”ShaniaTwain’s“___manofMine”PartofNasdaqabbr.GreatIndianpoliticianOldtimepositionwhocollectedroadpaymentsKernelkeeperSundialnumberPrefixwith“partisan”AllyoftheU.S.SlumsSpynovelist,DeightonParabola,essentiallyStadiumsoundHog’shomePartofaU.R.LTunatypeTheeggsofafish 39. Cool 40. Spike 41. Troop grp. 45. Like paymentssome 46. Observers 47. destinyRelaxation 49. adjustmentsMakes to 50. Woolly ruminantsS.A. 51. Kind of tax 53. companiesforAbbreviationscertain 55. Calendar abbr. 56. Designed for flight 57. Discomfort 58. “Follow me!” 59. Immaculate 60. Formerly, USSR 61. ___ treadmill
’SALTWEEKs OOSLUTIN
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) Stick to your own projects and by the end of the day you’ll shine. You’ll be prone to tears if your mate is harsh with you this week.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22) You will have a great day if you just say what you feel. Your ability to dazzle others with your unique and innovative ideas will attract attention. Don’t forget that your budget is limited right now.
PISCES (FEB. 20-MAR. 20) You will enjoy lavish forms of entertainment and should consider making arrangements early. Spend time with friends or family. You may find travel to be most rewarding.
LIBRA (SEPT. 24 -OCT. 23) Changes in your residence may be financially favorable. Residential moves will be favorable. You will accomplish the most through or. You will have an interest in foreigners and their cultures.
CANCER (JUNE 22-JULY 22) Be aggressive and colorful, and you will get your way. Try to stay calm and do the best you can. Try not to lend or borrow money this week. Try not to overreact to the loss.
SCORPIO (OCT. 24 - NOV. 22) You would be best to work late in order to avoid such disharmony. Avoid arguments with relatives who might be conservative and outdated.
TAURUS (APR. 21- MAY 21) Try not to let relatives or friends cause any friction with your mate. You may as well work on projects that will allow you to make progress. Resist secret affairs that could be detrimental to your reputation.
GEMINI (MAY 22-JUNE 21) New interests are preoccupying your time. Be aware that minor accidents or injury may prevail if you are preoccupied. Seminars will provide you with knowledge and amusement.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 21.- FEB. 19) You will find that valuable knowledge can be gained if you are willing to listen. You will reap the benefits if you put money into upgrading your residence. Look into projects that you feel would con tribute something to your appearance.
VIRGO (AUG. 23 -SEPT. 23) Visit friends or relatives you rarely see. Be discreet about your personal life or whereabouts. Be mysterious. Get involved in sports events that will benefit your physical appearance.
ARIES (MAR. 21- APRIL 20) You can make extra money. Rewards will be yours if you put in the overtime required. Physical limitations are possible if you aren’t careful. Help elders get their personal papers in order.
LeisureV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022. 23. ACROSS 1. Quaint dance 4. Clock std. 7. Place to sweat it out 12. Tolkien dwarf 13. African crop 15. Wrestling hold 16. Have power over, slangily 17. Career descriptions 18. Luncheonette 19. Where bridges get installed 22. Dairy aisle buy 23. “Me neither” 24. Maryland (with “state”) 28. Guard dog’s target 33. African range rovers 35. Greek wife of Zeus 36. Sidelines activity 42. “Hold on, there!” 43. Dough raiser 44. Frankfurters 48. Babbling sound 52. “___ Blue” 54. Night birds 55. Not play a leading role 60. Will inherit, with someone else 62. Highest level attainable 63. “I __ __ rock” Simon and Garfunkel 64. Entombs 65. Check around for the best provider prices 66. “Krazy” one 67. Lute 68. Suffix with absorb 69. Compass point DOWN 1. Jinx 2. Big Brother’s creator 3. Going steady 4. Desert 5. Runners 6. Race pace 7. Salty oxygen 8. High, prefix
Damion Dublin, Male Senior Singles Champion, receives his winnings from Asquith Ballah, Executive Member of the SVGTTA.
No System Three for Club Championships
InfrastructureDeclarationaegisopenNATIONALClub2022/2023ChampionshipsinearlyOctober,undertheoftheStVincentandtheGrenadinesFootballFederation(SVGFF),therewillbenoSystemThree.This,aftertheclubwasnotamongthelistofclubsthatwereawardedlicencesforthe2022/2023season.AClubLicenceisaprerequisiteforparticipationintheNationalClubChampionships.Theexerciseinvolvedinthegrantingofalicenceisdoneonanannualbasis.ItentailsclubscompletingandsubmittingtheClubLicensingConfidentialityAgreement,ClubGeneralForm,ClubFinanceForm,ClubYouthDevelopmentForm,theLegalForm,theClubForm,aswellastheClubFemaleForm.ItwasconfirmedtotheVINCENTIANthatSystemThree,ledbythevenerableIanSardine,didnotsubmitanyoftheformsforthe2021/2022licensingperiod.WithnoNationalClubChampionshipsconvenedin2021/2022,thedecisionwastakenbytheExecutiveoftheSVGFFtoretainthethirty-twolicencedclubsforthe2022/2023period,towit:nineclubsinthePremierDivision,twelveintheFirstDivisionandelevenintheSecondDivision.TheninePremierDivisionclubsissuedwithlicencesareAwesome,Avenues,BESCO-Pastures,Je
National Table Tennis titles decided
Robert Ballantyne collects his ‘Over-40 Singles’ Trophy from Douggie Byron-Cox, veteran national table tennis player.
Veteran players Truman Quashie (left) and Robert Ballantyne (right) combined their skill and experience to take the Senior Male Doubles title.
System Three Sports Academy welcomes and nurtures football talent in this country from a very early age.
Belle, Hope International, Largo Height, Layou, North Leeward Predators and Sion Hill. The twelve First Division clubs include Bequia United, CamdoniaChelsea, Glenside Ball Blazers, Greiggs, Owia United, Parkside Rollers, Pride and Joy, Richmond Hill, Sparta, SV United and Volcanoes.And,1998 Hillside Rollers, Brownstown, DESCO, Hillview, K & R Strikers, Roxdale, Sharpes 09, Sharpes FC, Strike Force, Toni Stores Jugglers and RSVG Police, make up the clubs in Division Two.Apart from competing in the National Club Championships, only licenced clubs receive financial assistance from the SVGFF.TheNational Club Championships kick off early October, and in addition to competition in the three divisions for males, there is a Women’s Division, as well as age group competitions.SystemThree is a former Premier Division National Club Champion and boasts the best Youth Football Development Programme in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Shanecia Delpesche –Under-19 Junior Girls Singles Champion Akeil Deroche – Under-19 Junior Boys Singles Champion Ian Sardine, Founder, Director, Coordinator, Head Coach of System Three chose not to make a comment on his Academy’s exclusion from the next round of the National Club Championships.
Final, Akeil DeRoche beat Caleb Howard 3 games to 1, 2/10, 11/4, 8/11, 11/9, to take that category.TheGirls’ equivalent of the Junior category was taken by Shanecia Delpesche. In doing so, she beat Leah Cumberbatch 4-11, 9-11, 13-15 in the final. In previously decided races for age category tiles, Kimoni Shoy took the Under-15 Singles and Lamont Gregg the Under-13 Boys Singles.
24. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022 THE VINCENTIANV
DAMION DUBLIN IS THE UNDISPUTEDSenior Male Table Tennis Champion in SVG. He put a lien on the title when he defeated a former national and OECS champion – Sean Stanley, 4 games to 1 (11/9 12/10 11/13 11/7 11/8), in the Senior Male Open final of the 2022 National Table tennis Championship. Also, among those taking home titles was Robert Ballantyne, a former national Open Singles Champion. Ballantyne beat another former national player — David ‘Sky’ Llewellyn 11-3, 11-5, 11-5, in the finals of the Senior Men’s Over 40 Singles.Ballantyne returned in partnership with another former national player — Truman Quashie, to take the Senior Male Doubles title, when they put spend to Akiel Deroche and Sean Stanley, 8-11, 11-9, 119, 8-11, 5-11, in the finals.The duo also helped the Spencer’s Table Tennis Club (STTC Blockers) to win the teamMeanwhile,event. In the Females Open Final: Unica Velox defeated Leah Cumberbatch 3 games to 2 (12/14, 8/11, 11/7, 11/9, 11/8) and to take the Female Open Singles title and effectively become the National Champion.FemaleVeloxputher hands on another title when she teamed up with David Llewellyn to take the Open Mix Senior Doubles by defeating CumberbatchLeahand Sean Stanley, 8-11, 11-7, 115, 11-9.Various junior category titles were alsoIndecided.theJunior Boys
I.B.A. ALLEN WHEN THE
SportsV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022. 25.
SVG vs Grenada and South Africa vs Antigua and Barbuda — and will run until SeptemberCompeting4. nations, in addition to the host are: Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, Jamaica and South Africa.
U-17 Footballers - second in Pride of the Caribbean
SVG host Male Netball Championship Mc DuncanNeal co-captain–MatthewsAkeil co-captain–
A St Vincent and the Grenadines Under-17 Male Football Team that did themselves and their country proud.
Natasha Baptiste, coach of the SVG national team, is looking forward to the challenge.“Theguys are so keen about netball …. they are very prepared for the competition both physically and mentally.
Isiah CharlesMost OffensiveValuablePlayer.Thecore players
TCCU Star Girls – Division 1 Champions. JLC Warriors - Division 2 winner. New netball queens in Marriaqua
A St Vincent and the Grenadines Under-17 Male Football Team had to settle for second place in the Pride of the Caribbean Tournament that ended in Antigua and Barbuda on Saturday 27th August. Finishing the preliminary round with two wins and a loss, the Vincentians squared off against St Lucia in the final last Saturday at the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association’s Technical Centre. The teams played to a 1-1 draw in regulation time, necessitating that the match be decided on penalty kicks. St Lucia prevailed 5-3 in the freekicks. It was the Vincentians’ second defeat to the St Lucians; they lost 1-5 in the preliminary phase.The Vincentians had beaten Antigua and Barbuda 3-2 and had a 3-1 triumph over Grenada, to set up the final versus St Lucia.Despite placing second, St Vincent and the Grenadines pouched two individual awards. Isiah Charles took the Most Valuable Offensive Player accolade and Imani Miller was adjudged the Most Valuable Midfielder.Theother two awards went to St Lucians: D’ Andre Tisson was the Most Valuable Goalkeeper and Taye Peter- the Most Valuable Defensive Player.
For Vincentian Head Coach- Wayde Jackson, it was a satisfying experience. “ I really enjoyed coaching this bunch of players… They are a set of disciplined guys who are coachable and are quick to receive instructions,” Jackson said on the team’s return home last Monday. Reflecting on the tournament, Jackson commented: “ It was a quick turn- around… There was, hence the players had to recover physically and mentallyJacksonquickly”.notedthat the close fixturing of the tournament, with little down time in between the matches, forced them to field an under- strength team versus St Lucia in their loss in the preliminary phase. “We had a few knocks from the first match versus Antigua and Barbuda, so we had to use our bench in the second match.” Jackson expounded. Overall, Jackson thinks that the squad has given the Technical Department of the SVG Football Federation an insight into the existing male football stock and what the future could hold. St. Vincent and the Grenadines is host to
twoComplexVale01,yesterday,gotChampionshipChampionship.NetballAmericasInauguraltheMen’sThegoingSeptattheArnosSportingwithmatches-
I am expecting great things from them and I have no doubt they will execute their plans,” she said ahead of the opening.Baptiste believes winning the championship will go a long way for netball in the region. “This championship speaks volume for male netball in the region because it’s the first of its kind, which brings an awareness to the male version of the sport that persons were not privy to. So, I think this championship will be an eye opener,” Baptiste saidAchille Mathews, captain of SVG, is looking forward to the home support. “Well, it’s always difficult playing at home but we aboutexcitedreallyarethe tournament and I am looking forward to the home support.”Heishopeful that his team “will remain focused and execute their plan,” and that “everything that we have leant for the past yearstwo will work out as planned.” I.B.A. ALLEN TCCU Star Girls are new queens of netball in the Marriaqua Valley. They claimed that right to royalty when they emerged champions of the 2022 Vita Malt/Kingstown Cooperative Credit Union Netball Competition, by dethroning defending champions- High Park United, beating them 51 goals to 35 in Division 1, when the competition ended August 21, at the Richland Park Government School Hard Court.Inthe Division 2 finals, JLC Warriors beat 3Js Valley Strikers 34 goals to 20, to take that title. In third place play offs, Vultures outplayed J&G Scorchers, 69 — 29, to take third place in Division 1, and Caesars Real Estate Dynamic Girls defeated Police Gems 45 to 15, to claim third in Division 2. Each of the top three finishers in the respective divisions received cash prizes, inclusive of $1500.00, $1000.00 and $700.00 in Division 1; and $700.00, $500.00 and $300.00 in Division 2, in descending order.Top Dallawayin(TCCUKayshornperformancesindividualincluded:LowmanStarGirls)-MVPDivision1;Annica(JLCWarriors)
— MVP and Top Shooter (218 goals) in Division 2; Skiddy Francis (High Park United) — Top Shooter in Division 1 with 215 goals; Waynel Thomas (3Js Valley Strikers) - Most Promising Player. MVP’s for each of the competing teams were also named.Thecompetition saw twelve teams vying for the top positions in two divisions: High Park United, TCCU Star Girls, J&G Scorchers, Vultures, Police Elite, North Leeward Predators in Division 1; Caesars Real Estate Dynamic Girls, Valley Rising Stars, BA Strikers, 3Js Valley Strikers, Police Gems, JLC Warriors in Division 2. I.B.A. ALLEN
Imani MillerMost Midfielder.Valuable
I.B.A. ALLEN
Leewards crowned Under-19 champion
Caesar’s Real Estate World XI defeated Youngsters FC 1-0 to win the Diamonds Village Football League last Sunday, 28th August, at the Diamonds Playing Field. It took an Azihno Solomon penalty to separate the two teams, in match that was befitting a grand finale.
World XI’s Terrason Joseph was named player of the final, with his teammate Jahvin Sutherland pouching the best defenderYoungstersaward.FC’s Nazir Mc Burnett was the top striker and most goals awardee for his 11 goals.
The Leeward Islands are the championsnewof the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Under-19. Though the match was drawn, the Leewards rose above Barbados in points accumulated in finalsChampionshiptheplayedat the Arnos Vale Playing Field, Aug. 25 — 27. The Leeward Islands accumulated 9.0 points to Barbados’ 7.8 to claim the title. On the actual field of play, Barbados declared their first innings on 279/8, to which the Leewards replied with 250 for 8 declared.Batting a second time, Barbados was bowled for 76, setting the Leewards a target of 106 Islandsvictory.forLeewardheld their nerves to finish on 51 for 9 from 28 overs, thanks to Edward Nathan, the lone St. Maarten player on the team, who was solid as the proverbial rock in remaining 11 not out from 55 deliveries.This,in the face of Barbadian left arm spinner, Nathan Sealey, snaring 6 for 10 from 14 overs. Guyana finished third in the standings with 10.3 points ahead of Jamaica with 8.2 points, Trinidad on 6.4 and the Windwards onAmong4.6. the those with
Leewards: New CWI U-19 Champion
26. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022 THE VINCENTIAN SportsV
final. Youngsters FC had a 2-1 win over SV United in the other semi. In the third place play off that preceded the final, SV United had a 3-1 win over Computec All Stars. For winning the league, World XI earned $2500, a trophy and medals, along with a one year hold on the Challenge Trophy.Second place Youngsters FC got a trophy, $1000 and medals, and SV United was presented with a trophy and $500.
Juma Gilkes of Computec All Stars was adjudged the Best Midfielder, Osei Delpesche of Greiggs- the Best Upcoming Youth Striker and Sparta FC’s Elron Baptiste was voted the Best GoalEachKeeper.individual awardees was presented with a trophy and $100.
159TournamentWindward18;IslandsOnajemostJohnson,stumpings);15,withBarbadoswere:individualoutstandingperformancesNimarBolden,wicket-keepermostdismissals,(13catchesand2JardonJamaica-runsscored,247;Amory,Leeward-mostwickets,TarriqueEdwards,Islands-MVPwithrunsand15wickets.
Leeward Islands – 2022 CWI Under-19 champions.
Tarrique Tournament(Windwards)Edwards-MVP.
LEEWARDIslands defied the odds and came out champions of the regional Under 19 competition which ended at the Arnos Vale Playing Field last Saturday. It was disciplined and technical matters from the Leewards with the odds seemingly against them. The match was played consistently to a sparse population and the youngsters must have been wondering if the tournament had been advertised.Ittooka defiant last wicket partnership for the Leewards to earn the draw which gave them the title.Barbados rallied to 279 for 9 in their first innings and secured a 29 run lead when the Leewards declared at 250 for 8 having faced 110 overs.The Bajans went for the jugular knowing that only an outright win was sufficient. They came close with the Leewards at 51 for 9 when the overs ran out. The match saw twists and turns with play interrupted owing to prevailing weather conditions. The match started at 2: 30 on the first day, delayed by water logged conditions. At the end of the second day, first innings was points was still in the balance. Leewards grafted their way into the game then employed their tacticalBarbadosmanoeuvre.couldn’t complete their task having romped to outright victories in their first two games. It was a magnificent performance for the Leewards, rewarded for their consistency and commitment especially from the lower order. It will be interesting to see the West Indies Under 19 squad as this tournament serves as platform for senior West Indies squad. There must have been a deliberate decision to engage the youngsters in three day cricket, given that the emphasis seems to be shifting towards shorter versions of the sport. ST. Vincent and the Grenadines has emerged as something of a fixture when it comes to staging Under 19 Cricket. Grounds at Park Hill and Cumberland came in for use during the tournament.The$2.3m allocated for upgrade to the Arnos vale facility will come as good news for Vincentian sports fans. Conditions at the facility suffered some deterioration over the years, and there were concerns over the state of the affairs there.The field marked its 50th anniversary in April this year, and mention of the celebration aroused sarcasm from some observers who lamented the stage of the Meanwhileinfrastructure.theArnosVale Sporting Complex accommodated the staging of Male Netball Tournament which winds up this weekend. That tournament serves as preparation for the entry of the sport into the Olympics. Interest is also peaking with the return of the masters Cricket tournament. According to organisers, matches will start next weekend Saturday 10. If things go according to plan, the Masters Independence competition featuring teams from USA, Trinidad and Tobago will return. That tournament was a growing attraction before the global situation put a damper on most events. The gradual return of activity will contribute to economic growth. If there was doubt about the contribution of sports to national development, the recent stagnation the region faced tells the story.Sports have a role to play in economic advances in any nation. Governments will be advised to ensure that sports are treated as a national network.
Jardonwickets.Johnson
Twelve teams, stashed into two groups, were in contention for honours in the League.
Manager/ Coach of World XIAkeno Simmons (right) accepts the winner’s trophy from Hon. Saboto Caesar.
intheyStars,ComputecexpenseattheXI’sfinal,Sunday’sreachingBeforeWorldberthinfinalcametheAllwhombeat2-0onesemi-
Player of the Joseph.TerrasonFinal-
Onaje Amory (Leeward Islands)most (Jamaica) –most runs. Nimar mostkeepercaptain)(BarbadosBolden–wicket-withthedismissals. World XI FootballDiamondstakestitle
Rose Place fisher folk compensation relocated
Classifieds 2022. 27. Work, undertaken by the fisher folk themselves, has already begin on the construction of location.facilitiesaccommodationstorage/inthenew
CUSTOMERS of the Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines desirous of making withdrawals from any of the bank’s ATMs that are located off base, will be subject to a ‘usage fee’. As of October 01, 2022, a fee of EC$1. 50 per withdrawal will take effect for transactions done at those BOSVG ATMs that are located in places other than a branch of the bank.The locations concerned are: Calliaqua, Argyle International Airport, Mesopotamia, Massy Stores locations, Flow, Kingstown and Layou.The ‘usage fee’, according to the bank, has become necessary due to ‘the rising cost of maintenance of the ATMs off the premises and costs associated with telecommunication, cash replenishment and general maintenance.
BOSVG to charge for offsite ATM withdrawals
From squarehavealreadyProject.ModernisationBackpageGovernmenthasmovedtosome5,000feetofland demarcated and designated for this purpose and more. According to Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Government is also looking to acquire an unfinished structure within the vicinity of the area already earmarked, to be used as an administrative centre for the fishing community.Ongoingdiscussions between the National Fisher Folk Organization and management of the Port Project arrived at an agreement for the provision of adequate security, lighting, sanitation, an access road and water supply within the designated area. THE VINCENTIAN the designated area is now served with a regular water supply. Further discussion between the National Fisher Folk Organization and management of the Port Project will detail the role of the National Fisher Folk Organisation in the administrationnagement/of the new fishing community.
V THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02,
PLACE FISHER
IN KEEPINGwith a commitment so to do, the government has seen to it that compensation has been made to fishermen and boat owners who had operated out of Rose Place, but who have had to be relocated to make way for the Kingstown Port Modernization Project. THE VINCENTIAN is able to report that a sum of EC$700,000.00 was paid out to 35 registered fishing vessels (fishers) and boatAtowners.leastone recipient told THE VINCENTIAN that he expected to receive $20,000 but he in fact, received $18,000.00Inaddition, these 35 concerned operators have agreed to be relocated as follows: Calliaqua (3), Clare Valley (5), Edinboro (1), Great Head Bay (1), Lowmans Bay (17), Questelles Bay (6) and Roucher Bay (2). THE VINCENTIAN can also report that some 25 unregistered owners of motor boats, row boats derelict boats and boats under repair were compensated to a sum total of $53,000.00. As for those fishers relocated to Lowmans Bay, part of their compensation will go towards the construction of storage units at the new location, to replace those units (at Rose Place) that were demolished as part of the requirements of the Post Cont’d on Page 27
In short, Prime Minister Gonsalves assured, “We are balancing. We are not being reckless but we’re easing the pain in particular ways which the public is seeing.”
The new location, not easily accessible, will eventually be served by proper roads and drainage.
IMF warns, Gonsalves not worried
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022 VOLUME 116, No.35 www.thevincentian.com EC$1.50 Published by The VINCENTIAN Publishing Co. Ltd, St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park. AI REAL ESTATE Belvedere 7,379 sq.ft @ $15.00 - $110,685.00 - BB479 Cane Hall 45,128 sq.ft @$9.00 - $406,152.00 - BB161 McCarty Building Lots. - CALL - BB331 Questelles 33,151 @$8.00 - $265,000.00 - BB163 (784)- 457-2087/(718)-807-4376 office (784)-493-9431/(784)-533-0431 whatsapp donp@vincysurf.com
The area as it exists will be transformed, all things being equal, transformed.
WHILE, according to Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonslaves, the opposition is ignoring all that his government is doing and instead questioning where the finances would come from to support a number of socio-economic safety measures in train, he is unperturbed.Infact,he was not put off by a recent warning from the MonetaryInternationalFund(IMF) that he be careful about the extent (cost) of those measures and the period of time over which they can be Thecontinued.IMF,Dr. Gonsalves said, wanted to know, “… how long I’m going to keep these measures in place to help people. I tell them was three months and I had to extend it again.” The team from the IMF was in country two or so weeksSomeago.of the safety net programmes which were referenced were financial assistance being given to some 5,400 people who were directly affected by the eruption of La Soufriere; the road cleaning programme that is estimated to cost some EC$3 million; and some EC$900,000 paid to arrowroot farmers in lieu of their loss of electricity.indieseland$1.50hasAdditionally,crop.governmentwaivedtheexcisetaxofpergallonofgasoline$1.05pergallonofandgrantedwaiversrelationtoVATon
Lowmans Bay is known for its fishing activity (note the upper end of the beach). This activity is expected to heighten with at least 17 new boat operations from the base.
ROSE FOLK RELOCATEDCOMPENSATED,
