THE VINCENTIAN PDF - 15-12-23

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023

VOLUME 117, No.50

Salary report misleading Page 3

Cop on ammo charge Page 4

President Nicolas Maduro receives a warm welcome from Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

www.thevincentian.com

Female pilot feted Page 14

EC$1.50

Judiciary reforms Page 20

Vincy couple jailed Page 28

President Irfaan Ali of Guyana arrives for talks about a disputed region in his country.

President Irfaan Ali and President Nicolas Maduro shake hands in a demonstration of their confirmation of the Argyle Declaration.

by DAYLE DA SILVA THE LEADERS OF GUYANA AND VENEZUELA have agreed that there will be no threats or force used against each other and a commitment to keep Latin America and the Caribbean as a

zone of peace.

This was among 11 points contained in a declaration following talks between Presidents Irfaan Ali of Guyana and Nicolas Maduro Continued on Page 3.

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2. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023 . THE VINCENTIAN

Entertainment

ThereÊs no stopping JTP

by MARALYN BALLANTYNE, LLB. Hons

The JTP ensemble soared to a whole new level and invited guests to be part of the journey.

INTIMATE candle-lit dining from an enticing menu of fairly priced delectables and a range of beverages, lively seasonal décor, your favorite musicians

passionately executing; and so it was on that Sunday evening when Jazz Tropical Project (JTP), took their roadshow to Gate3 Restaurant\Lounge, dubbing it Jazz after Sunset, a Christmas Edition and the last JTP show for 2023. This was date night plus!

I expect 2024 will open with pleasant surprises and a more experienced JTP, having delivered 7 outstanding shows in 2023, attracting a loyal fan club of all ages.

A layered show emerged on a wellappointed stage, evoking nostalgia, spreading Christmas joy, tantalizing the imagination, and Vocalist Franklyn “Maxie” touching the heart Edwards opened the and soul. The JTP memory lane and added a music makers were in ‘newness’ to his fine fettle and they cut interpretations. a pretty picture as well…”Ain’t No Sunshine” and “It’s Too Late” never sounded so thrilling.

Nia Grecia, a young vivacious singer, made her first appearance with JTP and was well received as she belted out Marley’s “Turn the light down low” followed by “Time After Time”, and “Dancing Queen”.

The five-man ensemble offered up a neat version of “I feel like making love” and several other soulful standards before as is habitual, transitioning smoothly into a Latin rhythm set.

Keyboard maestro Juan Carlos Cepeda, dipped into his secret bag to reveal that he is a potent singer par excellence with a charismatic performance of “Besame Mucho” and later “Girl from Ipanema”. But his piece de resistance was a stirring rendition of “Oh Holy Night” in the Spanish language. Not since the late Paul Anderson rendered that song at the Lyric Cinema back in the 70s has anyone here stunned a Vincy audience with such a quality performance.

Then came the big surprise…surprises being a hallmark of JTP–Dexter revived memories of the glorious 70s as he invited onstage the former lead singer of the gifted Black Orpheus teenage quartet Franklyn “Max E” Edwards with a command performance of “oh baby I love your way”, taking the audience back down memory lane but with a very modern Reggae touch to the pop classic.

But as if not enough, into the lounge stepped former CLYMAX frontman Gary Palmer who was invited to improvise on JTP’s jazzy arrangement of the Bill Withers classic “Ain’t no sunshine”, and the audience showed their appreciation.

Little did Gary, MaxE or Dexter suspect at that time that CLYMAX band leader and keyboardist Bernard “Bonnie” Browne, with whom they had all shared so many shows, had quietly succumbed to a lingering illness in New York. That information came after the show. Their dear elder “Bonnie” would have been pleased that these performances were not hampered by the news of his demise. And this writer expresses sympathies to the Browne family and the music fraternity.

Attendees got more than their money’s worth as this evening indeed offered a show within a show.

SVG can expect many more great performances from this band as they continue to please audiences of all ages in the New Year.

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News 3 Salary report misleading A RECENT REPORT RELEASED by the Caribbean Society for Human Resource Professionals (CSHRP) identified St. Vincent and the Grenadines as the country with the lowest wages in the region.

The report stated that a significant 73.3% of salaries in SVG fall below the regional average. Barbados was ranked first in terms of work positions beyond market value, with a percentage of 53.3% based on the survey.

The report has met with consternation from Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves who expressed that it did not consider cost of living in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Neither did it consider the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) which is a popular macroeconomics analysis

metric used to compare economic productivity and standards of living between countries, Dr. Gonsalves said during a press briefing on December 8.

“All the amount of money you spend with educating people, do you think that kind of a passing of wind, metaphorically speaking, is influencing those persons? No, because they know immediately what you have to do, you have to have a measure which takes into account the cost of living, how far the dollar can go,” Gonsalves continued.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that he was unsure whether the numbers in the report were gross or net; whether consideration was given to taxes of countries, the cost of social security and allowances.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023. 3.

He suggested that what ought to have been done was to establish what was the purchasing power of a dollar in the countries across the Caribbean.

He said that he had a discussion on the issue with Finance Minister Camillo Gonsalves, and that he asked him to do a PPP analysis between the country ranked as having the highest paid salaries, Barbados, and the countries within the Eastern Caribbean.

And based on the data provided by the World Bank, in 2017 for example, this country was in the middle of the pack.

And data up to 2022 has shown that although the PPP for some countries is

still higher than that of SVG, the gap has narrowed, Gonsalves said.

According to Gonsalves, when the Unity Labour Party was elected into office in 2001, the country was at the bottom of every pile in every matrix and measure within the OECS. “I didn’t set about to make ourselves comparatively better than anybody else. All I want us to do is to lift ourselves, but in the process of lifting ourselves, we lift ourselves comparatively better than many of our neighbours and these statistics show that,” Gonsalves said. (DD)

Guyana and Venezuela agree to maintain peace Continued from Frontpage. of Venezuela, held at the Argyle International Airport on December 14, 2023, amid the border dispute between the two South American countries over the mineral and oil-rich Essequibo region.

The discussions were facilitated by Dr. Ralph Gonslaves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Pro-Tempore Presdient of the Community of Larin American and Caribbean States (CELAC); and Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominca and Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

The two Prime Ministers and H.E. Celso Amorim, Special Advisor and Personal Envoy to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, acted as principal interlocutors.

A number of observers were also in attendance including: Earle Courtenay Rattray, Chef de Cabinet of the Office of the Secretary General of the United Nations; Miroslav Jenca — Under-Secretary General of the UN’s Department of Political ND Peacebuilding Affairs; H.E Alvaro Leyva Duran — Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Colombia and Gerardo Torres Zelaya, ViceMinister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Honduras.

Also present were a number of Prime Ministers of CARICOM, namely: Philip Davis- The Bahamas; Mia Amor Mottley — Barbados; Dicken Mitchell — Grenada;

Philip J. Pierre — St. Lucia; Terrence Drew — St. Kitts and Nevis; Dr . Keith Rowley Trinidad and Tobago.

Four rounds, or phases as they were referred to, of talks were held between CARICOM and Guyana, CARICOM and Venezuela, Guyana and Venezuela, and a full plenary that produced the Declaration.

In addition to the article already reference, both leaders agreed to resolve any controversies in accordance with international law, including the Geneva Agreement of February 17, 1966.

And both Guyana and Venezuela have declared that they remain committed to the pursuance of good neighborliness, peaceful coexistence and the unity of Latin America and the Caribbean.

But while Guyana asserted its commitment to the process and procedures of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Venezuela registered its “lack of consent and lack of recognition of the International Court of Justice and its jurisdiction in the border controversy.”

The two South American countries have agreed to continue dialogue on other matters of mutual importance to the two countries, the declaration stated.

In keeping with their agreement to maintain peace within the region, Presidents Ali and Maduro further agreed that both States will refrain from escalating any conflict or

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves alongside Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Special Advisor and Personal Envoy to the President of Brazil Louis Inácio Lula da Silva - Celso Amorim have convened to read the joint declaration between Guyana and Venezuela following today’s face to face discussion. disagreement arising from any controversy between them.

“The two states will cooperate to avoid incidents on the ground conducive to tension between them,” according to the Declaration.

“In the event of such an incident, the two States will immediately communicate with one another, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Community of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAC) and the President of Brazil to contain, reverse and prevent its recurrence,” the Declaration

continued.

Going forward, both leaders have agreed to the establishment of a joint commission of the Foreign Ministers and technical persons from the two States to address matters as mutually agreed. An update from this joint commission will be submitted to the Presidents of Guyana and Venezuela within three months.

And this country’s Prime Minister, Prime Minister Skerrit — the incumbent CARICOM Chairman, and the President of Brazil will remain

on the matter as interlocutors and the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres as observer.

A follow-up meeting in Brazil three months from now, or at another time, has been agreed to, to consider any matter that may have implications for the territory in dispute.

Sentiments of appreciation were showered upon the Government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for their kind facilitation of the meeting and their hospitality.

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4. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023 . THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Cop, civilian, charged with gun crimes Stories: HAYDN HUGGINS A POLICE OFFICER who had not yet completed his two-year probation period, and a civilian, appeared in Court this week on gun-related charges.

Constable Zacroy John, 23, of Belmont/Yamboo said to have graduated from police training school about one year and a few months ago, and Ishmael Isaacs, 30-year-old mechanic of Diamond, are jointly charged with possession of a Glock .22 pistol with intent to commit an offense. They are also charged with being armed with a Glock .22 pistol, and unlawfully threatening to discharge it at Danielle Webb, a 25year-old Aviation officer of Diamond.

Both offenses were reportedly committed at Villa on December 6, 2023.

The men pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared before

Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne at the Serious Offences Court on Monday.

Attorney Ronald Marks, who represented Isaacs, informed the Court that attorney Kay Bacchus-Baptiste, who is retained to represent the police officer, could not be in Court on Monday, Ishmael Isaacs and he (Marks) was holding papers for her.

Prosecutor Shamrock Pierre did not object to bail but requested suitable surety and conditions to reflect the seriousness of the charges.

The men were each granted $20,000 bail with one surety on the condition that they surrender all travel

documents, report to their nearest police stations on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and not to have any contact with the complainant.

The Magistrate warned that if they were found to have any contact with Zacroy John the complainant, bail would be immediately revoked.

John will report to the Mesopotamia Police Station while Isaacs will report to the Stubbs Police Station.

Stop notices will be placed at all ports of entry and exit, and they are not to leave the state without permission of the Serious Offences

Court, or the High Court. The matter has been adjourned to January 30, 2024.

THE VINCENTIAN was reliably informed that because PC John had not yet completed his probation period, he could not be suspended from duties, pending the outcome of the matter, as is usually the procedure when criminal charges are brought against police officers. Instead, he has been discharged from the Police Force.

The charges were brought against the men just days after the Police High Command issued a release stating inter alia, that The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) has initiated a thorough investigation into a recent article by IiWitness news (an online publication) titled, headline ‘Cop in uniform lends gun to man to threaten woman’.

Lawyer: ÂForensic lab crucialÊ DEFENSE lawyer Grant Connell has issued a call for the establishment of a Forensic Lab in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Connell told THE VINCENTIAN on Wednesday that the establishment of a Forensic Lab in SVG is “crucial,” as there is a significant cost factor involved when samples have to be sent overseas for testing, and the jury is still out as to whose samples are qualified to be sent. He said he knew of cases here where samples were taken from accused persons but were never sent for testing.

“Establishing a Forensic Lab in SVG would significantly reduce the cost factor, and increase access to such a science. It would be a quantum leap to the existing procedures in SVG, and would be beneficial to both the prosecution and the defense in determining if there is any case at all,” Connell said.

He added that “at present, in some cases, it’s a

guessing game, he says or she says, and we hope for the best with the archaic methods that police depend on from the crime scene of a homicide, rape or firearm possession to the court where the case unfolds, and may collapse because of the legal injury incurred, then Justice sometimes goes begging. At least let us operate on a level field in the interest of all.”

Connell, referencing the case of his client Andy Browne, who was recently found not guilty of raping a 21-year-old woman, expressed the view that if DNA sampling was easily accessible, Browne may not have even been charged.

Connell added that being able to access results in quick time may assist investigators in determining if there is a case for the accused to answer, or lead to alternative directions in which the case may go.

He said that, to date, some samples are not sent

Man jailed for stealing Christmas items one year on Tuesday.

Senior Magistrate Colin John handed down the penalty at the Kingstown Magistrate Court after Williams pleaded guilty to stealing the items.

Among the items stolen, were foodstuff, clothes, kitchen utensils, soap, and body lotions.

The items were recovered due to the quick action of Constable Trimmingham 119, Kevon Williams tried to attached to the Port detail. hide his face as he In presenting the waits to be transported facts, Prosecutor Corlene to begin his jail Samuel told the Court sentence. that around 5:45 a.m. on December 10, PC KEVON WILLIAMS, a Trimmingham was on 25-year-old Richland Park man who sought to patrol duty at the Geest shed. deprive a woman of While patrolling an several household items, area forwhere barrels to the tune of EC$724.99, and packages, mainly shipped to her for from Canada, were Christmas, was jailed for

stored, Trimmingham saw the defendant dressed in a black hoody, red vest, and short pants standing under one of the lights. He was removing items from a box shipped from Canada to someone her and was packing them in a sack and book bag.

The officer approached, shouted ‘Police’ and grabbed him.

He then contacted the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for assistance, but while waiting on CID Williams escaped his grasp and ran.

An alarm was raised and police officers went looking for Williams.

They were able to apprehend him, and he was taken to CID. The items were recovered and handed over to CID, and Williams gave a

statement, under caution, admitting to the offense.

In handing down the penalty, the Senior Magistrate weighed the mitigating factors against the aggravating ones.

In highlighting the aggravating factors, John stressed there was some level of planning, preparation, and decision-making carried out by the defendant in commission of the crime.

For the mitigating, John noted that Williams showed remorse and appeared to be not beyond redemption.

Williams also received a one-third discount for his early guilty plea.

The penalty was the first prison sentence to be handed down by Senior Magistrate Colin John.

Lawyer Grant Connell pointed to the savings to the state and the benefits the prosecution and defence will derive from the service of a forensic lab here. overseas for testing because of the cost factor which can lead to a travesty of justice for many, and justice must not have a price.

Jail time for burglar AFTER RECEIVING a one-year prison sentence on Tuesday for theft, Kevon Williams was sentenced, the same day. to two years in prison for burglary.

The sentences, handed down by Senior Magistrate Colin John, at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court, are to run consecutively.

The 25-year-old unemployed Richland Park man pleaded guilty to entering the Information Technology Services Division building in Kingstown as a trespasser and stealing items belonging to various owners, including EC$40, laptops, cellular phones, clothing, sunglasses, gloves, and sugar which altogether valued EC$23,420.

In presenting the facts, Court Clerk, Constable 196 Lynossia Constantine told the Court that around 6:15 p.m. on November 27, the complainant secured the office, and went home leaving everything intact and in order. On returning around 6 a.m. on November 28, the complainant noticed that a glass door was shattered, and made a report to the police.

The officers visited and processed the scene, and the complainant pointed out certain things to them. Checks were also made and the items in question were discovered missing.

Investigations were carried out, during which the police obtained and processed camera footage.

Witnesses’ statements were also collected.

Williams was subsequently arrested and a copy of the footage was shown to him, and he admitted to the offense.

Some of the items were recovered, including four laptops, but only two of them were in working condition.

In handing down the penalty, the Senior Magistrate advised the youngster to use the time in prison to reflect and come out a better person.

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V Green Entrepreneurs programme closes 6. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023 . THE VINCENTIAN

Entrepreneurship

THE ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES component of the Eastern Caribbean Green Entrepreneurship Initiative (ECEI), implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), was formally brought to closure on Thursday 7th December, 2023.

The closing ceremony was held at the Centre for Enterprise Development Inc. (CED), Kingstown, the CED being the in country partner of the ECEI. The occasion afforded programme participants an opportunity to share their experiences, and celebrate their achievement.

ECEI/GGGI recipients, with Dinesh Daswani (4th from right front) and Keisha Phillips (4th from left front) at the closing ceremony.

Participants’ sharing

runs an entity known as He was one of the ‘The Plant Doctor’, which beneficiaries of a Gordon Shallow, a takes agriculture to a US$10,000 grant under Vincentian businessman, new level. the ECEI/GGGI

initiative and recently returned from a week exchange visit to Qatar.

He told the gathering that he was intent on putting his skills to proper use’. He urged listeners to “do your best.

You have no idea who is waiting on you for a livelihood.”

Shane Compton, a Fairbain Pasture resident and founder of the SVG Microgreens venture, is committed to the idea of clean living.

He is “addicted” to the trend of “sustainable farming,” and is looking to measures of “reusing, recycling, reducing and rethinking.”

Laverne King, the brainchild behind the Grenadines Gold Network, acknowledged the impact of her venture on her small island home — Canouan.

Michel Hazell admitted to his innocence of green business possibilities until he hooked up with this platform. He praised his mentor for helping to solidify his plan, and is intent on advancing his vison of turning

sargassum seaweeds into organic fertilisers. Based in Kingstown Park, on the fringes of capital city Kingstown, Hazell is anxious to secure land to expand his industry.

Leza Charles runs an operation dubbed ‘Arubana Retreat’. She is pleased with her drive towards turning a farm into a showcase of environmental friendliness.

Rhis Alleyne runs a business called ‘Earth Gold’ which is dedicated in a tangible way, to a thrust toward natural living.

Besides the presentations, there were displays of products, and Ricardo Boatswain ensured that his SoLife Solar Inc. products enjoyed maximum publicity.

David Collins spoke and featured products from ‘Palm tree Charcoal’, and Beth Pitt of Greenline Creations stressed the importance of safe environmental conditions.

Both Chemora Mcknee of ‘SusEdibles Operation’ and Mykala Bacchus of

‘Glam Skincare and Co’ considered their enterprises to be contributors to green business.

Other contributions Franz George, a progmme mentor, was happy that “businesses are adjusting to the time of technological innovations Dinesh Daswani, Communications Assistant with Global Green Growth Institute, noted the “strides in sustainable development as a result of the collaboration with the project”.

He perceived the works being done by the Vincentian participants as signaling a “beacon of hope and pointed to the US $130,000 that has been thrown into the economy and looks at the “ripple effect’ as it penetrates the global arena, and looks at the lessons from this thrust as a “catalyst for change.”

Keisha Phillips, Officer in Charge of Centre for Enterprise Development, is hoping for “more assistance” to preserve the idea of safer surroundings.

She urged participants “to use the money for what it is intended,” and stressed the importance of thrift and reminded the beneficiaries that “who nah pay for nutten, nah kay fuh nutten.”

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023. 7.

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8. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023. THE VINCENTIAN

Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Managing Director: Desiree Richards Editor: Cyprian Neehall Telephone: 784-456-1123 Fax: 784-451-2129 Website: www.thevincentian.com Email: thevincentianpublishing@gmail.com Mailing Address: The Vincentian Publishing Co. Ltd., P.O. Box 592, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Editorial

Going into the meeting...

Essequibo region; to cease and desist from a plan to “Venezuelanise” the 120,000 people currently living in the THE PRESIDENTS OF GUYANA AND region?

VENEZUELA met in St. Vincent and the Were we to expect that Guyana Grenadines (SVG) on Thursday, encouraged would concede part of Essequibo as a so to do by the intervention of the host quid pro quo for reaching a mutually country’s Prime Minister – Dr. Ralph satisfying agreement with Venezuela Gonsalves. which, if the truth be told, has no legal The meeting was legitimized as case to present in favour of its claim to having been held under the auspices of the Essequibo region? the Community of States of Latin Were we to expect that Guyana America and the Caribbean (CELAC), of would sit humbly by and allow itself to which SVG is the pro tempore, and be coerced into conceding a part of CARICOM, whose current chairman is Essequibo in the face of Venezuela Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt threats of using its superior weaponry Skerrit. against a militarily weak and almost Dr. Gonsalves’ intervention came defenceless people? amidst heightened tension between the Were we to expect that it would have two South American oil-rich countries, been impressed upon both parties, over a decades-old border conflict especially the militarily superior involving the Essequibo region which, Venezuela, that any further heightening since 1899, has since been part of of tensions could easily disrupt the Guyana, and administered as such by peace in the Essequibo region thereby the government in Georgetown. threatening to disrupt the equilibrium That the presidents, Irfaan Ali of of Caribbean as a zone of peace?

Guyana and Nicolas Maduro of Were we to expect that the Venezuela, would have met face-to-face intervention, mediation by CELAC and was nothing short of a ‘master stroke’ by CARICOM would have been focused on Dr. Gonsalves, especially considering the getting President Maduro to withdraw fact that neither party was prepared to all his unilateral dictates as they relate budge on its position with respect to the to his country’s total disregard, disputed territory.

In fact, the meeting came on the heels disrespect for the December 01 of the Guyanese parliament ordering the judgement of the ICJ — dictates that simply prolong the territorial dispute government not to discuss the border and make it more difficult to resolve? issue with Caracas, and Venezuelans The truth is Guyana can ill-afford to voting in a referendum to reject the make concessions. To do so will send a International Court of Justice (ICJ) as disconcerting message to countries the adjudicator of the matter, and give recovering from the stranglehold of their government the go ahead to give colonialism, that ‘might is right’. tangible meaning to its claim of the Whatever the outcome of the meeting, Essequibo region.

If as Dr. Gonsalves noted that Guyana the underlying hope is that it would have re-impressed the real story: that was seeking to resolve the controversy Guyana legally possessed and through the ICJ, but Venezuela had administered the Essequibo region for rejected the path of the ICJ as “the well over for 124 years, during which modality for resolution”, then it would appear that the meeingt between the two time there was little indication of objection by Venezuela. heads was for all intents and purposes Like the discovery of gold before it, one between a victim (Guyana) and an oil has certainly been a provocateur as aggressor (Venezuela). countries jockey to control if not Dr. Gonsalves all but admitted that and that the ongoing impasse left open a dominate the world supply and trade of this commodity. real chance that the conflict could The undertaking by Dr. Gonsalves to develop into a military one.

What therefore could be expected of a broker some kind of understanding that meeting between ‘waring’ parties? This would lead to a lessening of tension question is “answered” as a projection between Guyana and Venezuela is not since it comes before the meeting which one meant for the weak and faintwe hope would produce an amicable hearted. solution to the conflict.

To begin with, he would have had at Going into the meeting we ask: the back of his mind that Venezuela is Were we to expect that the dialogue the aggressor in this dispute and that, if would result in getting Venezuela to the truth be told, it has not provided agree to cease and desist from laying any cogent of evidence to support its claim to the Essequibo region; to cease claim. and desist from the lawless rhetoric that The least we can hope for is a firm accompany its threat to annex the hold by Guyana on its territory.

We need a change of attitude FEW THINGS are more disturbing to me than the attitude of some of our “senior” citizens, yes, those grown adults responsible for leading. This week, I will jump right in with no particular order. I choose not to rank or prioritize my concerns because they are all essential and disturbing.

First, a few weeks ago, a judge allowed someone accused of attempted murder to pay the victim $10,000, and the case was essentially dropped. What the hell is happening? When did this become normal? As if this isn’t bad enough, a magistrate told the prosecutor to ensure that someone accused of stealing $176,000 does not end this process with a permanent criminal record. Are you suggesting we treat this 21-year-old man as a child?

This is not what I meant when I said some time ago: “We need a change of attitude.”

Next, a senior police officer is on the radio saying to the nation that the problem with our children today is that they need more parenting.

He was responding to a call to change the age of consent. He said increasing the age of concern by two years will double his workload from about two hundred cases per year to four hundred. This comes from the second or third person in command of our police department in charge of the nation’s crime-fighting strategy. Don’t forget that, in my opinion, this organization is overstuffed by about one hundred percent according to modern policing standards. You’re getting too comfortable in your job. We need a new attitude in this country.

Mr Assistant Commissioner, no one is asking for the criminalizing of two underage children having sex. Someone once said if the only tool in our toolbox is a hammer, we will see all our problems as nails.

So get off the radio and seek constructive solutions to our problems, Mr. Bailey.

A few weeks ago, I humbly asked the acting commissioner to seek professional help regarding public communication. Someone quickly reminded me that we have a public relations team in the police department. Some even confused my request with the fact that we have a special citizen committee to

report wrongdoing by the police.

Let’s face it: a trained police officer is not now nor will they ever be a good spokesperson for the department. Stop talking. You are making things worse. If you are so interested in fighting crime, why is the department organizing a march and rally against crime in conjunction with the National Commission on Crime Prevention?

Do you genuinely think dressing up in white clothes will help? Between encouraging us to march and random comments on the radio about crime, we are beginning to sound like every politician in the USA after a mass shooting– thoughts and prayers for everyone.

Meanwhile, the killing continues.

Yes, I know this feels like a pileon day, but how could a ten-yearold child be missing for four days before the nation is put on alert to look out for this child? Get real; for example, an entire public alert system is activated within the hour of a child or a senior citizen in the community I managed being reported missing. My expectation for our police department might be too high, but four days before an alert is issued? Before we can announce the recovery of the child, thank God for small mercies; the police are on the news again, this time a report that one of them gave his gun to someone to be used to threaten a young woman in Villa.

How long will that officer remain on the job before somebody does something? Well, the answer is four to five days. It takes the same amount of time to realize that a child is missing.

We need a change of attitude.

Christmas cleaning this year will cost about $3 million, and we expect to hire around 5,000 workers. Allow about $1 million for equipment and supplies, such as transportation, cutlasses, rakes, etc. The average person will get about $400 for the season, which lasts for about three weeks, less than $150 per week.

While I welcome this tradition, I think we will be better served by adding another $10 million to this budget annually and hiring three hundred workers from throughout the nation year-round. Oh, by the way, this could be a part of the crime-fighting initiative.

Merry Christmas to all, and Happy New Year.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023. 9.

Letters

„Blessed are the peacemakers…” …THAT IS HOW I prefer the world to see our small but outstanding country, the ‘Geneva’ of the Caribbean, the ‘peacemakers of this planet’. I pray to Almighty God, sincerely, that he would open the eyes of the aggressor like Balaam, to avoid having an ass speak to him, and so avert certain disaster. (For those not familiar with that story, read Numbers 22 and ensuing chapters.)

Having primed the Venezuelan population for aggression that has already claimed the lives of five Guyanese military officials without one bullet being fired, it will take immense intestinal fortitude (guts) of Maduro to diffuse and deescalate the tension building up not only in Venezuela and Guyana, but throughout this hemisphere. We want this area and by extension the entire world to be a zone and planet of PEACE. The man of the hour is Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves who, by virtue of his personal ties with the leaders in conflict as well as current role in CELAC along with support from CARICOM at this meeting, is touted as the catalyst for peace.

It will be a difficult decision for Maduro to make, but peace can only be achieved if the aggressor withdraws his threats!!! … no ‘if’s nor but’s’.

In closing, like many Vincentians who are united on the ‘non-violent’ path, we welcome the conversation that we anticipate will culminate with brotherly embraces, laughter and relief that the entire region will celebrate as a public holiday for many years to come, called “Venezuela Peace Day” or “Maduro Day”, December 14. THE DAY THAT PREVENTED HISTORY FROM BECOMING BLOODY IN THIS HEMISPHERE. It’s better to retreat with humility and live in peace, than to create conflict and die as a villain or hero.

In Matthew 5:9 Jesus Christ proclaimed, “Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called the sons of God.” Donald De Riggs

Road Work

ROAD WORK, the cleaning of the sidewalk and drains, is undertaken about three times in the year. These include Easter, August and Christmas.

While the work that is done is essential and appreciated, more can be done with the same amount of resources.

To begin with, all the roads must be cleaned. To ensure this, the adjoining landowners must be involved. The focus should be on keeping some grass cover to prevent erosion. Aloes, and certain kinds of flowers that will aid in land conservation should be planted along the roadside. The aim should be preservation and beautification of the environment. The gangs should comprise the people who live in the villages where the work is to be done.

There should be some criteria for eligibility for road work. Applicants may submit a WhatsApp picture of their own yard to show that they can do the work. It is amazing how well the workplaces look, and our home surroundings look so untidy. It is unimaginable that the same people who keep the grounds of the hotels are not keeping their own grounds. Everyone should take an interest in keeping their dwelling places aesthetically beautiful, whether it is home, school, church, playing field, or community building.

Anthony G. Stewart, PhD

Is Gonsalves’ leadership nearing its end?

HOW FAR IS Ralph Gonsalves away from the end of his leadership as the prime minister of our ‘Land the Blessed’?

A look at his beginning will give us a road map of his ending.

We can take it from the ‘road-block revolution, in protest first against the James Mitchell 1999 ‘greedy bill’, as it was called by Gonsalves. In 1999 Mitchell decided to give all parliamentarians who did two terms in office a pension and gratuity. Gonsalves told Mitchell if he passed the bill in parliament, he (Gonsalves) would close down the country.

Mitchell was surprised when Gonsalves was able to mobilize over 60% of police, other civil servants, and a sizeable portion of the population to close down the country, by blocking the main roads in Arnos Vale and by-pass roads at Fenton using trees that had been freshly cut

down; also, the main road into Kingstown from the Leeward.

Vehicular traffic, including emergency vehicles, were blocked from entering Kingstown, and air traffic was also disrupted.

That is to say P.M. Mitchell who lived in the Canash/Blue Lagoon area couldn’t go to work and was scheduled for an OECS Heads of Government meeting in Grenada in March. It was announced on Radio 705 that Prime Minister Mitchell was unable to attend the OECS Heads meeting in Grenada because of the crisis in the country.

But by this time Mitchell had already built the Coast Guard base in Calliaqua, so he took the Coast Guard to Grenada to attend the meeting. There, he met with other OECS leaders and was advised to call Gonsalves on the beach

for a one-on-one talk.

In returning to the hotel, Mitchell declared general election would be in held within two years.

Gonsalves led his party to victory in the March 2001 general elections and was sworn in a prime minister on April 01, 2001, All Fools Day. Was it a sell-out by Mitchell or a compromise on both sides? Had it been the Labour Party under the leadership of Cato and Arthur Williams, would it have stopped at Arnos Vale?

Addressing supporters at Heritage Square, Gonsalves said that when you are in the wicket it’s different from when you are in the pavilion. He didn’t get election in three months’ time but in a year’s time.

Since his elevation to prime minister, he had been able to implement the largest public project that was initiated already on the NDO agenda. But he failed in

his own imitation — the cross-country road. He made some structural developments, but little human development. He made a lot of personal diplomatic friends and sold us to Taiwan. He has destroyed our agricultural base economy. He has betrayed his own socialist philosophy and has become the biggest capitalist.

Is he far away from an end to his leadership?

Christian Democrat

Australia is the force in cricket IT MUST BE one hell of a letdown having played unbeaten right up to the final of any sport event, especially one of world level like the ICC Cricket World Cup, and lose.

That’s the story of India as they flattered to deceive after all their dominance to go under to the Australians in the

finals of the World Cup. As I see it, the Indians got carried away with the occasion playing as favourites in front of one hundred thousand and more fans. (That is like playing to the population of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and more.)

On the other hand, Australia won the World

PEOPLE ARE ASKING: * Why is the PM calling on the young people to make use of the opportunities his government offers to them? Is it because they don’t know what these are? Is it that many of them are not qualified for what’s on offer? Or is it that ‘kisses still go by favour’? * When are we going to get legislation that would restrict vehicles carrying heavy loads to fixed times on weekdays, and to have the owners/operators of these truck pay a fee that will go towards road maintenance and repairs? * And while we are at it, is the traffic department taking note of the rate at which these trucks, loaded or otherwise, travel on our roads especially during busy times? * When are we going to hold parents and guardians’ accountability for the behavior of many of those young girls who go missing? * Are we going to spend a whole set of money again on the Arnos Vale playing field and get no returns in the long term? * Will we ever get rid of that fuel service charge on electricity bills? And what about the VAT? Can’t we get a review of the goods on which we have to pay VAT?

Cup by going back to basics, by keeping it simple.

The Aussies’ quicks, Cummins and Starc, showed the plan by bowling line and length.

You couldn’t get it ‘more’ basic. And what was the result? A far from challenging total by the Indians.

The Australians did what they do best… they stayed in the game regardless of what it threw at them.

Reputation for them is not important; what is important is getting to the finish line, and

getting there first.

There is a hell of a lot that we can learn from the Australians. One of those things is to learn that it is not about playing to the gallery, it is about sticking in, fighting for the team.

Take nothing away from the Australians for they have proved once again that they are the real force in cricket in the world. They are never to be underestimated.

Congrats to Pat Cummins and his team of fighters.

Charles, Edinboro

Fr. Brian Gill passes WE WOULD like to express our condolences to the family of the late Fr. Brian Gill on his passing. We are so very sorry to hear. Please see message below.

May he rest in peace and may light perpetual shine upon him.

We will keep the family in our prayers.

Cheryl King

NB: Fr. Brian Gill was born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He passed away at home in Leominster, Herefordshire, England, on 2nd December 2023, aged 88 years.

Fr. Gill was ordained at St. George’s Cathedral, Kingstown by Bishop Piggott. He was the first Rector of St. Philip, Mesopotamia, and later Rector of St. Paul’s Calliaqua where he served from 1972- 1974.

(Sources: tonyoldies p. 106 and Hereford Times)

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10. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Peaceful resolution to border dispute must be pursued (Excerpts of President of the NDP, Honourable Dr. Godwin Friday’s presentation on his weekly radio program) The border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana has been on the back burner for some time. More recently, because of the actions that were taken by the government of Venezuela, to unilaterally conduct a referendum that has no legal merit to claim two-thirds of Guyana, the Essequibo region that has been followed by a number of statements that have been made by the President of Venezuela which have created greater alarm amongst the people in Guyana.

I have listened to the President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali, in his pronouncement and you can see the grave concern that he expressed with respect to these developments. We cannot take them lightly because they are precedent so that in recent global politics and this is a grave development and you can see that the people of Guyana are preparing for the worst outcome but they are hoping for the best. As I have said last week, that there is a legitimate process for the resolution of the issue of the dispute between Venezuela and Guyana. We know from recent pronouncements that you may have heard on radio and stuff you have read in the media what the basic history of the dispute is.

Venezuela is asserting a claim to the Essequibo region of Guyana.

Guyana’s position is that this matter had been settled in an arbitral award in 1899. Subsequently, when the matter had arisen a course of action as to how it would be dealt with was agreed upon. And, they are insisting that if Venezuela wish to still pursue its claim that they proceed by way of that agreed upon course of action, which is to say, that it goes to the International Court of Justice and that the matter will be litigated there and the parties would accept the decision of the Court. The Court itself has said that it has jurisdiction to deal with the matter. Guyana has said that it is willing to pursue the matter in the court and urges the government of Venezuela to do likewise. Venezuela on the other hand has rejected the jurisdiction of the court and the process of having the matter resolve within the court.

We are told that there will be a meeting this Thursday in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, at the initiative of Prime Minister Gonsalves, as the President pro tempore of CELAC. My understanding is that the meeting has the blessing of Caricom and that Brazil will also play a part in the proceedings.

My view and the view of the New Democratic Party is that any discussion that has the possibility, or the hope, the intention, the purpose of seeking to bring a peaceful resolution to this dispute is to be pursued. We are not starry eyed in thinking that this is an easy process or that the talks that have been initiated on Thursday here in Kingstown, that those talks have to have clear

objectives as to what is to be achieved.

We have heard that the President of Guyana has said that the borders is not a matter for discussion because the court has ruled that the parties should accept the status quo until the matter is resolved through the judicial process, through the International Court of Justice. That is the international position. That is what has the support of vast majority of countries in the world and certainly, the support of Caricom and that is the position of the New Democratic Party.

We want to see a peaceful resolution to this dispute.

We know that Guyana has accepted the jurisdiction of the Court. We urge the government of Venezuela to accept that process and to pursue it in a way that is acceptable to the international community that will be acceptable to the people of both countries and has the potential to provide a settlement that has lasting value and will bring a lasting resolution to this conflict in a peaceful way. We have heard much talk about this area of the world being a zone of peace. And it is something that all of us, in the Caribbean and in Latin America would wish to see continue. But, it takes a lot of effort on the part of both parties, to be patient, and not to do anything that will escalate the situation as presently it has been done by Venezuela.

I am hoping that the discussions this week in St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be a part of bringing at least the parties to the table.

Guyana has already accepted the jurisdiction of the Court, but Venezuela as well needs to accept that this is the legitimate process by which the matter ought to be pursued. And, if they intend to pursue it and that the resolution of it by that process is one that will have the support of the international community and one that both parties will abide by that will have a lasting settlement of this long standing dispute.

Nobody should want to see this matter descend into violence and conflict. There are too many wars in the world right now. I certainly agree with the statement I heard from the President of Brazil which says there are too many wars in the world. We need to have a peaceful resolution of this conflict. There needs to be good faith on both sides.

We must do all we can to support the rule of international law and respect of Guyana’s territorial integrity. We cannot support the flouting of international law and legal processes nor condone the use of unilateral actions and threats to settle the dispute. Thursday’s meeting between the leaders must affirm the commitment to the peaceful resolution of the dispute and the maintenance our zone of peace.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023. 11.

Views The stiffer penalty temptation

Defining moments

“We all have defining moments. It is in these moments that we find our true characters. We become heroes or cowards; truth tellers or liars; we go forward or we go backward.” – Robert Kiyosaki (born 1947) – American entrepreneur, businessman, and author.

WE ALL HAVE DEFINING MOMENTS; events that triggered action or inaction and resulted in our being who we are.

Some of our defining moments would have impacted others for good or for evil.

We are all connected and interconnected. Our beliefs, our insights, our commitments, our defining moments can chart courses for ourselves and others.

Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727), the English mathematician, physicist, author, and theologian probably had his most exciting “eureka moment” while sitting under an apple tree.

While in the shade of the tree, an apple fell and struck him on the head. This encounter triggered his probe into the impact of gravity. It is said that in that moment Newton came up with the theory of gravity. This was certainly a defining moment that impacted science (and the world) for good.

Another very interesting defining moment can be identified in a statement made by President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963), the 35th president of the United States of America when, on 25th May 1961, before a special joint session of Congress, he announced the ambitious plans to safely land a man on the moon before the end of the decade. His conviction energized scientists around the world to make this possible. His defining moment literally propelled space exploration and took it to new heights of achievement.

President Ronald Reagan (19112004), America’s 40th president, on 12th June 1987, stood approximately one hundred yards away from the concrete barrier that separated East and West Berlin and delivered his “Tear Down This Wall” speech. This was a defining moment for the citizens of Berlin and the rest of the world. He noted, among other things, that freedom and security go together and that the advance of human liberty can strengthen the cause of world peace.

His message to the Soviet Union’s General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, beckoned for the advancement of peace and prosperity by dismantling the Berlin Wall that had separated the Berlin residents since 1961. The wall was dismantled in 1989. This defining moment for Ronald Reagan transcended his presidency and has carved out a legacy that the citizens of Germany (and the rest of the world) will forever appreciate.

These three examples reinforce the truism that a personal defining moment has the potential to ignite activities that go beyond geographic space and time. Personal defining moments can cascade to impact communities far and wide.

There are other prominent defining moments that beckon to be recognized and appreciated. We continue to be inspired by individuals who stood up for justice and equity and enabled their defining moments to impact the world for good. Individuals like Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) and Rosa Parks (1913-2005) who left legacies in

relation to racial equality in the United States of America. Rev. Dr. Billy Graham (1918-2018), during the apartheid era, refused to conduct any crusades in South Africa unless and until assured that there would not be a segregated audience. Many of these choices could quite easily be described as difficult or challenging. However, these outstanding citizens of the world chose to step forward in power and faith for worthy causes rather than to step backward with fear and apprehension. With heightened purpose and direction, they mustered the courage to stand up and be counted. That courage, strength of resolve, has enabled many to sacrifice their time, talents, and treasure for the good of mankind. Martin Luther King Jr., reminds us that “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

Defining moments may emerge unannounced or uninvited. When they appear, we understand and appreciate that we must define the moment or the moment will define us. Such moments teach us about our strengths and weaknesses. They may teach us so much about ourselves and are pregnant with knowledge and experience that can aid us in charting a better course through life. Their invaluable lessons can motivate us to exert our best efforts while pursuing our noble ambitions. We may even perceive the “defining moments” to be “refining moments”; providing the right amounts of pressure and pain to propel us to new heights of achievement and success.

Larry Osborne, an American pastor and author, notes that, “Highly successful leaders ignore conventional wisdom and take chances. Their stories inevitably include a defining moment or key decision when they took a significant risk and thereby experienced a breakthrough.” Many Caribbean citizens have been socialized to be risk-averse; to avoid risk at all cost. This is so unlike the Asian and far-eastern countries where calculated risks have been encouraged for centuries. Many of the successes in those cultures and our own have emerged from activities that failed but provided invaluable learning opportunities. Such instances were deemed defining moments that tested and proved the measure of perseverance, commitment, and courage. These were not wasted encounters. Exposed to various adversities and being knocked down while on the journey of life can be valuable defining moments.

Regardless of how the defining moments appear and are packaged, we determine whether we will allow them to make us bitter or better. We determine whether they strengthen our resolve or unravel our tenacity. We can determine to have the defining moments sharpen our focus and redesign our path to our noble dreams.

Many are designed to do that.

Send comments, criticisms & suggestions to julesferdinand@gmail.com

OUR COUNTRY is increasingly becoming unhinged. The social glue that held it together is slowly dissolving. Stabilising institutions such as schools, churches, villages and families are rapidly losing sway. As a result, a significant section of our youth become alienated from society.

In their search for meaning to life and its mushrooming problems, many of them turn to anti- social behaviour particularly drugs and crime.

Last April, Caricom leaders met in Trinidad for a historic symposium: Violence as a Public Health Issue. The conference emphasised the public health risk from growing violence. In his welcoming address PM Rowley said violence in the Caribbean is a public health emergency that threatens our lives, our economies, our national security, and by extension every aspect of our wellbeing.

All of the regional leaders from Bahamas and Jamaica in the north to Guyana and Suriname in the South sounded similar alarms. We could not agree more. We clearly have an emergency on our hands. While many leaders were good at diagnosing the problem and laying blame, the symposium was woefully short of answers. The leaders blamed everyone but themselves for the burgeoning crime problem.

Gonsalves said then, ‘too many of our judges and magistrates are too soft.’ Judges and magistrates were accused of favouring certain lawyers when sentencing convicted criminals.

Following these statements lawyers organisations were justifiably incensed.

The OECS Bar Association in a statement said, ‘instead of focusing on the real issues impacting crime such as lack of investment in youth, the family, education, the judicial system, the police, and the crown prosecution service, some leaders preferred playing the blame game, blaming everyone but themselves.’

Last week, Gonsalves in a get tough, law and order press briefing was long on ways of dealing with crime and short on answers to the increasing incidents of crime especially homicides and other violent crime.

He suggested changing the law to increase the time that police can hold criminal suspects. That time is currently 48 hours. There is no evidence that longer detention would assist with the detection and or solution to crime. Currently, persons are detained and locked away for 48 hours. Many are released without ever being questioned by their jailers.

Others are not even told the reason for detention. There is abuse now. A longer detention period will make for even more abuse with no meaningful dent in the crime.

Gonsalves proposes to abolish Preliminary Inquiry (PI) and to allow for a sufficient hearing where the magistrate decides who goes to trial, procedure known as paper committal. Truth be told this will not solve the problem. Most PIs are concluded within the first year of detention. However, accused persons spend on average three or four years on remand before being brought to trial. However, families may save money if preliminary inquiries are eliminated. As it stands now, many families find money for the PI and then are unable to support their loved ones at the trial. Because there is no legal aid in SVG except for murder trials, if the PI is abolished, many more persons may go to trial with legal counsel.

The suggestions to increase sentences for sex and gun offences are political responses to crime rather than an attempt to solve crime or to get to the root causes of crime. The

authorities hope that those who are increasingly alarmed may see ‘the get tough policies’ as progress. It is sadly mistaken.

Young men convicted of murder are sentenced to an average of 35 years.

This increased penalty has not resulted in a decrease in homicides or gun violence. The opposite is true. We have had a steady increase in gun violence that leads to death in the last decade.

SVG has smashed its homicide record over the last three years with 40, 42 and 53 deaths to mostly gun violence.

Gonsalves also floats the idea of judges only trials for murder. Frankly, this may not be a bad idea. While our jury system is well entrenched, the time may have come to either do away or seriously revamp it. The jury pool is too small. Some jurors may sit on as many as 4 matters in a single year.

Many are now ‘professionals’ with more than 10 trial experiences. Jurors should also be educated on the critically important concept of reasonable doubt. Judges, by virtue of their training and experience may have a better grasp of the concept. The operative word here is may because some judges are notoriously proprosecution.

Crime is a scourge on society. Crime against women and children is even worse. But how do we address this problem? Are our societal norms to be blamed? We demand that our women and children be submissive? The fact that women are more educated and employed and in a position to assert their independence means that men can not impose their domination when they had the power of the purse. How about us educating men about the dangers of ideas regarding male domination, misogyny and hypersexuality?

Longer sentences for sexual offences are by themselves no solution to the high incidence of assault and violation of our women and children. When a teenaged boy admits to kissing and sodomising a 4-year-old child with a nebulizer, the instinctive reaction may be disgust and horror. However, is a stiffer penalty the answer or should we be investing in health care to deal with the serious mental health problems that eat away at our society. Currently, there are dozens of young men warehoused at the prisons unable to go to trial because there is no psychiatrist to test for their fitness to plead.

Do we stop to analyse how many of our crimes are based on the deep and dark pale of hopelessness and helplessness that choke off the wellsprings of our youth and nation?

What percentage of the deviant behaviour exhibited by our youth is driven by frustration? What role does unemployment and lack of opportunities for advancement play in youth descending into crime and violence? On these crucial issue, Gonsalves is silent.

Gonsalves cited his ‘get tough policies’ on guns and sexual offences as proof that he has a clear strategy for fighting crime. These utterances would evoke laughter if our crime situation were not serious. Just like his ‘tough on crime and the causes of crime’ pronouncement before, his statement last week will be long remembered as the empty rhetoric of a veteran politician with no answers to the pressing problems confronting our country.

Stiffer penalties ain’t going to change ah thing but fill up the jails.

Send comments, criticisms & suggestions to jomosanga@gmail.com

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12. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023 . THE VINCENTIAN

Opinion

Time for a plan of action from our scholars

Where are scholars???

WE VINCENTIANS need to remind ourselves that we have declared to the world, that we are a democracy and that we submit to the authority of Jehovah the Creator who in the person of his son Jesus Christ, dwelt among the inhabitants of the earth for over thirty years.

Those among us therefore who have declared themselves to be the servants of Jehovah and have assumed the role of guiding society towards the honouring of Jehovah’s will, as was enunciated by Jesus the

Christ and documented in his word the Bible, should not be indifferent to situations which are clearly unhealthy and negatively impacting the well-being of the society and the psyche of the people.

It cannot be disputed,

that our authorities have for several decades been neglecting their responsibility to maintain the vital infrastructure of the society. The condition of the roads, the drains, and the public buildings testify to their failure

and is an exhibition of a lack of pride. It seems that we are indifferent to the fact that the tourists that we are so heavily leaning on these days, will not be impressed that we are a progressive society. Even the significance of our hosting several distinguished representatives of countries with whom we are committed to interacting does not seem to have shaken the indifference to elementary decency. We certainly could do better than that!

Education Revolution?

It seems now, that the individuals who have undertaken the management of our radio and look good on TV, that they do not have to seriously apply themselves to the tasks they have undertaken and which they have been paid to do. They are lured into this ethos of complacency because they conclude, that since there is no criticism the citizens are satisfied with their performance.

This results in societal deterioration to the degree that areas vital to the health and general well-being of the society are left unaddressed.

This should not have been happening, if we had really had a revolution in education!

It is very painful to see that in the very season when the University of the West Indies is recognized across the globe for its remarkable development strides, we here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where those who have been entrusted with the management of our affairs for several decades are indeed distinguished graduates of UWI, which has an impressive property in this “wutlessly run down” town. Is the pervasive neglect of our drains and sidewalks compensated for with the declaration that our distinguished Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has now been elevated to the position of ‘World Boss’?

Where are our scholars today?

I remember distinctly in 1948 when the University of the West Indies was initiated, I heard my father Leonard Providence say — “the university will have to play a leading role in our development”. He was at that time the ‘head teacher’ of a primary school. Today, from the mound on which I sit, I am inclined to the view that the UWI should have been able to identify areas of weakness in our society that had been distinctly negatively impacting our people’s development.

While I salute ViceChancellor Sir Hilary Beckles and his distinguished colleagues I am superlatively grateful for their valuable work which has brought us to the point today, where we can say with some confidence that reparations for the enslavement of Africans in the Caribbean are irreversibly on its way.

Yet there are areas where it has been distinctly evident that our administrators have not proved themselves faithful to the well-being of the people who had entrusted them with the management of their affairs. There is abundant testimony of this in the areas of public health and agriculture.

So we are at the point now where we need to have the energetic input from our UWI scholars to lay the foundations of a platform upon which we can hope to rebuild a society of “Peace and Justice”. An important item on that agenda of discussions by our scholars should be a comprehensive review of the ECCB’s Development and Growth Plan for 2008/9 and the recommendation from then governor Sir Dwight Venner that — “our OECS region could import food cheaper from outside of the region”.

This approach is crippling us today!

LeRoy Providence

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023. 13.

Diaspora

‘Sky’ Llewellyn still dominates

by NELSON A. KING US CORRESPONDENT naking@verizon.net

DESPITE myriad medical issues and his advancing age, New York-based

Vincentian table tennis star Francis David “Sky” Llewellyn is still dominating the table tennis court and does not consider age as a hindrance in doing so.

“Besides medical setbacks, just being able to compete is a miracle,” Llewellyn, a Crown Heights, Brooklyn resident, who gets up very early four times a week — Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday — as well as on Friday evenings to practice his craft, at the Brownsville Recreational Center in Brooklyn, he told THE VINCENTIAN. Llewellyn, 63, said he also competes in several championships in New Francis David “Sky” Llewellyn could be said to have defied the odds.

(Photo Credit: Marcia Kirton-Caesar)

York, such as the Westchester Table Tennis Tournament, primarily “to stay fit and to keep the brain sharp.”

In 2000, Llewellyn said he established the Caribbean Basin Table Tennis Initiative of North America, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, based in Brooklyn, with the goal of promoting the sport of table tennis in the Diaspora and “perpetuating the cultural benefits of the sport.”

He said the organization instituted the annual Caribbean UN Ambassadors Table Tennis Tournament in which top Caribbean and US players vied for the Ambassadors’ Cup. But, in 2007, Llewellyn said he encountered his first medical issue, when a blood clot was discovered in his left leg, running from his ankle to his groin.

He said this was “just the beginning”, as, in 2017, his right hip was replaced, followed by a stroke a year later, then a second hip replacement in 2019.

During the stroke, Llewellyn said it was discovered that he had atrial fibrillation, often called AFib or AF, the most common type of treated heart arrhythmia, according to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Intervention (CDC).

The CDC said an arrhythmia results “when the heart beats too slowly, too fast, or in an irregular way”, and that “the risk for AFib increases with age.”

The CDC also said that high blood pressure, “the risk for which also increases with advancing age, accounts for about 1 in 5 cases of AFib,” and that AFib increases a person’s risk for stroke.

But, despite what could have been major medical setbacks, Llewellyn said he “made miraculous recoveries,” going on to win the National Mixed Doubles title in St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ 2022 National Championships, with his partner, Unique Velox.

Born in Kingstown, the Vincentian capital, on Feb. 23, 1960, Llewellyn said he was introduced to table tennis by his cousin, Anthony Llewellyn, and his friend, Hilford Hurst, when he was 10, adding that “the rest, as they say, is history.”

He said he won his first national championship in St. Vincent and the Grenadines at 13, capturing both junior and senior titles.

Llewellyn said he then went on to represent the country on the national team from 1972 to 2008, and that the team won six sub-regional Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Team Championships

and several Winward Islands Championships.

During his tenure with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines National team, Llewellyn said he won 28 personal titles in the men’s singles, doubles, mixed doubles and men’s team championships.

In 1979, Llewellyn said he migrated to the United States, where he continued to compete, winning several tournaments, including the Long Island Open and The Pensacola Open.

In addition to his accomplishments, Llewellyn said he holds Level II Coaching Certification from the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).

He currently serves as chief executive officer of the Brooklyn-based Caribbean Table Tennis Initiative of North America, Inc. and president of the Brownsville International Table Tennis Club.

Llewellyn said he also still finds time to coach young people in an afterschool program in Brooklyn.

At 63, Llewellyn said physicians are “amazed” at his recovery and “extraordinary physical condition.”

He said his ability to continue competing and winning is “a testament to the benefits of physical conditioning, exercise and healthy lifestyle.”

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14. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023 . THE VINCENTIAN

People

Captain Rochelle Roache-Lanza: SVG welcomes another Vincy first

Mrs. Marilyn Roache said many years ago that she was proud of her daughter’s success even though she had initial fears about her becoming a pilot.

ROCHELLE ROACHE-LANZA expressed to a news agency

here that ‘she felt the love as she made her inaugural flight

into her home country’.

On Saturday 9th December, 2023, Vincentian born Captain Rochelle Roache-Lanza, the first Vincentian female pilot to fly for American Airlines (AA), went a step further and became the first female officer of a flight crew for an AA Flight that landed at Argyle International Airport.

The flight was AA 1427 from Miami, and touched down close to 3:00pm last Saturday.

The occasion was marked with much pomp as a visibly beaming Captain RoacheLanza was welcomed by scores of people —including Prime Minister -Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Opposition Leader - Dr. Godwin Friday, her mother, Marilyn Roache, other relatives, friends, government officials and a contingent of students from the Argyle Government School.

The welcome also featured a water salute for AA 1427.

Bouquets were presented to Rochelle and her mother by a student of the Argyle Government School.

Rochelle spent much time in the company of the dignitaries but also made time for friends and family before her departure.

Who is Rochelle RoacheLanza

Among those extending a warm welcome to the historymaking Vincentian female was Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

Captain Roach-Lanza enjoyed a special Bequia welcome from her fellow Grenadine (Bequia) people - Leader of the Opposition Dr. Godwin Friday and attorney Louise Mitchell.

Here is what Karissa Clarke reported in an article carried in THE VINCENTIAN of June 06, 2013: “Rochelle Roache, daughter of Marilyn and Earl Roache of Yambou, is the first ever female pilot from St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Her mother, obviously

proud of her daughter, recently informed THE VINCENTIAN that Rochelle had created another ‘first’: She is the first Captain Rochelle Roache-Lanza was all smiles during the welcome put on Vincentian female pilot to be accredited for her at the AIA on Saturday 9th December. a captain, flying in Nigeria, Africa. state-of-the art regional, medium haul and long haul aircraft, including two Airbuses.

Rochelle was, in fact, born On May 17, 2013, Rochelle in Bequia. She attended the was formally commissioned as St. Joseph’s Convent a full captain, in a ceremony Kingstown, where she in Nigeria. impressed with her athletic Mrs. Roache admitted that ability, winning numerous initially she had misgivings medals as a long distance about her daughter becoming runner. a pilot. She, however, now With 11 CXC subjects to her concedes that her daughter’s credit, she pursued further ability to excel at her chosen studies at the Community profession attests to the fact College and upon graduation, that following your dreams is took up an appointment as an an important notion for Air Traffic Controller at the E. parents to instill in their T. Joshua Airport, and also children.” served in that capacity in Upon completion of her Canouan and Union Island. contract in Nigeria, Rochelle Rochelle’s mother disclosed returned to the USA, settled that her daughter, during this in Texas, taught and time, expressed almost conducted FAA check rides, incessantly, an interest in which are practical test which becoming a pilot. one must undergo in the That dream took its first United States to receive an step towards fulfilment when aircraft pilot’s certification.

Rochelle went to Canada to All of this before she joined pursue training as a pilot.

American Airlines, Once she had successfully headquartered in Fort Worth, completed her training, she Texas, as a full and returned to the Caribbean and experienced pilot. served as a pilot with LIAT Rochelle is married to pilot and Caribbean Star.

Stewart Lanza, who flies with In her search for more Western Global Airlines. experience, Rochelle looked Rochelle Roache-Lanza’s further afield and was success “is not only a feather successful in obtaining a first in the cap of her mother and officer appointment with Arik the Roache family, but also in Air, in Nigeria. Arik Air is that of all the people of St. West Africa’s largest Vincent and the Grenadines,” commercial airline which at Karissa Clarke wrote the time operated a fleet of 23 prophetically in 2013.

The formative years

Students of the Argyle Government School came out to welcome Captain Roache-Lanza and revel in being part of a history-making occasion.

V Focus on the Visual Arts

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023. 15.

Visual Arts

Maurel Reynolds - I could not sell my art!

would tell me how to sell my paintings!”

This was a revelation made to THE VINCENTIAN by young visual artist, Maurel Reynolds who has been in the business for some eight years now.

Maurel described his humble beginnings as, “When I was younger, I had a lot of time to play but whenever I go outside there was noone to play with. I noticed my sister would be in a room or somewhere in the yard painting stuff. I just took it up.”

Now that he is “a prolific producer of art,” ‘Behind the Hills Maurel acknowledged his excitement at conscious look around at ways completing pieces but in which other persons lamented the fact that it organized their enterprise in was becoming difficult to an effort to attract buyers.

Maurel Reynolds is coming to He recalled, “I watched grips with how to market his work attract sales for his work. some vendors and I thought I of still life and abstract paintings. He was, however, not deterred. should just go sit down and try He told THE to sell my art. That didn’t

by GLORIAH...

VINCENTIAN that having work.” encountered difficulty in He added, “Then, I tried “I WAS HAVING TROUBLE marketing his art, and in an going on a beach or maybe SELLING MY ART and I kept effort to confront this somewhere where tourists are. looking around and no one challenge, he chose to take a …. I did that, sat down and started to paint. The tourists approached me and by doing that I realized that if I brought along my paintings, maybe I would get some sales — and it happened!”

From then on, his resolve took him to higher heights.

He now boasts a collection of still life and abstract paintings. About abstract painting his philosophy dictates that, “For me, transporting the image from my head to the canvas is a process. I won’t call it easy or too difficult. As long as you follow the steps, you’re going to get to that point. I never want the viewer to put his own image to the painting to come up with his own interpretation.”

As for still life presentations, he believes that, “This is a lot more straight forward. I never strive for photo realism, as I feel it is too bland. I prefer to have the paintings more stylized.”

At the Youlou Arts Foundation’s Exhibition entitled: “The Power of the Volcano”, which began on 3rd August, 2023 and continues into 2024, Maurel showcased four pieces which all received rave reviews. His abstract pieces, acrylic on canvas, which received rave reviews were titled: ‘Bending Spiral’ ‘Bending Spirals’

‘Before the Ashes’ and ‘Costume the Hills’.

He walked THE VINCENTIAN through the production process of his acrylic on canvas abstract piece ‘Consume the Hills’: “On the day of the eruption, I was watching the big ash plumes and during that day, coming towards the night, it looked like the ash started to envelop the hills almost like a wave.

So, I took that and tried to depict it on canvas.”

‘Consume the Hills’

Where does this prolific practitioner of the arts go from here? “I’m planning on holding my personal exhibition. I have a lot of pieces and right now I’m just planning to organize means of funding.”

The Youlou Arts Foundation selected Maurel Reynolds as its featured artist on its Facebook page for 1st December. This afforded him the opportunity to have his art promoted for sale.

V ÂPUMPKINÊ marks World Aids Day 16. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023 . THE VINCENTIAN

News

World AIDS Day is marked on December 01 every year with seemingly dwindling interest here. got support from the And, for the uninfected, General Employees he warns that, “For those Cooperative Credit who live reckless Union (GECCU), First lifestyles, it’s a wakeup Choice, and Finishings call because the wages of and Furnishings. sin is death.”

‘Pumpkin’ had wanted to create a larger ribbon this The commemoration Mr. Sydney ‘Pumpkin’ year but resources did not permit to do so. still went on regardless Joseph and his wife are of the lack of candles and encouraged by the global

by GLORIAH... friends to come and light the scarcity of people. appeal as per a candle as they When questioned www.google.com: “...

EVERY YEAR, ON remember those who ‘Pumpkin’ and his wife are steadfast in their about what message he People around the world DECEMBER 1, which is died.” commitment to keep AIDS on the national agenda. would like to give to unite to show support for marked globally as World According to the Peer those persons currently people living with and AIDS Day, Mr. Sydney Animator, this year the wanted to create a much a bigger ribbon,” he suffering from HIV, he affected by HIV and to activity was based on the larger red ribbon with Joseph, otherwise known reflected, “Normally, the fact that since COVID, a the usual lit candles but Ministry of Health would told THE VINCENTIAN, remember those who lost as ‘Pumpkin’, conducts a “For those who already their lives to AIDS. The lot of persons have died memorial (ritual of sorts) they were unable to do chip in by giving me a have HIV, please do world can end AIDS, from AIDS. He was outside the southern so. little support with what is best not to have with communities disappointed that they (main) gate of the “I was trying to make candles; but this year I it move on to AIDS.” leading the way.”

Kingstown Cemetery, to commemorate the lives of those who would have died of AIDS. Both ‘Pumpkin’ and his wife suffer from the THE 2023 EDITION of gone past half a billion represent the first time disease. the Republic Bank viewers and the the brand has seen an When asked about the Caribbean Premier 10th consecutive year of update since 2014 and genesis of this endeavor, League (CPL) has set a the total viewers signifies the he told THE new viewership record increasing year on year. tournament’s evolution VINCENTIAN that, “... it for the tournament, with There was a big increase as it enters its second all started when peers the digital and broadcast in viewership in the USA decade. The fresh design close to my wife and I viewing figures growing with the broadcast maintains the colour and died from AIDS.” to a record 853.5 audience up by more vibrancy of the CPL In elaborating on his million. This represents than 300%. There was brand, while giving it a annual ritual, he a 23% increase on the also a significant modern feel. explained that as a Peer numbers from 2022. increase in broadcast Pete Russell, CEO of Animator, he decided to The refreshed logos of the CPL and WCPLT. The announcement viewership in India with the Republic Bank light candles and to was made at the launch a 33% uplift on the 2022 Caribbean Premier the years and this new to a billion viewers highlight the symbol of of the new tournament numbers.

League and Massy branding further across the event, and we HIV/AIDS — the red logos for the Men’s and During the launch, the Women’s Caribbean cements this for CPL are confident that this is ribbon. He further Women’s CPL on tournament logos for the Premier League, said: something we will explained that, “... the December 8, 2023 at the Men’s and Women’s “The new logos represent going forward.

“We continue to grow achieve in the near cemetery was chosen Queen’s Park Oval.

Caribbean Premier the vibrancy and colour future.” because it’s the final This year’s League tournament were of the Caribbean, as does as a tournament and to see our viewership Republic Bank Vice arresting place of our tournament is also the unveiled, having been the CPL. Combining President, P. Vic friends; the reason for fourth consecutive year refreshed and updated carnival and cricket has numbers increase yet again is a fantastic Salickram remarked that the gate is to get the where the total ahead of the 2024 been a huge part in the achievement. We are the refreshed logo and viewership of CPL has season. The new logos success of the CPL over support of relatives and getting closer and closer brand identity for the Republic Bank CPL is a timely step forward that exemplifies a shared commitment to constantly evolve and connect with audiences.

As a result of this commitment, he declared, “We are confident that the tournament will continue to grow, attracting even larger audiences and captivating cricket lovers across the globe.”

(Source: accelamarketing.com)

New CPL and WCPL logos

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023. 17.

Community

Students and staff of the Leeward District Seventh Day Adventist Primary School, Buccament, take a break from their fun activities for a photo op with MP for the Area Orando Brewster and personnel from Sandals.

Sandals brings smiles Bay. This is not the first, they also did very recently, repairs and renovations right here at this school for the opening of the school term. And, here they are again at the end of the first school term, having a Christmas Party with the school,” said Brewster, while expressing gratitude to Sandals Resort and the students and staff of primary school.

Consultant with Sandals, Annette Mark, said that the last two initiatives

by Sandals marked just the beginning for the learning institution which is located close to the soon to be opened Sandals Resort.

“That is not just to say we would only be working with the school because we are also looking at other initiative with the schools in the Annette Mark, Consultant/Sandals, said that going forward, Sandals will community. Also, this falls under the Sandals Foundation which is funded be much more involved with the

by Sandals International,” said Mark. community.

Jeaneth Pierre, Principal of the Leeward District Seventh Day SANDALS RESORT SVG is not yet Adventist Primary School said that operational but that did not stop them the staff and students were very from spreading some Christmas joy at happy and excited about Sandals’ the Leeward District Seventh Day contribution.

Adventist Primary School, located in “We are very thankful for Buccament, last Thursdays 14. this initiative and grateful A contingent, including Sandals for Sandal Resort support to representative in St. Vincent and us. I am saying thank you for Minister of Mobilization/ MP for this initiative. The children Central Leeward, Orando Brewster, are running about excited joined students and staff at the and I am sure the parents primary school for their Christmas are also grateful,” said party.

Minister Brewster revealed that the Pierre.

Joesel Pembertonschool is his alma mater and one of Executive Admin Assistant of the sterling institutions in the Sandals said that Sandals constituency of Central Leeward. He support included food, drinks said the students appeared quite and fun activities for the happy by Sandals generosity, while describing the company’s contribution students and was organized by the Sandals Foundation as part of a strategic partnership and a team in St. Vincent. between the company and the school.

The typical loud music “I am happy as the representative for the constituency to be here … and associated recently with Christmas parties here was I must say this, Sandals has not yet not part of the activities. opened its doors and they are doing Instead. The students mammoth work here in Buccument enjoyed fun games.

18. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 20223 . THE VINCENTIAN

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023. 19.

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20. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Dr. Ralph Gonsalves is leading a process that will see reforms to the judicial system here.

Judicial reforms on the agenda THIS COUNTRY’S JUDICIAL SYSTEM is heading for reforms.

Word of this was conveyed during a December 8 press briefing by Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister, Minister of Ntional Security and Legal affairs, who indicated that he had initiated talks in this regard.

He confirmed that he had had discussions with individuals from the regional judiciary, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Sejilla Williams, the previous and present Commissioners of Police, Colin John and Enville Williams, on several proposed reforms.

“We have done some important reforms already in relation to evidence [and] procedure, but we need to do some more,” Gonsalves said.

The reference to judicial reforms came as Dr. Gonsalves addressed the government’s strategy to deal with crime.

A 14-point strategy, some of which had gone to parliament since 2003, and was amended, was being pursued since that year.

Among the proposed reforms according to Gonsalves was the extension of the time allowed to hold someone during the investigation of a serious crime.

The current time in which a suspect is allowed to be held by the authorities is 48 hours.

Dr. Gonsalves also raised the issue of Preliminary Inquiries, which he said some defense lawyers insisted on rather than having a paper committal.

“The defense may say well okay, we will go straight to trial, but a lot of times they say no, go to the

preliminary inquiry,” Gonsalves explained, adding that some defense lawyers insisted on a case going to a PI for financial gain.

“They don’t want me to say this, but I know how the system works — to collect their piece of change for the PI and so on,” he said.

But maybe that right ought to be taken away from defense lawyers and let the presiding magistrate, based on the documents presented, decide if to send the matter forward to the High Court.

Implementing such a measure would mean the need for more judges because the cases would be going through the system faster, but he was okay with that.

Gonsalves also suggested not having a jury trial in matters involving murders and some other trials, and reserving the judgment to the presiding judge as another part of the judicial reform process.

He said that he knew that some individuals involved in human rights will take him to task on the last judicial proposal but he explained that he was not saying that anything else will be taken away from the procedural fairness of the trial, and that all the constitutional requisites will still be there.

“All these matters, I’m telling you that as Minister of National Security, I’m giving serious reflection upon for a public conversation because it would mean that we will be changing some fundamental ways some criminal matters have been dealt with,” Gonsalves said. (DD)

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023. 21.

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22. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

No use staying around Dear George, I CAUGHT my wife trying to poison my food and when I confronted her she tried to say it was some sort of spice she was adding. However, when I challenged her to eat the same food she refused.

This action by my wife was taken on an evening when I was supposed to be at work. I got back home earlier than expected.

I overheard her asking someone on the phone “how much of the poison to use” and that was when I decided to listen more intently and positioned myself so that I saw when she committed her wicked plan.

After she refused to eat the food, I told her what I heard and she began to cry and tried to make up, tying to seduce me by taking off her clothes.

George, there is no way I can trust that woman again. I just need some advice on how to get out of this

marriage. I do not want any form of counseling because I AM DONE!

Lucky to be Alive.

Dear Lucky to be Alive, It is surely going to be more than an uphill task to learn to trust your wife again. It is going to be very difficult to live this one down.

There are too many things that could be possibly wrong in your marriage. However, if you are not feeling the vibes to try to salvage what’s left of your marriage, then you should at least seek legal counselling to know how to proceed as it pertains to the dissolution of the marriage.

You are more than likely doing yourself a favour by getting out and moving on.

George.

Leave him out him out so he won’t have to end up leaving me for I TOLD MY boyfriend, in someone else. She cannot see how wrong the presence of my best friend, that there was no she was in doing what way I was going to allow she did.

Now, anytime my him to have anal sex boyfriend is not with me with me. My friend replied then, “Well if she I am thinking he is with her. His defense is, I does not want to allow was the one who refused you, you can always him so why am I upset check me.” when my friend obliged George, it was not even 24 hours after that him. This is one messed up world. conversation that she was in bed with my boyfriend. She had the I am so Done. gall to tell me that she Dear I am so Done, felt sorry for him and practically wanted me to Your best friend has thank her for helping definitely crossed the

Dear George,

line and has betrayed whatever trust you had in her. Your boyfriend, too, seems to be clueless as to what it means to be committed.

By entertaining a third party in his relationship with you, he has opened a door he may not be able to close easily, if at all.

This is not the kind of man you need going forward. Also, you may want to closely examine your friendship list with a view of making some changes.

George.

Get out of her space Dear George, MY SCHOOLMATE has suddenly started to flash a ton load of money and she has been treating me to all sorts of niceties. She even paid for a plane ticket and a cruise. She is currently looking into securing her 3rd house.

I asked her where she was getting all this money from and she answered me in a parable.

People are whispering that she is a call girl and has a clientele of only big shot businessmen. I do not have evidence of this but what I do know is she has no known job but yet money is flowing.

I really do not feel comfortable benefiting from her money especially since I have my suspicion about how she is securing her assets.

Very Uncomfortable Friend.

Dear Very Uncomfortable Friend, Sometimes all you have to go on is your gut feeling and this time around your gut is telling you something smells wrong.

While you do not want to judge her, you should make it clear that you are uncomfortable. Let her know there are many unanswered questions about her sudden and unexplained rise in financial status.

If she is still tight-lipped about your inquiries, then perhaps you should ease yourself out of her space and let her know, if asked, why you made that decision.

George.

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) You may want to get involved in some kind of creative group. Put some energy into getting back into shape. Listen to reason. Escapist tendencies will result in a poor reputation and a lack of confidence. Put your thoughts into action.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Listen and formulate your course of action. You will be indecisive. Take time to help children with projects that may be too hard for them to do on their own.

Put your thoughts on paper. You will get drawn into groups that are not favorable to you.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Social events held in your home will be successful and entertaining for all. Hard work will payoff if you refrain from expressing your opinion to superiors. You can make a difference if you offer your help at functions that involve children.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) You need to spend some time pampering yourself. Your home environment appears to be a little shaky. You can get your point across and make valuable connections. Don't give in too quickly.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Avoid boredom by being creative in your endeavors. Your ability to get the job done will result in added responsibility and possible promotion. Romance will come through involvement with fundraising organizations. You need to get out and have some fun to reduce tension.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) You may become rundown if you take on too much. Real estate investments could be prosperous. You need to interact with others if you want to expand your knowledge. Travel for business purposes may bring the highest returns.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Don't try to hide your true feelings from your mate. You may want to get involved in financial investments presented to you.

You can sell your ideas to those who have the money to back them. Lend an ear to children; it can make a difference.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Secret affairs will eventually backfire on you. There will be hidden matters that you may find disturbing. You will learn a great deal from people with different cultural backgrounds. You may feel a need to make changes to your legal documents.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Relationships will form if you get out and do things that you enjoy. Don't make promises. Don't let jealous friends put you down, making you insecure about your capabilities. Sit tight. Things aren't as bad as they appear.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) You may find yourself in the midst of a pretty good deal. Get out and rub shoulders with people in high positions if possible. Don't blow situations out of proportion or you could find that others will misinterpret what really happened.

You will learn valuable skills if you sign up for seminars this week.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) Do things you enjoy instead of being a chameleon. Your family needs to spend some time with you, too. Look into ways that you can make extra cash. It might be best to spend time fixing up your premises and making changes that will be appreciated.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Make arrangements to meet friends at your local dance club. You will be overly sensitive this week. Don't hesitate to find out what your mate's intentions are. You may find that someone you live with is not too happy, but you can't really do anything about that right now.

ACROSS 1. Caustic 6. More peculiar 11. French playwright 14. Skinflint 16. Require 17. Brought into agreement 18. Prison camps 19. State park employees 20. Listlessness 22. Din 26. Regretful Miss of song 27. 001 inch 30. Praxis 31. Cluster 32. Queen of the Olympian gods 33. Like many Silicon Valley companies 36. Fastens 4. Small brook “Mississippi 37. ____ normal 5. Happened to Burning” 38. Wet, weather-wise 6. Rubber gaskets 32. Cole ____ 39. Those with clout 7. Child’s pet 34. Drive a car 40. DNA material 8. Over 35. Limbs 41. Joust weapons 9. Bavarian river 40. “Get outta 10. Some M & Ms 42. Skilled rider here!”

12. Man of many words 41. Bayeux 44. Presidential first Tapestry 13. Formerly, previously name that comes weapon 14. Scene of Burgoyne’s from Genesis 42. Veronica of defeat 47. Open “Hill Street 15. High-quality 52. Show support diamond attribute 53. Scam artist 21. Award recipient 54. Infielders 22. Frutti lead in 55. Expressing grief 23. For ___ an 56. Old hat emergency 57. ___ voce 24. Ceremonial staffs 25. Cries of aversion DOWN 27. Well-supplied with water, as habitats 1. Gremlins, Pacers, etc.

28. Actress Papas 2. Varnish layer 29. ___-slipper 3. Renowned scat 31. Evil characters in singer

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023. 23.

Blues” 43. Perfume scent 44. Some alerts, for short 45. Unruly child 46. Montgomery’s Parks 48. TV show host 49. Jump over 50. Messaged 51. Beginning of a conclusion

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24. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023 . THE VINCENTIAN

Central Leeward completes hat trick

Owia Government School (OGS) captured the primary schools’ championship title when they edged the Paget Farm Primary (PFP) 3-2 in the final. C.W Prescod Primary finished third.

Among those with outstanding peformancs were: In the Senior Secondary Division, those players adjudged as outstanding Central Leeward Secondary School – three-peat Senior Champions of performers included: secondary schools’ football.

Mitchron John (GSS) — CENTRAL LEEWARD They took the title in Kingstown (BCK) 4-1 on most goals (13); SECONDARY SCHOOL convincing style when penalty kicks, to take the Lawrence Benji (SVGS) best defender; Jaymarie (CLSS) Warriors, with an they out-classed the BHS Junior Division among Jack of the West St. impressive 11-game 4-nil. secondary schools. The George Secondary — best unbeaten run going back The St. Vincent score was locked at 1-1 midfielder and MVP of to last year, are once Grammar School (SVGS) at the end of regulation the final. again champions of the placed 3rd in the Senior time.

In the junior Senior Division Football Division when they In a playoff last week, secondary division, in Secondary Schools defeated arch rivals St. the Georgetown among the outstanding here.

Martin’s Secondary Secondary School (GSS) players were: Jaymor In fact, the CLSS won School (SMSS) 2-1 in the Gladiators defeated the Williams (BCK) — most their third consecutive 3rd place playoff last St. Clair Dacon goals (20); Malachi title when they beat week.

Secondary School to McMaster (SMSS) - best Bethel High School The SMSS, though, secure 3rd place in the defender; Beau Hoyte (BHS) Alphas in the final salvaged some pride Junior Division of the (SMSS) — best midfielder played at Victoria Park, when they had the better Championship. and MVP of the finals.

Sunday 10th December. of the Bishop’s College In related news, the

facing SV United in a First Division fixture of the championships.

The incident involved Volcanoes FC players mistreating match officials both physically and verbally, amounting to failure to adhere to the FIFA Ethics and Disciplinary Codes in 2022-2023.

What ensued was a host of suspensions and fines, and the two-year ban, as adjudicated by the Disciplinary Committee of the SVGFF. In addition to the twoyear ban, no registered member of the club was allowed to be transferred to another club during the period of suspension, and the Club was to communicate in writing to the Referee Association and the member of the SVGFF, its remorse for the behaviour of its players and official.

Moreover, the Club was fined the sum of three thousand dollars XCD ($3,000.00) that should have been paid by May 2023; while the Club members were required to participate in at least one Conflict Resolution session approved by the SVGFF. Players and Manager — Kendal John who were fingered in the incident received bans: D’Nelsen Lewis was handed a three-year suspension; Derald Knight and Rasheed Wallace- five years; Jarius Phillips— ten years; and John— two years.

However, in lifting the ban, no mention was made of John’s punishment. Lewis, Knight, Phillips, Wallace, along with Delano Benjamin and Orlando Campbell were identified as the accused in the incident.

At the end of the two-

Owia Primary School – proud 2023 Champions of primary school football in SVG. Those recognized in the primary schools’ division were K.J. Ollivierre (PFP) — most goals (23); Damian Nanton (OGS) — best

Volcanoes FC reinstated THE VOLCANOES FOOTBALL CLUB has been reinstated, making all units and members eligible to participate in the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation’s (SVGFF) competitions.

Indications to that effect were contained in a letter signed by Devron Poyer, General Secretary of the SVGFF, and communicated to the President of VolcanoesMaxim James.

Among the decisions relayed was that the twoyear ban on the club had been “overturned,” in keeping with the “National Olympic Committee’s guidelines.”

The entire club was banned for two years, following an incident in a fixture of the 2022/23 National Club Championships at the Victoria Park, February 8, this year. On that date, Volcanoes was

St. Martin’s Secondary School – 2013 Junior Champs among secondary schools in SVG.

goalkeeper; Terrique Pollard (OGS) — best midfielder and MVP of the final.

I.B.A. ALLEN

Nanton clocks personal best St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation, General Secretary, Mr. Devron Poyer to the right.

(Photo Credit: SVGFF) year suspension the Club must demonstrate its readiness and commitment to uphold the true values and spirt of Fair Play as advocated by the SVGFF and FIFA. The SVGFF, upon receipt of acknowledgment of the letter by Volcanoes FC, will move to enact all appropriate procedures to facilitate the action as outlined.

ODESHIA NANTON, currently pursuing an athletics scholarship at the Lincoln University Missouri in the United States, clocked a personal best in the 400m over the weekend, at the 2023 Bob Thomas Challenge indoor meet.

Nanton ran an indoor personal best time of 57.00 in the women’s 400 meters at Anschutz Sports Pavilion, Lawrence.

The 5 feet 7 inches athlete, from the community of Georgetown, attended the J.P Eustace Memorial and honed her craft as a member of the of the IT DAT Academy.

Odeshia Nanton continues to improve in her pet event – 400m.

She furthered her studies and refined her athletic skills at the GC Foster College in Jamaica, before moving on to the USA. I.B.A. ALLEN

V National swimming records broken

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023. 25.

Sports

Saj Caesar

KIONE DE SHONG, representing the Black Sands Swim Squad (BSSS), along with the Blue Marlins duo of Tayeah St. Hilaire and Saj Caesar, were in fine form at the Barbados Aquatic Sports Association (BASA) Short Course National Championships, that took place from December 5 to 10, 2023.

Leading the performances was De Shong. He struck gold in six of his races, as well as three silver and two bronze.

Competing in the Boys 9-10, De Shong also broke five of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’

records in that age group: the 100m and 200m Individual Medley, the 100m Breaststroke, the 50m Breaststroke and the 50m Freestyle.

His 1:16.58 in 100 IM, bettered that of Eltonte Leonard’s 2017 record of 1:16.78.

In the 200m IM, De Shong also eclipsed the 2:51.07, also set by Leonard in 2017, as he lowered it to 2:47.61.

The 100m Breaststroke record now stands at 1:21.71, with De Shong beating his own record of 1:24.90, established earlier this year.

Additionally, De

Shong clocked 36.91s in the 50m Breaststroke, erasing his mark of 37.12s, done at the OECS Time Trials in June, also of this year.

De Shong took the 50m Freestyle record from Leonard, as his 29.55s, beat the six-year mark of 29.58s.

Meanwhile, St. Hilaire, who swam in 16 races, gaining seven gold, two silver and six bronze, claimed two SVG records in the Girls 11 to 12 age division.

She broke her own 50m Freestyle record, taking it down to 28.25s to 28.16s, and did away with Mya De Freitas’

Tayeah St. Hilaire mark of 2:54.24 in the 200m Butterfly, as she timed 2:47.87. The latter record stood from 2028.

And Caesar, the youngest of the trio, won two bronze, but achieved his personal bests in the eight races he swam in the Boys 8 and Under.

However, his crowning

Kione De Shong moment was setting the new record in the 200 IM. Caesar stopped the clock at 3:37.55, erasing Ahlil Cyril’s 2018 mark of 4:29.21.

Three Juniors for US Open Squash THREE of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ young Squash players will be part of the US Junior Squash Championships, set for December 16 to 19, 2023 in Philadelphia.

Jayden George will contest the Boys Under-15; Jaydon Williams, the Boys Under-17; and Nadira Morgan, the Girls Under-19.

The Vincentian trio are among over 1000 players from thirty-five countries expected to participate in the four-day event.

Coach of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines team- Amber Glasgow welcomes the opportunity for George, Williams and Morgan, to duel outside the Caribbean.

“This is our strongest Junior team and their dedication, discipline and commitment to train, have inspired pride,” Glasgow assessed.

Glasgow was especially heartened by the coming together of members of the Squash family to ensure that the three players got the best possible preparation.

“What really stood out is the community spirit surrounding the opportunity, as the Squash family

From left: Jayden came together.

George, Nadira Morgan, Othniel Bailey, Jaydon Williams.

Jules Snagg assisted me with the actual coaching of the players, whilst others initiated fund-raising ventures, donating out of pocket,” Glasgow beamed.

In addition to the Squash fraternity, the corporate sector also played a vital part.

“To compete at this tournament was a financially ambitious goal and to see everyone coming together behind the athletes says a lot… We had Tus- T water Inc. - made their monthly contribution towards the use of the facility for extra training… We also had contributions from Coreas, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Olympic Committee, the National Lotteries Authority, Fraser Construction,” Glasgow said with gratitude.

The US Open is the largest individual Junior Squash tournament globally. This year’s edition will be played across five venues: the Arlen Specter US

Squash Centre, Penn Squash Centre, Drexel University’s Kline & Specter Squash Centre, Philadelphia Cricket Club and Philadelphia Squash Club.

Competition will be in the Under-11, Under-13, Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19, for both boys and girls.

Concacaf’s Home of Football welcomed PRESIDENT of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) — Carl Dickson, on behalf of his organisation, welcomed the One Concacaf Hope of Football facility.

Dickson who was part of the ground-breaking ceremony held at Cap Cana, Dominican Republic, December 2, 2023, noted that the state-of-the-art Football facility will be beneficial to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

President of the SVGFF, Carl Dickson (right) with Concacaf President and FIFA Vice-President, Victor Montagliani, at the groundbreaking ceremony in the Dominican Republic.

Towards this end, Dickson said, “It will be an asset to all member associations of Concacaf, with countries like us among the greatest beneficiaries, as the facility, when completed, will allow our national teams to go there and train, and livein for a period.”

The SVGFF President noted that St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ team, through their access to the facility will be exposed to quality standard fields and other top-class amenities.

“Our players will have before them facilities they have never been exposed to… This will help in their mental and physical preparations as they position themselves to compete at regional and international tournaments,” Dickson

reasoned.

When completed, the One Concacaf Home of Football will have several high-quality international standard fields, inclusive of locker rooms, facilities for classroom education, as well as a gym.

Work on the facility is expected to intensify as Concacaf officials move to deliver the it in the shortest possible time frame.

Deliberations leading up to the choice of the Dominican Republic were rigorous. Several factors were considered before reaching the final decision. Weighing in its favour were its connectivity to the region, and a climate conducive to all, among other pertinent factors.

V

26. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023 . THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Life is what you make it NORMALLY, one would have been happy with the West Indies success in the One Day International three match series which ended at Kensington Oval last Saturday.

That West Indies escaped an English comeback and took a 2:1 margin, represents a change in fortune.

That result uncovered a void the West Indies found themselves over a considerable period.

It is 25 years since that type of win over England. It is the first against a Full Member opposition in more than two and half years.

The two teams met yesterday Thursday 14 in the second T/20 in Grenada. That followed another nail biter in the opening match at the Kensington Oval last Tuesday night.

Some observers prefer to focus on the drama that is synonymous with West Indies cricket.

Selections, omissions and condemnations are elements of regional cricket.

Results have come as therapy for those used to despondency, as the team churned out victories.

As bad as things are with West Indies cricket, nothing is worse than what is happening to the Palestinian people. There is the suggestion that what is happening in Gaza and indeed the Palestinian territory has nothing to do with sport.

And you may right. For its certainly not a game. But life is expected to go on in Gaza, for the right thinking person. But that does not seem to be the thinking among the Israelis, and those who protect them.

Kinsley Jack was a National Reggae Festival winner in the early 80s. One of his big numbers is ‘Life is what you make it’. He has fallen into a state of abandonment. Efforts to rectify his situation may be taking place in subjective fashion.

One thought that measures should have been taken to take care of Kingsley Jack. A nation is judged by how it takes care of its vulnerable.

Kingsley has provided some form of spiritual upliftment to the nation. Reward for him should be a matter of courtesy. His situation continues in subdued fashion. Tangible measures ought to be taken to secure him.

Perhaps the world has adopted that nonchalant approach, in fact a callousness to the suffering of others.

It seems that the beast has been unleashed on the Palestinian people.

The narrative has been rehashed of the ‘Terrorists’ who unleashed a massacre on innocent civilians on October 7. And the statements are echoed of “Israel having a right to defend itself.”

There is no reference to the displacements of the Palestinian people, since 1948. The Palestinians have been left to the wolves, and only when it appears that there might be no one or place to left for the Israelis to bomb, that calls for a cease fire will take effect.

It is a coincidence that a sponsor is withdrawing support for the Israeli football team.

At least, they had a sponsor. The Palestinians have not been considered for the basic element of existing in freedom.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines joined the vote for a cease fire in the raging battle. Some countries abstained, and the usual suspects including the United States of America rejected any form of sanctions against the Israelis.

That is a matter that will continue to gain attention, one way or the other.

TT players in Dominica SIX PLAYERS and three officials are in Dominica where they are representing St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the 2023 OECS Table Tennis Championships which began today, Friday, December 15, and will conclude on Sunday, December 17.

The players are: males - Sean Stanley, Damion Dublin and Romano Spencer; females - Shanecia Delplesche, Leah Cumberbatch and Jessica Mc Carter.

The officials are coaches, Joseph Carrington and Unica Velox, and Mikael Hazelwood as Assistant Coach.

The players will compete in the Joseph Carrington, coach of the SVG National Table Tennis team says the team is determined to win the OECS championship.

team format, male and female singles open categories, male and female doubles and male and female mixed doubles.

Coach Carrington spoke candidly before the team departed on Thursday, saying, “Winning this Championship will mean a lot for table tennis in SVG especially how it is a small sport. The selection of the team this year is a reflection of our intention to win.”

Carrington had a special word on the females noting, “We have a young female team but they are full of enthusiasm. I am expecting good things from them as well.

The last time the OECS Table Tennis Championship was held was in 2013 in St. Lucia.

The host emerged winners of all titles- male and female teams, male and female open singles, male doubles and mixed doubles.

The 2023 Championship is expected to attract participation form all OECS member states.

Tallawah retains TBPO cricket Title SION HILL TALLAWAH comfortably defeated BOSVG All Star by 7 wickets in the finals of the 2023 NLA/TBPO Softball Cricket Competition, to retain their championship title.

All Star batted first and made 151 for 7 in 20 overs, good knocks coming from Elton Williams 29 not out, Lenroy Danzell 27, Roderick John 26 and Kody Horne 21. Shamic Roberts 3 for 19, Kerwin Williams 3 for 25 were the chief wicketJabarri takers for Cunningham was Sion Hill. the Competition’s In reply, highest run Sion Hill scorer.

Tallawah raced to 153 for 3 in 16.1 overs, Kirton Lavia top scoring with 41 not out, Zaniel Baptiste 35, Erwin Williams 22 not out, Shamic Robers 20.

In the third place playoff, CMT Out ah Trouble beat

Kombat Warriors by 9 wickets. Scores: Kombat Warriors 85 for 5 in 10 overs - Marcus HackShaw 45; Out ah Trouble 86 for 1 in 6.3 overs - Sunil Ambris 47 not out.

Among those receiving accolades for their performances throughout the Competition were: Jabarri Cunningham of Out ah Trouble MVP of the Competition and most runs (394); Nkosi Toby of AIA Reload & Courtney McDonald of BOSVG All Star joint highest wicket-takers (13 each); Tournament best all-round player was Courtney McDonald of All Star; Winston Patterson of Clinchers — most disciplined player; Young Stallions - most discipline team.

Sion Hill Tallawah, from Sandy/Owia – had an easy passage on their way to retaining the TBPO Softball cricket title. Here they are pictured in the uniform of Owia Strikers which they used in the final.

Billingy tops umpiresÊ exam

Olanzo Billingy passed the Windwards Umpires’ Exam with flying colours.

LOCAL cricket umpire Olanzo Billingy topped the recent Windward Islands Umpires Association 2023 Practical and Oral Level 3 Examinations.

He was among 42 candidates from a registered cohort of 50 from across the sub-region, to have attained the required past mark of 80%. He scored an impressive 96.66%.

Other Vincentian umpires to have attained the required pass mark were Andy Baptiste (94.40%), Shavorne Clarke (89.20%) and Whitfield Hastings (85.16 %).

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Vincentian Afron Byam is now a member of Cricket West Indies Junior Panel of Umpires.

Byam began his umpiring career in 2014. He passed the local exams in 2015 and was successful in the West Indies Umpires Examination in 2016.

He officiated in his first regional tournament also in 2016.

He is currently the Treasurer of the SVG Umpires Association.

Afron Byam has moved up in the pecking order of cricket umpires in the West Indies.

Stories: I.B.A. ALLEN

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023. 27.

Classifieds

Jail for Vincy couple From Backpage

Susan did not notify the police about these incidents but did contact her bank to cancel her card and her Housing Association to change the locks on her doors, Scotland Yard said.

She also told her neighbours about what happened.

The pensioner was last seen alive on September 6 and was found dead shortly before midday on 26 September.

Grant and Howard had been seen walking to and from Susan’s home on the afternoon of September 6.

They had obtained her PIN number which they

used to begin an extravagant shopping spree, which only ended when they were arrested on September 26. In all, their ‘transactions’ totalled some £13,000 which they used to purchase luxury items included perfume, a new television, portable speakers, telephones, clothes, shoes, sunglasses, watches and handbags.

Det. Chief Insp Neil Rawlinson, who led the investigation, said: “This was a brutal murder that followed a sustained campaign of abuse and violence.

“The victim was a vulnerable adult who was ruthlessly pursued

and subjected to unthinkable violence.

“Grant and Howard are both dangerous individuals, who have thankfully been brought to justice,” the B&K Times reported. (Source: Brent & Kilburn Times, UK)

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023

VOLUME 117, No.50

www.thevincentian.com

JAIL FOR VINCY COUPLE

Chelsea Grant was cleared of murder but not robbery and was found guilty for that offence.

Victim Susan Hawkey was a vulnerable 71year-old pensioner who became a target for the couple.

by KENVILLE HORNE

Photo Source: (UK Met Police) A VINCENTIAN couple who subjected a pensioner to weeks of violence before

one of them murdered her have been jailed.

Xyaire Howard, originally of Edinboro, and Chelsea Grant of Ottley Hall, according to police evidence, stole 71year-old Susan Hawkey’s

bank card and used it to spend thousands of pounds of her money after brutally murdering her.

Howard, 23, a resident of Press Road, Neasden,

was jailed for a minimum of 31 years after being found guilty of Hawkey’s murder.

Grant, 28, also of Press Road, pleaded

DIAMOND HOUSING SCHEME IN DARKNESS

by HADYN HUGGINS

RESIDENTS in the lower area of the Diamond Housing Project have been in darkness for over a month now due to a defective street light installed on Utility Pole #3772.

Some residents in close proximity to the pole told THE VINCENTIAN that they have made numerous calls to the St. Vincent Electricity Service (VINLEC) about the situation, and were repeatedly told that the information would be passed on to the Street Light Division, but up to press time, Thursday, residents were still waiting for the light to be restored.

Persons are particularly concerned because Diamond is known for criminal activities - including burglaries, robberies, and homicides - and the chances of these offences being committed is heightened because of the darkness that now prevades the area.

Some residents there say that they find VINLEC’s attitude to be very strange, as the utility company is known to be very cooperative and prompt in responding to situations like this.

Some are wondering whether VINLEC is waiting Residents in the lower area of the Diamond for something serious to happen before restoring the Housing Scheme are awaiting VINLEC attention to a defective street light in their area. light.

Published by The VINCENTIAN Publishing Co. Ltd, St. Vincent and the Grenadines;

guilty to robbing Susan on multiple occasions before the trial in September but was found not guilty of murder.

On Wednesday, (Dec. 13) she was sentenced to 15 years in jail, with a minimum of 10 years to be served.

As reported by the Brent & Kilburn Times, Susan Hawkey was found dead, her badly decomposed body lying under a duvet in her home.

All of this after neighbours had reported their concern and police had forced their way into the pensioner’s property.

Police evidence said that “she had been stripped of her lower clothing, her hands had been taped and tied behind her back, her eyes taped shut and a ligature placed around her neck was so tight, it had broken one of the bones in her neck”.

She was subjected to weeks of violence with Grant and Howard, who

EC$1.50

Xyaire Howard, 23, will spend 3 years in jail for the murder of pensioner Susan Hawkins.

lived a few roads away from her.

The jury heard how Susan led a lonely and routine existence. She rarely left her home, but when she did she often took the same route to the shops and the post office with her cash card.

The prosecution told the court that Grant and Howard followed her to her home, violently mugged her for her ATM several times between July and August 2022.

In a further mugging on Verney Road on August 22, they obtained her bank card and her house keys, the Court heard.

The following day they went to her house and again robbed her, but Susan fought back against them.

Continued on Page 27.

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