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By HAYDN HUGGINS PROMINENT CRIMINAL LAWYER Kay Bacchus-Baptiste has described as “irresponsible and prejudicial,” Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Sejilla McDowall’s decisions to make public her findings, at this point, in the case of 18-year-old Cjea Weekes, knowing that a Coroner’s Inquest will be held. Jomo Thomas, lawyer representing Weekes’ family, speaking on BOOM SVG 106.9FM OMG morning programmes last week Thursday, disclosed that the DPP in a letter to Weekes’ family and legal counsel said she was of the view that criminal liability “does not arise in Weekes’ death.” Police reported that Weekes died as a result of an accident on February 2, 2022 at Vermont, while his mother Natasha Weekes insisted her son told her before he died that he was run over by a police vehicle. Weekes succumbed to his injuries at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital on February 6, 2022.ACoroner’s Inquest is expected to be held to determine the circumstances surrounding Weekes’ death, and whether anyone is culpable. But Bacchus-Baptiste told THE VINCENTIAN on Wednesday, “I don’t think that she (DPP) acted responsibly to make public her findings, knowing there is going to be a Coroner’s Inquest. That will be prejudicial to the Inquest.”
FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022 VOLUME 116, No.33 www.thevincentian.com EC$1.50 ToneysPageJubilee11Browne’sInitiativePage5GarifunaheritagePage2 That Cost of PageLiving28 woman your ownPageage4
DPP
Some teachers to be re-appointed
SAYSIRRESPONSIBLY,ACTEDLAWYER
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THE TEACHERS WHO HAVE REAPPLIED for positions in the government service were expected to be appointed by the Public Service Commission on August 18. This was confirmed by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves who said that as of August 15, some 55 teachers who had initially been deemed as having ‘walked off the job’ for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine in accordance with SR&O No 28 of 2021, had either now taken the vaccine or have agreed to the terms and conditions which include regular COVID-19 testing.Speaking on radio on August 17, the prime minister again appealed to teachers to re-apply. He said that the deadline for submission of re-applications was August 17 but he has requested that it be pushed back to August 22. “I say to the teachers, those who say that what the government has done to say yes you can return, but on the condition of taking the test on a weekly basis, there may come a time when the test will not be required based on the epidemiological situation that exist,” Gonsalves said.
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves spoke to the issue of the COVID-19 vaccine-related dismissed teachers with a sense of resolution.
Sejilla McDowall, in her position of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) retains the final say in whether someone is to go to trial or not, even in the case iof the finding;s of a Coroner’s Inquest.
Lawyer Weekes’thethatmakeDPP’shasBacchus-BaptisteKayquestionedthedecisiontoadisclosurecouldprejudiceInquestintoCjeadeath.
The YPL is based in Dangriga, formerly known as Stann Creek Town, a town in southern Belize, on the Caribbean coast. The town is home to a number of Garifuna communities, making it rich in expressions (including festivals) of authentic Garifuna music, art, food and culture generally. The YPL is currently working towards realizing a project that will bring a sports stadium to Dangriga. This will not only serve the wider community but will be of special significance to the development of the sports programme at the Stan Creek Ecumenical High School, which became in 2018 the first school form Belize to compete in the prestigious PennJamesRelays.Cordice, the Philadelphiabased pioneer and coordinator of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ participation in the Penn Relays, is credited with facilitating the Stann Creek Ecumenical High School’s history-making venture.
THE YURUMEIN PROJECT LTD.(YPL), headquartered in Belize, is founded on the mission of teaching the Garifuna language and culture to those who identify as Garifuna in all parts of the world, including Yurumein - St. Vincent and the Grenadines - the ancestral homeland of the Garifuna nation. Towards fulfilling its specific focus on St. Vincent and the Grenadines, workshops have been held dating back to 2011, with the most recent being held from July 11- 25, this year. Two groups of young people, 23 from ages 9-12 and the other comprised of 17 teenagers, gathered respectively at Seventh Day Adventist Primary School in Buccament and the Clare Valley Government School, and were exposed to sessions on the History, Language, Music, Dance and the fine art of the unique Garifuna Drumming styles and rhythms. The sessions in Buccament were held from 9:00am to noon — Monday to Friday, with the Clare Valley activities being conducted from 2:00pm to 5:00pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.St.Vincent and the Grenadines—born Ebu James Cordice served as the resource person for the History component. The other resource persons were Belizeans: Dr. Gwen Nunez-Gonsalez and Dr. Jeremy Cayetano for Language, Music and Dance, and Joshua Arana for Drumming.Bothworkshops came to an end on Tuesday 26th July, Buccament in the morning and Clare Valley in the afternoon.Theorganisers and participants were pleased to welcome Minister of Education Curtis King to the closing activity at Clare Valley. Both closing activities involved workshop participants demonstrating what they had learned over the period — in Language, Music and Dance, with the Clare Valley featuring a community drum circle. AccordingAssessmentsto Cordice, the overall experience was “phenomenal… The participants were enthusiastic and persons on the ground were supportive. It is heart-warming to hear the kids singing in Garifuna.” Dr. Cayetano was more than happy to declare that the objectives of the workshops were achieved, and that she was particularly pleased with the language retrieval component. ”The learners now have fundamental usage of and feeling for the language, not to mention that they also have an idea about the Garifuna history and identity,” Dr. Cayetano said in an interview with THE EncouragedVINCENTIAN.bytheenthusiasm of the children and young people generally, she is “looking forward to repeating and developing the workshops and its content on yearly visits to St. Vincent and theTheGrenadines.”Yurumein Project Ltd. As referenced earlier, the workshops aimed at the retrieval of the Garifuna culture worldwide, have been spearheaded by the Yurumein Project Ltd. (YPL), headquartered in Belize.ItsBoard of Directors include Ebu James Cordicae - Managing Director St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Dr. Jeremy Cayetano — Managing Director Belize, Central America, and Dr. Gwen Nunez-Gonzalez — Operations Manager.Similar workshops to those conducted in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are ongoing in Belize.
An exercise in getting the history correct.Workshop
The resource persons - (from left) Dr Gwen NunezGonsalez, Ebu James Cordice, Joshua Arana and Dr Jeremy Cayetano –during an outing to Fancy where they were hosted by the Garifuna group in that community.
Retrieving the Garifuna Culture
going.Participants reviewing some of the work they did in the language classes.
2. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022 THE VINCENTIAN NewsV
Participants getting ready for a dance routine.
drummers got the drum circle
Some teachers to be re-appointed
A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT of the damage caused by the passage of a tropical wave between July 30 and 31 has now been issued. However Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said that the information provided needed to be “codified and costed.”Hesaid on radio on August 17 that the passage of the tropical wave affected 35 homes nationwide, eighteen of these in Bequia. Damage was reported on seven public buildings, three private businesses and at least five motor vehicles and boats on the Grenadine Island.The issue, including assistance to those affected, was expected to be discussed in Cabinet on AugustForecasters17. at the Maurice InternationalBishopAirport in Grenada reported that the weather system developed and brought with it Category 1 hurricane force winds which affected Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines and other neighbouring islands.Officials at the Grenadian Meteorological Office recorded peak wind gusts of 80.6 mph between 2 and 6am, and met officials at the Grantley Adams International Airport reported gusts of up to 63.3mph during the same time period. (DD)
V News 3 THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022 . 3.
The value of the panels that were stolen is estimated to be $4,200.00.
Tropical wave damage assessed
INVESTIGATIONS ARE SAID TO BEongoing following the theft of three solar panels from the solar farm at the Argyle International Airport (AIA) on August 16. According to Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, the watchman for the facility was beaten during the incident and sustained cuts about his hands and face.The matter was reported to the Stubbs Police Station, and the watchman taken to the Stubbs Polyclinic where he was treated Gonsalves said that a vehicle, a SUV, was seen in the vicinity of the solar farm in February this year. “But on August 16, the person in this jeep returned to the solar farm and three solar panels were stolen,” the prime minister said. Each of the solar panels are said to cost“AndEC$1,400.yougo and thief three of the panels? These are some of the things…its like those persons who would go and steal and destroy things from the seismic unit,” Gonsalves said. “We need to catch this culprit, but that matter is in the hands of the police,” he continued. (DD) Funding for the Solar Farm at the AIA was provided by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). It is to provide renewable energy to the AIA to decrease dependence on electricity from the national predominantly diesel-drive national grid. (DD)
Continued from front page. AND SUCH INDIVIDUALS WEREnot being disadvantaged either, said the prime minister, because the pension plan that was in place prior to them leaving their positions will be added on to the new service he explained.Sotoo,for those who were involved in the lawsuit filed against the government. According to Gonsalves their return did not compromise the case.“The only advice which could tell you that if you take back your job with the requirement for the test, that somehow that compromises your case, anybody giving you that advice is giving you political advice, not legal advice,” he said. Those individuals can continue and make all the arguments before the judge, said Gonsalves.“Essentially we are offering you a possible win/win situation — it’s straightforward, so I’m urging again for the teachers to take advantage of this,” he saidIn July, Gonsalves announced that Cabinet had taken the decision, based wereotherauthorityThevaccinatedworkersBeache,DrMedicalcomingrecommendationsonfromtheChiefOfficer(CMO)SimoneKeizer-forhealthcaretobefullyandboosted.police,portworkersandpublicservantsnotrequiredtobe vaccinated for employment, but will be required to wear masks, sanitise, etc.Teachers and ancillary staff in learning institutions, especially those unvaccinated, would be appointed, but had to adhere to certain measures including the wearing of masks, social distance, screening and testing. Meanwhile, as THE VINCENTIAN understands, that the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teacher Union has described the reference to 55 teachers re-applying for positions as misleading.TheUnion purports that among that figure is a number of replacement teachers — persons employed on a contractual basis to replace those who were dismissed. Those persons are coming to the end of their contracts and are either desirous of being permanently employed or having their contracts renewed.Effort to get an idea of how many dismissed teachers have reapplied for positions in the government teaching service were unsuccessful . (DD) Continued from front page.
Bacchus-Baptiste questioned rhetorically, “Why should she publish these findings, knowing that there is going to be a Coroner’s Inquest?” She also found to be insincere the DPP’s suggestion that ‘there seems to be a need for road signs in the area, where the incident occurred, that may point people to where the road goes, and where it ends, and that the road is in disrepair’. “I think it is disingenuous to suggest that the incident may have been caused by hazardous road signs,” Bacchus-Baptiste said, and questioned, “How many accidents we have had on that road?”
DPP acted irresponsibly, says lawyer Cjea Weekes, according to the police, died in an accident. His mother insist a police transport ran over him. Teachers continued their protest, registering their strong sentiment against reinstatement, up to Thursday this week.
BACCHUS-BAPTISTE POINTED OUT that if the jury in a Coroner’s Inquest finds a named person guilty of an offence, the Coroner has the power by law to commit that person to stand trial. But she highlighted the fact that the DPP is in charge of all prosecutions, and has the power to nolle prosequi, or discontinue any matter, as she sees fit.
House Roof damage in Bequia – the result of the recent tropical wave.
Solar panels stolen from AIA
Property Damage
Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS
ABOUT three months after 34-year-old Cornelius Kennedy was committed to stand High Court trial for the murder of Paul’s Avenue resident, and handyman Lance Wilson, he was again committed to be tried in the High Court, this time for causing grievous bodily harm. Following a Paper Committal Procedure at the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday, Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne concluded that there was sufficient evidence for Kennedy to be tried for causing grievous bodily harm to Sedric Codougan of Kingstown. He was unrepresented. On May 17, 2022, Kennedy was committed to stand trial for Wilson’s murder, and assault and causing bodily harm to Junior Baptiste of Redemption Sharpes.
Last week was a case of a ‘cow thief, this week is a case of a ‘goat thief’.
Farmer charged for burglary
Bodily Harm
Another case of livestock theft
On 11.08.22, police arrested and charged Adroy Mc Dowall, 20-year-old labourer of Layou with the offence of damage to property. According to investigations, the accused allegedly without lawful excuse damaged one (1) glass sliding window valued at $400.00 EC by smashing same with his hand —the property of a 57-year-old labourer of the same address. The incident occurred on 11.08.2022 in Layou at about 3:00 p.m. Mc Dowall was expected to appear at the Kingstown Magistrate Court to answer the charge.
On Tuesday, August 9, 2022, police arrested and charged 37-year-old Lemron George, a farmer of Overland with two counts of burglary. The assailant was accused of entering the dwelling house of a 38-year-old Pre-School Teacher of Gomea as a trespasser and stealing several electronic devices, the property of the teacher. The value of the items removed was given as $4,557.00EC.Theitemswere allegedly removed between 9:20 pm and 11:30 pm on 15.06.22. George was also charged for entering the dwelling house of a 28-year-old domestic of Gomea as a trespasser, and stealing several electronic devices and alcoholic beverages valued at $8,524.00EC. The items are the property of the virtual complainant and they were reportedly stolen between 6:00 pm on 15.06.22 and 1:25 am on 16.06.22.George was slated to appear at the Kingstown Magistrate Court to answer the charge.
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POLICE ROUND-UP
Police investigations said the accused allegedly assaulted a labourer, 26 years old of the same address, by slamming him to the ground causing actual bodily harm. The incident occurred in Layou at about 10:50 p.m on 20.05.22. Berkley was expected to appear before the Kingstown Magistrate Court to answer the charge.
(Source: Public Relations and Complaints Department, RSVGPF) for women your ageÊ
Those matters were also done via Paper Committal Procedure. Kennedy was represented then by attorney Shirlan Barwell. Wilson, Codougan and Baptiste were among a number of people who were attacked and injured at various locations on December2, 2021. Wilson was reportedly struck in his head and died on January 5, 2022 at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH), where he was warded for just over a month. Codougan and Baptiste were also patients at the MCMH nursing injuries. Baptiste was subsequently discharged, while Codougan, THE VINCENTIAN understands, left the hospital on his own volition, eluding authorities in the process. Following the December 2, 2021 attacks in Kingstown Kennedy was detained. A police report had stated that he would be sent to the Mental Health Centre for evaluationpsychiatric but to date, VINCENTIANTHE has been unable to ascertain what happened in relation to that examination. Kennedy has been on remand since January 10, 2022, in connection with these matters. This after he unsuccessfully made a request for bail during his April 12 appearance at the Serious Offences Court. He was unrepresented. A 23-year-old man has been warned to look for women in his age group when seeking intimate relationships.Thewarning came from Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne on Tuesday when Ezmonde Patterson of Redemption Sharpes appeared at the Serious Offences Court, charged with damaging a cell phone valued EC$600, the property of a 16-year-old girl. Patterson, who was unrepresented, pleaded guilty. The Court heard that Patterson and the girl were in a relationship which ended in May this year. The relationship is thought to have started more than a year ago, which brought into question the age of the girl at that time. “You are a 23-year-old and picked up a 15-year-old?” the Chief Magistrate asked presuming that the girl may have been 15 or 14 plus when the relationship started. “Me ain’t pick she up. She don’t go school or anything,” Patterson told the Court. “You ain’t pick she up. She could have been 14 plus. Look for somebody your age,” the Magistrate told him sternly. The age of sexual consent in SVG is 15. As she scrutinized Patterson’s record, Browne observed, “You have a temper because your antecedents show this,” and noted that Patterson had a previous conviction for wounding, by stabbing someone. “You have no right as a big man to be having relationships with children. The only thing that could come out of that is for you to manipulate her,” Browne told the defendant.“Shekept on hitting me,” Patterson said. “She wanted her cellular,” the MagistratePattersonresponded.hadpulled away the girl’s cellular phone before smashing it, even as she pleaded with him to give it back to her. Patterson told the Court that he met the girl in February last year, and she turned 16 in December last year. Their relationship, he added, ended in May this year. For damaging the cellular phone, Patters was fined $600 forthwith or 2 months in prison. He was also bonded for seven month in the sum of $1,500 with an alternative of seven months behind bars. “You see how you break up the phone yesterday in a flash, I want the money now in a flash for the young lady, or you go to prison for two months,” the Magistrate told him.The facts, presented earlier, revealed that around 3:15 p.m. on August 15, the girl, a 16-year-old hairdresser, was at Little Tokyo, Kingstown, when Patterson approached her. He pulled her aside and questioned her about a friend she was dating. He asked her to show him her cellular phone, but she refused, and he pulled it from her hand. She reacted by scuffling him by his shirt, and asked for her phone. However, instead of giving it to her, he broke it with his hands, then threw it on the ground, smashing it to pieces. She then struck Patterson with her hands, and told him to replace her broken phone. She let him walked away. The girl took up the broken pieces, took them to the nearby Criminal Investigation Department (CID) where she made a Pattersonreport.came to the Central Police Station around 4 p.m. that day. He was informed of the report made against him, following which he was cautioned andHeinterviewed.volunteered a statement in writing, admitting to the offence and was later arrested and charged.
JUSTone week after Rillan Hill resident WednesdayCourtSeriousappearedJameslivestockcourttakenanothertheCourtSeriousappearedBillinghurstDevonattheOffenceschargedwiththeftofacow,manwasbeforethatchargedwiththeft.OwiaresidentHarryattheOffencesoncharged with stealing one doe goat valued $100, from Terry Nanton of Owia. Harry pleaded not guilty to the charge when he faced Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne, and was granted $500 bail in his own recognizance, on condition that he report to the Owia Police Station every Friday between 6am and 6pm. The matter was adjourned to August 22, and transferred to the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. Billinghurst was granted $4,000 bail with one surety when he appeared at the Serious Offences Court on August 10, charged with stealing a brown heifer, valued EC$3,500 between February 28 and March 31, 2021. He pleaded not guilty. He was expected to appear at the Layou Magistrate’s Court yesterday (Thursday).
All new matters are taken to the Serious Offences Court, as the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court is not currently sitting.
Kennedy committed again CourtsV 4. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022 THE VINCENTIAN
On 11.08.22 police arrested and charged Najee Berkley, 24-year-old labourer of Layou, with the offence of actual bodily harm.
A cutlass attack On Tuesday, August 09, 2022, Akeem Da Silva, 26-year-old farmer of Green Hill, was arrested and charged with the offence of wounding. Investigations revealed that the accused allegedly assaulted a 32-year-old janitor of Redemption Sharpes, by striking her on the left side of her back with a cutlass, causing actual bodily harm. The incident occurred at Green Hill at about 11:30 pm on 08.08.22. Da Silva will appear at the Kingstown Magistrate Court to answer the charge.
“Because once you get the exposure you look at life differently and I know in St. Vincent we target tertiary level, but from a secondary point of view if the youths have a chance from a younger age, they will be able to have a clearer understanding of what is expected from them in the future,” said Browne during the closing ceremony of the programme last Wednesday.Theideagelled when it was ‘sold’ to and accepted by Karen Layne, a Business Teacher at the St. Vincent Grammar School. Layne said her Department was looking for a way to engage the students in a real way and along came Khyle Browne with a proposal. “It was well thought out. I thought this was a good effort, a good initiative and we decided to go along with it,” Layne said. Following on the approval, a coordinating team, including Browne, Shane Cadougan and Leslie Hadaway, was put in place and a number of businesses were invited to provide an opportunity to intern a student, i.e. to afford the intern student hands on exposure to a particular business undertaking.Sevenbusinesses responded and interns assigned: Metrocint General Insurance - Israel Cumberbatch; Bytelands Technologies - Luke Lewis; Big Tigga Auto Supplies - Joseph Warren; KP Tech - Yuvraj Jack; V.A whenenteringCumberbatch,professionalstudentstopeopleasthesaying,thethetheandinternshipthetheongoing‘onguidanceinternandAssociatesBarnwellEthanOlliverre;BVQSS-LucaRobertsOnceassigned,eachfellundertheofasupervisorthejob’.Therewasdocumentationof‘work’andprogressofintern.EachlastedfortwoahalfweeksShaneCadougan,oneoffoundingmembersofInitiative,deliveredopeningremarksinteralia,“Thisisbeginning.Ithinkthatbusinessesseeandseethisisthewaygo,thisishowwegetnowtoaddtoourworkforce.”InternIsraelwhowillbeForm5Sciencethenewschooltermbegins,
(L-R) Shane Cadougan, Khyle Browne and Leslie Hadaway, the three who took the idea, developed it, successfully sold it and saw it through its first round.
AN INITIATIVE SET UP TO GIVE SECONDARY school
NewsV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022. 5.
students real world job experience has already began to bare fruits, manifested with the graduation, so to speak, of the first batch of students from the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Grammar School. The Browne’s Initiative is, a fourth-form internship programme, “is geared towards fostering a realistic understanding of the business world, while facilitating mentorship and networking opportunities”, i.e. to help students get a head start in terms of businesses literacy and networking. Originator of the programme- Khyle Browne, a past student of the St. Vincent Boys Grammar School, said that the idea surfaced after he went out on an internship and saw the need for young people to have the opportunity to get exposure.
said he served his internship at Metrocint General Insurance and Metro life. “I told Ms. Fraser (Manager at Metrocint) I wanted to leave with a new experience, a new skill, some new knowledge and I really think I left with that. I want to thank her once more and it really was fun. I learnt a lot about insurance and a lot about policies,” said Cumberbatch about his experience, adding that internship really opens your mind to new ways in the world. By all account the programme was a resounding success and efforts are already in place for the next episode of the Browne’s Initiative. (KH)
The first batch of ‘graduates’ from the Browne’s initiative internship programme: (L-R) Yuvraj Jack, Ethan Ollivierre, Israel Cumberbatch, Luca Roberts, Illario Anderson, Luke Lewis, Joseph Warren.
BrowneÊs Initiative preparing the ÂfutureÊ for work
Editorial Managing Editor: Desiree Richards
I JUST READ AN ARTICLE ABOUTthe PSU suing a member over a statement made on Facebook. This is too classic to leave alone. First, we have a parent accusing the PSU of discrimination for withdrawing a scholarship because of political affiliation. Then the union filed a lawsuit against the parent for deformation because they chose to discuss it in a public forum. And we are wondering what the problem is in our blessed country? Grow up, my friends. Why do you think it’s ok to sue a member for saying something you feel is inappropriate? What a way to win friends and influence people. Do you have a lawyer on staff with nothing to do? I ask that not out of disrespect for the lawyer but because in my professional career, I was always cautioned that they would always find things to keep them occupied if I hired a full-time lawyer. Lawyers are highly motivated people, usually with good work ethics. Put another way, lawyers will always do what lawyers do, “sue people.” They work on your behalf. I have a few questions that continue to haunt me, so here I go again. Why are all these individual scholarships needed if education is accessible and free to all those who pass the common entrance exam? (I know there is another acronym for it, but it means the same thing to me). I have a problem with this gold medal approach to educating our kids. When I was going to school, my parents had to decide about my education and that of my sisters; there were two of us one year apart and another more affordable space. It was simple. We had to make the necessary sacrifices because not going to school was not an option. And a sacrifice it was for my dad’s weekly salary of $28, including overtime. I will spear you the detail because this story is not about me, and many of my friend’s parents had the same financial issues. So, let’s go back to this issue in a more modern context. Many of us have heard about high school kids in the USA receiving over a million dollars in scholarships. The story is usually about some minority kid because it makes for good reading and shock value. The story is generally told with a racial and ethnic bias, either someone using it to highlight how far we have come in racial equality or how much the minority or immigrant kid is taking away from the American (white)Now,kids.does anyone among us think that this kid got a million dollars? If you do, you are wrong. The kid and their parents choose which scholarship they will accept, and the others get reallocated. Oh yes, the only organization that ever receives any cash is the institution the kid decides to attend.So,I ask, why all the fuss? If the child was eligible for multiple scholarships, let them be listed as winners. After all, we are still all about winners and losers. In my opinion, the need for education assistance is tremendous among the population at large, than members of the PSU. Because by default, being a member of the PSU means that you are gainfully employed and, in general, can afford to educate your kid without additional assistance. I have another option for the PSU and the other social clubs who want to appease their consciences. How about funding an after-school programme in each secondary school to help the kids navigate the most problematic years of their lives? A programme that would help them with homework, studying protocols, good morals, ethical standards, and include a mentoring component. A programme that will teach our young people how to navigate the difficulties of transitioning into adulthood. A programme that works with businesses to provide internships and after-school work experience. A programme that will teach them to respect themselves and others, one that will develop them into responsible, culturally aware critical thinkers.
IT IS NATURAL TO WANT TO TAKE STEPSto keep out children and families safe. One way to be proactive about ensuring safety for our children especially, is by staying informed of who have been convicted for sexual-related offences against children and even where these offenders live. Our reality, however, is that the battle against child sex offenders still faces a major stumbling block due in part to the absence of a national sex offender registry - a list of all convicted sex offenders in the stateMany have called for this country’s law-makers to move to amend if not introduce new and appropriate legislation that would legitimize a national sex offender registry. The argument is that with the introduction of a registry, tracking and monitoring of these offenders and even potential offenders would be easier and moreThisstringent.publication will welcome any move to set the registry in place since, as referenced earlier, we are in an ongoing battle with sexual predators and offenders, especially those who prey on children and early teenagers. So while we have seen a negligible increase in the number of child-related sexual offences being brought before the court, we continue to either sweep the majority of these acts under the proverbial carpet, or even, in a highly, ridiculously callous manner, glorify them as (natural) fulfilment of our machismo. So, when the attention of this publication was drawn to a Facebook page carrying the moniker Hunter Connor, while recognizing the ramifications of what it was doing, we acknowledged the page as a natural response to filling a void in our society. It was on first glance not so different from the community ‘mocking hangings’ that once brought fire and brimstones on those guilty of committing incest. Hunter Connor has gone out of its way, without its subscribers (friends) having any plausible means to prove or disprove what it purports, to ‘name names’ and profile to some detail those it has deemed child molesters, potential child molesters and sexual predators. The page, in going to the extent of ‘naming names’ (if at all those names are real) and adding details to the escapades of those named, appears to set itself up as founded on fact and not hearsay. The danger in continuing this Hunter Connor approach to dealing with our reality of child (sexual) molestations and sexual predators in our midst, is that it could very well be bordering on libeling otherwise innocent citizens. It would serve the individual or individuals responsible for the Hunter Connor Facebook page to note that cyberspace is no longer void of surveillance, a space of unbridled freedom; some body is always watching those who set themselves up as society’s watchdogs.Butifthe truth be told, what Hunter Connor has done is to let those who might have unsavory thoughts as they relate to our ‘girl children’ aware that ‘big brother’ is watching them, and will make known their tendencies to the nation.
Email: Mailingvinpub@thevincentian.comAddress:TheVincentianPublishing Co. Ltd., P.O. Box 592, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Horatio
The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
deplorableHunting acts
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Hunter Connor may well be doing what we should be doing as guardians of our own safety, but we will be damned if we come to rely on this means to satisfy a need to deal otherwise with this scourge in our midst. By the way: Is the police giving any credence to what Hunter Connor purports?Andas we remind ourselves that we are responsible for the safety and upbringing of our children, we are drawn once again to the open and loose behaviour of our young people; behaviour that go Younguncensored.boysandgirls, convinced that this is ‘our culture’ and egged on by event promoters, the songs of performing and recording artistes and the electronic media (television in particular), publicly display acts of sexual simulation to the point that a video circulating recently on Facebook, highlighted a young boy and girl in near real sex act as they were overcome by the music and atmosphere at a recent open air concert. What this seems to tell us is that we have to be careful that we are not preaching one thing out of one corner of our mouth and another thing out of the other corner. This will naturally confuse our youth with their impressionable minds, and make it so much more difficulty to rein in a bad habit when we realize we have to take action. Hunter Connor will not go away so far as we are unwilling to act accordingly as a society.
How and when will we go Beyond Politics?
6. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN NewsV
Editor: Cyprian Neehall Telephone: 784-456-1123 Fax: 784-451-2129
It is a pity that we have to resort to measures like a Facebook page to address an ongoing reality in our midst. This type of approach… this type of ‘freedom’, does not augur well for holding ourselves up as a country governed by laws and respect for those laws.
* Does St. Vincent and the Grenadines have an official residence for its Consul General in New York? If not, then what’s the fuss about the new Consul General having to ‘search’ around for appropriate accommodation?
* Will the ruling by the DDP have any bearing on the Coroner’s Inquest into Cjea Weekes’ death? Are we out of our places to say ‘We hope Not’? ARE ASKING…..
FROM JAMAICA
PEOPLE
* Even if we reduce taxes and charges on imports, what do we have in place to ensure that businesses pass on the saving to the consumer?
St. Kitts and Nevis Elections
* Like the NDP didn’t or doesn’t think much about Oscar Allen. Why then would they schedule a nationwide address by its leader the same night as the Oscar Allen Memorial Emancipation Lecture?*The NDP recommends that government reduce the rate of VAT from 16% to 13%. Perhaps the NDP could say how much revenue will be lost when this is done and what it (NDP) proposes as a means to recover or cover that loss?
* Is the leadership of the Unity Labour Party ignoring a growing sentiment among its membership for change?
THE RESULTof the recent general elections in St. Kitts and Nevis is no surprise, except for the margin of victory. In Caribbean politics, coalitions don’t last for long. A merger of parties, as is the case here in SVG, is what has weight. Sooner rather than later a coalition will collapse since the parties come together simply for convenience (winning power), but are not really unified in their policies and Interestinglyprogrammes.outgoingPrime Minister, Dr. Timothy Harris was once the deputy to former Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas. He broke ranks, loosely joined with other parties and disposed Dr. Douglas. In Caribbean politics, very few if any politicians could stand on their own; they succeed by being members of major political parties. In SVG we had the late Sir. James Mitchell who, having been a cabinet minister in the SVG Labour Party administration, broke ranks and ran independently and then became Premier. However, he too did not last long; his government fell before the full term. In our own SVG no politician — ruling party or opposition - can stand on their own and be successful. Most of their success has to do with the Leader, as in the cases of the ULP and the NDP. So while we may have much to say about the succession in ULP, it is clear that many in the leadership circle could not succeed without Comrade Ralph. In analyzing the St.Kitts/Nevis general elections, it was clear that there was disunity in the ruling party. On the other hand, the opposition was united in their effort and fought well with a new leader, although the former leader had some influence. Therefore a strong leader and strong opposition can unseat a ruling party since they would be able to capitalize on the weakness of theCaribbeangovernment.Politics is interesting. Data would show that it is very difficult for someone to leave a major political party, form his own party or run independently and retain his seat. Those who have done so, must be commended, and would be seen as politicians indeed. For not many persons today who are elected to serve the people are politicians.Themillion dollar question is: Will the next general elections in the Caribbean result in another change of government? Your guess is as good as mine.
JamaicaPaul Sumfest is not for children
each community tasked with the responsibility of meeting those needs. It is easy to throw money at a problem hoping that it would be the solution, but genuine and lasting help takes time. Are we more willing to spend money than to spend the time development effort needs? Some may argue that direct Financial Aid gives people the opportunity to make their own investments. However, we live in a spendthrift culture rather than an investment culture. Therefore, the way to go should be to provide the technical support to enable free money recipients to become selfsufficient.Allprogrammes put in place should have some way of measuring their success. How will we determine that giving away money is achieving its goals and is a desirable policy? Would pennies for the penniless enable recipients to make more pennies or become more penniless? Anthony Stewart, PhD Pennies for the Penniless
Kennard King
Dear Editor, I THOUGHTthis letter that was published in the Jamacia Observer of July 29, 2022 has direct relation to and meaning for SVG. I understand that what obtained at the fetes and shows for Vincy mas 2022 was no different from what this letter writer had to say.
* When is the last time Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves took a walk through the Kingstown Market like he used to?
SOME AREgiven cards for the collection of monies up to the end of the year. We all need financial counselling. How are we to spend that money? What would be our position at the end of the year? Would we be more dependent, or less dependent? Is there any financial control in place to determine whether the recipients are better off? If the same money was paid to the recipient for work, the task done would be evidence of productivity. The lesson of dignity in labour would be learned. Six months’ worth of National contributionsInsurancewould have been made towards the pension plans of the recipients. Should the focus be on Development Aid instead of Financial Aid?A person may need to grow vegetables and need to build an elevated vegetable stand. The provision of this enables them to grow and sell vegetables that multiplies the aid. A fowl ‘run’ for those with that interest can be a business to generate funds to support the family. neighborhoodThe may need a barber, a seamstress, or a tailor. Helping to set up those businesses would guarantee future income for the individual and family. constructionAworker may need to purchase tools that would facilitate working as
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022. 7. LettersV
Recently, I attended Reggae Sumfest and was flabbergasted to see children running around at Catherine Hall in the late hours of the night when they should have been in bed in the comfort of their homes. There were a couple artistes who also brought their children along for the show, which could have been rated as “M” for mature audiences and, in some instances, “X”, given the X-rated lyrical and visual content.Iwas surprised when I entered the venue and was given a red armband as a signal that I am old enough to drink alcohol. I haven’t attended the event in a couple years and I don’t recall this as a feature, but I figured this was a new feature to safeguard against younger attendees who are below the legal age to drink alcohol. Never would I have imagined that parents would take their young children along or that the organiser would allow it. Throughout the night, these children would have been exposed to profane and sexually explicit lyrics backed by borderline choreography,pornographicwhich included shower scenes, dry humping, etc. It is bad enough that some parents are doing a poor job at monitoring the level of online exposure to which children have access, but to take them to see it live, is a new low. Many of our problems in society stem from poor parenting, which appears to get worse as the years go by. We can argue about the influence of music on behaviour until the cows come home, but studies have shown that graphical lyrical contents in some music can impact adolescent sexual and violent behaviour. I find it hypocritical that so many of us turn up our noses at the downtown massive when we see children running around in the dance, yet it is OK to pay to take them into the VIP area at Reggae Sumfest. Two Jamaicas?Sincethe parents do not know better, I believe the organiser can do the right thing and not allow the admittance of children to an adult show. And if the organiser cannot do it, perhaps the authorities can. Put the children to bed and leave them at home with a responsible adult to watch over them. Suzette iamsuzettecampbell.comCampbell
Employmentshouldcommunity.workersskilledindependentancontractor.ThereisashortageofandreliableineveryPerhapswesetupanAgencyin
Conclusion Since the original publication of this article, our country has had to deal with recovering from the explosive eruptions of the La Soufrierre volcano and the attendant challenges. Our government, led by our wise comrade, continues to support families impacted by these events by offering over 4000 families income support, through a loan from the World Bank, accessible through bank cards that are credited monthly. All this as we begin the construction of the modern port in Kingstown, prepare for the start of construction of the acute referral hospital in Arnos Vale and many other projects that are ongoing. The recent announcement that Comrade Ralph has been asked by our party to continue as leader into the next General Elections, has driven the opposition into a condition of apoplexy causing the usual ridiculous uttering by their leader and his supporters. We remain united and committed to the development of SVG and we go forth with a leader who understands where we want to go and how to get there.
8. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN ViewsV
(Excerpts of the National Address by the Hon. Dr. Godwin Friday, President of the New Democrat Party and Leader of the Opposition Pt.1) I wish to speak with you about the poor political and economic condition of the country and how we should address it. Recently, the Unity Labour Party (ULP) held their convention. Normally, I would not comment on it. However, I mention it now only because the ULP, for the time being, holds the reins of government and, therefore, their current predicament has serious implications for the running of our country. Rather than focusing on the issues that matter you, the people–unemployment, downturn in business, high cost of living– Gonsalves turned the Convention into a monologue about himself, his personal ambitions, and his aborted succession plans. Notably, having spent years trying to prop-up Sobato Caesar, it took Gonsalves one weekend to knock him down as apparently being no longer fit to lead the ULP. Having spent years declaring Caesar as a promising part of the ULP family in whom he was well-pleased, it became abundantly clear that there is only one family that matters in the ULP — the Gonsalves family.That is a crisis that their party and its long-suffering members will have to come to terms with. The display at the convention proved beyond a shadow of doubt that the ULP is a house deeply divided, built not on democratic values and practices, but on the autocratic whims and fancies of one man, Ralph Gonsalves. For the rest of us in the country, it proved that the ULP are woefully unfit for office, as they have no plan, no programme, no hope beyond clinging desperately to power. Gonsalves essentially threatened his followers in the ULP to submit to his rule, but it is clear where that will lead. He will destroy his party and sacrifice the best interests of our country to get his own way and secure his chosen successor —his son–as PrimeWhileMinister.theleadership of the ULP is hopelessly divided and are caught up in their own confusion, we in the NDP are focused on the issues that matter most to you. We know them because we talk with you about them. My dear people, it is time for us to move on; to move forward as a country. No man is indispensable! Of necessity, and whether Gonsalves like it or not the baton of leadership must pass to new hands. If not, our country will fall further behind and our people will suffer. We must not let that happen!Asleader of the NDP, I have offered myself to serve you. In the last general elections, you honoured me by making the NDP the Party of choice for most of the people and me the popular choice as political leader. In the profoundest sense of democracy, where majority rules, you voted for the NDP and for change. But our political system has its shortcomings and at times gives a party the popular vote, yet not the government. Nevertheless, the writing is on the wall; change is necessary and will come. It will come, not because I say so, but because you the people have decided that the time for it has come.
Enough of the gutter politics and corrosive rhetoric! While the insults, name calling and other disparaging remarks by Gonsalves may be entertainment for some, it has profoundly serious implications for our country. Most of our people are fed-up of the selfishness, the arrogance and bluster that pass for leadership in the ULP and the government. They sow the seeds of division and would set us against one another–in our homes (brother against brother), in our workplaces (colleague teacher against teacher), in social circles (friend against friend), in places of worship (elder against elder). But thankfully, as a people, we are better than that and know we must always be better thanOurthat.present situation and examples from around the world have shown us that political leaders who seek to divide the people–who seek to divide us so deeply that we may not recover–- serve only themselves. The people are merely the means to an end, that being unfettered everlasting political power to be used for their ownShuttingends. up opposing voices, demonizing the carriers of alternative views, whether in a political party or in society at large can never be the right way. It cannot serve us in this time. So, we can’t continue that way. Let us all agree on that! Our people, especially the young people, get it! They understand that, and are unhappy about the current situation. Our people are better informed than ever and demand more from political leaders. You know that gutter politics and narcissistic self-reverence in the political leader have not served our people well, and have led our nation down a slippery slope to a place where democracy is threatened and our standard of living has diminished. If we, the inheritors of this beautiful country, don’t stand up against it, the situation can only get worse. We have a duty, therefore, to inform ourselves, defend our democratic values and work for progressive change.
Introduction VERY OFTEN, when speaking to the people of this country, Comrade Ralph would refer to the Bible and extract many quotes to strengthen his point or to make it more relatable to those of the Christian faith. Within recent times, our Prime Minister and political leader of the ULP has given us insights on the source of his inspiration, regarding his ability to adapt to the times offering appropriate leadership to the people of our beloved country. We have most recently been introduced to the biblical character, Issachar, the leader of one of the twelve tribes of Israel, in a manner that provides us with an indication of the way our Prime Minister intends to ensure that his decision making and policy decisions are what are necessary, to maintain the development trajectory that SVG has followed since the election of the ULP to office in 2001. The book of Chronicles says referring to Issachar, “And the children of Issachar, which were men that had the understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…”
This repeated reference to the sons of Issachar by our Comrade leader, among other things, lets us know that the leader of our country is one who ensures he is kept informed; always up-to-date with information locally; regionally and internationally; has his fingers on the pulse of the current and trending issues, and understands the local movements and issues affecting the daily lives of Vincentians. Like Issachar, PM Gonsalves makes it a priority of having a good grasp of what is happening on the ground so that he can formulate policy responses to address the needs of Vincentians. He takes on as a personal and lived responsibility, knowing and understanding the times and the way our country must respond to situations locally, regionally and internationally.Havingjustcelebrated his 74th birthday, the column this week would examine just a few of the most recent instances where his knowledge of the times, allowed him to respond in the most appropriate manner. He knows the times and what SVG should do The most recent situation regarding the Covid-19 pandemic has shown in unambiguous terms the ability of Comrade Ralph to do what is necessary considering the specifics of the times. Let’s look at some of these: 1. Recognising the 4 dimensions to the Covid-19 pandemic: From the onset, Comrade Ralph was the first and may still remain the only CARICOM leader to recognise and articulate what some in the OECS Secretariat are referring to as the HESS dimensions, meaning Health, Economic, Social and Security dimensions. It was Comrade Ralph’s recognition of this, that informed the government’s response when there was pressure from the opposition and others to close our borders and shut the country down. His understanding of the situation in SVG caused him to immediately consider the farmers, fisherfolk, vendors, the elderly, those daily paid workers and others who depend on each day’s activity for their income. Comrade Ralph recognised the importance of maintaining reasonable levels of economic activity that would not allow the government to collect revenues to carry on the business of the people, but that would also allow those dependent to earn a living.2.Offering income support to affected workers: With the immediate and significant negative effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the tourism sector, the government of this country led by Comrade Ralph, was proactive in making plans for the possible fallout. It wasn’t long before the hotels started laying off employees because of the lack of business, and that signalled the beginning of workers either being laid off or seeing reduction in their income. There was a number of measures put in place to provide income support for workers including vendors, minibus operators and temporary support for the elderly for up to the end of the year. Since then, things have also been put in place to offer income support to sailors, farmers and early childhood centre operators. The number of persons who have already benefitted is in the thousands and will increase further once the close to 2000 sailors, and approximately 6000 farmers are given their support.
Working together to improve the political and economic conditions of SVG
For, as one former ULP supporter recently said to me, “One man can’t run the country forever”. Meeting People I have been meeting our people all over the country: in villages; in their homes; on the streets; and, when invited, in their places of worship. Wherever I go, the message is the same. You tell me and my team that you want us to focus on the things that matter to you–- focus on your needs and your concerns: your jobs; your livelihoods; your future. In other words, focus now on bread-and-butter issues, because our present circumstances require it.
Ralph Gonsalves: A Leader for these times
3. Offering hope with constant updates: Since the pandemic, Comrade Ralph has been on radio no less than 3 times every week, either in studio or by telephone, updating the nation on the actions of the government to management of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is significant, as he is showing that he is there with us and he understands that in times of challenges and difficulties, the people need to hear from their leader. It is of great significance that PM Gonsalves’ call to not panic and give way to hysteria, has been widely heeded with the majority of Vincentians following the advice of the health professionals and observing the protocols. His ability to understand our people and offer a message that would appeal to them in a way that would produce the desired outcome, indicates clearly that Dr. Gonsalves is not only in touch with the people, but is one with us.
ViewsV “Finish Strong It’s a motto, a mantra, a massive call to action” –Gary Ryan Blair — Creator of the 100 Day Challenge DURING A RECENT TELEPHONE conversation with one of my valued mentors he, the mentor, shared a most interesting story about a discussion between Wes Hall and Frank Worrell; a story that has prompted this writer to research the extra-ordinary leadership skills of the late Sir Frank Worrell (1924-1967) and to share some insights that would encourage each of us to finish strong (hence the title of this essay). My 80-year-old friend referred to an incident that occurred when the West Indies Cricket Team toured Australia in 1960-1961. During that tour there was a match when the aggressive Australian batsmen were hammering the young West Indian fast bowler, Wes Hall. The tattered fledgling fast bowler was humiliated. He then went to his captain (Worrell) and suggested that he (Hall) be removed from the bowling attack. Worrell responded by encouraging him not to be distracted by the past but to be more focused on the future. He encouraged Hall to finish strong … and that he did. Paul Edwards, writing in a blog titled “Frank Worrell: The captain who helped West Indies make their own West Indian way” on 30th June 2020, highlighted the fact that Frank Worrell changed the game for West Indian cricketers and supporters when he was ushered in as the first black captain of the West Indies cricket team for an entire series. He was 36-years old then. Worrell’s personality and leadership skills came to the fore during that 19601961 series in Australia. Edwards noted that although Australia won the series 2-1 many cricket experts attested that it was “one of the finest ever played”. He further noted the comment that the opposing captain, Richie Benaud, shared that, “Had Frank failed on that tour it would have set back West Indies cricket, and especially the black cricketer, by twenty years”. Benaud was aware of the tremendous pressure that young Worrell would have been under as all eyes and ears throughout and beyond the Caribbean region would have been focused on this heavily scrutinised individual. With the exception of George Headley who captained the West Indies team in a single home Test (1947-1948), all previous West Indies captains were white.However, Worrell and his team performed so commendably that the Melbourne Evening Herald, on the eve of the team’s departure, commented favourable on the accomplishments of the young captain and his band of determined cricketers. It was therefore not surprising that over half a million people turned up to bid them farewell. This provided ample evidence of the reverence the Australian citizens paid to this accomplished team. It should be noted that, since then, every series between Australia and the West Indies has been played for the Frank Worrell Trophy. Under his leadership, Worrell’s team, containing Garry Sobers, Wes Hall, Lance Gibbs, Conrad Hunte, and Rohan Kanhai, won eight of their next ten Tests. Frank Worrell’s contribution to the development of cricket throughout and beyond Barbados cannot be adequately reflected in a relatively short article like this one. The mere fact that he is featured on bank notes and postage stamps speak volumes in relation to the reverence and esteem that he still holds. Worrell and his cricket counterparts Everton Weekes, and Clyde Walcott carved out an enviable place in the lives of Caribbean people as the formidable 3Ws (Worrell, Weekes, and Walcott) generated fear in their cricketing opponents. Readers are encouraged to engage in their own research on this outstanding West Indian trio (the 3Ws) in general and Caribbean citizen, Worrell, in particular. A monument to the knighted Worrell, Weekes and Walcott can be found at the park that adjoins the 3Ws Oval at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies, Barbados. It should also be noted that Worrell and Walcott are buried at the Cave Hill Campus, on a hill overlooking the cricket field. Worrell studied economics in England and also engaged in playing cricket there. A memorial service was held in his honour in Westminster Abbey thereby providing further evidence of the respect and admiration that was bestowed upon him — a cricketing hero that was often referred to as the Nelson Mandela of Cricket.PaulEdwards refers to a synopsis penned by Professor Sir Hilary Beckles who, referring to Worrell, noted that, “The cricket hero… became a demigod, a role model, placed socially above community, and invested with popular expectations that suggest iconographic worship and idealisation. Frank Worrell was the epitome of it all: graceful, sincere, smart, mature, sound, visionary, morally correct and successful - all the things that a young nation state should be. Within this paradigm, Worrell was the symbol of nationalist pride, anticolonial achievement, and sociopsychological liberation. He represented West Indians at home and abroad as a statesman and ambassador.” These words, penned by one of the Caribbean’s leading academics and historians, remind us of the priceless values that keep individuals and societies strong. There are many treasured life lessons that we can glean from reviewing the life and accomplishments of this outstanding Caribbean national. His ideals, value system, firm gentleness, and impeccable character remind us of the immense worth of such outstanding leadership traits. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word. We can all emulate this exceptional Caribbean icon and, regardless of our various responsibilities and our shortcomings, commit to having him as a role model and mentor. So many years hence, he appears to be beckoning us to finish strong. As he would have inspired Wes Hall, he reaches across the years to inspire our generation and the Caribbean citizens yet unborn. We begin with a determination and focus to do well; we dedicate the time and effort to pursue excellence; and we finish strong. The End. Send comments, criticisms & suggestions julesferdinand@gmail.comto
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022. 9.
IN 1960, THE UNITED NATIONS General Assembly passed a resolution on granting independence to colonial countries and peoples. With 14 independent countries in CARICOM, the last being St Kitts- Nevis in 1983, some in the younger generation may be forgiven for thinking that the fight against colonialism is over. Sixty-two years on, colonialism is still alive and well in the Caribbean. It took a presentation by anticolonial fighter James Finnies of Bonaire to remind us that there are as many colonies as independent countries in our Caribbean. Appearing at the International Conference on Reparations organised by the Global African Congress (GAC) in Barbados, Mr Finnies listed Anguilla, Aruba, Bonaire, Bermuda, Cayenne, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saba, St Eustatius, St Barthelemy, St Marten, Turks and Caicos, US and British Virgin islands as Caribbean territories still under direct colonial rule.What a revelation. Now more than ever, we need to redouble our efforts to ensure that the Caribbean is rid of what, in years past, we thought was dying colonialism. If we admit that CARICOM is a club of neo-colonial governments, we gain a genuine appreciation that the more things change, the more they remain the same. The colonial powers of Britain, France, Holland and the USA maintain firm control and dominance of our region five centuries after Europeans lost their bearings and stumbled into the Americas. The reality of colonial and neocolonial domination is a striking reminder that the post-colonial Caribbean is not post-colonial. The predominance of Euro-centric ideas and thinking truly reflects Europe’s power in our region. So many of us continue to self-hate. Like damned fools, we readily reject our continental African roots for a mentality as small as the mini-states we inhabit. We despise our melanated beauty and bleach ourselves into paleness and a sickened pink. Many of our women hate their natural hair and religiously wear synthetic mops on their heads. Wigs and weaves continue to have prominent places in our wardrobes. Some of us still prefer those who are white or light because our children deserve to have ‘curly and better hair.’ It is not uncommon to hear us referencing each other as black and ulgy rather than dark and lovely. A section of our black population continues to believe that our noses are too broad and lips too long. It is a sad commentary on our progress as a people that in the week when we celebrate the 136 years since the birth of the black giant ancestor Marcus Massiah Garvey, our condition is so bleak. Now is not the time to falter. Those of us committed to the progress of our people must redouble our effort to educate them about their possibilities.Garvey’sclarion call, ‘Up you mighty race, accomplish what you will’, must become our anthem. The Reparations conference in Barbados was heartening for several reasons. Brothers and sisters from Africa and its diaspora were in attendance. It was good to see brothers and sisters who committed themselves to a lifetime of struggle and resistance still around. Bobby Clarke, the Barbadian revolutionary lawyer and former advisor to Maurice Bishop, made an appearance. Aged but determined as ever. As a teenage boy, I was introduced to Raymond Charlotte, a revolutionary fighter against French colonisation from Cayenne by Ralph Gonsalves. On learning that there was a delegation from Cayenne, I introduced myself to a member of the delegation. I asked whether he knew Raymond Charlotte. He replied, ‘I am Raymond Charlotte.’ Still fighting for independence even though the French colonial police had arrested and jailed him more than 100 times.Leading the delegation from Martinique was the indomitable Garcin Malsa. As articulate, committed, vigorous and determined as any youthful firebrand. And then there was Cikiah Thomas and Michael Heslop. They now hold prominent positions in the Global African Congress. They were members of the Jamaican delegation to the 11th World Festival of Youth and Students in Havana in 1978. Adrian Saunders, president of the CCJ, led the Vincentian delegation, along with now High court judge Colin Williams, Master poet, calypsonian Sulle, Dr Miriam Francis-Sheridan and myself. There was also a strong message from Dr Hilary Beckles, highlighting the fact that our African people never gave in to despair. They remained steadfast in their opposition to the slave trade and slavery. They resisted capture, being transported and the brutality on the plantations. He remained confidently optimistic that this 21st century will witness the triumph of the cause of reparatory justice.Ifyou have not yet read Britain’s Black Death and his newest production, How Britain underdeveloped the Caribbean, now is the time to read Dr. Beckles’s indictment of Britain and his manifesto for reparations. When we ask where all the progressives have gone, we must remember and acknowledge that some are still with us. They hold dear to the teachings of ancestor Franz Fanon (who would have been 93 years old yesterday), who said in Wretched of the Earth, ‘Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfil it, or betray it.’ These fears haunted ancestor Dr Walter Rodney, who, in addressing the commitment and consistency of CLR James, said, ‘one of my biggest fears is to be walking down the street and hear whispers as I passed, there goes Walter Rodney, he used to be a revolutionary.’Thebiggest weakest of the GAC conference on reparations was the absence of a robust and youthful presence. The conference resolved to consciously and actively recruit and train young cadres. The fight for true liberation has only just begun. comments, criticisms & suggestions to jomosanga@gmail.com
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WE LIVEin troubled times in SVG and many households are truly suffering. The time has come for a Green Revolution and a Green Economy. The whole country has suffered from the ULP regime’s poor management of the SVG economy. The Green Revolution is the solution to our economic, social and environmental problems. The Green revolution is about having a sustainable Green Economy driven by university education, science, technology and the creation of new industries, new products and thousands of new jobs. The ULP regime’s economic model, which is solely dependent on one thing — tourism, is a dead end. For decades, SVG has been on a road to nowhere under the ULP regime. Our nation needs to eradicate this ‘ULP regime disease’ of overregulation, over-taxation, high unemployment, lots of crime, hungry families, rape, high murder rate, high utility bills, heartless VAT and high foodSVGprices.has no industries to sustain a livelihood. For every dollar we export, we import 11 dollars; this shows that the ULP regime is only creating jobs abroad. Many people have to hustle so much to make a dollar. We will turn this around with a Green Economy. No country can progress positively without strong leadership. All countries with strong economies have strong leaders. Leaders have to be visionary, creative and must know their subject. A good knowledge of economics and finance is essential, as well as the ability to bridge the divide in SVGsociety.needs a new direction and a visionary approach that can fully utilise the resources of our country and the potential of our people. To be successful, SVG needs a Green Economy where all of us can benefit from the resources of the country. Leader of SVG Green Party, Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal BSc (Hons), MSc. MBA, has shown visionary and strong leadership. He joined the British Royal Air Force and served for over 31 years as a Safety Engineer, with honourable and distinguished military service, including five years seconded as a Military Instructor to the Armed Forces of His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei. He was awarded the Most Blessed Order of Brunei and the RAF Meritorious Service Medal. He retired as a Warrant Officer in 1989 with Exemplary Conduct. After military life, and seeing that all his children had received a university education, he graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Accounting and Finance and Economics from Oxford Brookes University, England, a Master’s Degree in Budgeting, MacroEconomic Policy and Planning from Bradford University, England, and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Leicester University, England. With a Green Revolution, under his competent and visionary leadership, we could boost the economy and create thousands of new jobs and prosperity for all our people. A Green government would bring free internet (and Wi-Fi) access, abolish the economic apartheid, get rid of the Taiwanese, tax the super-rich of Mustique and Canouan, create thousands of new jobs, ban the sale of land to foreigners, reduce the price of water and electricity by 50%, ensure food security and build a science and technology university. A Green Revolution is needed to solve SVG’s economic and financial crisis. Thousands of households are suffering unnecessarily.
LeRoy Providence
Without Julian Francis ULP cannot deliver on their promises
Green revolution will solve SVGÊs economic/financial crisis
I HAVE JUST been listening to a discussion on radio featuring Mr. Camillo Gonsalves, Minister of Finance, and Mr. Saboto Caesar, Minister of Agriculture. They were discussing the prospects of significant economic activity which this country is likely to see over the coming months. They were evidently enthusiastic that the realization of significant earnings from fishing was on the horizon. They said that in the area of construction, several hundred jobs were going to be generated as a result of the expenditure to be done, relative to erection of a new hospital building, the construction of eight new bridges and several hotels of class. They said that the outlays on those projects represented hundreds of millions of dollars.Hearing the gentlemen eloquently serving out the glittering prospects for economic activity, which offered hope for our citizens to realize some relief from the agonies of our strangled economy, with which they have been burdened over an extended period, I was entertained somewhat. However, when they glibly talked of addressing Feeder Roads, I was jolted back to the reality, that these are the same “untrustworthy men” who in 2001 had promised that they were going to revitalize agriculture and pay serious attention to the Feeder Roads. Twenty-one years after those passionate promises, on the strength of which they (ULP) were given the support of the farming community, the agriculture sector is severely crippled, the banana industry is “dead” and the Feeder Roads are in the worst condition they have ever been since 1951. These relatively young men who had seemed to be good citizens, who would have remained faithful to the mission of advancing the interests and well-being of our society, have proven ‘traitors to the cause’. They have seemingly been affected by their necessary interaction with the rogues like David Ames, who came to our shores presenting themselves as honourable men of substantial economic means. As it has turned out, they were merely rogues and smart men who hood-winked our shallow administrators, and slipped out from SVG under the cover of darkness, leaving us short by millions of dollars.
10. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN ViewsV
Up to a few years ago, Camillo Gonsalves seemed to have been enjoying a working relationship with Mr. Ames. It has been documented that they communicated by phone. Ministers Gonsalves and Caesar seem to be indifferent to the fact, that they owe it to the citizens of this country, to review all those plans which they had presented to the people. Those elaborate plans which did not come to fruition. Those plans cost the tax payers money. Those issues need to be addressed with urgency so that a logical approach could be devised. Considering the foregoing it is understandable why a significant proportion of the farming community, strongly questions the sincerity of the ULP, when today they make big promises. They have been ‘traditionally untrustworthy’.distinctlyWithJulianFrancis being now significantly incapacitated and considering the central role which he had played in the ULP administration over the decades, it is hardly likely, that the ULP will be able to reverse the decline of the people’s trust in them.
A cross-section of the guests at jubilee anniversary celebration.
ON AUGUST 12, 1972, JOEL TONEYand Joyce Providence sealed their nuptials. Exactly fifty years later, to the very day, August 12, 2022, the couple commemorated their jubilee anniversary at Young Island Resort, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Reverend Father Ulric Jones opened the celebration with a prayer of thanksgiving, followed by a blessing for the couple and their union. The gathering of close family and friends dined to a three course meal, which was punctuated with congratulatory toasts. Friend of the couple Stanley ‘Stalky’ John QC, described the Toneys as “outstanding exemplars of the finest institution of the family.” He said that the esteemed pair personified the “for better or worse” virtues that have weathered the storms of life to the half century mark. Intertwining his remarks with poetry, the QC said love has been their catalyst which has inspired not only the Toneys but others who aspire to be like them.
Daughter Dr. Vanessa Toney-Bobb (left) thanked her parents for providing a ‘loving Stanleyhome’.‘Stalky’
Joel and Joyce Toney: 50 Years of Bliss
Reinforcing the sentiments was Matthew Thomas, pharmacist who highlighted the individual qualities of both partners which, he said, when combined nurtured an unbreakable union. He applauded Toney for encouraging those around him to succeed, even his wife who holds a PhD.Always ensured a loving home Daughter Dr. Vanessa ToneyBobb reflected on the lives of her parents for whom she expressed admiration. She communicated regret on behalf of her sister Deidre, who was unable to attend. Dr. Toney-Bobb, a psychiatrist, lauded her parents for their superb work ethic. Her mother was a professor in the Department of Africana & Puerto Rican/Latino Studies at the City University of New York, Hunter College, while her father served at the tail end of the Vietnam War, became St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ first Consul General to New York, and established the mission from scratch. He also served as this country’s Ambassador to the UN. She also lovingly remembered family life and said that while her parents worked hard to build their lives and help others, they ensured that they had a loving home.
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022. 11. NewsV
Daniel Campbell, current President of the Rotary Club St. Vincent, extended congratulations to the distinguished couple, and highlighted Mr. Toney’s work as a former President and Secretary of theCampbellClub. wore a silver necktie as a symbol of a wish that the couple would have an additional 25 years of marital bliss. Getting the one you want As expected Mr. Toney closed the formal ceremony by first thanking everyone in attendance and those not present, for their expressions of congratulations to him and his wife. He turned to recalling his initial contact with his wife, admitting that although he knew Joyce while they attended secondary school, it was when he saw her at a house party in the Bronx, New York, in 1970, that he knew she was his wife. The Calliaqua native remarked that he was captivated by Joyce’s legs and teasingly said that he was so handsome, that she instead was the one interested in him as she gazed at him going from room to room. But the gathering cheerfully laughed and recounted that his story was stretched, as it was Joel who had his eyes on Joyce and he was fascinated not only by the Troumaca native’s beauty, but her intelligence. The former UN Ambassador and staunch Anglican thanked all those who have been helpful in their lives and expressed gratitude to God for the many blessings. Joel and Joyce Toney doing it –cutting the cake - for a second time 50 years apart. he Toneys romance still strong as they glide on the dance floor
John QC described the couple as exemplars of the virtues of the institution of marriage.
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022. 13.12. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN
Soroptimist International SVG hosted Girls on Fire 2022 over five days beginning on Monday 25th July under the theme “My Voice, Our Equal Future”. This programme was organised by the Programme Action Committee (PAC) which is chaired by Sis. Shannon DurrantSamuel. The Opening Ceremony included a prayer by Sis Cecile MacMaster, remarks from President Donnette O’Neil and an address by Mrs. Janeil Henry-Rose, Secretary General UNESCO.Henry-Rose encouraged the participants to find their voice and not be ‘afraid’ of leadership. Miss Gloria Williams, a Distinguished Toastmaster, engaged the ladies with a vibrant and interactive public speaking session. She was followed by Mrs. Raedawn Howard, a Wellness Advocate and Yoga Instructor, who conducted a session on Confidence Building. Day Two of the programme took the young ladies on a tour a farm, owned and operated by Mr. Dennis Ambrose and situated in the elevated area known as Akers off the town of Layou. There, the ladies saw firsthand a Great House and farm animals, and were captivated by breath-taking scenic views of the island that the elevation offered. Later that day, there was an
ClimateSustainableTyshanaheardbondingaffirmations.sessionsheMindfulnessonengagedwhichHealthyDurrant-SamuelChairmandiscussioninteractiveledbyPACSis.ShannononEating,followingMrs.HowardtheyoungladiesthetopicofduringwhichincorporatedaninvigoratingofstandingyogaandpositiveByDayThreetheladieswereandlettingtheirvoicesbeintheirsessionwithMrs.Thomas-NicholsfromtheDevelopmentUnitonChangeandtheImportance of Recycling.Therest of the day was spent planting flowers, painting used tires to accent the plants as part of the beautification project at the National Public Library. Day Four of the programme entertained presentations on: Healthy Relations by Ms. Degra Michael of National Reconciliation Unit at the Ministry of Education; the Law and Domestic Abuse by Ms. Moreeze Franklyn a Barrister-at-law, and President of the Broad of the St. Vincent Planned Parenthood and Social Affairs Development Specialist Ms. Makini Barrow. Later in the day, Mr. Cuthbert Tucker from Latin Fusion 784 Dance Group led the participants in a Bachata dance session. Girls on Fire 2022 culminated with a Public Speaking session led by Ms. Jacqui English-Jacobs from Toastmasters who involved the girls in an informative debate and impromptu presentations.AMentalHealth and SelfConfidence Boost presentation from Ms. Ellica Matthews, Counsellor at Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre, brought the programme session to an end.The sixteen young ladies received certificates and prizes at the end of this exciting week of activities. The objectives of the programme, among others, was to build the selfconfidence and communications shills of the young ladies, and in the process, empowering them.
Soroptimist host Girls on Fire 2022
Teens learn about Business Librarian Dana Neverson engage the participants at the Library’s Basic Business Operations Workshop.
14. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN YouthV
THE SPIRIT of entrepreneurship is being fostered by the National Public Library of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.Thiscomes in the form of a threeweek workshop which opened on August 8 and was expected to conclude today, August 19. Held under the theme, “Be Your Own Boss - Think It, Make It, Market it”, 13 teenagers were set to stay the course during which they would have been exposed to some of the basics of business operations, from manufacturing to marketing. Participants were involved in making candles and resin key ring holders, which they used as the basis for doing (mini) business plans, devising marketing and advertising plans, including understanding the importance of labeling and packaging. At the opening ceremony, Librarian Dana Neverson said she was pleased that the annual event has returned after a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. She also took the opportunity to encourage persons to visit the library which she noted has many resources and initiatives that could expand, inform and enlighten. The main facilitator said the course is part of the overall “Helping Young People Excel” HYPE programme, where youngsters learn the importance of strategies and structure from an early age. Girls on Fire 2022 at the National Public Library, the focus of Soroptimist’s beautification project. At the Soroptimist Centre. Helping Hands Centre, New Montrose.
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022. 15.
The Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, currently the major health care institution in SVG, will be transformed into a Maternal Child and Health Centre of Excellence, once the state-of-the-art Acute Care Hospital is open, Prince promised.
An artist’s impression of a section of the Acute Care (Referral) Hospital to be constructed at Arnos Vale.
World Bank funds Acute Care Hospital
16. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022 THE VINCENTIAN HealthV
The World Bank on Wednesday 10th August approved a US$51 million credit to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, to modernize its hospital services and build a more resilient and sustainable health infrastructure and system. The Washington, D.C.-based financial institution said the modernization includes the construction of a new Acute Care Hospital and health sector reform. The project will benefit over 110,900 residents and about 350,000 tourists that visit the island each year, the World Bank said. It said St. Vincent and the Grenadines, comprising 32 small islands and cays, is vulnerable to natural disasters and extreme weather events that destroy health care infrastructure and service facilities, and affect the entire population. It said the project will support the country in strengthening the health sector to respond effectively to disease outbreaks, climate change and natural disaster effects, and help reduce the increasing burden of chronic diseases.
By Nelson A. King US &naking@verizon.netCORRESPONDENTKenvilleHorne
“Through this project, St. Vincent and the Grenadines will reinforce the health system’s adaptive capacity to create a safe, resilient and transparent environment for sustained health service delivery and improved hospital performance,” the World Bank said. “This project will play a catalytic role in modernizing hospital services for generations to come while leveraging primary care and transforming the health system,” she said. “This investment will provide accessible, high-quality hospital services to the population and reduce the need for costly overseas care.”
Additionally, the World Bank said the new hospital will “incorporate a climate-resilient structure to ensure continuity of operations during climate events.”Itwill also consider measures for lightning strikes, high-speed winds from hurricanes, and energy and water management, the World Bank said.It said the design of the hospital also includes energy efficiency measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and standardization of building materials, use of renewable sources of energy, and energy-saving approaches for lighting. During a news conference in Kingstown on Tuesday 9th August, Health Minister St. Clair Prince confirmed the World Bank facility, explaining that the amount committed is a loan made at an interest rate of 2% , with a grace period of 10 years and a maturity of 40 years. He went further to say that a soft loan from OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) will provide the remaining funds (US$30M) for the hospital project. According to Prince, the Acute Care/Referral Hospital, earmarked for construction at the site of the decommissioned E.T. Joshua Airport at Arnos Vale, will expand the health services. It is expected to facilitate the introduction of new services such as Cardiology, Neurology - including enhance acute stroke care, Thyroid services, improved treatment of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, enhanced Ophthalmology as well as major invasive surgeries. The hospital will have about 140 beds.
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022. 17.
wifeÊ I gave him Âsweet foodÊ
Dear George, MY WIFEconfessed to me there was someone else in her life from the day she said, ‘I do’. She admitted she thought by marrying me her feelings for women would go away but she wasShewrong.gave me the choice: Stay with her and accept her sexual preferences (may be even make the other woman my unofficial wife) or leave.George, I love my wife and am not prepared to share her. Do you know of a way I can get her to focus on men again and walk away from this lesbian lifestyle? All or Nothing Dear All or nothing, Your wife has made it categorically clear that she prefers to be in a relationship with her sex. That is her choice and clinging on to her would be delaying the inevitable. Forcing her to do otherwise would guarantee you a life of tears and unhappiness. Let it go and seek for your elsewhere.happiness George Dear George, I AMcarrying a secret for my best friend and it is weighing me down. My friend confided in me that she gave her boyfriend, a married man, ‘sweet food” which is why he is with her and will always be with her. She told me there is nothing his wife could do about it and she might as well give up trying to keep him at home. George, I do not want to get mix up in this kind of thing and I wished she didn’t tell me anything. This is weighing heavily on my conscience and I feel I have to say something to someone, but who? Feeling the Weight Dear Feeling the Weight, You have nothing to say to anyone. The man in question is an adult and is responsible for his own decisions. Your friend has to be aware that there are always consequences to actions, especially unprincipled ones. Let your friend know that you do not sanction her actions and she needs to find someone else. George should Âlesbian
18. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022. THE VINCENTIAN AdviceV
Dear George MY HUSBANDis ungrateful and unreasonable and I think I want to call it a day. He saw an email on my phone from a male friend and decided to go off. The message simply asked me if the money he sent me was enough. He started to go on about I have no right taking money from men, etc. That was it. I had to level with him. I let him know that this is the same man who: paid our rent for the last six months; paid all the children’s school expenses; paid the bill when his car was in the garage. I told him he should be thanking him instead of beingYes,ungrateful.Ihadtogive him sexual satisfaction a few times, but what is that in comparison to all that he has done for Pleaseus?help my husband to see my side of things before it’s too late for him and us.
You
apologise My
Making Ends Meet Dear Making Ends Meet, Your marriage vow was to your husband and no one else. What gave you the right to accept gifts from another man in exchange for sex? Why shouldn’t your husband be more than upset? If you and your husband are experiencing tough financial times then both of you should be the ones to put together a plan that would help you navigate your way successfully. Introducing a 3rd party in the way you did was certainly not the way to go. Instead of getting upset with your husband, apologise to him for the blatant disrespect and disregard you have shown toward him and the marriage. Let him know that you are willing to see a counsellor to assist you both in getting things back on track. The marriage is only over when both or one of you decide that it is. George
ACROSS 1. 24-hr. conveniences 5. Musical with the song “The Night They Champagne”Invented 9. Derringer of the McCoys 13. Subject of competitionscooking Of the flock 16. McGregor of “Moulin Rouge” 17. Detection device 18. Gawk 19. Flintstones pet 20. Viking Cruises helmsman perhaps 23. Originally named 24. Fine golf performancehole 25. Zany 29. Cygnet 31. Earth Day subj. 32. Per 34. Eyewitness’s activity at a lineup 39. Educational top dog 42. Koln or Nurnberg 43. When doubled, a Pacific capital 44. Geisha girl’s continent 45. URL starter 47. Still on the lot 49. Grace of “Will & Grace” 52. Compass point 53. Senate big shot 59. Fruitless 60. TV actor, Scott 61. Lomond and Ness 63. A Chinese political party 64. Computer programs, for short 65. New money on the Continent 66. Boleyn or Hathaway 67. Chastise 68. Sudden burst DOWN 1. Temperature controls, briefly 2. Marvel superheroComics 3. Skirt type 4. Czech or Serb
GEMINI (MAY 22-JUNE 21) Debates will stifle passion and result in estrangement. Make sure you concentrate if operating machinery or vehicles. Start sending out those resumes. Do not over expand if you have your own business.
15.
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022.19. LeisureV
ARIES (MAR. 21- APRIL 20) You need to spend less time daydreaming and more time accomplishing. You can clear up important legalities and sign contracts this week.
CANCER (JUNE 22-JULY 22) Be sure not to reveal private information to the wrong individuals. You will gain knowledge through your adventure. Business trips might prove unproductive.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) Curb any jealous fits if your partner has been flirting with someone else. Don’t allow personal problems to conflict with professional duties. Someone you live with will get angry if you are neglecting your duties.
VIRGO (AUG. 23 -SEPT. 23) Don’t let others try to create unwarranted guilt if you can’t meet their demands. Try not to lend or borrow money this week. Your suggestions for fund raising events will be well received.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 21.- FEB. 19) Friends may not be completely honest with you. Direct your energy into physical entertainment. Family outings that aren’t expensive will be enjoyable and help strengthen ties. PISCES (FEB. 20-MAR. 20) You can make extra money. Rewards will be yours if you put in the overtime required. You can’t always have your own way. You can make progress if you deal with the right individuals.
L A S T W E E K ’ s S O L U T I O N
TAURUS (APR. 21- MAY 21) Don’t get involved in other people’s problems. Opportunities to make financial gains will develop through your connections with other people. Someone you live with will get angry if you are neglecting your duties.
CAPRICORN (DEC 22.- JAN. 20) You will do well with clients this week. Take some time out. It’s hard to stay mad if the object of the anger refuses to react. If you haven’t already, don’t be afraid to start your own small business on the side.
LIBRA (SEPT. 24 -OCT. 23) Empty promises are evident and deception probable. Get involved in jobs that require creative input. You can win points with both peers and superiors. SCORPIO (OCT. 24 - NOV. 22) Don’t let situations get out of hand. Control your anger. Make changes that will heighten your appeal. Job changes are in order. Go for interviews or send out resumes.
5. theaterShakespeare’s 6. “Otello” baritone 7. River to Coloradothe 8. Summer cooler 9. Make even deeper 10. “TheAlbum”Whiteballad 11. Birchbark 12. Cluster 14. “The characterQueene”Faerie 21. Fend off 22. Hysteria 25. Confused state 26. I.R.A. part, acct. 27. Qatar’s capital 28. Wad of dirt 29. Junkyard junk 30. Supporter of the Revolution 33. Datebook abbr. 35. End of a greetingSpanish 36. ___ jure (by law) 37. Pin down 38. Delighted 40. Alternate 41. “It’s (despairing___!” cry) 46. Of a clan 48. Football Hall-ofGreasyFamer ___ 49. Spelling on TV 50. Magic lamp figure 51. Com to rest 52. Watery drink 53. First name in spydom 54. appetizerSpanish 55. Barks 56. QB Flutie 57. Tannish 58. Sorority letters 62. Mach 1 breaker
LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22) The answers can only come from within. You will be extremely sentimental, and if pushed by others you may hold a lasting grudge. You need to pamper yourself for a change.
Javon Rawlins Jabari KhensuMichael-
20. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022 THE VINCENTIANV
THE 2022 NATIONAL TABLE Tennis Singles Male Under-13 and 15 Champions have been decided. Last weekend’s finals of those categories, played at the West St. George Secondary School, saw Lamont Gregg of Spencer’s Table Tennis Club taking the Under-13 title, when he beat Jason John 11/7, 11/7. Gregg also tested his skills in the Under-15 category and got to the finals where, after a gallant effort, he went under, 13/11, 13/11, 11/7, to the new Under-15 Champion- Kimoni Shoy of Adams Table Tennis Club. Shoy earned himself a berth in the Under-15 finals by dispensing with Joshua Simmons in a hard-fought 12/10, 11/3, 8/11 4/11 11/4 tussle, and Gregg beat Jaheim John, 8/11 11/3 11/4 11/6, to book his place in the under-15 finals. In the Under-13 semi-finals, Gregg won over Nathaniel Lawrence 11/4, 11/5, and Jason John beat Jaheim John 11/5, 11/7. The National Table Tennis Championship is ongoing and indications are that some seventy players, all taken, will be vying for individual and team honours. The NationaI Open Teams category (which allows for mixed male/female teams) is currently in training and that is expected to conclude soon. Still to be decided are the Open Male and Females Singles; the Junior (Under -19) Male and Females Singles; the Open Mixed Doubles; and the PreCadet (13 and under) and Cadet (15 years)Tablecategories.Tenniswas among the disciplines which represented St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the just concluded XX11 Commonwealth Games. The team comprised four females: Jessica Mc Carter, Shanecia Delpesche, Leah Cumberbatch and Unica Velox. I.B.A. Allen SYSTEM 3 SPORTS ACADEMY, which has been in existence for over 30 years, thanks to support from a number of businesses here, is intensifying its efforts to link its members to academic opportunities. Ian Sardine, founder, co-ordinator and chief instructor of the Academy, which has a concentration on football, said their main focus now is to intensify preparation of members for entry into colleges, so they could develop their sporting skills and their academic capabilities. “There is a limit to what you can do and achieve with football in SVG; it’s only bragging right. The prize money is not enough to carry the clubs for a year, so I have an obligation to the players to assist them as much as possible,” Sardine advanced. During the Academy’s 2022 Summer Camp, first -time and some returning participants will be exposed to the fundamentals of football. Participants will also have, this year, the services of an overseas-based coach.“Iam bringing a qualified coach who also deals with coach certificationsdevelopmenteducationandfrom the college system of the United States. “He will familiarize the parents and players as young as 12 on the requirement to go to college and how to start establishing links as far as advancing their academic qualification is concerned,” Sardine disclosed.Theexpert is also expected to outline the opportunities players/footballersthe have through the university and colleges, for them to increase their options of going‘Weprofessional.”arefortunate to have some connection with colleges in the states, Sardine quipped. All in all, Sardine said that he is encouraging his members to take both their academics and football serious. Since it could offer them a choice, i.e. “.. if they don’t make it in football they have their academics to fall back on.”
Mc Kish Compton Handel Roban
ST. VINCENT AND THE Grenadines will be represented by four male athletes at the ChampionshipsOpenofthe North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC), to be staged this weekend, Friday 19th to Sunday 21st August, in the Bahamas.
Lamont Gregg - Under-13 champion Kimono Shoy - Under-15 champion Ian Sardine. Founder, co-ordiantor and chief instructor of System 3 Sports Academy has been involved in developing youth footballers for well over four decades. Junior TT
National
Participants during this year’s System # Summer camp involved in a skills session.
I.B.A. Allen
Four
The four are Mc Kish Compton, Handal Roban and Javon Rawlins who are based in Jamaica, and Michael-Khensu,Jabariwholives in theTheUSA.quartet are fresh from their sojourn at the XXII Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham, England. In their outings in the 100m at those Games, Compton placed fourth in Heat Six in a time of 10.62s, and Rawlins came in seventh when he clocked 10.79s in Heat Nine. In the case of MichaelKhensu, he timed 21.81s, to place sixth in his 200m Heat. Meanwhile, Roban, this country’s all-time 800m record holder, clocked 1:48.57 in Heat Three to place fourth. None of their times allowed them passage to the next round.They would be hoping for improved performances this weekend and in the process, to emulate Kineke Alexander and Adonson Shallow, previous thisadministrator,athletequeen.formertheedition,Championships,coach.accompanyOpen.medallistsVincentianattheNACACChesterMorganwillthequartetasTheNACACOpenthefourthwillbededicatedtolateAnitaDoherty,aBahamianAthleticsDoherty,aneducator,andsportsdiedearlieryear. for NACAC Open Championships System 3 widening its focus
champs crowned
The Under-13 Division features Combined Youths, Future Youths and Rising Youths and the Under-15 Division is comprised of Combined Stars, Future Stars and Rising Stars. The Senior Division teams are South Side (Paget Farm), Lower Bay, Hamilton and Port Elizabeth. Explaining the format of the league, Ralph Stowe of the Organising Committee, disclosed, “The Under-13 will be 8 v 8, while the Under-15 will play 9 v 9… The age group competitions will be played Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays”. Outlining the objectives, Stowe related, “We are using the U-13 and the U-15 for development purposes, so for the U-15 we are playing from the top of the 18 yards box, while for the U-15 we are using the full length of the field but we have brought in the width of the field …We are making sure that they have the opportunity to play competitive football so it helps with their learning and overall development”. The senior component will be played Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.Anupbeat Stowe hence noted, “Basically we will be having Football everyStipulationsday”. by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF), dictate that all community leagues must be concluded by August 31. Glenside Ball Blazers ended the 2022 Comsports Arnos Vale Football League as the undisputed champions.This,asthey added the Knock Out title to their collection last Sunday, August 13, at the Arnos Vale Two Playing Field, as the competition concluded. In the Knock Out final, Glenside Ball Blazers trumped Strike Force 3-2 on penalties, after a goalless draw in regulation. Glenside Ball Blazers owed their fortunes to goal keeper- Anthony Hazell, whose brilliance in the penalty kicks made the difference. For winning the Knock Out, Glenside Ball Blazers got a trophy and cash prize of $200. Prior to Sunday’s Knockout Final, Glenside Ball Blazers - the 2020 league winners- had retained the title when they finished on 14 points, edging out RSVG Police with 13 points. Blossom Unlimited filled the third place on 11 points. For their league victory, Glenside earned a trophy, medals and the cash prize of $1700. RSVG Police got a trophy, medals and $1000, while Blossom Unlimited- a trophy and $500. Jamary Davis of Blossom Unlimited copped the Most Goals Award for his five goals. He and Yaszeem Dascent were locked on the same number of goals but the organisers ruled that Davis had played fewer matches than Dascent, hence he was rewarded. Dascent, though, was not left empty handed. He was voted his team’s Most Valuable Player. The other MVPs were: Delroy Sandy- Strike Force; Saied Da BreoRSVG Police; Skiey Bailey- Toni Stores Jugglers; Joveanni Forde- Stanley Browne Fair Hall; Kahlaique Fraser- Blossom Unlimited and Mazhino Solomon- Sharpes FC.
Keartons are double North Leeward champs
Inset: Dwight Roberts, President of NLSCO Football Committee viewed the competitions as taking North Leeward football in an upwards direction.
Action in the finals between Kearton FC and Fitz Hughes.
Glenside does double in A/Vale Football League
The Under-15 teams in the Bequia Football League.
I.B.A. ALLEN THE 2022 Bequia Football League (BFL) is off and running. The league began last Monday, 15th August, at the Clive Tannis Playing Field. Ten teams, six in the age group category and four in the Senior Division, are registered to compete.
THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022. 21. SportsV
Ralph Stowe Bequia Football League kicks off
Players in the U-13 Division of the BFL. Glenside Ball Blazers had much to celebrate after copping two titles in the 2022 Arnos Vale Football League.
KEARTONSFC created history when they became the first team to be crowned double champions of the Rudy’s Electrical / Hairoun Beer/ North Leeward Football Competition. In last Sunday’s finals of the Knockout Category, the match played at the Golden grove Playing Field that brought the curtain down on the 2022 Competition: Keartons beating Fitz Hughes on penalty kicks after a 1-1 deadlock at the end of regulation and extraThistimetitle added to the League Title Keartons FC won when they narrowly defeated Petit Bordel, 1-0. Nine teams competed in this year’s competitions.Speakingat the closing ceremony, Dwight Roberts, Chairman of the Football Committee of the North Leeward Sports and Cultural Organization (NLSCO) and 3rd Vice President of the St. Vincent Football Federation (SVGFF), said he was pleased to see the return of football in the area, and welcomed the opportunities that are opening up for the“Iplayers.thinkit was one of the better tournaments we ran. Every year we are improving but I think this year’s was the better one,” Roberts suggested.Hedisclosed that Sharpes FC and Predators will represent North Leeward in the upcoming All-Leeward FootballRobertsCompetition.alsopointed to the fact that North Leeward has two clubs in the national championship - Predators in the Primier Division and Sharpes FC in the Second Division. And while he proffered that “things are moving up”, Roberts called for more sponsorship from the cooperate entities, especially as the NLSCO looks to introduce a youth tournament next year, for both males and females. The Closing also featured an Awards Ceremony. Among the Awardees were: Xavier Chance of Fitz Hughes -Best Defender; Jadiel Chance of Fitz Hughes — Best Goalkeeper; Wendell Cuffy of Keartons FC - Best Midfielder; Benniton Stapleton of Rose Hall — Most Goals (11); and Trivis Fraser of Keartons FC — MVP of the Finals.
First round action between Jamaica and Barbados at the Cumberland Playing Field.
BARBADOS and Guyana recorded contrasting victories in the opening round of matches, August 10 – 12, in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Under-19 Three-Day Championship, being played in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Barbados vs Jamaica Barbados defeated Jamaica by an innings and 14 runs at the Cumberland Playing Field.Jamaica opened with 234, Jordan Johnson getting 96 and Devon Stevenson bagging 3 for 36 to stem the BarbadosBarbadosJamaicans.repliedwith386,thanksto 110 by
Joshua Dorne who became the first century-maker and only century-maker in the first round of the Championship. Jayden Roberts contributed 76 and Sanjay Walker toiled for 3 for 69. Jamaica turned in a hapless 138 in their second turn, Brian Barnes 37, Nathan Sealy 5 for 36 did the damage. Guyana vs Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) handed a 41-run win to Guyana at the Park Hill Playing Field. Guyana batted first and recorded 179, Tomanni Caesar leading with 59, and Zeynul Ramsammy getting 43 not out. Nick Ramial 4 for 39 was the Trinbagonians best bowler. T&T edged to 146, Narad Kissoondath and Andrew Rambaran leading with 32 each.
Joshua Dorne aims to drive through the off side during his patient 110 for Barbados.
SportsV 22. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022 THE VINCENTIAN
I.B.A. ALLEN
Jonathan bamboozledRampersaudthemtaking 6 for 44. Guyana turned in less of an effort in their second innings, managing 160. Rampertab Ramnauth led with 49. Vasant Singh, 3 for 36, bowled well for T&T. T&T might have sensed a glimmer of chasing 194 for victory but they were bowled out for 152, which included 47 from Narad Kissoondath. Mavendra Dindyal claimed 4 for 24. Leewards vs Windwards In the other first round match, the Windward Islands and Leeward Islands played to a draw at Arnos Vale, with the Leeward holding the edge with a better first inning score. Thanks to 80 from captain Ackeem Auguste and 65 from Tarriqua Edwards, the Windward eventually got to 209 in their first innings. Nathan Edward, 5 for 30, kept them in check. The Leewards occupied the crease to get to 284. Nathan Edward getting 82 and Michael Greaves 60, in the face of Edwards returning with the ball to take a first round best innings haul of 8 for 75 The Windwards hastened to 232 looking to force a victory. Stephen Pascal got 86 and Ethan Gibson 46, but Onaje Amoy, 6 for 36, restricted their scoring. The match was called with the Leewards on 40 for 1. At the end of the first round, Barbados led the leader board with 20 points followed by Guyana on 15.4, Leewards - 9.4, Windwards - 6.6, T&T - 3.6 and Jamaica - 2.2.
trainingdonatesequipment
throughoutSEVERALcommunitiesSt.Vincentand the Grenadines are better able to conduct training in various sporting disciplines, thanks to an undertaking by Team Athletics SVGThe(TASVG).TASVG, after the national organisation for Track and Field in the country, handed a quantity of equipment to track clubs and schools, as well as to the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association. All clubs received 20 flights of four different sizes of hurdles, baseballs, children’s javelin and discus, agility ladders and cones.The same sets and quantities of equipment were handed over to organisations in North Leeward, Central Leeward, PrimaryGovernment,Government,Secondary,Government,Anglican,Government,andMesopotamia,Kingstown,Georgetown,NorthWindward.Meanwhile,theLayouBarrouallieBarrouallieBuccamentQuestellesDuBoistheCWPrescodSchool,alongwiththe all schools that were part of the recent Kids In Athletics (KIA) programme, were beneficiaries of equipment.Similarly, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association was given a set of medicine balls and hurdles to assist in the various national teams’ preparations for regional and international competitions. Technical Director of Team Athletics SVG- Chester Morgan disclosed that some hurdles remained and sporting organisations are asked to contact TASVG to obtain them while the stockMorganlasts.disclosed that much of the equipment were procured through grant funds of the KIA programme.
Barbados, Guyana record wins in CWI U19
Athletes from the Troumaca Ontario Secondary School making full use of the hurdles.
TASVG
THE THIRDround of matches in the West Indies Under-19 Cricket Championship will indicate the 2022 winner. Six teams are vying for the title: Leewards, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago in Group A, and Barbados, Jamaica and Windwards in Group BarbadosB. and Leewards established themselves as potential contender after the first twoWindwardsrounds. take on Barbados at Park Hill from tomorrow Saturday August 20. The Windwards fell to Jamaica in their second match with scores of 172 and 121. Those were in reply to 265 and 229 for 5 declared. The Windwards scored 209 and 232 in their first match against Leewards at Arnos Vale, but had to settle for a draw. Leewards reached 40 for 1 chasing a victory target of 158. The Leewards secured a first innings 75 run lead having scored 284. Windwards put up an opening 117 in their second innings, and appeared to have been in safe zone. The Leewards fought back and gave themselves an outside chance of snatching a win, but they were held up by a defiant last wicket partnership which while not huge in terms of runs, chipped away at time and valuable overs. The Windwards dropped the momentum against Jamaica, but Leewards increased the intensity against Guyana and came out with a ten wicket victory. That triumph hinged on the performance of their fast bowler Mark McKenzie with match figures of 9 for 27. Guyana fell for scores of 73 and 90. The Leewards secured a 78 run lead with their 151 and knocked off the victory target withoutMatchesloss.this weekend feature Jamaica and Guyana at Arnos Vale while Leewards play Trinidad and Tobago at Cumberland. Group winners meet for the championship at Arnos Vale August 25 to 27. The other teams will contest third and fifth places at park Hill and Cumberland.Barbadosgot off to a rousing start with an innings and 14 runs victory over Jamaica. With 386 for 7 declared, the Bajans secured a 152 lead with Jamaica’s 234 in their first outing. They fell 14 short of the target to give the bajans a convincingWhateverwin.the circumstances, players will be looking at putting in good performances to enhance their chances of being selected to the West Indies Under-19 squad. That is the gateway for elevation to the international arena. Whether players go on to represent the West Indies or any other nation, the experience at the Under 19 level serves them in good stead. St. Vincent and the Grenadines has become something of a fixture for staging Under 19 cricket. That is a welcome sign as far as the Ministry of Tourism sees it. And with the recovery from the Covid pandemic, and eruptions from the volcano on going, any injection into the economy helps with the relief. The hope is that standards required for hosting international matches are reached so that Arnos Vale returns to fold. St. Vincent and the Grenadines served as a hunting ground for West Indies. Memories remain with fans, neutrals and opponents of epic encounters. Vincentians will be pleased with another international match at here. West Indies Under-19 champion shaping
Thelma Foster (left) of the SVGNA accepting equipment from Chester Morgan.
FromGonsalvesBackpagealso highlighted that that for domestic VAT, the reduction would translates to the loss of about EC$12 million for every percentage point by which VAT is reduced. “If you want to reduce it by half, which is 8%, that is $96 million..” Gonsalves explained. As for the Customs Service Charge, the Prime Minister said that each percentage point of the Customs Service Charge generates EC$8 million and that Friday’s proposal would amount to a loss of EC$16 million in revenue. Gonsalves also rubbished the Opposition Leader’s call for a reduction in or cap on the fuel surcharge affixed to electricity cost to consumers. Even at a cap of 28 — 40 cents, he said “for every percentage point of the fuel surcharge on a monthly basis is $65,000. You multiply that by 44 cents, you get $2.86 million monthly that’s $34.3 million on an annualised basis. In summary, the Prime Minister declared that what the NDP was proposing was not far removed from a recipe for chaos.
ClassifiedsV THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022. 23.
Rising cost of living must be checked
2019ProplacedpreviousbutCanada,sinceGrenadines,VincentProspectachievedcomeplacing.score,Accordingly,withotherConferenceTorontoAugustProAlliancethePhysiquebycompetemakingFitnessofInternationalCyrusVINCENTIANGarretearnedhimselfanFederationBodybuildingand(IFBB)ProCard,himeligibletoasaprofessional.HeachievedthestatuswinningtheMen’sOpenClassBofCanadaPhysiqueNaturalCanadaQualifier,held6thattheDeltaHotelAirportandCentre.Cyrus,30,beatfourteencompetitorsfinishingascoreof3.thelowerthethehighertheForhim,itisadreamtrue;hehasfinallyhisgoal.Cyrus,whohailsfromhereinStandthehastried,hismigrationtotoearntheprocardhadmissedoutontheattempts.InNovemberlastyear,hesecondintheNaturalQualifier,andfirstintheBenWeiderNaturalPro
Qualifier, but did not make the grade to receive the pro card.
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Published by The VINCENTIAN Publishing Co. Ltd, St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022 VOLUME 116, No.33 www.thevincentian.com EC$1.50
LEADERof the Opposition, Dr. Godwin Friday has repeated his call for the government to do everything it can to reduce the cost of living. The call came against what he alluded to as an eight-month period during which the prices of food, fuel and other goods and services, including the cost of electricity, have risen considerably.Accordingto Friday, life has become more difficult for families, many of whom are now cutting back on essentials. And while he recognises that global trends will continue to impact St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and that the increased cost of living will remain a challenge in the future, in an address to the nation on Thursday 11th August, he offered some recommendations which he thought government should take on board with a view to address the hard times. Recommended measures Not least among the recommendations was the reduction of VAT from 16% to 13%, a promise Friday’s New Democratic Party had modified from 16% to 8% which it advanced during it campaign for the 2020 2020 general elections. In addition to reducing the rate of VAT, Friday also called on government to increase the number of zero-rated VAT items. Also on Friday’s list of recommendations was the rescinding of the 1% increase in the Customs Service Charge, an increase that was introduced as part of the 2021 National Budget. Given that this charge is affixed to all imported goods, any reduction would mean a reduction in import costs and by extension, ease for the consumer, once the savings are passed on. In a similar vein, the Opposition leader Friday implored the government to consider extending import duty concessions to minivans, buses, and taxis, even as it contemplates an adjustment in the transportations fares.And in a repeat of what has become a consistent leaning on government, there was a call for a cap on fuel surcharge which contributes directly to fluctuating and extraordinarily high electricity bill. Government response Friday’s ‘wish list’ did not escape the attention of the government.Usingthe opportunity of a press conference earlier this week, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves categorically rejected the proposals of the NDP. In reference to the call for a reaction in the rate of VAT, in a sweeping estimate, Gonsalves said Friday’s proposal would translate into a loss of in excess of EC$120 million in government revenue, a loss that would directly affect government’s ability to meet its EC$300 million monthly salary and wages commitment to public sector workers.
Speaking to THEVINCENTIAN, Cyrus said that his perseverance has been the hallmark of his journey in the sport thus far. “I want this to motivate young men back home (St. Vincent and the Grenadines),” Cyrus said. He noted that his entry into the sport began after his attempt to enroll in the British Army proved unsuccessful. He took a more serious approach to the sport once he settled in Canada, never anticipating that he would have progressed through the many rungs of the Cyrussport.admitted that he is hooked on the many attributes of body building and fitness since they aid in his personal development and provide opportunities for his advancement.
Garret Cyrus is overcome by sheer elation as he displays his hardfought-for Pro Card.
Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister and Political leader of the ULP, rubbished most of what was proposed, supporting his argument with statistical references.
RISING COST OF LIVING MUST BE CHECKED
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Dr. Godwin Friday, Leader of the Opposition and President of the NDP, reiterated much of what his party has been advocating as alternate fiscal measure, since the last general election.
