THE VINCENTIAN PDF - 21-06-24

THREE HOMICIDES IN FOUR DAYS

THE RESOURCES OF THE ROYAL SVG POLICE FORCE are stretched as they pursue ongoing, simultaneous investigations into three homicides. Between Sunday 16th and Wednesday 19th June, three adult males - Zeno Lee, Gary Glasgow and Dwayne Jacobs - were reportedly murdered, all within the boundaries of capital Kingstown.

A ‘Sarge’ bites the dust

Zeno Lee, aka Sarge, 33, was shot and killed in Murray’s Village last Sunday.

Reports are that he was shot and died on the spot when a gunman entered the Waterfall Bar and opened fire on the patrons therein.

The Waterfall Bar was originally a public bath serving the residents of Murray’s Village and its environs, that was converted into and operated as a bar by Lee. Lee, from reports, seemed to have been the primary target for the gunman and as it was, he was the only one to have succumbed to bullet wounds.

Enrique King, a patron, was also shot after a tussle with the gunman, but survived at least two shots, a source said. Up to Tuesday of this week, he was at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH).

Speculation ran wild, moreso outside of the Murray’s Village community, when it was learned that

Lee was the brother of Zenroy Lee, aka Chucky, 31, a wellknown national footballer, who was shot and killed in Murray’s Village on April 24.

Romano ‘Merciless’, ‘No Mercy’ Pompey, 35, who was said to have delivered the shot(s) that fell Zenroy, was himself shot and killed by the police in Trigger Ridge, Redemption Sharpes on the same day.

In 2012, Zeno Lee was sentenced to one and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of 60 pounds of cannabis.

Security Guard downed

And just as the police were putting together the details of their preliminary investigation into Zeno Lee’s death, they were called into action on the morning of Tuesday 18th June.

They were called out to the School for Children with Special Needs, Fernside, Kingstown, on being notified about a dead body on that school’s compound.

The police confirmed the body to be that of Gary Glasgow, 46, of Rose Place, Kingstown. His throat was slit.

Glasgow was serving as a security guard at the School at the time of his death.

A Paul Over murder

And before the police could say “Miss Janey Fire”, they were called out to Paul Over, in response to what was described as an extremely loud and sustained release of gunshots on the

night of Monday 17th June, in the vicinity of the home of Dwayne Jacobs.

Jacobs was not at his residence when the police arrived that evening, and after a search that turned up nothing of real consequence, they returned to base. However, on their return to the community on the morning of Wednesday 19h June, to continue their search, they discovered a dead body along the Paul Over river.

The body, showing signs of having received multiple gunshots, was identified as that of Dwayne Jacobs, 34.

Jacobs is remembered for having been found guilty of stealing a bottle of high-priced Hennessy and a bottle of Courvoisier cognac from Coreas, in 2009. He was sentenced to one month in prison.

Appeal for help

The RSVGPF continues to appeal to citizens who might be in positions to assist their investigations to come forward, and have assured confidentiality as far as whatever information they might share.

And the sense of uneasiness that prevails prevail across the state as a result of the continuing violent crime, was encapsulated by a Kingstown resident who declared, “I really don’t feel safe going out anymore.”

There are now 21 listed homicides for the year so far, with Zeno Lee listed as #19, Gary Glasgow as #20 and Dwayne Jacobs as #21.

Zeno ‘Sarge’ Lee was the victim of a lone gunman.

Gary Glasgow was said to be an affable character.

Dwayne Jacobs might just have been the victim of a hail of bullets.

Art exhibition features young artists

by GLORIAH...

The recently held art exhibition at the Thomas Saunders Secondary School (TSSS) was a collaboration between ‘Call Out Nations’ and the school. ‘Call Out Nations’ is a local creative platform which was born at the school and is led by Ms. Shanique Stewart, the school’s Art teacher. As far as she is

concerned, the fact that the school now has “an arts recreation space that promotes creativity and allows the students to be comfortable while they create their art”, is worthy of showcasing.

The showcase was held under the theme: “What it means to be seen” — an expression highlighting what each artist wants the world to know about him or her.

Upon entering the

space, the onlooker’s eyes were immediately drawn into the floor-to-ceiling

wall mural, featuring a Continued on

Ajeah Hope in front of her thought-provoking pieces in which a mirror is pivotal.

Eroy John shows off his deeply personal exposition entitled ‘Perceptual Paradox’ that uses a myriad of references.

Raynique Gumbs and her ‘Frisco in Wonderland’ that marries the impact of an ice cream outlet and her reading of Alice in Wonderland.

V News 3

VINLEC powers Junior Pan

DR. VAUGHN LEWIS, VINLEC’s Chief Executive Officer, sees the steel pan as a positive influence on humanity. By extension, he sees music as having a soothing effect that helps with one’s state of mind. His comments came last Tuesday evening at the company’s headquarters in Paul’s Avenue, Kingstown, during a sponsorship ceremony to mark the company’s ongoing support for the Junior

Panorama.

Dr. Lewis pointed to the benefits of music on students’ ability to cope with Maths and the spill over into social interaction. It is a tool of diplomacy, he posited, and he sees it as contributing more to the Gross Domestic Product than agriculture.

The CEO is pleased with his company’s injection of EC $40,000 to the Youlou Pan Movement. That is to

defray cost for the 2024 Junior Panorama scheduled for Victoria Park, June 30.

President of the Youlou Pan Movement (YPM) Rodney Small endorsed the “transforming power of the steelpan,” the theme chosen for this year’s event.

Small acknowledged his strides in the growth of the Junior Panaorama, with humble beginning at the Girls’ High School Pan Yard.

Eleven steel orchestras, including communities and school based orchestras involving some 575 players, are slated to contest the 2024 Panorama, signifying the impact of VINLEC’s sponsorship, Small said. If he gets his way, a National Junior Orchestra will be matter of course.

Chairman of the Carnival Development Corporation Ricardo Adams noted VINLEC ongoing support for pan and welcomed the resulting impact on the

Junior pannists in particular.

Minister of Culture

Carlos James recognised VINLEC’s long standing partner with culture, notably with the YPM, as an expression of a commitment to nation building.

He used the occasion to call for pan-related

activities year round.

Cultural Officer Maxine Browne praised VINLEC for its contribution in practical ways to the transformation of the society.

She cited playing pan as an opportunity to be engaged in meaningful activities that can lead to

overall social and mental improvements.

Two members from the Starlift Steel Orchestra - Mitchell Israel and Rayshaad Ambris - combined for a rendition of the Bob Marley song ‘I don’t want to wait in vain’, to add a cultural flavor to the ceremony. (WKA)

Art exhibition features young artist

Continued from Page 2.

blend of beautifully tucked-in coloured images at centre, surrounded by intriguing black-and-white caricatures. In addition, there was an abundance of paintings and sketches that attracted the visitors’ eyes and tweaked their imagination.

THE VINCENTIAN, without prejudice, explored the work of three different artists to determine their modus operandi and understand their personal interpretation.

Raynique Gumbs

TSSS student Raynique Gumbs presented a painting titled ‘Frisco Wonderland’.

She explained, “The first idea came from my experience when I was a kid. I went to Frisco (an ice cream outlet in Kingstown) for the first time, and I

ended up loving it. It was like a wonderland to me. Then recently, I watched ‘Alice in Wonderland’, the idea of ‘Frisco in Wonderland’ came to me.”

Her painting was resplendent with delectable snacks that have brought delight to children and adults alike.

Ajeah Hope

Ajeah Hope, an artist with ‘Call Out Nations’, showcased a painting showing a girl looking at herself in a mirror. The stark resemblance to Ajeah was phenomenal.

She expounded, “I began with the ‘Call Out Nations’ group during the summer of last year painting murals with Ms. Stewart and other students. My piece here today was inspired by the idea that, to be seen is to see yourself, so that’s the name that I gave to my painting.”

She recalled sitting for hours trying to decide on a direction and finally landing on ‘to be seen is to see yourself’.

“I was really inspired by the fact that at this age a lot of people are looking within, looking at themselves in mirrors and stuff; trying to gain an appreciation for themselves, not just physically but also in their personality.”

She added, “I wanted to really involve the mirror because that’s the best way to see yourself, standing in the mirror and self-reflecting. I also wanted to portray that self-reflection really tells us what it is to be seen.”

She was adamant that “We are what we act like and we are what we look like.”

Eroy John

About to pursue a course of study

leading to him become a pilot, Eroy John presented “Perceptual Paradox”, to highlight contradictory notions. His piece was, “a visual representation of myself, my interests and my fears.”

Half of the piece was pencil-shaded and represented the artist’s fear of death. The other (half) was shaded in colour.

A deteriorating aircraft stuck in a tree spoke of his fear of not accomplishing his goals of becoming a pilot. To counteract this thought, he used the greenery of trees as a positive influence on his life, not to mention his love of nature.

At the bottom of the piece, a clock gave a reminder that, “time heals all wounds”, a recovering butterfly accentuating that idea. The chess pieces hinted at future occurrences: falling in love, betrayal, the like.

Art teacher Stewart needed no convincing that the students could benefit from the exposure the activity afforded.

The ceremony’s head table included (L-R): Culture Minister Carlos James, Cultural Officer Maxine Browne, VINLEC/CEO Dr. Vaughn Lewis, YPM President Rodney Small and CDC Chairman Ricardo Adams.

Dr. Vaughn Lewis, VINLEC/CEO (right) hands over sponsorship cheque to Rodney Small, President of the YPM.

Father’s Day gift for abusive dad

by HAYDN HUGGINS

WHILE FATHERSthroughout the country were celebrating Father’s Day with their families on Sunday, one father was behind bars awaiting sentencing for sexually abusing his daughter.

On Friday, June 14, two days before Father’s Day, a ninemember mixed jury found the man, said to be in his 50s, guilty on four counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13, four counts of incest, and one count of indecent assault.

Justice Brian Cottle sitting at High Court 1, adjourned mitigation and sentencing to July 15.

Attorney Grant Connell is representing the accused, while Crown Counsel Maria JacksonRichards leads the case for the Crown.

All nine charges stemmed from a series of sexual ordeals, involving his daughter, on separate dates, between June 21, 2017 and May 11, 2022.

According to the facts, the child was about 6, at the time of the first ordeal, and he continued having sex with her until she was about 10, when she related what was happening to her to someone.

The man was also charged with having anal sex with the child (buggery), but the jury found him not guilty of that.

The girl, who is now 12, recounted four occasions in which her father had sexual intercourse

with her. She said he performed the acts at his home during the time she was living there.

She said that on the second occasion he kissed her, sucked her breast, performed oral sex on her, then made her perform oral sex on him. He then had anal sex with her and told her not to tell anyone what he had done to her.

The victim said her father also had anal sex with her on the third occasion. She was about 9 then.

The girl recalled that following the fourth ordeal she told persons close to her what was happening. She was 10 at the time.

The victim told the Court the names of the persons she spoke to, but THE VINCENTIAN prefers not to mention those names to avoid any possibility of the victim’s identity being revealed.

The matter was eventually reported to the police.

The accused was 54 when the report was made.

He did not give evidence at the trial, but in an electronic interview conducted by the police, he said, “I never did anything to my daughter. I will never do anything to bring shame on myself and my family.”

He added that a father’s duty was to take care of his children, and that’s what he did.

“I know nothing about that, so she had to be lying, or somebody was pushing her to say that”, he said, in the electronic interview.

Connell, in his closing

arguments, pointed out that his client was charged based on what the victim told the police and there was no other evidence to corroborate her story.

During his cross-examination of the investigator, earlier, Connell suggested that she started the interview with the accused after midday and finished about 1 p.m.

“It is correct that you charged him by 5 p.m. that afternoon after he had given you his story, and you promised to check it out”.

The investigator replied, “Even if the police charged someone after an interview, the investigation is still ongoing. You could still check out things”.

Speaking with THE VINCENTIAN, following the conviction, Connell reiterated his call for a forensic lab to be established here.

“It would significantly reduce judicial time, and may save many innocent men from going to prison. It will also assist the Prosecution since no two fingerprints or DNA are the same”, Connell said.

This was the second father to be tried, within weeks, for sexually molesting their daughters.

On Thursday, June 6, at High Court 1 Justice Cottle sentenced a 46-year-old father of 11 to a total of 17 years, 10 months, and 17 days in prison on charges of attempted unlawful sexual intercourse, and indecent assault of his 5-year-old daughter.

Elderly man triggers Gun Amendment Act

BRIAN DABREO, a 59-year-old Park Hill resident, is the first person to be jailed for possession of an unlicensed firearm under the recent amendment to the Firearms Act.

Dabreo was sentenced to five years in prison for possession of an unlicensed .380 pistol, and six months for having two rounds of .380 ammunition without license, after pleading guilty to both offenses.

The sentences, handed down by Senior Magistrate Colin John, at the Serious Offenses Court, yesterday (Thursday), are to run concurrently.

In a caution statement to the police, Dabreo said he found the firearm “down the road”, and carried it home. He said he soaked it in some diesel, and used some brakes fluid to “see if I can get it work”.

Referencing the facts, the Senior Magistrate asked Dabreo, “That’s how it go”.

Dabreo replied, “Yea, Yea, right so”.

But when the Magistrate asked him, “You know what is a gun amnesty?”

Dabreo responded, “No No”.

John then explained to him what a gun amnesty was.

When the Magistrate asked him, “Why when you found the gun, you didn’t carry it in?’

Dabreo said, “I didn’t know”.

John told him that Parliament has been taking firearm possession and firearm-related offenses very seriously. He noted that the recent amendments to the Firearms Act passed in Parliament, has increased the penalties for possession of illegal firearms or ammunition in the Magistrate’s Court from $20,000 to $25,000, and from 7 years to 10 years imprisonment.

In handing down the penalties, John applied the sentencing guidelines, and weighed the aggravating and mitigating factors.

In presenting the facts earlier, Prosecutor Renrick Cato told the Court that around 8:15am on June 18, 2024, police went to Dabreo’s home to execute a search warrant after receiving a report of unlicensed firearm possession.

Dabreo consented to the search, and the gun with the two rounds of ammunition were found on a table in the living room.

When cautioned Dabreo said, “Is find ah find it down the road”. He later gave a written statement to the police.

The most recent National Firearm Amnesty (NFA2024) here commenced on March 1, 2024 and concluded on May 31, 2024.

During that period, 18 illegal firearms and 327 rounds of ammunition were surrendered.

A police release dated June 7, stated that with the conclusion of the amnesty, the recent amendments to the Firearm Act are now in full effect.

Brian Dabreo was escorted from the Serious Offences Court last Thursday to begin his sentence.

“We want to emphasize that our zero tolerance approach to illegal firearms is ongoing and our posture resolute. The amendments are designed to enhance the regulation and control of firearms, ensuring stricter penalties and enforcement to maintain the safety and security of our multi-island state”, the police release statement.

The Firearms Amendment Act was passed in Parliament on April 4, 2024, significantly increasing the penalties for gun crimes.

POLICE ROUND-UP

Woman

charged

with grievous bodily harm

POLICE ARRESTED and charged Terricia Patterson, a 21-year-old domestic worker from Layou, on June 13, 20924, with the offence of grievous bodily harm.

Patterson was charged with unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on a minor by allegedly burning him on the neck with a hot metal spoon. The offence occurred in Layou on October 24, 2023.

Terricia Patterson is expected to appear before the Kingstown Magistrate Court to answer to the charge.

21-year-old charged with wounding

Daniel Bacchus, a 21-year-old labourer of Campden Park/Cane Hall, will return to court on January 8, 2025 to face a trial resulting from a charge of wounding.

According to the investigation, the accused allegedly unlawfully and maliciously wounded a 35-year-old Police Officer of Redemption Sharpes, by cutting him on the fingers of his right hand with a pair of scissors.

The offence occurred at Richmond Hill on June 17, 2024.

Bacchus appeared before the Kingstown Magistrate Court on June 18, 2024, where he pleaded not guilty to the offence. His station bail was continued in the sum of EC$2,000.00 and the matter was adjourned to January 8, 2025.

Electrician charged with trespassing

On June 17, 2024, police arrested and charged Raphael Lavia, a 30-year-old electrician of Sandy Bay, with the offence of trespassing.

The police investigation reported that the accused allegedly entered the dwelling house of a 37-year-old domestic of Sandy Bay as a trespasser, with intent to assault her.

The offence occurred at Sandy Bay on June 29, 2018.

Lavia is expected to appear before the Georgetown Magistrate Court to answer the charge.

Possession of a prohibited article

Paul’s Avenue resident Rion Cole, a 28-year-old male, was arrested on June 14, 2024, and charged with the offence of possession of a prohibited article.

According to the investigations, the accused allegedly without lawful excuse, attempted to introduce one (1) black and yellow cellular phone, a prohibited article, into His Majesty’s Prison.

The offence occurred on June 10,2024 in Kingstown.

Cole appeared before the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on June 17, 2024 and the matter was adjourned to June 18, 2024.

Chauffeur on wounding and damage to property charge

On June 16, 2024, police arrested and charged Jerald Simmons, a 37-year-old chauffeur of South Rivers, with the offence of wounding and damage to property.

According to the report, the accused allegedly unlawfully and maliciously wounded a 37-yearsold chauffeur of Sandy Bay, by chopping him on his left arm with a cutlass.

He was also charged with damaging the left side-panel and passenger door-rubber of motor vehicle H-7403, value at EC$1,500.00, by chopping same with a cutlass, the property of a 49-year-old carpenter of Owia.

The offences occurred on June, October 10, 2023 in South Union.

Simmons appeared before the Calliaqua Magistrate Court on June 17, 2024 where he pleaded not guilty. He was granted bail in the sum of EC$2,500.00 with one surety and the matter was adjourned to June 21, 2024.

Managing Director: Desiree Richards

Editor: Cyprian Neehall

Telephone: 784-456-1123 Fax: 784-451-2129

Website: www.thevincentian.com

Email: thevincentianpublishing@gmail.com

Mailing Address: The Vincentian Publishing Co. Ltd., P.O. Box 592, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Editorial

Father’s Day not forgotten

WE MIGHT BE HESITANT to admit it, but in a sense there has been an increased recognition of Father’s Day throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Fathers in this land have borne the brunt of ridicule and fingerpointing for disowning or disregarding children whose births they were primary contributors. The practice grew to such proportions it is now embedded in our culture, so much so, the state has intervened with the commissioning of a Family Court which, if the truth be told, has morphed into a routine exercise involving men having to answer for their delinquency in supporting their children.

That is why if we didn’t then we should have last Sunday, Father’s Day, considered ways beyond trying to be nice to men, and spend some time truly considering the object of our attention, i.e. the fathers of SVG.

There has been not a want for headlines that feature our men, young fathers, accused of, arrested and charged for some violent crime, not to exclude murder. Then there is the worrying frequency of women being battered by their menfolk.

Unfortunately, within all of this, attention is rarely given to the other dyadic relation men and women share, that is intrinsic in the word “father” — their children.

We are wont to accept that father, mother, and children of course — dubbed the ‘nuclear family’ — comprise the typical example of ‘family’ in SVG. Interestingly this in itself sheds much light on the present status.

The majority of our menfolk was dragged from Africa and sold as slaves. Constricted by the throngs of slavery, the African male was denied his role of being a father to his children. He, along with his female partner and children, were all chattel, commodities to be sold, bought, punished. One would like to think they were instructed when to bear children, as per the wishes of their owners.

It is easy to say that after over a hundred and eighty-six years since the abolition of slavery, those relationships ought to have been adjusted so that the ideal “nuclear family” could be adopted. But this is

not as simple as it appears. Human socialization is not as simplistic as the case in point is further complicated by the fact that in Africa, the nuclear family was not the dominant family structure.

The extended family that included grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins, was the norm in Africa, so too in India from where indentured labourers were sourced to replace the African slave labour on plantations in the Caribbean.

In the modern Caribbean, it is not far-fetched to deduce that he institution of the “child father” is one in which the maternal grandmother plays the pivotal role of the father in the family — all descended from the slave experience.

From the slave days also, we have retained the image of the ideal male as a “stud”, which he was back then. The male was valued by the number of females he could impregnate — which still strikes a responsive chord in males in modern day Caribbean.

We then ended up with a situation wherein many men did not take responsibility for their children very seriously, since there was an existential situation in many homes where the children were not their biological “own”.

After slavery, this practice was coupled with the complementary ruling class’s patriarchal premise that women were the “property” of men — to be possessed at will, and this did not escape the Indian immigrant who, however, took (take) the responsibility for their children rather seriously.

What it meant was that while men in general might now boast about “sowing their wild oats”, they did not take too kindly to being “cuckolded”.

What we would have liked to advise fathers on this Father’s Day is that they like mothers and children are inextricably linked as a family that would sink or swim together.

While the exact roles of each would inevitably be impacted by larger forces in society and evolve, the family, including a father, would always remain the earliest and most important point of socialisation of the young — the children.

Another holiday?

THE PRIME MINISTER (PM) recently announced he is considering another public holiday for our nation. This time, he proposes a holiday recognizing the “Spiritual Baptist.”

He went a bit further and suggested May 21, tying it to the day when the late Robert Milton Cato won a court case in 1951 ‘restoring their right to worship’.

Interestingly, it was the E.T Joshua legislative council in 1965 that passed a law to remove the 1912 Colonial Government outlawing the Spiritual Baptist right to worship.

On March 28, 2002, the current administration passed the Spiritual Baptist Act, officially recognizing the freedom to Worship.

Ok, I know by now my former English teacher is pulling his hair out, saying what’s up with all these onesentence paragraphs. Did this boy not learn anything? Well, it was done on purpose, sir. I did it to highlight the politicization of another national issue. Is this another attempt to promote Robert Milton Cato to national hero status? If it’s unclear by now, I don’t support the idea that this Canadian, Robert Milton Cato, should be elevated to National Hero status. Maybe I feel this way for the same reason why we should not nominate living legends. He is still alive in my memory; this is asking me to forget too much too soon.

Back to the idea of another public holiday. Currently, we have twelve per year, which is about average for the Caribbean region. Now I have checked, and there are quite a few countries with many more public holidays than we do. So another holiday is not going to break the bank or cause a significant reduction in our Gross Domestic Production. After all, we have West Indies cricket to do that. When our team is doing well, productivity in the Caribbean is at its lowest. We are who we are. To be clear, we have never taken cricket and made it our own, Mr. PM. For a short time, we mastered the game played by our colonial masters for their entertainment. By the way, no matter how well the English team is doing in that 24/7 economy, an outstanding performance from an English team is a bust to their economy, not a drag.

Returning to the holiday discussion to officially recognize the Spiritual Baptist and their journey to religious liberation. First, allow me to ask the

simple question: how many more religious holidays do we need in this country? Currently, one-third of all our holidays are religious, specifically Christian holidays. Do we really need another one? And please don’t say let’s combine “Spiritual Baptist Day” and “Whit Monday.” This will simply dilute both days to another meaningless day away from work. Does anyone remember when CARICOM Day is?

With all that being said, I would like to articulate some reasons for having public holidays and why they should be distributed throughout the year. Without prescribed public holidays, many workers will go without a paid day off all year. Yes, some businesses still do not offer paid vacation to their employees. Regular breaks from work are essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Public holidays allow people to rest, recharge, and spend time with family and friends. This can reduce stress levels, improve mental health, and increase productivity. Employees who feel valued and supported by their employers/government are more likely to be engaged and committed. A Public holiday like the one proposed is a powerful tool for cultivating a sense of national identity. It can unite people to commemorate events or individuals that have shaped the nation’s history, regardless of their background. Public holidays, in general, can also positively impact the economy, particularly through tourism. The influx of tourists can significantly boost local businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, and event promoters.

In conclusion, today’s public holidays offer citizens a day off to celebrate various religious, cultural, and historical events. For many of us, these holidays provide a much-needed break from work and service. A few of them are used to promote our cultural heritage, and the economic benefits of these holidays have great potential. If marketed correctly, they could attract tourists and support local businesses. And as our nations continue to evolve and face new challenges, the importance of this and other indigenous public holidays could grow and remind us of the values and traditions that bind us as a society.

Horatio

Hurricane Season: We must take heed

IT IS, AS I WRITE THIS, 16 days since the official start (June 01) of the Hurricane Season for the Atlantic Basin, comprising the North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico.

From what I have read, this season is predicted to be an active season. But it seems, even with recent experiences with natural disaster storms, floods, and volcanic eruptions - still bearing down on our memory, too many people still do not treat this waning with any real urgency.

Not to be the carrier of doom, but from what I understand multiple alarms have been sounded by reputable forecasters, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for example, who tells us that we can expect above-normal activity during the 2024 Season.

A direct warning to Caribbean countries to be prepared was recently made by the Barbados-based Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF), with its warning that 2024 will be a year of climate extremes for this region.

We have to take this warning and all other warnings seriously. We have to brace ourselves for some harsh weather, including heavy rainfall.

One reputable group of forecasters said there will be 17 to 25 storms this year, with 8 to 13 developing into hurricanes and 4 to 7 developing into major hurricanes in the range of category 3 and higher. What more warning can we get!!!

So citizens across the Caribbean, including those of us located just outside the traditional path of storms, need to prepare for any eventuality.

Weather Watchman

PEOPLE ARE ASKING:

1. Why are we behaving like ‘never-see-cumsee’ as if we have never seen a lighted field or plane landing?

2. When the Arnos Vale new city comes on stream, will we see a newer, more modern port?

3. If there were no cameras at the playing field, would the ‘youngest head’ have made a pappy show of himself from stand to stand?

4. When will the Ministers of Tourism and Agriculture desist from doing the jobs of the technocrats in their respective ministries? And why are they saying what the technocrats should be saying?

5. Will someone truthfully tell us what happened to our ‘calypso princess’?

6. When will FLOW give a better TV package?

7. Is there any case where an Office Assistant is making less money than a part time cleaner?

8. Which prominent political figure is associated with nthe purchase of two blocks of apartments in Diego Martin, Trinidad and Tobago?

Kingstown - central point of attraction

DEAR

MR. PRIME

MINISTER, I greet you as an advocate of freedom, justice, truth, equality, and equity, and take the opportunity to raise a concern without any bias, prejudice, or bigotry.

Why won’t you fix Kingstown? Look at how the Capital City looks run-down. The bridges, the schools, the Central Police Station, and the General Hospital, everything looks rundown. Don’t talk about Little Tokyo… it’s despicable.

When a Capital City is kept clean, it would attract more visitors to that country’s shores. As

you know in most advanced, metropolitan cities, cleanliness is a top priority.

It is the government’s duty to keep the City spic and span. I’m quite sure that visitors who find themselves in certain parts of Kingstown are on the verge of puking when they see how mucky Kingstown looks.

A good impression would have a long-term, and indelible effect on the visitors to our shores.

You can’t say you are promoting tourism when Kingstown looks like garbage dumped. Oops! Should I say shabby as a

hog pen? We can do better by keeping this historical mosaic clean.

Now that Sandals has come on board and we have World Cup Cricket taking place and other sporting activity of the highest caliber (to come), it would have been a plus if Kingstown was ‘ordained a bride, and decked out with beauty and splendor.

Mr. Prime Minister, don’t think I’m your enemy. I see myself as a decent citizen of this land, where warriors fought after slaves sweat, bled, and died to be free from shackles, bondage, and misery.

I, as disgruntled a citizen, as I might sound, am passionate and enthusiastic about my country’s affairs, and want to see the best for my country’s growth, development, and advancement.

Appropriate use of private property

I AM ASKINGthe Vincentian public, “Is it because you own a particular piece of land that you would use it for any purpose at all?” Yes, we live in a mixed economy where it is expected that owners of productive assets will want to generate income from them but, “should you do that at the expense of the neighbors?”

Uncle Metro would be “turnin’ in his grave” to know that you have decided to worship at the feet of the god of money to disturb the general peace and security of the entire neighborhood of both the living and the dead! I think I agree with my immediate neighbors that the 10acre site is better used for a bird sanctuary, plantation museum, ziplining, and even placing a chapel there so that all the characters who do not believe in

What are we promoting?

“CARNIVALis mas and music. Carnival is calypso. Carnival is mas and steel pans, etc.” Alston BECKET Cyrus.

It seems as if members of our Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) have never heard of this calypso or they are not in agreement with BECKET.

The CDC keeps promoting and supporting rural carnivals. If the truth is told, the rural carnivals are only a J’Ouvert and an evening street party, bringing vehicular traffic to a standstill.

In South Leeward, driving from the Chauncey bus shed to the gas station in Questelles on any ‘normal’ day

takes about one minute. When there is a street party it takes close to an hour. When there is a street party in Marriaqua, if you are lucky to get out of Richland Park, it takes hours to get to the La Croix Boxing Plant. The vehicles do get a good pounding going through the crowd. If one of the ‘Big stars’ on the truck should instruct the crowd what to do to the vehicles, you have real problems.

I humbly suggest, instead of saying rural carnival, let’s say rural street party and roadblock.

GOD or go to church can come and meditate or have their bodies cremated when they pass away!

You know we are

selling SVG to a niche market of a certain type of folks but when we get them to SVG what constructive are they going to be able to do

to leave real dollars in the community?

LORD have mercy upon us in SVG!

Frances Clarke

Carden Michael

“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.” –Dr. Maya Angelou (1928-2014) –American poet and civil rights activist.

THE DESIRE TO WRITE THIS ARTICLE emerged as a result of a conversation held with a young lady who had the title of this essay tattooed on her forearm. Those words provided an opportunity to enquire in relation to how her story had been to that date. She struggled to prevent the tears from flowing as she provided a synopsis of her traumatic past. After empathizing with her she was reminded of the fact that there is nothing that she could do to change the past but she could influence the present and future so that her story can have a better ending. This reality is accurate in all of our lives. Regardless of the setbacks and failures that we have experienced, the hurts and the disappointments, there is nothing that can be done to change the past; it is done; it is gone. However, we have the ability to influence better outcomes. We can impact how our stories end. Our stories are not over. Life is a mosaic of stories woven together. The good, the bad, and the ugly knitted together to make us who we are. Victories that ushered us to enjoy mountain-top experiences and defeats that pulled us down to deep pits of despair, regret, disappointments, and depression. However, amidst these seasons of life we understand and appreciate that our stories are never truly ended until our hearts make that last beat, our lungs suck in that last breath, and our eyes take that final blink. There is still reason to hope. There remain opportunities for positive change. We often need to remind ourselves that life is a combination of varied experiences. As we reflect on the psalmist experiences shared in the twenty-third Psalm, we note that there will be times when we walk along green pastures and calm waters; when life is considered “good” and “uneventful”. However, there will be those moments when we appear to be engrossed with the challenges emerging from the valley of the shadow of death; when our mortal existence appears threatened. In the case of the latter, these appear to be the segments of our story that provide a testament to our resilience, beckoning us to conjure up the resolve to refuse to succumb to the finality of endings or to make sure that the final chapters of our lives are so well written that the pages inspire others (family members, friends, and casual onlookers) long after we are gone.

John Bunyan (1628-1688), the English writer and Puritan preacher, is best remembered as the author of the Christian allegory The Pilgrim’s Progress, first published in 1678. The publication is considered to be one of the most significant works of Christian literature.

The captivating story chronicles the journey of a character named Christian on his pilgrimage from the “City of Destruction” to the “Celestial City” (Heaven). Christian’s expedition was punctuated by various distractions, trials, and temptations. He interacts with characters such as Evangelist, Faithful, Hopeful, and the evil individuals like Giant Despair and Apollyon. The story is rich with

symbolism and very valuable reminders that our life stories are often fraught with challenges, distractions, disappointments, and rewards. The publication provides useful insights that remind readers of the importance of focus and resilience … for the story isn’t over.

The thought of our stories not being over resounds deeply with so many of our human circumstances. Defeats, failures, and disappointments may seem to usher in moments of depression and despair. However, when faced with adversity, or challenged by life’s debilitating circumstances, it is useful to remember that we have an innate capacity for rewriting the script. The past does not equal the future. Neither the good nor the bad from the past is guaranteed to be continued through to the future. The future is a new chapter to be written. We may reflect on where we have come from and learn valuable lessons from glancing at the past. However, we must be prepared to imbibe the wisdom of Professor Sir Hilary Beckles (born 1955), ViceChancellor of the University of the West Indies when he challenges us to “See the future and be prepared for it.” There is wisdom in planning for our physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, and economic wellbeing. There is folly in relying on luck and chance. Planning for the future provides no guarantee that our goals will be accomplished. There will be forces outside our lives that will shape the trajectory in ways that appear to be profound and unexpected. However, the better prepared we are the more likely we will be to accomplish our noble goals and ambitions. There is wisdom in establishing goals that are specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and timebound. Hyrum Smith (1943-2019), in his book titled “The 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management” (ISBN 1857880757), highlights the importance of making the time and exerting the energy to plan SMART goals as efforts are made to be as effective and efficient as possible. Our stories can be so much more meaningful when we create the “mile stones or plot points” that can provide greater depth and meaning to our lives.

This essay ends by returning to the story that was highlighted in the introductory paragraph with a young lady having a tattoo on her forearm that read, “My story isn’t over”. This writer does not believe that it was a “chance encounter” that we met. She listened intently as I mentioned how my story changed when, in the early 1970s, I realized that I needed to trust in someone greater than myself to rewrite my story. God’s grace and mercy makes it possible for those who trust in His son Jesus Christ to find peace and joy amidst life’s challenges and disappointments. Amidst life’s detours, distractions, hurts, and pains, there are still infinite possibilities for goodness to emerge as our stories continue to unfold.

Citizenship in the highest office

THE GOVERNING POLITICAL ELITE has repeatedly said that citizenship is the highest office in the land. This rationale is often used to explain the government’s opposition to the citizens by investment programs. If citizenship is indeed the highest office of the land, why have our post-independence politicians refused to ensure that tens of thousands of Vincentians are allowed into our political process? Why do we depend selfishly on our diaspora for assistance in times of need and disaster but literally spit in their faces when it comes to elective and representative service?

We celebrate our send this, send that attitude, which leans heavily on Vincentians living and working abroad, but neglect and disregard their aspirations to truly contribute to the development of our country.

Vincentians living abroad send home tens of millions of dollars each year to care for friends, family, and loved ones. National figures like Milton Cato, Vincent Beache, Grafton Isaacs, Brereton Horne, Scombo John, Jonathan Peters, and Camillo Gonsalves all left greener pastures in foreign lands to return to SVG and contribute to national development.

Have we ever stopped to think and consider why the neocolonial independence constitution, which was gifted to us by the British government, grants more powers to the British monarch, his heirs, and assigns than to national-born Vincentians?

Have we stopped and wondered why someone from the UK or the Britishdominated commonwealth, persons who pledge allegiance to the British and other commonwealth governments, has easier access to elective or representative participation in the highest levels of national government while Vincentians who left SVG and acquired American citizenship to further their education and make better lives are barred from national political life?

If we consider this issue, it becomes clear that those who claim citizenship is the highest office in the land are not really serious about it. On reflection, the clamour that Citizenship is the highest office in the land is exposed as an empty slogan.

Recently, those who want to turn the issue of citizenship into a ‘political football’ and use it for cheap political purposes have invoked the name of Jamaica’s prime Minister, Andrew Holness. Holness questions the loyalty and commitment of Jamaica’s opposition leader, Mark Golding, who holds British citizenship. Holness and some in the governing political elite here say that he should be disqualified from serving as leader of Jamaica. However, Holness declared that he was dead set against our Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), becoming Jamaica’s highest court. He prefers to remain with the British Privy Council until Jamaica can set up its own court.

Gonsalves and his clans’ support of Holness in his fight against Mark Golding, whose People’s National Party is committed to the CCJ, exposes their opportunism. Talk about turning principle on its head for narrow political gains! We have seen this opportunity before. While sitting on opposition benches, the Gonsalves clan opposed SVG breaking with the privy council. They argued then that we must first fix the inadequacies and inefficiencies in the magistracy, where most of our cases are decided. The Caribbean political elite is deceitful and insidious It says one thing in opposition and another when they

assume office.

There is a simple solution to the issue of citizenship and who can be trusted to govern our affairs. Our leaders need to explore and pursue this path actively. Failure to do so will rob the nation of some of its best talent in our diaspora.

Here is the case for change. Firstly, let’s look at foreign allegiance and independence. There are few secrets to protect in small, undeveloped, resourced starved countries like ours. We can hardly be said to be independent. Most of the money used for development comes from grants and loans from foreign governments or agencies they control. The secrets we may have lie mainly in the pledges by elected parliamentarians and high government officials to cover up corrupt, unsavoury practices.

For example, our prime minister boasts that his borrowing and our debt to an Asian country, which is rapidly approaching $1 billion, is akin to a hook in the national gill. Clearly, then, some of us who never lived abroad or pledged allegiance to foreign powers are openly committed to national betrayal. Worse, they are willing to brag about it.

Second, SVG continues to experience a constant brain drain, as the vast majority of certified and credentialed nationals live abroad. Many have demonstrated a commitment and willingness to serve our country that is superior to many of the current holders of public office. Sadly, the British framers of our constitution made it virtually impossible for them to do so.

But there is a way out, even though we failed ourselves in 2009 with constitutional reform. Two follies explain our failure at reform last time: the arrogance and intransigence of the governing party and the immaturity, ineptitude, and short-sightedness of the opposition. However, even at this late hour, all is not lost. Our parliament has the legal capacity to effortlessly change the constitution to make it easier for hard-working, scholarly, patriotic Vincentians living in the diaspora to participate in our electoral and parliamentary process. Here’s how it can be done. The clauses in our constitution which prohibit Vincentians who acquired American or other citizenship from serving are not deeply entrenched. That is to say, the governing elite does not need to hold a referendum to make the change. Just as all parliamentarians joined forces in 2018 to change the pledge of allegiance, where they now swear to the people of SVG rather than the monarch, a similar vote can be taken to remove the restrictions on who is allowed to serve in elective and other high government positions. It is a shocking fact that a Pakistani Taliban has an easier path to the highest office in our land than a Vincentian who has made the USA or Germany their home. Rather than much of the nonsense and banter that passes for parliamentary debate, a serious conversation is urgently needed to correct this egregious wrong.

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

Residents opposed to H2O

OPEN LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER DR. HON. RALPH E. GONSALVES, AREA REPRESENTATIVE HON. ORANDO BREWSTER & THE TOWN PLANNER AT PHYSICAL PLANNING MS DORNET HULL

Dear Prime Minister Gonsalves, Hon. Minister Orando Brewster & Madam Town Planner Ms. Hull:

Re: Objection to the Land Use Next to the Penniston/Cane Grove Cemetery

We, the concerned residents of the Cane Grove community, write to you to express our deep objection and profound concern regarding the use of land by Radioactive Ltd or a related corporation or person, for hosting parties and secular events near the Penniston Cemetery, between Cane Grove and Penniston. The parties & events will host up to or more than 10,000 people. This matter strikes at the heart of our community’s values, particularly given the proximity to a site of immense spiritual and cultural significance.

The consultation meeting did not expressly state that H2O parties would be held next to the cemetery nor were a lot of individuals aware or present at the Town Planning meeting.

The Penniston Cemetery is not just a burial ground; it is a sacred place for the Christian community, including Catholics, Spiritual Baptists, Rastafarians, Seventh-Day Adventists, Anglicans, Methodists, Pentecostals, and many others. It represents a sanctuary of peace and reverence, where we honor the memories of our loved ones who have passed on. To allow boisterous events such as H2O Soca and other similar gatherings in such close proximity is to desecrate this hallowed ground, the bodies that rest in peace and disregard the sanctity we attribute to it. The noise pollution to be generated by these events is a legal issue under section 20 of the Noise Control Act. However, the heart of our protest lies in the profound disrespect this represents to the families who visit the graves of their relatives and

friends to clean and decorate their graves. The thought of revelry and secular celebrations occurring within earshot and sight of this sacred space is deeply disturbing and hurtful to the grieving families who seek solace and tranquility.

Our community holds annual memorial services, like the light-up at the graveyard, which are solemn and respectful. These events honor the dead and allow us to reflect on their lives and legacies. To juxtapose this with scenes of revelry and celebration mere yards away is to introduce a jarring and irreverent element that undermines our cultural and religious practices.

Moreover, every religion on this island, even those outside the Christian faith, respects the dead. Atheists, too, observe moments of silence to honor those who have passed. This universal respect for the deceased transcends religious and cultural boundaries. It is a fundamental aspect of human decency and communal harmony.

We fear that the approval of such events near the cemetery could alienate a significant portion of your constituency, who see this as a direct affront to their values and beliefs. The potential political ramifications are clear, as those who feel disrespected and marginalized by this decision may reconsider their support. The living relatives of those buried at Penniston Cemetery are voters whose voices deserve to be heard and respected. Furthermore, we are deeply concerned about the broader impact this land use will have on the nearby resort. The reverberating noise in the Buccament Valley will undoubtedly disturb the peaceful environment that visitors to the resort expect. Additionally, the garbage generated by these events will likely end up in the nearby river, which leads directly to the Sandals Resort and beach, causing environmental degradation over time and potential health hazards.

We urge you to consider the profound emotional and spiritual impact this decision has on our community. We ask that you intervene to prevent Radioactive Ltd or its agents and contractors from using this land for events that are incompatible with the solemnity of the cemetery. Let us work together to find a solution that honors our traditions and respects the sanctity of our sacred spaces.

We implore you to act with compassion and sensitivity to preserve the dignity of our community and its cherished traditions to have the proposed site relocated.

By presenting our concerns in this manner, we hope to appeal to your sense of justice and respect for the cultural and spiritual fabric of our community. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Yours sincerely,

UWI “75@75” Recognise Excellence in Employees

AS PARTof The University of the West Indies (The UWI) 75th anniversary celebrations dubbed, “75@75” - two employees of The UWI Global Campus St. Vincent and the Grenadines were officially handed their Certificates of Recognition.

Those receiving the recognition the dynamic duo were former Marketing Assistant Ronnie Daniel, who is now a Programme Officer II at The UWI Student Experience Unit (SEU), and Samantha Williams - Library Assistant II.

The Vincentian duo was among four employees of the overall Global Campus to be recognized.

The other two were Technician Kevin George of the St. Lucia Global Campus and retired Librarian Jo-Ann Granger of the Trinidad Global Campus.

On Tuesday 18th June, through a virtual ceremony, Principal Dr. Francis Severin praised the four for their outstanding service and thanked them for going beyond the call of duty.

Dr. Severin emphasised the importance of applauding the “positives” as this translates into a cohesive workforce and student community.

Also congratulating the honourees was Director of The UWI Global Campus Sites, Dr. Cheryl Sloley, who lauded them for passionately executing their duties in spite of the challenges. She noted, in particular, that Daniel and Williams served with excellence in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic and volcanic eruption, ensuring there was high student enrollment.

Those family, friends and staff in the attendance cheered as Officer-in-Charge Camille Lakhram, proudly read the citations of both Vincentian awardees and thanked them for their dedication.

The UWI “75@75” engaged in a special year-long list of activities in celebration of the university’s 75

(L-R): Officer-in-Charge Camille Lakhram of The UWI Global Campus St. Vincent and the Grenadines hands certificate to former Marketing Assistant, Ronnie Daniel, now a Programme Officer II at The UWI Student Experience Unit (SEU).

years of existence.

In addition to its Global Campus, The UWI boast four full campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tonago, Cave Hill in Barbados and its most recent, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda.

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is now among a list of the world’s top 100 Universities in new rankings released by Times Higher Education (THE). (SG)

(L-R): Officer-in-Charge Camille Lakhram of The UWI Global Campus St. Vincent and the Grenadines hands certificate to Samantha Williams, Library Assistant II.

Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, whose ministerial portfolio includes the Miniatry of Legal Affairs, expressed profound disappointment that the Select Committee on the Legal Profession Bill has not yet met.

No show by lawyers

PRIME MINISTER and Minister of Legal Affairs Dr. Ralph Gonsalves chided the St Vincent and the Grenadines Bar Association, and by extension other legal practitioners here, for not attending the June 14 meeting of the Select Committee on the proposed Legal Profession Bill.

According to Dr. Gonsalves, a meeting of the members of the Select Committee, which comprised members of the government and opposition, was scheduled for June 14.

The Attorney General and the Bar Association received formal invitations.

The opposition indicated early that they were unable to attend but as for the Bar Association, Dr. Gonsalves said, “What disappointed me, however, on this Bill thus far, (is) even though the Bar Association received an invitation to come, there was nobody there from the Bar Association.”

In fairness to the Association’s President, Shirlan Barnwell, the Prime Minister said that he had been informed that she was out of the country, and that some of the other members of the executive were involved in a matter at the court.

“But surely, there were lawyers who could have been sent… one or two from the private Bar,” he asserted.

The Prime Minister went on to disclose that while the draft Bill had been in circulation for weeks and comments were invited, “We haven’t gotten any feedback yet.”

The Need for the Bill

The issue was a serious one, Dr. Gonsalves noted, and he expressed concern about the Bill being ready for presentation to a meeting of parliament scheduled for July 18.

According to the Prime Minister, the rules which the Bill

sought to address were either absent or outdated.

Among those invited to the meeting of the select Committee was the SVG Bar Association whose Executive comprises (from left) Immediate Past President - Hon René Baptiste, President - Shirlan “Zita” Barnwell, Vice President - Moureeze Franklyn, TreasurerJadric Cummings, Secretary - Patricia Marks-Minors, Committee membersDalana Horne, Chelsea Alexander Jemalie John.

The truth of the was that the majority of lawyers operated within the confines of the law, but there were some — a minority, the Prime Minister said, for whom guidelines needed to be set.

There were some countries where the state and judicial system controlled the mechanism for legal practitioners, but the government did not want to go there, he said.

Rather, the preferred approach would be for a system where the rules are made for the Bar Association and once properly organized, to do internal disciplining and provide its own guidelines to put regulations in the law regarding accounts and other matters. (DD)

ÂRelease $12.1m to former LIAT workersÊ

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA’S Prime Minister Gaston Browne, with eyes on ensuring that his LIAT 2020 has an unencumbered pathway toward positioning itself as a new regional air service, has announced a significant step towards addressing the plight of former LIAT workers.

Antigua News Room (ANR) reported that PM Browne, during a radio broadcast weekend, revealed his intention to formally request that the shareholding governments of the former LIAT (1974) Limited and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) subordinate their interests in $12.1 million currently held in escrow at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, and make these funds available to the former workers of the now-defunct airline.

“I am now calling on publicly and will be writing to them formally on Monday, calling on all of the shareholding governments of the former LIAT (1974) Limited to subordinate their interest in that

money,” Browne stated, adding that the funds should be redirected to provide ex-gratia payments to the former employees as a form of severance pay.

Browne took aim at what he called the unfair position the Caribbean Development Bank had placed the workers in by securing loans against the aircraft.

“The loans (for the purchase of aircraft) that were issued to the shareholding governments were sovereign loans, and there was absolutely no need for the Caribbean Development Bank to take any lien over those aircraft,” he explained.

Browne argued that this action prejudiced the interests of other stakeholders, particularly the staff, who would have otherwise had priority to the $12.1 million.

In his upcoming letter, Browne said, according to ANR, that he will urge the CDB and the shareholding governments to release the escrow funds to pay the former LIAT workers.

U.S., Canada deploy naval ships to Cuba

BOTHU.S.

and Canadian authorities have said the Russian warships currently in Cuba (see last week’s issue) pose no threat to the region. Yet, both countries have taken varying degrees of what observers say are (direct) responses to the Russian naval presence in Cuba, which Russia has characterized as routine.

The crew of the Russian nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Kazan watch the Canadian navy patrol boat HMCS Margaret Brooke passing by as it enters Havana’s Bay, Cuba. (Photo Source: REUTERS)

The Admiral Gorshkov frigate and the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, half submerged with its crew on deck, sailed into Havana harbor on Wednesday (last week) after conducting “high-precision missile weapons” training in the Atlantic Ocean, Russia’s defence ministry said.

In response, Canada`s Margaret Brooke patrol vessel began manoeuvres early on Friday to enter Havana harbour. A Canadian diplomat characterized the vessel’s arrival as “routine and part of longstanding cooperation between our two countries”, adding it was “unrelated to the presence of the Russian ships.”

Hours earlier, the U.S. Southern Command said the fast-attack submarine Helena had arrived on a routine port visit to Guantanamo Bay, a U.S. naval base on the tip of the island around 850 km (530 miles) southeast of Havana.

“The vessel’s location and transit were previously planned,” Southern Command said on X.

Cuba`s foreign ministry said it had been informed of the arrival of the U.S. submarine but was not happy about it.

“Naval visits to a country are

usually the result of an invitation, and this was not the case,” said Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío.

“Obviously we do not like the presence in our territory (of a submarine) belonging to a power that maintains an official and practical policy that is hostile against Cuba.”

Russia and Cuba were close allies under the former Soviet Union, and tensions with Washington over communism in its “backyard” peaked with the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Moscow has maintained ties with Havana.

When asked what message Moscow was sending, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday (last week) the West never appeared to take notice when Russia sent signals through diplomatic channels.

“As soon as it comes to exercises or sea voyages, we immediately hear questions and a desire to know what these messages are about,” Zakharova said. “Why do only signals related only to our army and navy reach the West?”

The Russian warships are expected to remain in Havana harbour until Monday. (Source: REUTERS)

workers of LIAT

limited have made incessant pleas to their respective governments to honour their obligation to make severance payments. (Photo Source: ANR)

“This money should be made available to the administrative LIAT 1974 Limited to pay the staff. This does not negate the shareholding governments from paying the difference so they get their full 100%; that is just a start.”

PM Browne also addressed the financial implications for the

shareholding governments, noting that the amounts involved would not significantly impact their budgets.

Browne’s call to action extends to all stakeholders, including the CDB, emphasizing that the sovereign debt will continue to be serviced. (Source: Antigua News Room)

Former

(1984)

A matter of trust

Dear George,

MY GIRLFRIENDrecently changed her address after she was evicted but chose to move to the area where her exboyfriend is living and his house is only two houses down from hers.  She said he was the one who told her about that house, this after she had given me the impression that she had no contact with him.

I invited her to stay with me until she found another place but she quickly refused.

I believe it is no coincidence her EX found her a place next door to him. Something seems very off to me.

Very Suspicious

Dear Very Suspicious,

Your girlfriend has the right to decide where and how she wants to live and may have her own reasons for not wanting to shack up with you, even if it’s a temporary arrangement. Your major concern here is one of trust and you need to address that going forward. If you both are serious about each other, then marriage should be in the mix at some point. Resolve your trust issues and you will have much less to worry about.

George

Church sisters at ‘war’

Dear George,

I HAD A LITTLE misunderstanding with a Sister in my church but it quickly grew into a bigger one. It’s now six months since we said a word to each other, and while we are at church, we have been good at pretending not to have issues.

I was just voted unto the women’s committee; she sits on this committee. This means I would have to collaborate but I do not wish to be talking to her because of what she did

to me. This woman almost took my husband from me and for that I can never forgive her. I do not know if I should back off from sitting on this committee or continue to pretend we have no issues. She too has expressed her intentions never to communicate with me.

Feeling Bitter

Dear Feeling Bitter,

I am sure it is a violation of biblical teaching for both of you to be practicing high level hypocrisy, i.e.

taking on such responsibilities in the church while holding deep rooted hatred in your hearts for each other.

It is unhealthy to carry this further without a resolution. That said, I suggest you make the first move and sort this matter out with this Sister.

About your husband, it is good to keep in mind that no one can take your husband away from you unless he is a willing participant.

George

Own up to your mistake

Dear George,

MY BOYFRIEND

suggested to me to do a threesome as a birthday gift to him. I bluntly refused and he accused me of being boring.

I finally gave in but was too embarrassed to go through with the act. He suggested I take a drink of wine to help out. I was never a drinker.

George, I cannot remember how much I had to drink but all I knew was when I sobered up, I was in the company of two women, with whom I do not mix, and a strange man. I have never had an account of what happened only that my boyfriend insisted that I never had sex with the man. The women now have something to throw in my face.

Should I continue in

this relationship given what I was exposed by a man I trusted? How could this man have any plan to make me his wife but has no problem allowing others to engage in sexual acts with me? I’m really confused.

Wondering Out Loud

Dear Wondering Out Loud,

By agreeing to that request from your boyfriend you opened the door wide for anything to happen.

This is not a case where you can blame alcohol or your

boyfriend. You were the one who made the decision to consume the alcohol and participate in the threesome request.

You need to get yourself immediately tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. You need to also use this experience as a guide to the future with your boyfriend. He has given you a roadmap showing where he intends to take you if you decide on moving forward with him. Let wisdom prevail in this case.

George

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20)

You may be emotional if you allow your lover to take advantage of your good nature. You may find that getting together with colleagues after hours will be worthwhile. Be prepared to deal with groups and organizations of greater magnitude. Sudden changes regarding work and colleagues are apparent.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21)

Your emotional reaction will be dependent upon your partner's responsiveness. You could have trouble persuading others to accept your ideas and opinions. Having your own business is a good idea. Trips will be enjoyable, and communication with your lover will clear up any misconceptions.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21)

You can make favorable changes in your home environment. Don't promise to deliver the goods if you aren't positive that you can meet the deadline. Take part in stimulating debates that will allow you to show off your intelligence. Relationships will be erratic this week.

CANCER (June 22-July 22)

Difficulties with older females in your family may turn out to be quit trivial after all. Don't be too quick to judge. Catch up on correspondence. Get together with friends for some competitive physical activities.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22)

Romantic opportunities are evident if you get involved in large groups or organizations. Get involved in groups that can offer intellectual stimulation. Don't let anyone take credit for a job you did. Travel will be favorable.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23)

Put your thoughts into action. Onesided relationships are likely. Be discreet about your feelings, and hold back until you find out a little more

about the person who's coming on to you. Financial gains can be made.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23)

Travel may be confusing. You may want to take a look at your direction in life. Your personal life will be disrupted if you have been too busy with business. Arguing won't help.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22)

Chances are they are jealous. Stand up and propose your ideas, and you'll be surprised how many people will follow you. Overindulgence may be a problem. You may get upset with peers or relatives.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21)

You are able to make changes in your home that will be favorable to all involved. Your magnetic, outgoing personality will capture hearts. Join groups of a humanitarian nature. Business and emotional partnerships will run smoothly.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20)

You can make money if you pursue your own business. Be aggressive and colorful, and you will get your way. You will be subject to pushy individuals if you get involved in uncertain organizations. Try not to take everything so seriously.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19)

Someone you work with may be trying to make you look bad. Get some sound advice and help setting up a workable budget. You can mesmerize anyone you meet with your cultured attitude and outlook. Look into making changes to your personal papers and don't neglect those bills that have been piling up.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20)

You've been hurt before and could be again if you don't play hard to get. Plan to get together with someone special later in the day. It's time you let your true feelings out. Your personal situation is fluctuating.

ACROSS

1.Prenuptial bashes

6. Columnist Maxwell

10. Chewy confection

11. Initialize a PC (2 wds.)

13. Repeat performance

14. Deconstruct a stack

15. Common verb

16. Feathered songsters

18. Map marking (abbr.)

19. Famed English school

21. Constantly harass

22. Director Kazan

23. Added to, as a tab (2 wds.)

25. William Randolph

27. Pelosi’s party (abbr.)

29. __ Galahad

30. One who watches

33. Singer Haggard 37. Gazzara and Vereen 38. Address book abbr. 40. Hand out cards 41. “__ Impossible” 42. Licit 44. Film studio inits.

45. Water-heating tank 47. Operate 49. Four-door cars

50. Real estate agent 51. Makes a dress 52. Cut logs

DOWN

1.”Moolight __” 2. Arizona city 3. Time past 4. Clothing 5. Ale holder 6. Infinitely long time periods 7. Cut branches 8. Certain

photographs

9. Café __ (2 wds.)

10. More modern

11. Moves a little

12. Animal rights gp.

17. Cheer sound

20. Sculptor’s models

22. Slipped up 24. Church seat

26. Point (at)

28. Taxi clocks

30.Presidential negations

31. Interior

32. Standard (abbr.)

34. Second filming

35. Fell behind

36. Fudd of cartoons

37. Babies’ protectors

Ordinance

__ or never

Innocent ones

Eyeglass part

Zhivago’s love

Arnos Vale abuzz with World Cricket

A REFURBISHED,modernized

Arnos Vale Playing Field was host to three Group D matches in the preliminary round of the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

And Bangladesh must be embracing the Arnos Vale Playing Field as their preferred ground, when they came away victors in two of the matches in which they were involved, carrying on from July 2009 when they last played here and beat the West Indies in a test match.

Added to that, is the fact that the Asian nation would have been part of history when they matched up against The Netherlands in the first match played at the modern Arnos Vale Playing Field.

In that match played on Thursday 13th June, Bangladesh beat The Netherlands by 25 runs thanks to a sublime halfcentury — a 46-ball 64- from their world class all-rounderShakib Al Hasan.

Set a target of 160, The Netherlands ended at 134 for eight in their allotted 20 overs, with Bangladesh’s 21-year-old leg break, googly bowler Rishad Hossain returning 3/33 in his 4 overs.

In Bangladesh’s second match, played under lights

against Nepal on Sunday June 16, Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Mustafizur Rahman took seven wickets between them as Bangladesh beat Nepal by 21 runs, and claimed the last Super Eight place at the Twenty20 cricket World Cup.

In a thrilling though low-scoring match, Bangladesh’s qualifying hopes looked to be in the balance when they were bowled out for 106 in 19.2 overs after losing the toss.

But Tanzim (4-7) bowled his four overs consecutively, leaving Nepal’s innings in disarray at 26-5 after the seventh over. Nepal couldn’t recover and eventually was bowled out for 85 in the last over.

And in the history-making match, i.e. the first ever international match to be played under lights at the recently lit Arnos Vale Playing Field, there was despair for Nepal as they were knocked out of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup by South Africa in a final-ball thriller.

Nepal needed two runs for victory from the final ball to

keep their hopes of reaching the Super Eights alive, but Heinrich Klaasen kept his cool to run out Gulsan Jha at the non-strikers end, as the match appeared headed to a Super Over.

It was a cruel way to finish for Nepal, who were the better side for much of the thrilling contest as their spinners dominated with the ball to reduce South Africa to 115/7, and their top-order looked in control in reply when they reached 85/2 in the 14th over and the required rate well within reach.

But South Africa spinner Tabraiz Shamsi (4/19) turned the game the Proteas’ way.

SVG to host 2024 WISG

ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES will play host to the 2024 CBN/WINLOTT Windward Island School Games (WISG), and this country’s young sportsmen and women will be looking to improve their performances in this year’s edition.

A release from the Division of Sport and Physical Activity, which will spearhead the coordination/management of the event along with the respective nation (sports) bodies, said that there will be competition in Football, Track and Field, Netball, Volleyball and Basketball.

The Games commence on Saturday, July 27th, and run until Tuesday, July 30th. An official opening ceremony is planned for July 27 beginning at 11am at the Diamond Track and Field facility. This will be followed at 2pm

with competition in Track and Field. Thereafter, there will be three (3) periods of matches per day in the various disciplines, with 2 matches in each period.

The venues earmarked for the various disciplines are: Kingstown Netball Center — Netball; The Girls’ High School Hardcourt — Volleyball; Victoria Park - Football; The New Montrose Basketball Complex — Basketball; Diamond Track and Field facility — Track and Field.

As for the Super Eight round, India, Australia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh will feature in Group 1, and West Indies, South Africa, England and the USA will contest Group 2. The teams will play three matches each in this round, with the top sides in each group qualifying for the semi-final stage of the event.

The Arnos Vale Playing Field will be host to two matches in the Super Eight fixtures: June 22Afghanistan v Australia, and June 24 - Afghanistan v Bangladesh.

Compiled by I.B.A. ALLEN

Tuesday, July 30th has been dubbed “Chili Choozday”. All events for that day will be played at the Chili hard court and Chili playing field.

Ahead of the games, a preparatory meeting of Coordinators of Sports of the Windward Islands, was held here. In attendance were Mr. Kerlon Peters of Grenada along with Mr. Clitus Jules and Wayne Benti of St. Lucia. Dominica’s Sports Coordinator, Mr. Trevor Shillingford was unable to attend. The meeting was chaired by SVG’s Acting Coordinator of Sport and Physical Activity, Ms. Semone

Richardson.

Following the meeting, a delegation of Sports Coordinators and other officials visited the venues for an inspection tour. They expressed satisfaction with the facilities. St. Vincent & the Grenadines finished fourth in the 2023 edition of the Games which marked a return of the Games after a 3-year hiatus, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The home squad is expected to be trimmed to 62 by June 28.

I.B.A. ALLEN

Sports Coordinators led an inspection tour of the facilities to be used for the games.

Windward Islands Sports Coordinators and other local sports officials in a preparatory session here in SVG.

Shakib Al Hasan’s half-century for Bangladesh paved the way for victory over The Netherlands.

Tanzim Hasan Saki, 21-year-old Bangladeshi right-arm fast-medium bowler stuck a dagger into the hopes of the Nepalese.

Tabraiz Shamsi ensured that South Africa was not going to be left out of the Super Eight.

Coaches involved in

initiative

LOCAL COACHEStasked with the responsibility of instructing females in sports, are now part an initiative designed to create a supportive and secure environment for young female athletes, focusing on their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

That initiative, spearheaded by The Association For International Sport for All (TAFISA) and Nike, with strong support from the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) region, is called the “Girls Positive and Safe Coaching Pathway”.

Kelisha Ashton-Yorke, who recently completed the Women in Leadership Programme, is charged with rolling out the programme here.

In an update, Ashton-Yorke disclosed, “Over the last three weeks, we would have embarked on a transformative journey focusing on three crucial modules: Girls positive Guide, Body Confidence and Safeguarding...These modules were taught online on Tuesdays and Thursdays, for three hours.”

An in-person session took place at Olympic House at Villa Point, June 8, 2024, as the issues of Body Confidence and Safeguarding were highlighted.

National swimmer and Sports Ambassador - Shane Cadogan, who addressed the session via Zoom, sought to inform participants about the relevance of Body Confidence among female athletes.

Some of the coaches who are part of the TAFISA Programme seated are Shimano Bailey (left) and Kelisha Ashton-Yorke.

He emphasized, inter alia, “Negative body image can prevent girls from engaging in sports… It can trigger and encourage unhealthy habits like extreme eating or exercise … You want to get your athletes to push to the limits but be able to respect the vessel.”

Among body images concerns Cadogan cited were darkening skin through cosmetic procedures, and rapid change and body shape.

Meanwhile, Shimano Bailey, Medical Social Worker, in his presentation emphasised some “must do”, as it relates to abuse among athletes, especially female athletes.

He urged coaches to create a safe environment, e.g. a screening system for persons who will be working around the girls.

Constant monitoring, evaluating and learning are mandatory, “because

safeguarding is an ongoing process”.

Bailey also underscored that as coaches, “information is confidential and be sure not to spread sensitive information to the wrong person.”

Satisfied with the sessions to date, Ashton-Yorke recognised that coaches and other stakeholders have to continue the process, as it is ongoing.

“I am looking forward to the pop-up monitoring sessions with the coaches to see how they are incorporating the information in their training

Level One Volleyball Coaches certified

THE SPORTof Volleyball in SVG now has eighteen new Level One certified coaches to drive it along its developmental path.

This after the St Vincent and the Grenadines Volleyball Association (SVGVA) hosted a five-day Coaching Course, June 8 to June 12, 2024, which equipped eighteen coaches to teach Volleyball at the introductory level.

The course was facilitated by Romanian born FIVB Coach - Dan Girlenau, who instructed the participants in both theory and practical modes.

At a brief Closing Ceremony at the Girls’ High School’s hardcourt on June 12, Girlenau, who is not new to St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Volleyball, he having assisted in coaching previous national teams, noted that the task is for the coaches to go and teach the sport.

programme…We believe that the programme can only be sustainable if coaches take the information and put it into practice”, Ashton-Yorke recommended.

She also reminded that “…It is important that the coaches encourage girls to be brave and not perfect…. We want them to have fun and gain all the health benefits as girls…We know that often times girls start Sports at a later time than boys and often drop out the sport earlier.”

“It was my pleasure to work with you and share my knowledge …You need to spread out more about

Volleyball in your community and let the ball fly”, Girlenau impressed on the coaches.

Whilst acknowledging that the course was tedious and energy sapping, Girlenau disclosed that it was not only about participation, but commitment and knowledge.

“We keep the standards high… We do not give up the paper (certificates)”, he reinforced.

Joining Girlenau in calling on the coaches to spread the sport, President of the SVGVA - Gary Matthias advised, “This is just one part of the process, the other part which to me is the more important part and like we say in church, you spread the gospel… You teach others ...You make sure you adopt a community, a school, a club and teach what you have learnt during this course”. Matthias pointed out that the course was part of the SVGVA’s overall strategic plan, with an aim of increasing the number of coaches.

Apart from the eighteen Vincentian coaches, there was one participant from Trinidad and Tobago.

Level One Volleyball coaches.

FacilitatorDan Girlenau.

President of the SVGVAGary Matthias.

Sports V

Too early to speculate

NEXTMonday, June 24, the last of the Super Eight games comes off at the Arnos Vale Playing Field. That will allow us to reflect on the course of events.

The first match at Arnos Vale was Thursday, June 14. Bangladesh showed fighting spirit to reach 159 for 5 against Netherlands who crawled to 134 for 8 in their allotment.

A cricket starved Vincentian tinged crowd turned up, eager to see what the venue was like. They had been following the progress of preparations, and up to that point there were speculations as to whether the ground would have been ready. The lights were turned on days before, and final touches were still being carried out.

Conditions proved ideal as far as the weather was concerned. The other things were for example how the adjustment to the protocol would have panned out.

There were no stoppages. There may have been debris from the preparation for works proceeded up to the very moment of match commencement.

That was that as far as the Day’ time activity. There was the thrill of excitement and anxiety as Vincentians assembled for the Friday evening act. And what drama it provided.

There was no doubt that the locals swayed towards the underdogs, and Nepal enjoyed the support at Arnos vale.

There was the notion that South Africa’s bowling would take care of business. They are the more professional outfit. South Africa went from 68 for 1, in the 12th over to 115 for 7 at the end of 20 overs.

Nepal kept themselves in the hunt and at 85 for 2 in the 14th over, it appeared like an easy win for Nepal.

Then the gap between the teams surfaced and the genuine Nepalese fans, some of whom travelled distances, watched in disbelief and bewilderment as the debacle unfolded. Nepal reached 114 for 7 when the over ran out. Not only did the overs run out, Nepal lost momentum and almost everything else.

Nepal lost by the narrowest of margins, reminiscent of the first One Day International when West Indies beat England by two runs in the February 4, match forty-three years ago. If that Nepalese loss was hurtful, worst was to come Nepal’s way in the Sunday night match.

When Bangladesh was dismissed for 106 in 19.3 overs, the crowd was of the view that Nepal would rebound from the loss to South Africa. Their batting proved their undoing and Nepal wilted for 85 off 19.2 overs.

Congratulations to Bangladesh. Their wins here propelled them to the Super Eights.

Focus is othe Super Eights and Afghanistan comes like the feature attraction. They play in both those games here: first against Australia tomorrow Saturday 22, and Monday versus Bangladesh.

Who makes it to the semis will be known by then, and attention shifts to the semifinals. After that the discussions will swirl and the arguments will be wild and rampant. No one knows how the topics will unfold.

PM Gonsalves happy with turnout

PRIME MINISTERDr. Ralph Gonsalves’ cup ‘runneth over’ with excitement and a sense of accomplishment as he shared how pleased he was with the turnout for the three ICC T20 World Cup matches played here recently.

A refurbished Arnos Vale Playing Field hosted its first three ICC T20 Cricket World Cup matches on June 13, 14 and 16.

Speaking on NCB Radio last Wednesday, June 19, 2024 Dr. Gonsalves said. “Many people locally and from overseas supporting Nepal were quite engaging. I suspect one or two was a little too loud for some people who wanted to just sit down and enjoy their cricket… some of the jumping up and the shouting… but it was all good clean healthy fun.”

“I have been there for the three games and the response of the people who came to the games ….. you saw a spirit, a sense of oneness, sense of love and something special about our country and that facility (Arnos vale Playing Field) has given people a lot of pride, pride in a good way.”

He revealed that not just the people from this country gave the facility high praise but also those who were integrally involved in broadcasting the matches.

“It is something that will swell up your chest for good reason and also even the commentators from overseas have all, universally, given very high marks for the ground, the wickets and most importantly the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

The Arnos Vale Playing Field will host two matches in the Super Eight round: Australia against Afghanistan on Saturday, June 22 and

Rugby into development programme

WAYNE PANTOR,

Technical Director of SVG Rugby Union (SVGRU) and the one charged with helping to set the framework for the Development of a National Sports Structure (DNSS) for rugby here, is pleased with the support from the SVG Rugby Union and players since he took up the role.

With just two or so months into his assignment, Pantor told this publication, “I am excited, in the sense I have seen some natural athletic ability. It’s just to fine tune them with

the skills with the understanding of the sport and the only place for SVG to go now is up.”

He admitted it was not a quick fix but rather about “…creating that pathway through the development programme, from the grassroots, with realistic goals.”

In reference to a recent outing for the Senior Men’s team to Barbados, Pantor said that the team was comprised primarily of young players and that while the team was trounced, “what was important was the experience that the

Afghanistan versus Bangladesh on Monday, June 24.

young men gained… which will serve the rebuilding process.”

The development programme is now into its second phase in which the sessions will focus on preparing the senior men and women for a November tournament

which is the Olympic Challenger Qualifiers; and the Under-19’s for Sevens and Fifteens tournaments in 2025. The school programme is expected to get going in September.

And there will besummer camps organized in partnership with the RSVG Police Youth Group programme. Pantor reiterated that the talent was there and that those involved in the programme to date, have been generally receptive.

Stories:

I.B.A. ALLEN

Wayne Pantor conducting a session

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves made it his business to be at Arnos Vale Playing Field on each day a match was played.

Wayne Pantor (right front) at a training session for male rugby players, has identified much talent among Vincentian youth.

for beginners.

Coreas hosts ‘Daddy Do My Hair’ Challenge

by GLORIAH...

THE VACANT, open lot in Kingstown once occupied by the Treasury building, was a hive of activity last Saturday, June 15, as onlookers cheered on competitors in the inaugural Father’s Day ‘Daddy Do My Hair’ challenge, sponsored by the Sales and Marketing Division of Coreas Distribution Ltd.

The engaging scene saw three men - Monty Williams, Saniel

Matthews and Tianja Leslie, standing, while each of their daughters sat in a chair awaiting their attention.

Their wait was not a protracted one as the competitors hastened to get busy combing and styling their daughters’ hair. Their task was to style their daughters’ hair by doing a braid or a twist. That hairstyle had to include a bun and they also had to lay the edges.

It was a sight to behold as the men worked assiduously to create a work of art even as the excited spectators joked and egged them on.

According to Afra Bynoe, Sales and Marketing Manager of the “Diquez” brand represented by Coreas Distribution Ltd., they felt the need to do something for fathers. “We know that mothers get the spotlight all the time,” she said, “but this year, we wanted to do something fun and

engaging for the dads.”

The idea for the competition, she said, came from the fact that “Diquez” has hair products like its bergamot and gel activator which fitted right into the plan.

The first-of-its-kind contest saw Saniel Matthews walking away with the first prize which included a gift basket of “Diquez” products and $500 in cash. Each of the other two competitors received a gift basket of “Diquez” products and a $150 grocery voucher.

The Sales and Marketing Manager is hopeful that, “... this ‘Daddy Do My Hair’ is the first of its kind.. .”

Daniel Matthews - winner of the inaugural ‘Daddy Do My Hair’ challenge with his daughter.

The competitors getting down to their tasks – (from left) Monty Williams, Saniel Matthews and Tianja Leslie.

AI REAL ESTATE

GANJA IMPORTED INTO ‘GANJA LAND’

BY HAYDN HUGGINS

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES, sometimes called ‘ganja land’, is known for producing high-quality marijuana, and in abundance.

Against that notoriety, it is anyone’s guess as to prompted a Grenadian national to import 1,073 grams of marijuana into this country.

Dennis David, a 60-year-old seaman of St. Patrick, Grenada, appeared at the Serious

Senior Magistrate Colin John handled the matter with the same stringency that he would have employed if it involved the exportation of ‘ganja’.

Offenses Court on Monday. He pleaded guilty to importing 1,073 grams of marijuana, possession of it with intent to supply, and drug trafficking.

The facts showed that around 5:10 p.m. on June 15, Sergeant Asquith Simon, acted on information received, led a team of narcotics personnel to the Kingstown Port.

On arrival Sgt. Simon observed M.V Amigo docked at the port. He approached the vessel and spoke to an on duty Customs Officer Jamal Gibson, in the presence of the crew members.

The Customs Officer informed Simon that he had conducted a search of the vessel, and discovered a black bag in a cardboard box containing plant-like material resembling marijuana.

Simon introduced himself to the crew, identifying himself as a police officer. He showed the cardboard box and its contents to the crew and cautioned them in the presence of another police officer.

At this point, David, a crew member, informed the Sergeant that someone called Freddie had given him the package to bring to SVG for someone to collect, but he did not know the name of the person who was supposed to collect it.

David along with the Narcotics were taken to the Narcotics base at Arnos Vale where the substance was weighed in his presence. He was later taken to

22 FOR CALYPSO SEMI-FINALS

THE FOLLOWING Calypsonians have been selected from the Calypso Preliminaries to compete in the Calypso Semi-Finals scheduled for Friday June 28th at the Victoria Park commencing at 8:00 p.m.

From the Graduates Calypso Tent: Johnny Rebel, Maxwell ‘Tajoe’ Francis, Kingsley ‘Hero’ Roberts, Glenroy ‘Homie’ Delpesche, Phylicia ‘Nubian Empress’ Alexande,

Abuza Cyrus.

From the On Tour Calypso Tent: Alvin ‘Zion-I’ Dennie, Marvo Morgan, Robert ‘Patches’ King, Elvis ‘Abijah’ Abbey, Glenford ‘Azarah’ Charles, Hilton Duncan, Kirk ‘Ninjah’ Knights.

From Upstage Experience: Divyne ‘Skye’ Hacksaw, Omani Cupid, Shena Collis, Ceceile ‘Lil Bit’ King, Raeon ‘Madzart’ Primus, Gosnel ‘GC’ Cupid, Micheal ‘Lord Have Mercy’ Ollivierre. From the Dynamites: Delahanty Isles, Dennis Bowman.

Reserves are Earl ‘Exposer’ Isle (Dynamites) and Kosinski ‘Busta Ski’ Adams (Graduates).

Interestingly, there are only three former Calypso Monarchs among the semi-finalists: Maxwell ‘Tajoe’ Francis (2022), Elvis ‘Abijah’ Abbey (2002) and Micheal ‘Lord Have Mercy’ Ollivierre (1980).

Lornette ‘Fya Empress’ Nedd, has given a strong indication, with her “Hypocrites and Crooks’, that she will not be easily removed from her Monarch’s Chair.

Ten calypsonians will be selected to go on to the Finals of the Calypso Monarch Competition, which will be held on the night of Dimanche Gras, July 7.

Lornette ‘Fya Empress’ Nedd is the reigning monarch. She will defend her crown.

Dennis Davis, pictured here leaving the Serious Offences Court on Monday, wrote a part for himself in the marijuana story of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

the Central Police Station and charged.

David, who was unrepresented, told the Court on Monday, “The guy put it on board, and tell me somebody will collect it. I didn’t look at the box to see what was inside”.

Prosecutor Renrick Cato told the Court that the drug amounted to about two pounds and the street value was about EC$1,000, as marijuana dells for about $500 per pound in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Senior Magistrate Colin John told David that he could be sentenced up to 7 years in prison, in the Magistrate Court, but he (John) had to consider the sentencing guidelines, and weigh the aggravating and mitigating factors.

He noted that marijuana is a class B drug, and based on David’s explanation, the defendant did not play a major role or was directly involved in the sale of the drugs.

John added that David pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity, and cooperated with the police.

In outlining the aggravating factors, John said David was importing the drug, and therefore some level of planning would have been involved. He also stressed the way in which it was disguised.

For importing the drug, David was fined $1,000 forthwith or three months in prison.

For trafficking, he was also fined $1,000 forthwith or three months, and for possession with intent to supply he was fined $500 forthwith or three months.

Inquiries by THE VINCENTIAN showed that the drug may have been a higher and more expensive grade than what is grown here, hence the reason why it was imported.

M.V. Amigo offers an inter-island service. This is a rare case. Ganja cases that come before the Courts here usually include charges for exportation of the ‘crop’ not charges of importation.