Health Minister St. Clair Prince spoke of the Acute Care Hospital as another demonstration of his government’s commitment to modernizing and strengthening the state’s health system.
by DAYLE DASILVA
Lin Chai-lung, Taiwan’s Foreign Affairs Minister, connected the construction of the hospital to the creation of jobs.
The 2024 National Scholarship/Bursaries recipients.
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves with three of the 2024 Prime Minister Gold Medal recipients (l-r): JayAnna Edwards, Kerese Coizer and Mya John.
Above: Halei WilliamsDouglas was out of the state at the time of the Rally.
by KENVILLE HORNE
Westwood Methodist host independence activity
WESTWOOD METHODIST SCHOOLon
Wednesday 23rd, put on a cultural extravaganza dubbed “De Gud Ole Daiz”, as part of its activities to mark the 45th Anniversary of Independence. The event was held at the school ground in Coulls Hill where the students, staff and parents converged to partake in
cultural activities, savour some local dishes and drinks and view items of past generations.
Among the food on sale were doucana, breadfruit and jackfish, cod fish and bakes and local juices.
Those comprising the cultural component of the event included the Rose Hall Drummers, Pan Man Supa and soca artiste Fonando.
There were others activities such as ring games, a netball match and the reading of ‘old time stories’.
A number of items on display helped to give the students an insight into the Vincentian history, prior to the country gaining independence on October 27,1979.
Principal of the Westwood Methodist School, Pearlette Harry told THE VINCENTIAN, “We as a staff, we got together with members of the PTA executive, and we agreed on a programme of activities, and to showcase food and items from long ago.”
Below: Getting the studentsready for the rendition of the special Independence song.
explained, “Persons were not wealthy, and you couldn’t afford to buy like store made mats, and ready-made sheets. So, persons would utilize items that were readily available, and less costly, or free.”
Principal Harry was especially pleased the school had composed a song for the occasion and declared, “It was a lovely day and everyone enjoyed it.”
Joenetta Ellis, Teacher/ Performing Arts Coordinator
at the school that the event has been taking place for a number of years but “went down a bit but now we have revived it,’ adding, “We are proud and quite satisfied with the event…. and appreciate the recognition from the guests and performers.”
She recognized the contribution from the New Testament Church and promised, “greater things coming on next year.”
Parents and other persons brought in the items and the staff prepared the food and the drinks, Principal Harry disclosed.
She pointed to the grass mats, scrap mats, and a patch sheet that were on display and
A netball match provided both excitement and good clean entertainment.
Campden Park gets a playground
THE ST. VINCENT BREWERY LIMITEDis a commercial (manufacturing) entity and, like similar ventures, aims to make profit through the sale of its product.
But its Country Manager- Shafia London —is bent on fostering a new image for the company.
She wants the enterprise to ‘make bigger waves” in the community and with that in mind, London is working along with other businesses who have interest in ensuring that the society develops to its fullest extent.
London was part of an opening ceremony last week Friday October 25. The venue was the Campden Park Hard Court which is being transformed into a Playground, with the Brewery taking the lead.
London admits that
the opening comes as a path along a “long journey,” but she is pleased that the vision is turning to reality.
“We believe in children,” London admits. She thinks that having well-rounded citizens helps with the development of a better society.
London expressed gratitude to the Kingstown Cooperative Credit Union (KCCU), and the agents of Rock Hard Cement for their commitment in ensuring that the venture bears fruit.
KCCU’s General Manager Eronne Evans looks at his institution’s involvement in this venture as an “investment in the future, an investment in the people in the community.”
Evans committed his institution to work along with other entities once
there are benefits for the community. If there is doubt about the community’s involvement, Kellisha Yorke put that to rest.
Speaking at the opening, she described the Playground as “an alternative to social
devices.” She is satisfied that children are the beneficiaries.
Yorke, from the Campden Park area where both the Brewery and Playground are situated, is certain of the health benefits that children will have. Yorke
Part of what the children can use and enjoy at the Playground, as some did on opening day.
is thrilled that the Playground is available for the community’s use and she plans to make sure that it remains safe for the children.
Facilities Manager at the National Sports Council Marvin Fraser is happy with the attention the Playground is receiving and pledges that his Council will ‘continue to improve on it.”
“This is a great
initiative, and we are grateful for it,” Fraser declared.
Campden Park, on the South Leeward coast of mainland St. Vincent is an industrial zone.
Artist Lee Andra Thompson Guy enhanced the surrounding with her painting. Ten years’ experience in community enhancement, Thompson-Guy sees this as continuing her focus. (WKA)
Shafia London (right front) and Eronne Evans (left front) assist a young resident of Campden Park to cut the ribbon to declare the Playground open.
Principal Pearlette Harry (right) and Joenetta Ellis, Teacher/ Performing Arts Coordinator, were both satisfied with the day’s activities.
Some if the items that gave a glimpse into the past.
V News 3
104 receive national awards 104 receive national awards
HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS from across the country converged at Victoria Park on Thursday 24th October for the annual National Schools Independence Rally, which was part of the activities to celebrate the 45th Anniversary of of independence.
The event also served to recognise the nation’s top scholars assessed on performances in the 2023/04 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) as administered by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC).
This year a record 104 students received scholarships and bursaries from the government of St. Vincent and the
Grenadines. These included 32 national scholarships, 21 exhibition scholarships, 49 bursaries and 2 special awards.
But it was an occasion, moreso, to recognise and award the top four performing students who, in addition to their scholarships, received the Prime Minister Gold Medal award.
The four. all females and Girls’ High School alumni were: Mya John, Kerese Coizer, Jay-Anna Edwards and Halei Williams-Douglas.
The Prime Minister Gold Medal awardees each received a gold medal, $20,000 and a five-year scholarship to the University of the West Indies.
A generation of students that is working towards their awards, was on hand to experience the joy of the occasion.
Speaking at the rally, Deputy Education Officer, Jocelyn Blake Browne congratulated the students for their outstanding achievement.
“Your hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence has set you apart and made your families, your school and your nation incredibly proud. Attaining these scholarships is not a small feat, it is a
Acute Care Hospital breaks ground
AFTER MONTHS OF PLANNING, construction of the Acute Care Hospital at Arnos Vale is set to begin.
The 32- month construction phase of the project is expected to begin in earnest following the groundbreaking ceremony held on October 26.
Minister of Health — St. Clair Prince, told the gathering at last Saturday event, “This Day has been long in coming and should be heralded with pride and nationalistic fervour,” St. Clair ‘Jimmy’ Prince, Minister of Health said.”
“It is indeed significant that on the eve of the 45th anniversary of Independence we are starting the flagship of our modern health system and the anchor
project of the new city at Arnos Vale,” he continued.
According to Prince, the construction of the hospital is part of the continued modernization and transformation of the nation’s health system which was part of the government’s wider vision to strengthen the nation’s health system — its resilience — while ensuring it is adaptive and responsive to emergencies, and founded on a sound public health infrastructure that was strongly rooted in primary health care.
“Ours is a system which embraces quality, which embraces modernization and decentralization.”
And even as he looked to the future, the Health Minister reflected on what is, giving focus to
Right: Minister Lin Chai-lung (2nd from right) and Ambassador Ambassador Fiona Huei-Chun Fan (2nd from left) formed part of the party that turned the sod.
the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, the country’s lone tertiary level health care facility.
“It was not designed originally as a hospital…. constantly leaking...poor security… prone to flooding… hemmed by a cemetery to the West, Victoria Park and road… no room for expansion,” Prince admitted.
In attendance at the ceremony was Taiwan’s Foreign Minister, Lin Chai-Lung who said that the construction of the facility was a milestone in the bi-lateral agreement between his country and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
“As we break ground,
reflection of your diligence, perseverance and the support of your teacher,” she told the students.
Minister of Education Curtis King in describing the scholarships, said that the national scholarships will cover full university education costs for a period of five years; the exhibition scholarships cover a duration of 3 years; the bursaries are $25,000 grants for three-year
University programme, and the special awards are full 3-year scholarships.
Special awards, he explained, are awarded to students who are over the stipulated age for the other scholarships.
Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves said that the scholarships will cost the government a significant amount of money but the money will be made available.
“When I saw the
number of scholarships ... I tell you I was full of joy, at the same time, as they say in your home, me belly hurt me, because is plenty money... and I promised you I have the money and I will find even more money. It’s a hundred and four (104) now, if next year is a 120, so be it because that is the philosophy which I bring to the table with this matter,” declared the Prime Minister.
we are also solidifying our friendship, and I am confident that we are not only contributing to the modernization of [the] health care but also creating numerous job opportunities,” he said. Cecil Harris, Senior Engineer attached to the project, gave an overview of the new facility.
He said, the 135-bed facility will offer a range
of medical services and will: have five points of entry; withstand earthquakes and Category 5 hurricanes; have an electrical substation to provide independent power in the event of a VINLEC power outage, and an independent 5-day water supply; provide parking to facilitate 165 vehicles on the North; a heliport
for patients being airlifted, an administration block, mortuary, accident and emergency department, rehabilitation department, pharmacy, auditorium and a chapel. The construction of the Acute Care Hospital is financed by a $125 million loan from the Republic of China (Taiwan).
‘Get a cannabis license,’ Prosecutor
Stories: HAYDN HUGGINS
PROSECUTORRenrick Cato has urged illegal marijuana growers to follow attorney Ronald Marks’ advice to use the legal channel by applying for a Medical Cannabis License.
The Prosecutor was responding to attorney Grant Connell’s mitigation plea on Thursday, October 24 in the case of four Trinidadians who pleaded guilty to possession of 240 pounds of marijuana with intent to supply and possession for drug trafficking. The Prosecution withdrew a third charge of conspiracy to traffick the marijuana to which they had pleaded not guilty.
The men, Isaiah Phillips, 23, Jayrun Abraham, 21, Shaqheim Bohah, 21, and Damian Baptiste, 29, all farmers, were arrested on October 3, 2024, during a police raid of a shed at the Petit Bordel mountains, next to a hut where three of the men were met.
The other Trinidadian was met in another hut about 15 to 20 ft. away.
Connell, who represented the Trinidadians requested a reasonable fine or suspended sentence, and a removal order for the men. He said that according to his instructions, the Trinidadians had met a Vincentian on Facebook, and he invited them to St. Vincent and the Grenadines to learn how to plant marijuana.
“This is a new angle you can look at, come to St. Vincent to learn how to plant ganja”, Connell suggested. He added, “Interestingly, they are not charged for cultivation”.
The lawyer said that in 2018, the maximum penalty for marijuana possession, with intent to supply was three years in prison, but it was
Another youth on gun, ammo charges
A 24-YEAR-OLDLowmans Leeward resident will return to the Serious Offenses Court on November 26 for trial on firearm and ammunition charges.
Kimore Edwards has been charged with possession of a Taurus .38 revolver and five live rounds of .38 ammunition without licenses.
changed to 7 years. He pointed out that, “the ones who once used to look down on ganja men are now making millions from it”.
According to Connell, it would cost the state $15,000 to maintain each of the Trinidadians in prison for one year, while the cannabis festival planned here for this weekend would not even make $100,000.
“I know we are short of money in St. Vincent, let them pay a fine and deport them”.
Connell further suggested noting that the state doesn’t pay for deportation.
But he later told the Court to, “impose a sentence, suspend it, and deport them. We have to stop this hypocrisy at some point”.
But Prosecutor Cato, in response, told the Court that marijuana possession in St. Vincent and the Grenadines was still an offense. He pointed out that there is a lawful way to grow marijuana and attorney Ronald Marks has always advised persons to take the lawful route.
“Persons know the correct way to do it but choose the unlawful. There is a lawful way, to get a license”, Cato said.
Marks has, in the past, while representing persons in marijuana cases repeatedly said that there is a lack of information and education among marijuana farmers with regard to the process of obtaining a Medical Cannabis License, and the big investors have been taking advantage of this and are making millions of dollars from the Industry.
The Court had heard earlier that the marijuana
in question, contained in packages, along with trees tied in bundles and nylon sacks were found in a shed next to the hut where three of the Trinidadians were met.
All four Trinidadians admitted the marijuana belonged to them. They said they came here illegally and were in the country for the past eight months. They said that on their arrival at the Kingstown wharf from Union Island by boat, they met with a man they knew as ‘Bucky’ from Petit Bordel, who made arrangements for them to stay at Petit Bordel, and that they purchased marijuana seeds from ‘Bucky’ to plant marijuana on the hill where they were eventually caught when questioned as to their intention after harvesting, they said they were going to transport it to Trinidad.
They all admitted that they were cultivating marijuana, as a group, but that was all they were doing, and they were not in possession of anything else illegal.
Trinis granted reduction in ganja weight
was not a true reflection, due to the physical makeup of the marijuana.
THURSDAY, October 24, may have been the first time in living memory that a Magistrate presiding over a marijuana case has cut the marijuana amount by half because of its physical composition, which included sticks and stalks.
Kimore Edwards
Edwards pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Colin John on Monday.
Prosecutor Renrick Cato did not object to bail, but requested suitable conditions and surety. Edwards was granted $20,000 bail on the condition that he surrender all travel documents, and report to the Questelles Police Station every Monday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Stop notices will be placed at all ports of entry and exit.
Attorney Grant Connell appeared on Edwards’ behalf.
Edwards is just one of the many youngsters who appear before the Courts on an almost daily on firearm and ammunition charges. Police reports are that Edwards was arrested last Saturday while officers from the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) and Narcotics Unit were patrolling Lowmans Leeward. A search of his person reportedly revealed the gun and ammunition.
The magistrate in question was Senior Magistrate Colin John and the matter involved Trinidadians Isaiah Phillips, 23, Jayrun Abraham, 21, Damian Baptiste, 29, and Shaqheim Bolah, 21, all farmers, who were fined $25,000 each after pleading guilty to possession of 120 pounds of marijuana for the purpose of drug trafficking and with intent to supply.
The quartet was ordered to pay the fines forthwith or go to prison for one year.
The men, who had also pleaded guilty to four charges of illegal entry were additionally ordered to be removed from the state after paying the fines.
The marijuana with which the men were charged had originally amounted to 240 pounds, but the Magistrate reduced it by half after viewing one of the bundles of the marijuana trees which was shown in Court at the request of their lawyer Grant Connell.
The trees, in addition to packages of marijuana, were seized by police during a raid of a shed at the Petit Bordel mountains around 2 p.m. on October 3.
But before handing down the penalty, John said that he intended to cut the marijuana amount after observing that it
The Magistrate’s decision had followed a strong mitigation plea by attorney Grant Connell, who represented the Trinidadians.
“You could make a coal pit from that”, Connell opined, referring to the marijuana plants. He added that threequarters of what the men were charged with were ‘sticks’.
“You should not jail men for that, it is wrong”, he lamented.
But Prosecutor Renrick Cato, in response to Connell, told the Court that “If the police had to take the stalks off the trees and weigh them, the same lawyer will say the police tampered with evidence.
“You have to weigh the stalks with the leaves”.
The Prosecutor indicated that he had no intention of asking for a custodial sentence or a suspended sentence.
In recent years, the Court has been using the value of $350 per pound as opposed to the previous value of between $500 and $750.
The value of $350 per pound was set by then Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne in a case in which Connell had suggested a value of $250 per pound, as stated in an affidavit by the head of the Cannabis Revival Committee (CRC) Junior ‘Spirit’ Cottle.
In weighing the mitigating factors against the aggravating Magistrate John noted that there were no aggravating factors of the
Senior Magistrate Colin John has again given indication that he is not afraid to go against what others would consider to be the norm in certain matters before the court.
offense nor the offenders.
In relation to the mitigating, he outlined the lack of sophistication and men’s good character. The defendants also earned a onethird discount for their guilty plea.
When the Trinidadians originally appeared at the Serious Offenses Court, in connection with the matter, they pleaded guilty to the charges but said they had an explanation. They were unrepresented then but indicated that they had requested Connell’s services.
As a result, Magistrate John entered a not guilty on all the charges and adjourned the matter to October 9. It was further adjourned on a number of occasions as the men awaited legal representation, until their recent guilty pleas. They had also been charged with trafficking marijuana, but the Prosecution withdrew that charge to which they had all pleaded not guilty, along with Tevin Matthews of Petit Bordel, St. Vincent, with conspiracy.
Prosecutor Renrick Cato reminded the Court and the opiblic by extension, that marijuana possession in St. Vincent and the Grenadines was still an offense.
PM independence Announcements
THE MILITARY PARADEto mark the 45th Anniversary of Independence was held from 6:00pm on October 27, at Victoria Park.
The early evening activity was expanded to include a cultural component but what remained a staple was the Prime Minister’s Address.
And what has become traditional is the Prime Minister Independence Announcements.
Here are those Announcements for 2024:
* 5 percent additional tax-free salary for all nurses, nursing assistants, and nursing aides, until December 2025 — cost over $2M;
* VAT relief for domestic consumers of electricity up to 250 units (kilowatt hours) continued indefinitely;
* Duty-free concession on cement extended indefinitely;
* Record 104 national scholarships, national
exhibitions, special awards, and bursaries for university to be issued — Cost $30M;
* Record 2000 tuition scholarships issued;
* Gov’t will pay student loans for December 2024 — Cost $200K (interest rate is now 4.5);
* All primary and secondary school teachers and 2nd year students at SVGCC will receive free new laptops early 2025 — Cost $3M;
* Dec 2024 — Feb. 2025, special Cost-ofLiving Allowance (COLA special) of $175 monthly for 3K means-tested, particularly vulnerable households;
* Consumer Protection Act and the Price and Distribution of Goods Act will be utilized to the fullest to curtail price gouging by unscrupulous retailers;
* Duty-free concessions on barrels will continue until Jan
31, 2025;
* Payout of approximately $500,000 to the Police for 2024 T20 WC will be effected shortly.
* Increased allowances for particular categories of public employees including aggrieved police officers, junior doctors, and some others, 2025;
* Further beefing up of citizen security Institutions, including the Law Courts, the Police Force, the Coast Guard, the Prisons, and the National Commission on Crime Prevention. (Details in Budget)
* Gov’t will spearhead the establishment of a Semi-Professional Football League in
conjunction with the private sector, football clubs, and the SVGFF.
* Sports Department will be restructured to ensure optimal functioning.
* National orchestra and National choir to be established.
* Housing Repair and Reconstruction programme will continue
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves was once agin very pleased to make his Independence Announcements.
unabated until all volcano and Beryl affected homes are restored.
* $600 monthly from October for Beryl affected unemployed heads of households; owners of microenterprises; farmers + farm workers + fishers and their crew; and workers laid off in the tourism sector, via ATM cards (to be continued in 2025) — Cost $15M.
* 320 new SET workers to begin in November. $200 increase for college graduate SET employees and $300 increase for university graduate SET employees.
New Sporting and Cultural Ambassadors named
AS HAS BEEN THE PRACTICEover the recent past, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves used the occasion of his National Independence Day Address, October 27th 2024, to name persons accorded the status of Sporting and Cultural Ambassadors.
The following persons were so named this year:
SHAFIQUA MALONEY - Sporting Ambassador
Born in Richard Park, Maloney is an athlete of exemplary resilience, as exemplified by her performance in the 800 metres women’s final at the Paris Olympics, 2024, in which she finished fourth.
She holds the unrivalled honour of being the first Vincentian athlete to have made the finals of an Olympic Games track event, and is currently the national record holder for the 800 metres and 600 meters events.
JOMEL WARRICAN – Sporting Ambassador
A West Indies Test Cricketer, Warrican moved to Barbados and attended Combermere School and joined the Empire Cricket Club. He was awarded the Lord Gavron Award for promising young cricketers in Barbados alongside Jason Holder in 2009, before representing the West Indies at the &Under-19 and
Senior levels. He is the second to be so-named from the distinguished Warrican family of Colonarie, following in the footsteps of Irvin Warrican, deceased.
FITZGERALD JOHN HINDS KINGSporting Ambassador
A former national footballer (goal-keeper), a football coach, a FIFA accredited referee and a pioneer trainer of special athletes, King continues to avail his services throughout the length and breadth of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
In addition, he is a selfless servant of this country’s premier cultural festival — Vincymas - and has been recognised for his service in
this regard by the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC).
OALEX ANDERSON - Sporting Ambassador
Oalex Anderson, aka ‘Bounty’, is a national footballer, currently leading the Vincentian attack in the team’s regional and international campaigns. He is a professional footballer who plays for North Carolina FC in USL Championship, having joined that club in 2022. Prior to that, he was contracted to the Seattle Sounders FC. Anderson is renowned not only for his football prowess that he avails to club and country but also for his
commitment to be a role model for the Vincentian youth.
ALVERN “ALI” CADOGANCultural Ambassador
Alvern Cadogan is the only Cultural Ambassador named in 2024.
She is recognized as being the longest (unbroken) leader of a Carnival mas band, having led the heralded Nelson Bloc Mas tent since 2003.
Her involvement in carnival also transcends to an active role in the Carnival Bands Association.
Her formative years in the cultural life of St. Vincent and the Grenadines were spent in dance and drama.
Victoria Park ran it over with citizens who had come to witness the innovations and hear what the PM had to offer.
ÂPole YardÊ nearing relocation
THE SEARCHfor an appropriate site to facilitate the relocation of residents from ‘Pole Yard’, an informal settlement in Arnos Vale, is over.
Curtis King, Parliamentary Representative for the West St. George constituency of which ‘Pole Yard’ is part, made the announcement on October 26 at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Acute Referral Hospital, at the former runway of the decommissioned ET Joshua Airport. ‘Pole Yard’ lies east of the northern end of the runaway of the
Police to be paid for
MONEYowed to members of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) for security duties performed during the staging of T20 World Cup matches played here, will be paid.
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said during his Independence address that the Government and the Police, through Acting Commissioner of Police (CoP) Enville Williams, had reworked the numbers and the payout now amounted to EC$500,000, a significant reduction from the initial claim of some $800.000 which was made early in October, but which the Prime Minister rejected. On rejection, the Prime Minister said he had requested of the Acting CoP that he submit a realistic figure.
Dr. Gonsalves said then that he was never opposed to the officers being paid for security services rendered during the Cricket World Cup.
He, however, questioned the amount to be paid saying that although they provided security, they could not quote an hourly rate as lawyers usually do.
Towards a resolution of the issue Dr. Gonsalves said he again contacted the Acting CoP on October 30, indicating to him that he wanted the names of every
decommissioned E. T. Joshua Airport.
King did not disclose the location of the site but indicated that preparation of the site was at an advanced stage — ready for putting in place the necessary infrastructure.
Assurances have been given that the relocation of residents of ‘Pole Yard’ (pictured) is getting closer to becoming a reality. (Photo Source: ANN SVG)
Government had announced in 2022 its intention to relocate the residents from ‘Pole Yard’ back, to facilitate the construction of the Acute Referral Hospital.
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves
WCC duties
World Cup Cricket in SVG required increased working hours for police officers.
officer to be paid. “Because I want to approve it, if I get it today, I will approve it today at the Cabinet because the individual
names have to go to Treasury, I can’t just send $500,000 to the Treasury so,” Gonsalves explained.
(Stories: DD)
had gone as far as to declare that the plan was to relocate and house the residents, in modern homes.
He also stated then that the residents were no longer required to move during the construction phase of the health facility and assured that the Chief Surveyor was working on identifying lands.
King acknowledged, on Saturday, “We have given our commitment to their resettlement and relocation,” and
admitted, “Yes, it took us some time because it was difficult for us to identify an appropriate piece of land for their relocation.” He continued, “But thankfully, we have done so now, and we are in the advanced stage of preparation. I want to thank them (residents) for their patience and ask them to exercise a little more patience as we get the job done.”
Caroline boops Sardine never ceases to excite, provoke and even bewilder with her mixed media creations.
Andre Iton has a unique style of “scribbles’’ which he is not afraid to ‘let loose’ on any readership.
Iton, Sardine to launch books
HOBO JUNGLE PRESSis proud to announce the publication of three new titles by Vincentian Andre Iton: Pins & Needles with “scribbles” by Iton and sketches by Vincy artist caroline booops sardine; Twenty-one glimpses of a mind sitting on a bench alone with images by Iton’s nephew, Ethan Sharma, and words by Iton; and Telling the Dao and Seeing the Wisdom with text by Iton and illustrations by Sardine. The books will be introduced in combination with a fund-raiser celebrating the first anniversary of mariposa moOon, the brainchild of Sardine, which provides free period products to girls in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The event will be held on Thursday, November 7th from 3-7 pm at the Curator’s House at the Botanical Gardens. The book launch will begin at 5 pm. Alexandra Grant is curating the event.
Andre Iton, who is based both here and in the Cayman Islands, is a financial consultant with 40 years’ experience in banking and financial services. He has hosted jazz radio programs in the Cayman Islands for a number of years, and has been an avid writer most of his life. Pins & Needles was his first published book, followed in short order by Twenty-one glimpses and Telling the Dao. Taken together, the three volumes are an impressive
collection of thoughtful words and images that are particularly relevant for our discordant times.
Caroline boops Sardine is familiar to Vincentians who follow the art scene for her striking mixed-media creations and evocative paintings about Caribbean life. mariposa moOon, which provides period products to girls, is her latest creation and some of her smaller pieces will be on sale at the launch to benefit the organization, along with a limited edition t-shirt designed by PAYNE and mariposa moOon, and art by Jeremy Payne. All 3 books are available at Gaymes Book Store.
Hobo Jungle Press, is an offshoot of Hobo Jungle, a web-based literary magazine that can be found online at hobojungle.org. They are both creations of Hobo Jungle Educational Programs, Inc., a non-profit organization based in the U.S. Hobo Jungle Press is committed to publishing works by St. Vincent authors and artists, and to date has published more than 60 books, most by Vincentians. Among new books in the pipeline is a collection of writings by prisoners of His Majesty’s Prison that will be available before years’ end.
To find out about publishing your book, or for more information about Hobo Jungle Press, email editor@hobojungle.org or call Marc Erdrich or Ruth Boerger at 784-4945763. (Submitted by Hobo Jungle Press)
The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Managing Director: Desiree Richards
Editor: Cyprian Neehall
Telephone: 784-456-1123 Fax: 784-451-2129
Website: www.thevincentian.com
Email: thevincentianpublishing@gmail.com
Mailing Address: The Vincentian Publishing Co. Ltd., P.O. Box 592, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Editorial
A culture of silence
HAS OUR SILENCErelegated us to a society of “dumb people”? Have we now not only adopted a culture of violence but also a culture of silence? Is this silence born out of fear for our lives and livelihoods?
Our silence and turning a blind eye now has generational consequences with, for example, the perpetrators of violent crime in society getting younger and more vicious. We only have to recall the number and nature of the record number of homicides for last year and those for the year so far, for evidence to support this view.
And as it stands from what we are hearing obtains in our schools and lives, many of our young people are becoming isolated and are prey to depression and other metal health issues, creating even more farreaching consequences which the state should feel obligated to address.
Admittedly, environment also influences behaviour and behaviour is wont to become representations of who we are, how we are perceived, and without any warning eventually form part of our culture, just like the continuing, unabated promotion of ‘rum’ as part of our being has now made the consumption of ‘our strong rum’ a cultural trait of our “Vincentianess”.
That is why we have to move out of this mode of silence and condemn all that which is abhorrent in today’s Vincentian society. Whether it be the gangs that perpetuate violent crime, whether it is those seemingly accommodated/protected individuals who wield the real influences behind the scene, we must call a spade a spade. And if it is that our politicians are part and parcel, voluntarily or involuntarily fueling the wave of violence across the society, then they too must be condemned and called out if/when the evidence presents itself so to do.
And our breach of our silence must be targeted at all that is wrong or intended to distract us, to ‘short change us and to treat us as unlearned and uncultured.
Take the Independence Announcements made by the Prime Minister. This has now become something of an expectation, i.e. that the Prime Minister in his Independence Anniversary address to the nation, will gift us some early
Christmas tidings. And when he does, without much reflection, we genuflect before him and say how he and his government are so caring.
That’s all well and good as far as attending to the temporal needs of the supposedly less fortunate class of citizens is concerned. But we must see them for what they are… mere handouts that in the case of one particularly suffocating issue that abounds presently, i.e. the costof- living, do not tackle in any systematic, strategic or real need manner, practices in the economy that are responsible for the spiraling cost of living over the long term.
Rather than, for example, a handout to the disadvantaged of what is deemed a special Cost-ofLiving Allowance of $175.00 monthly for three months for 3K vulnerable households, why not adjust the rate of VAT. That would address the issue of the cost of goods (food) and services at the root. At the end of the $175.00 giveaway, are those who were recipients not going to have to survive in the same economy as those who were not recipients, with the cost of living continuing to strangle them and all consumers for that matter?
What the Prime Minister has offered as far as tackling the cost of goods and services in his recent announcement, is mere windowdressing that will disappear when like curtains, they become dusty and discoloured.
More money in your hand does not tackle the cost-of-living; it makes it worse… since more ‘disposable income’ is perceived as more money to spend thereby increasing demands for goods and services. And to maintain their profits, businesses are wont to raise prices to cover purported increases in the cost of goods and related services.
Yes, we must break the selfimposed gag that silences us and tell those who we have elected to serve that they are obligated to serve all the people, all classes (income levels) of consumers. That they must cease pandering to a class that they feel they can exploit at election time and cease treating others as though they are not entitled to the same services as any others.
And as a reminder: Some of what the Prime Minister promised will have to be approved by government.
How to break the habit of making excuses
A FEW WEEKS AGO, I challenged the government ministers about their propensity to offer excuses for every failure or delay in a project. To be clear, this is not a phenomenon that can be uniquely ascribed to our government. This is a standard behavior pattern of all our elected officials. It is safe to say this behavior has become the default position of the nation at large.
If we want to eliminate excuses from our public life and align our attitude with success, we can take some practical steps to stop it. If you’re currently an excuse maker, I have good news: you can break that habit with better choices. Here are some things you can do; it’s never too late.
Acknowledge that the excuse habit exists: Like every addictive behavior, we must admit we have a habit that needs to be broken. Pay attention to when and why you make excuses. Is it due to a lack of motivation or the desire to avoid being called out for underperforming? Identifying patterns will help you address them more effectively.
Take Responsibility: Acknowledge that you control your actions instead of blaming external factors or people. This acknowledgment helps us shift our mindset from victimhood. It will empower us to develop alternative ideas to achieve our goals. Change the language from the negatives like “I can’t “to a positive statement like “I’ll find ways to make it happen.”
Every time we are subjected to a “word salad” of excuses, I cannot help but wonder who came up with these goals. Therefore, my recommendation is to align yourself with the objectives to which you are assigned. Often, it is difficult for us to achieve the goal if we don’t have complete buy-in. Planning and delivering on a project we don’t support will be difficult and could become very complex. Poor planning and a lack of enthusiasm for a project will lead to excuses. Remember, if you accept the responsibility, you must hold yourself accountable for the success. When you feel responsible, you are less likely to develop excuses and are more likely to succeed.
Please allow me to digress for a moment; maybe it is time for the Prime Minister (PM) to let other cabinet members take ownership of some of these projects from the onset. Listening to members of parliament offer excuses or explanations on various questions put forward by the opposition is often
painful. Another example is while speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new hospital, the Health Minister’s description of the Kingstown General Hospital encapsulated the excuses culture. He said it was not designed as a hospital; it was old, constantly leaking, and in the worst possible area. He said the hospital has poor security and its location is bad. Yet, we will keep a significant component of our healthcare services in this building. Now, back to dealing with our excuse-laden environment, face your fears, and embrace the discomfort with a project outside your comfort zone. Develop a problem-solving mindset when encountering obstacles; instead of making excuses, ask yourself, “How can I overcome this?” This proactive mindset minimizes the tendency to rationalize inaction. It will serve us well if we surround ourselves with motivated people. Spend time with people who hold themselves accountable. Their discipline and attitude will inspire us to take ownership of our actions. As much as those excuses makers could draw us into that mindset, a goal-oriented person could lift you to new standards. When we receive credible information that your project will be delayed, we must share that information with the relevant stakeholders. We must also revise our goals and set new expectations. Doing nothing is unacceptable. Unfortunately, what we get as a nation for this group is silence and a pivot to a blame game.
So what can we do?
What if we change the parliamentary agenda to include two hours of factual updates on all major projects undertaken by the government? Based on our excuse culture, I could hear it now: we don’t have time for that. Well, here are a few suggestions:
1. Eliminate the agenda item, allowing each member of parliament to offer condolences and congratulations to some “favorite” community members. Do that at your regularly scheduled constituency meeting. Or purchase an advertising page in the newspaper monthly.
2. Rather than limiting each member of parliament’s time on every topic, limit the speech-making exercise on each issue to one hour.
We must do better.
Horatio.
West Indies cricketers again!!!
YET AGAIN,our West Indies male cricket teams went under in an overseas tour, this time in Sri Lanka. In both the T20 and ODI series (3 matches each) we went under 2-1.
Once again, it seemed our batmen were waiting for the ball in the slot so they could bash it for six. That seemed to be our approach but what we saw was the Sri Lankans figuring us out and bowling a line and length that saw us registering a large number of dot balls, in both the T20 and the ODI.
For Pastor George
IN THINKINGhow best I could pay tribute to a dear friend and pastor, Rev. Dr. George Frederick, I could not escape words from a poem entitled “For Our Pastor”, which I came across on Facebook some time ago. In his memory and in thanking him for all that Pastor George has done for me and others, I share this extract from the poem to which I referred.
“Sometimes, as we travel through this world, our lives are touched by someone Who makes a profound impact on us. Someone whose kindness And sense of humility Serve to make our days just that much brighter. Someone who reminds us of Jesus In his goodness and his capacity to reach out to others.
A “gentle man” who takes the time To extend his hand, And open his heart to all those in need. Someone, who like the shepherd, Tends to, his flock… Young and old
With love and devotion. …”
Copyright 2005 Genie Graveline
Angella H.
Still no attention for Textier Road
I WRITEto you once again of yet another shooting incident in the vicinity of Textier Road, here in the Central Leeward Community of Layou.
As happened with the previous incident on which I commented, up to the time of writing this (last week Thursday morning), there was no press release from the Police Public Relations Office. Should one conclude that there is a degree of disregard for the people of Layou? Interestingly, the
And what about the running between the wickets?
Have we not learned from our past (very recent) performances? Is coach Sammy not seeing our weakness in live and living colour? He even has his computer to help him but like he is seeing the
games through the wrong shades.
Questions for the selectors and the team management: Why are we choosing to test out players on an overseas tour? Why are we not playing the best players who are on tour?
Shouldn’t the approach not be to play your best players, win and then try
out the newbies?
And it’s high time all of us stop hiding behind the catch phrases about ‘learning from our experience,’ and ‘turning a corner.’ How long are we going to be learning? And how many corners must we turn or have already turned?
Best wishes on your 45th
TO THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, on behalf of the Board, Management, Staff, and Members of ECCO (Eastern Caribbean Collective Organisation for Music Rights), we extend our warmest greetings and congratulations to you on the occasion of your 45th Independence Day celebrations.
As you commemorate this significant milestone, we celebrate with you the spirit of resilience, unity, and cultural richness that defines St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We are especially proud to support the protection and promotion of your nation’s musical heritage, which plays a vital role in sharing your unique stories and talents with the world.
Black Squad office is a stone’s throw away and so too the residence of the Area Representative Dr. Orlando Brewster. Last week when I visited THE VINCENTIAN’s Office, I observed two Special Service Unit officers making their presence seen. I’m wondering if the same can be done on Textier Road as a deterrent.
Carlyle Douglas
Poem for Independence
I love my country
St. Vincent and the Grenadines I love my country come sing with me please Bequia, Canouan, Union Island, Mustique, Mayreau, Petit St. Vincent, Young Island and Palm Island
The best we can offer, gems of the Caribbean
The lush vegetation
The beautiful people
The white and black sand beaches
From the hills of La Soufrière to the valleys
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
With you we rally 45 years, 45 years, 45 years
Refrain
I love my country
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
I love my country come sing with me please St. Vincent and the Grenadines
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
My beautiful country
Written by Yvette Gittens
Our management team - Manager, Coach, Assistant Coaches, Captain, Vice-Captainmust begin to take blame for our dismal performances.
Together, let us continue to uphold and protect the rights of creators and foster a thriving cultural industry across our region. We look forward to deepening our collaboration in the years ahead as we work to ensure that the voices of artists in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are respected, heard, and celebrated.
Happy 45th Independence Day!
Martin A. James Eastern Caribbean Collective Organisation for Music Rights (ECCO Inc)
By the way, when was the last time we won a series in Sri Lanka? Like Elliot who referred to him in a letter to you last week, Mr. Editor, if Earl Robinson were alive, he would answer that in a flash. Is it too much to expect that we will crush the English during their tour of the Caribbean?
Charles, Edinboro.
45 years of Togetherness, Prosperity, and Perseverance
[The following are excerpts from the Independence Day Address by our Prime Minister, Dr. The Hon. Ralph E. Gonsalves, entitled “45 Years of Together, Prosperity, and Perseverance” delivered on the occasion of the Forty-Fifth Anniversary of Independence of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on October 27, 2024.]
Some Announcements
Fellow-Vincentians, as usual, I have some announcements of immediacy to make – seventeen of them:
First, certain time-bound fiscal reliefs which I made last year will roll over for another year to December 31, 2025, in respect of the following: (i) The 5 percent monthly supplementary, non-taxable salary addition for all nurses, nursing assistants, and nursing aides – some 750 in all –costing over $2 million annually; the 2025 Budget will make further upward adjustments for all categories of central government employees; (ii) there will continue to be, indefinitely, the VAT relief for domestic consumers of electricity up to 250 units (kilowatt hours) per month; and (iii) the VATfree concession on cement will be extended, indefinitely; I am resolved to continue to make cement the most affordable in the OECS.
Second, earlier this week, on October 24th, 104 national scholarships, national exhibitions, special awards, and bursaries for university education were awarded on the basis of the results of the 2024 CAPE and Associate Degree examinations. This is a staggering record of accomplishment by our students. This package of awards is valued at over EC $30 million. In this year’s awards, a record number of 32 fully-funded five-year national scholarships were awarded; each carries a maximum price tag of up to $600,000; four students this year tied for the top prize, the Prime Minister’s Award; each receives a gold medal and a cash prize of $20,000.00. Further, our government awarded, nearly 2,000 Tuition Scholarships for university students, another record, beyond last year’s record of 1,300. Additionally, this year, 50 students were granted Economically-Disadvantaged Student Loans by the state-owned National Student Loan Company to pursue university education. This year, too, a record number of other university scholarships were issued through several bilateral arrangements with other governments, especially Taiwan, Cuba, and Morocco. It is worth recalling that in the year 2000, prior to our government, only four fullyfunded national scholarships were awarded!
Third, for the 368 recipients of economically-disadvantaged student loans from the National Student Loan Company who have graduated from university and who are current with their loan payments, will receive, at government’s expense, relief from onemonth’s payment on their student loan for December 2024. This will cost the government appropriately
$200,000. This relief is additional to the reduction of the interest rate on the student loans to 4.5 percent annually, as was announced last year.
Fourth, the second-year students at the Community College, all teachers at all primary, and secondary schools, owned or assisted by the government, will receive brand-new laptops [some 2,500] courtesy of the government early in 2025. This will cost in excess of EC $3 million.
Fifth: All 320 new applicants for the one-year Support for Education and Training (SET) Programme have been approved for employment as of November 2024. Further, those who are graduates of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College will receive an increase of $200 monthly on their existing stipends, and those who are university graduates will receive an increase of $300 monthly. The current SET employees, over 200, have had their tenure extended until December 2024.
Sixth, our government will establish this year a National Orchestra and a National Choir. To this end, preliminary steps have already been taken.
Seventh, our government, in conjunction with the private sector, the football clubs, and the SVG Football Federation, spearhead the establishment of a Semi-Professional Football League.
Eighth, the Sports Department of the government will be restructured to ensure optimal functioning in light of the huge expansion of top-quality sports facilities, the vastly improved performances of our sportsmen and women, and the increased roll-out of educational, training, and job opportunities for sportsmen and women.
Ninth, the Housing Repair and Reconstruction programme will continue unabated until all those who have suffered from the volcanic eruptions and Hurricane Beryl have had their housing needs adequately addressed. We do not as yet have all the requisite resources for this huge task, but we are getting there.
Tenth, for the three-month period October 1st to December 31st, the government will pay income support of $600.00 per month to categories of persons affected by Beryl, namely: Unemployed heads of households; owners of micro-enterprises; farmers, farm workers, fishers and their crew; and workers laid off in the tourism sector. The Ministry of National Mobilisation is currently culling the lists to ensure that there is no doubledipping. The recipients will be paid by bank cards. The October and November payments will be made in Continued
Desperate measures by the ULP
ON SUNDAY 27TH OCTOBER 2024,St Vincent and the Grenadines celebrated its 45th anniversary of Independence. An integral part of the celebration is/was the address to the nation by the Prime Minister. However, most Vincentians do/did not pay much attention to the substantive part of his presentation, but look(ed) forward to hear the announcement of ‘goodies’.
Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsales has finally admitted that there is a cost-of-living crisis in St Vincent and the Grenadines. His acceptance was revealed in his announcement when he offered assistance of a special Costof-Living Allowance (COLA) of $175.00 monthly for 3k means-tested, particularly vulnerable households. However, his cost-of-living allowance is means tested to a level of $3k, but the details of this are unclear. Cost-ofliving is affecting every Vincentian. This offering does not go far enough towards helping everyone who is struggling with high prices. People will still be struggling to pay for the rising prices of food, water, and electricity bills, and the taxes which the ULP government has increased. Moreover, we cannot trust the government in implementing this measure. We have had experiences with this government where measures were put in place to assist Vincentians and only persons who are perceived to be supporters of the ULP benefitted. We believe a similar situation can occur with this initiative. Although the government said this initiative will be for a certain period, what can prevent them from extending the payment right up to the general elections. Will that be an election bribe?
Dr Friday has outlined a number of measures to manage the cost-of-living crisis in the country which will benefit everyone and not a few that are handpicked by the government. He called on the government to take action. In his Independence Message, Dr Friday said, “I, therefore, continue to urge the government to take action to bring relief from the crushing weight of high cost of living. Such measures should include reducing VAT to 13 percent, paying bonuses to public sector workers and persons on public assistance, introducing VATfree shopping days to make things more affordable for the new school year and during the holidays; enabling more public servants who benefit from import duty concessions to make it affordable to purchase vehicles; and reducing interest rates on student loans and loans for farmers and fishers. Such measures would put money back in people’s pockets and ease the cost-of-living crisis.
We also heard the Prime Minister on Sunday repeated what the Minister of Finance said in his 2024 Budget presentation in January that the government would establish a National Orchestra and National Choir. The National Orchestra and National Choir should have already been established. The year is almost finished. We are entering the eleventh month of the year. When will they be established? Can we trust the government to implement these measures that were announced?
In an act of desperation to try to appeal to the sportsmen and women of the country, we now hear of the government’s intention to restructure
the Sports Department. After twentythree years in government, they have only paid lip service to sports. We believe the ULP government has been paying attention to our impressive sports program that we have been pushing. And they have now realized that they cannot compete with our program.
It was also announced by the Prime Minister that government would spearhead the establishment of a semi-professional football league in conjunction with the private sector, football clubs and the SVGFF. It must be noted that according to FIFA’s rules, no government can run or control football leagues. Currently, there is discussion with the various football associations in the region about establishing a semi-professional football league. Is it this league the government is trying to ‘piggyback’ on?
While we have heard most of what the Prime Minister had announced in his presentation previously, we cannot classify the payment of the $500.000.00 to the police as a ‘goody’. This is money that the police had worked for and should have already been paid. The sum of their payment was reduced to $500.000.00. The government raised objection to pay the original sum but has realized it was their fault and has finally decided to pay to save embarrassment.
We have heard much about the housing repair and reconstruction program. The Prime Minister said that the housing repair and reconstruction programme would continue unabated until all volcano and Beryl affected homes are restored. The rebulbing process in Union Island is going to slow and residents have been complaining. Also, it has been three years since the eruption of La Soufriere. How much longer do the people of North Windward and North Leeward have to wait for their houses to be repaired? And, four months after hurricane Beryl, persons who were affected and are qualified to receive income support have not yet received any payment. Even though the Supplementary Estimates of $136 million was approved in July by the parliament.
Nothing was mentioned about the daily paid workers of the Ministry of Agriculture who have not receive their wages for a period of time. They too were looking forward to hear when they would receive their payments. They are struggling to pay their bills and to purchase food. Some also have children attending school. How are they surviving?
Vincentians have heard the government’s grand promises before. We all know their implementation is slow and poorly executed. The abandoned infrastructure projects which litter the country are evidence of this. The road to Port Charlotte is a danger to children who are forced to traverse it daily and the tourist season is almost here. The teachers and public servants who were fired for not taking the Covid-19 vaccine are still at home suffering. Undoubtedly, the Prime Minister is tired and is out of touch with the people.
Talent and Innovation
“Talent is the oxygen for innovation.” Professor Leonard O’Garro, Vincentianborn plant pathologist.
IT IS OFTEN INCORRECTLY ASSUMEDthat developed countries have a monopoly on innovation. However, this is so far from the truth. While it is accurate to conclude that the citizens in developed countries have an advantage based on access to the latest technology, well financed education systems, well equipped laboratories, etc., it is also useful to reflect on the number of innovations that occur within emerging economies. These have often been triggered by the need to resolve challenges that emerge within their respective environments. In addition, it is also useful to observe that many immigrants from developing countries drive innovation in many of the developed countries. For example, it is estimated that between 40% to 50% of the workforce in Silicon Valley (often referred to as America’s innovation hub) are immigrants. Many of these individuals received H-1B visas, that allowed them to fill roles as software developers, engineers, and other high-skilled positions.
Within recent years, India has seen an explosion of innovations across various sectors. This has especially been evident in technologies related to health and general well-being. Several Health Tech companies are at the forefront of telemedicine. This was especially evident in the post-pandemic era. Platforms like mFine and Practo are expanding access to healthcare throughout and beyond India. They provide services that are considered equal in quality to those obtained in developed countries but at much more affordable prices. It is therefore not surprising that some patients from developed countries have sought to secure their various medical treatments in India thereby igniting niche markets in medical tourism.
India has also embarked on innovative programmes aimed at leveraging technology to enhance the efficiencies among their farming communities. Start-ups like Ninjacart and AgroStar assist farming administrators and farmers with technology to improve yields through precision agriculture, enhanced value chain efficiencies, providing valuable demand and supply data, and thereby optimizing agricultural supply chains.
Many readers would be familiar with the saying, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” This has held true for many communities in emerging economies that have had to adjust to deficiencies in infrastructure and service providers. For example, the financial structures in several African countries (e.g., Kenya and Tanzania) have seen a rapid rise in digital payments and mobile banking. Indian companies like Paytm and Razorpay and Brazilian companies like Nubank and PicPay have emerged to meet the demands of individuals who may not have ready access to commercial banks but need speedy and safe transfer of funds to meet personal and business needs.
Innovations in solar energy have also emerged to meet the demands for accessible and reliable energy. Floating solar panels and solar microgrids have emerged in emerging economies like India and Brazil. In
addition, innovation in the energy sector has resulted in companies focusing on bioenergy and renewable sources such as sugarcane-based ethanol. These innovations highlight the truism that developing countries are leveraging technology for economic growth, sustainability, and social impact.
Reimagining, Reclaiming and Renaming
THE CELEBRATIONS marking the 45th anniversary of independence revealed some truths about our country. Among them are a strong sense of national pride, an abiding desire for national unity, and an undying hope that the government will do the right thing at the right moment for the right reasons.
During the last decade, many Caribbean countries have been plagued by the invasion of Sargassum seaweed — a brown seaweed that floats on the ocean’s surface, forming large mats. While it has provided habitat and food for various marine species, it has cluttered many of the beaches (especially those on the windward sides of the islands) and created havoc for the fishing and tourism industry. In addition, many local citizens were forced to curtail their sea bathing activities pending the painstaking cleaning of the beaches.
There were attempts to convert the “Sargassum menace” to fertilizers with varying success. Many resorted to simply burying the Sargassum as a way of ridding the marine environment of the nuisance. However, this proved to be quite labour intensive and ineffective.
Several weeks ago, Barbados unveiled the world’s first vehicle powered by renewable natural gas (RNG) generated from Sargassum seaweed, wastewater from rum distillery, and manure from Blackbelly sheep. This project was pioneered by faculty and students at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI). The citizens of the Caribbean can be justly proud of this accomplishment. Barbados’ Minister of Energy, Honourable Lisa Cummins, commenting on this significant milestone, stressed the importance of diversifying investments in renewable energy beyond the traditional solar power. She also emphasized the value of the collaboration between the UWI and the private sector birthing this innovative project which is the result of extensive research by scientists at UWI, in collaboration with Rum and Sargassum Inc., and Supernova Lab of Future Barbados. Their approach to problem solving resulted in their exploration of a new idea that worked.
It is therefore commendable that the innovative mindset and the proactive approach to problem-solving of our Caribbean scientists have resulted in a practical solution that can create and sustain economic benefits while simultaneously acting to preserve the Caribbean’s pristine shoreline.
The foregoing also provides a timely reminder that while we are relatively small nations and have limited land space, these have not curtained the imagination and innovation that emerge from our enlightened people. As professor Leonard O’Garro reminds us, “Talent is the oxygen for innovation.” May we make a more concerted effort to unleash the talents and abilities of our people in our schools, institutions of higher learning, and our workplaces.
The colours of the independence flag were on full display in the week before Independence Day and on the day itself. Thousands of citizens, especially women and children, proudly wore the colours to reflect a sense of national belonging. As has become the norm, a significant section of those who journey to the park did not so much to hear PM Gonsalves but in anticipation of his announcement of relief and benefits his government bestows on Vincentians in his annual independence address.
The independence celebrations demonstrated that we have settled for pomp and ceremony, form over substance, a warmed-over rehearsed ritual, in all things related to independence. Officialdom is definitively satisfied with flag independence, political independence, and a transactional approach to national development rather than reimagining who we are as a people and who and what we can be or ought to become. In a word, a project of transformation.
Imagine an SVG at 45 years old where most citizens cannot yet offer a clear and definitive explanation for independence. Imagine further that the population lacks the basic skills to articulate what an independent SVG ought to be like.
Forty-five years after lowering the Union Jack and hoisting a national flag, we still mutter, ‘Rule Britannia rule.’ The symbols of our Britishness continue to loom large. The ground on which we assembled for independence is named after Queen Victoria, a British monarch who took her last breath in 1901.
Forty-five years after we claimed independence, the decadence and moral depravity of the French colonial authorities remain in blasphemous display at Petite Bordel (little brothel). A reimagining of our nation demands an investigation of French atrocities against our men and women of that region.
Understanding history, reeducation, and a sense of pride requires removing the name Petit Bordel, a blemish on our landscape.
Forty-five years after the British overlords packed their bags and departed these shores, our leaders retain all Anglo-Saxon trappings and have successfully trained most of us to be dependent Afro-Saxons.
As a national project, we have settled for ‘development’ on the margins: a building here, a monument there, a scholarship now, a house later: a promise, a smile, a hug, and a fleeting commitment to circle back.
Reimagining our nation requires us to interrogate ourselves and ask difficult questions. Why are we this way 45 years after independence? Who benefits from our ignorance and lack of cultural awareness and political consciousness? Have we allowed ourselves to be lulled into insomnia and dormancy? Do we like it so, or do we just not know better?
In understanding our condition and reimagining a future befitting a genuinely independent people, answering these questions, we should ask what Chatoyer, Nelly Ibo, Samuel Sheriff Lewis, Martha Butt, and other giants of an early generation think of us. What would they say? A proper answer to these necessitates us knowing about the exploits and achievements of these heroes and sheroes.
We claim Chief Chatoyer as our only national hero, but do we know why he is elevated into such a rarified space? Do we know of his decades-long struggle and sacrifice to protect our sovereignty and independence? Are our children taught about who smeared and killed him? Why is he called Garifuna? Who are the Kallinagos? Where are they now? The word genocide is in the news now regarding the criminal actions of Israel against Palestinians and Lebanese. Two centuries ago, British enslavers committed a similar genocide against our ancestors.
Forty-five years after independence, no one bothers to remember Nelly Ibo, the enslaved African woman who was hanged because she executed the brutal, exploitative slave driver on a plantation on Mayreau. Very few Vincentians know of this act of heroism, and ten other females hung for plotting their path to freedom. October 21 marked the 89th anniversary of the 1935 rebellion. Samuel ‘Sherrif’ Lewis, aka Selassie and Martha Butt, were at the forefront of the struggle that led to the humanity of the majority African population and universal adult suffrage. The struggles led by Sherrif Lewis did more to advance democracy, secure the right to vote, and trade union organising than all of our politicians combined, with the possible exception of E.T Joshua. Sheriff and his band of rebels fought for the recognition of what the celebrated Caribbean intellectual called our ‘sense of somebodyness.’ Yet no one remembers them–no heroes’ honours for him.
Our quest for independence will be purely aspirational unless we tackle these foundational issues and questions.
If we fail to reimagine, rename, and reclaim the calls of an earlier generation of young radicals for genuine independence, people’s ownership and control will remain, to quote Emperor Haile Selassie, ‘nothing but a fleeting illusion to be pursued but never attained.’ As is becoming clearer by the day, our former colonisers are returning as investors.
To avoid such a monumental tragedy, we must seize the time and use every moment as an occasion for education, consciousness-raising and history-making.
The Taiwan/SVG partnership: Could it have been more globally impactful?
IT
WOULD NOT SURPRISE ME to hear that patriotic progressive Taiwanese citizens are beginning to express their disapproval of the way their leaders have squandered a golden opportunity to have a positive impact globally, based on the very impressive contribution that they have been well positioned to make in the socio-economic development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
When one considers that Taiwan has been an integral part of the great Chinese society, which has been a significant player in global affairs for hundreds of years, it is reasonable to conclude that the people who have lived on the island of Taiwan have also, over those years, had a wealth of experience in the area of societal development.
The energy with which the Taiwanese have, in recent years, been resisting the pressures from the authorities of mainland China to have Taiwan return once again to the rulership of mainland China, may well indicate that they had been working towards their independence for many decades before they succeeded in attaining it in 1911.
The driving force behind the pursuit of independence by the Taiwanese people might well have been prompted by the lack
of sensitivity of the leaders of mainland China that they exuded indifference to the peculiar circumstance which had been negatively impacting the island of Taiwan and its people. The Taiwanese probably decided that they had had enough of autocratic rulership!
Today, they stand firm and all peace-loving peoples of the world should support them.
Tourism Not Agriculture
Even as we salute the Taiwanese people on the 113th anniversary of their independence, I must document the Vincentian farming community’s disappointment that our considered sincere relationship with Taiwan over these several decades has not seen the development that was reasonably anticipated. After all, Taiwan, an island like St. Vincent, had hundreds of years of societal development experience “under its belt”.
As it is now, Taiwan can offer no reasonable excuse for its inability to have impacted positively the development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines after they had been here among us for several decades. They could have done much better!
When the Taiwanese launched their Technical
Mission to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, they interfaced effectively with the farmers through some of our agricultural officers. They assisted keenly and boosted our pig and poultry farming activities at the initial stages. They also were involved in some plant propagation systems.
The fall-off that became evident in the quality of the Taiwanese support for strong agricultural activity might have had to do with the fact that our politicians had been declaring that we could not depend on agriculture to advance our socioeconomic well-being. They said we had to depend on Tourism. In my opinion, Taiwan ought to have done more to convince our shallow-rooted leaders that agriculture at that time offered the most dependable platform on which a development-driven thrust could have been supported. And Taiwan was distinctly well qualified to help us realize that goal.
Subsequently, Taiwan went across to St. Lucia and assisted them with their banana trade to the U.K.
Taiwan’s influence on policy
Had the Taiwanese been able to get our administrators to pursue an agriculture-revival
approach we would have been in a very strong position today. Incidentally, we expected that Taiwan, given its years of existence, would have had a working knowledge of our country and its history. The Taiwanese have been here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines since 1981, so they have firsthand knowledge of the depth of the influence of agriculture on the society. They would have seen the long lines of trucks delivering bananas to Geest sheds; they would have seen the truckloads of carrots and other vegetables being delivered to the Marketing Board; they would have seen that farmers were able to get to their farms fairly comfortably throughout the state.
It seems to me pathetic that one of our most faithful allies could not induce our political leaders to set the platform to allow our friend Taiwanese to use its potential to help us protect our economy in these critical times.
There is no doubt that the development of SVG has been setback many decades and it may well take more than a hundred years to affect the socio-economic retrieval. Responsibility for the creation of this malaise falls heavily on Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and his team, but all those of us who chose to remain silent and unmoved in the face of distinct maladministration and the traitorous neglect of the people’s interests will not be exonerated.
We have failed - No voice for agriculture
If over the last twentyfour years, our administrators had endeavoured to set the platform which our particular circumstances had shown was clearly achievable in agriculture, the outlook today would have been much more promising.
As it is now, we in SVG are in serious trouble because of the crippling of our agriculture. It is important to recall that in 2009 our ECCB declared that in response to the global economic downturn they were going to stimulate the economy of the sub-region by injecting significant capital into the sectors of Tourism, Fishing, Manufacturing, and Construction. Agriculture was not included in that stimulation plan. The ECCB governor Sir Dwight Venner
advised that our sub-region could import food cheaper if we imported collectively from outside of the region. That is where we are today: we are importing our food from outside of our region but it is not cheaper and it is distinctly not as healthy!
It still haunts me today, that none of our regional institutions whom we had grown to believe over the years had our best interests at heart said not a word about this plan — UWI, CARDI, IICA, FAO none of them disagreed.
Importantly, all the targeted areas experienced negative growth for three succeeding years. The farmers, therefore, cannot accept any new plan from these organisations until we have had frank and open discussions on ECCB’s ‘eightpoint stimulation and growth plan’, to determine why it failed so miserably.
What e’er the future brings….
St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Taiwan are this month celebrating their independence - SVG is its 45th and Taiwan is its 113th - but it cannot be with a sense of satisfaction that the 33 years of our relationship can be reflected. The evidence of failure is palpably pervasive.
Considering the areas in SVG that are crying out for attention and the evidence of Taiwan’s capacity to make a significant difference there has not been significant improvement effected.
Essentially the relationship seems to be that Taiwan is prepared to fund SVG projects while it uses our Atlantic fishing rights, while our Prime Minister voices at relevant fora that Taiwan should be recognized on the world stage as an authentic independent state. That approach has distinctly stifled the economic growth of our people. Some who had bought boats with the hope of fishing in the Atlantic had their dreams dashed because our authorities had given our space in the Atlantic to our Taiwanese friends.
It is now too late to reasonably expect, that Taiwan and St. Vincent and the Grenadines can do anything, to compensate for the loss we have suffered because we failed to address the business of Agriculture, over the last three decades. The global situation is now very volatile and we in St. Vincent and the Grenadines seem now, to be on the “Eve of the post-Gonsalves era”.
LeRoy Providence
New CCJ judge sworn in
ON TUESDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2024, the Honourable Mme Justice Chantal Ononaiwu was sworn in as a Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), becoming the second Jamaican national to join the Bench of the regional Court. The swearing-in ceremony was conducted by the Governor General of Jamaica, His Excellency the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, at King’s House, Kingston, Jamaica. In his remarks during the ceremony, the Honourable
Mr Justice Adrian Saunders, CCJ President, noted that “Article IV(1) of the Agreement Establishing the Court requires that when the Court… at least three [judges] must possess expertise in international law including international trade law. Mme Justice Ononaiwu is not merely an expert in international law, she is more specifically an expert in international trade law and an active practitioner in the field. She has appeared as counsel before the CCJ in many of the Court’s seminal cases dealing with the CSME. She has experience in adjudicating WTO international trade disputes. The job she previously held involved negotiating international trade issues on behalf of the Caribbean Community. Indeed, she led the coordination of CARICOM’s external trade policy. Caricom’s undoubted massive loss is the CCJ’s gain, but I venture to suggest that the region would benefit even more greatly from her tenure on the Court.”
Mme Justice Ononaiwu was chosen from a pool of 12 applicants by the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (RJLSC), an independent body of 11 individuals responsible for appointing the Judges and staff of the Court. Applicants must have either served as a judge for at least five years or have a minimum of 15 years of experience in the practice or teaching of law. Additionally, candidates are evaluated on criteria including high moral character, intellectual and analytical abilities, sound judgment, integrity, and an understanding of people and society.
With over 20 years of legal experience, Mme Justice Ononaiwu brings specialist expertise in Caribbean Community (CARICOM) law and international law, including international trade law. Her varied legal background includes roles as an adjudicator, litigator, legal advisor, and university lecturer. Mme Justice Ononaiwu also has significant expertise in commercial law, having worked in the international business and financial services sector as the Director of Value Proposition Development at Invest Barbados. Additionally, she served as Vice-Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce Digital Standards Initiative Legal Reform Advisory Board. She has also lectured on international trade and investment law, public international law, and criminal law at The University of the West Indies. Prior to her appointment to the CCJ, she served as Director of External Trade at the CARICOM Secretariat and previously as a Trade Policy and Legal Specialist.
In her remarks, Mme Justice
Justice Andrew Burgess is also expected to retire
Ononaiwu stated: “I am honoured to serve as a Judge of the region’s highest court. Our Caribbean Court of Justice plays a pivotal role in advancing the rule of law in CARICOM and building Caribbean jurisprudence. I will work assiduously with my colleagues in service of the Court’s mission to provide accessible, fair and efficient justice for the people and States of the Community.
Mme Justice Ononaiwu’s appointment fills the vacancy left by Mr Justice Jacob Wit, one of the first judges appointed to the Court, who retired in December 2023 and passed away in January 2024. The RJLSC will, in due course, announce the appointment of another Judge and the Court’s fourth President, who will succeed Mr Justice Andrew Burgess and Mr Justice Saunders, respectively, upon their retirements in 2025.
(Source: CCJ)
Justice Chantal Ononaiwu becomes the third woman to serve on the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
Below: Justice Adrian Saunders, President of the CCJ is due to retire in 2025.
in 2025.
SVGFF Executive member resigns
SEVEN MONTHS after being elected as one of five Committee Members of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation- Ms Koyana Horne has resigned from the Otashie Spring-led Executive.
In a letter released Wednesday, October 30, 2024, Horne outlined some of the reasons that led to her parting ways.
Among the prompts were the involvement of past President- Venold Coombs at Excuetive meetings; a visibly divided Executive Committee; the selection of committees and issues of internal communication.
Outlining the chronology of the events that led to her decision, Horne sequenced: “The first eye opener was the decision of the president to express his desire to seek outside counsel, in the form of Mr Venold Coombs and have him attend Executive meetings. This was met with rejection, however, he maintained that he would be his
personal advisor”.
Horne underlined that she had “no personal problems with Mr Coombs”, but saw the decision of his intimate involvement in the administration of Football, as “reckless”.
Coombs was banned FIFA Ethics Committee in 2018, and fined US$ 40 000, for the part he played in the sale of tickets for the 2014 World Cup.
But it was not until last year when Coombs agreed to pay the fine in installments, that his ban was lifted
Also irksome to Horne, was the “segregation within the Council, the setting up of an Executive within the Executive, labelling it as an Emergency Committee, as opposed to simply having emergency meetings”.
Horne further revealed that some “decisions” were made without an invitation to all Council members to part take.
She also disclosed that discussions were often misrepresented in the
Minutes (of meetings).
“The misrepresentation of the discussions held and agreements made at meetings are written as Council Minutes. Statements without context and paddings of unheard discussions comprise these legal documents. Not to mention proclamations passed as decisions made”, Horne lamented.
Further, she cited the questionable setting up of the committees with the alleged affiliations of the members selected and the possible breach of Article 45.4 of the Statutes.
“The increased number of members on some of the committees increases the finances allocated to cover this administrative aspect of the organization. Then committees were activated without Terms of References and mandates”, she vented.
But Horne highlighted that Communication was the most critical among her peeves.
“Meetings which are called without
Koyana Horne cited a litany of reasons for her resignation. There has been no response from the SVGFF.
adequate notice, and an objection to timing is simply noted as an excused absence from the meeting. There seems to be no coordination for meeting times but a dictatorship as to when they will happen.
Communication is the icing on top of the cake. Internally, there seems to be a rationing of information n on a ‘need to know’ basis”, Horne concluded. The SVGFF Secretariat is yet to respond to Horne’s resignation.
COSAGO bestows Independence honours
Story and photos by
NELSON A. KING
US CORRESPONDENT naking@verizon.net
THE BROOKLYN, New Yorkbased umbrella Vincentian group in the United States, Council of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Organizations, U.S.A., Inc. (COSAGO), on Sunday honored its former president Laverne McDowald-Thompson and Vincentian mas band in Brooklyn, Mas Productions Unlimited.
The honours were bestowed during COSAGO’s Gala 45th Independence Anniversary Luncheon.
“I acknowledge our honorees, Laverne McDowald-Thompson, for her outstanding humanitarian efforts in the community and Mas Productions Unlimited for promoting the arts and culture, particularly among the youth,” said COSAGO President Crispin Friday, who succeeded McDowaldThompson.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Consul General to the United States Rondy McIntosh, under whose auspices the Gala Luncheon was held, applauded COSAGO in recognizing “those among us who play vital roles in keeping the Vincy spirit alive.
“Let me take this opportunity to congratulate your honorees, Mrs. Laverne McDowald-Thompson and Mas Productions Unlimited, for their love and enduring sacrifice,” McIntosh said.
McDowald-Thompson
McDowald-Thompson, COSAGO president for 15 successive years, now serving as vice president, is a former public-school teacher in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
She migrated to the United States in 1990, worked full-time and attended college in
evenings, graduating cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from City College of New York (CUNY).
McDowald-Thompson said she started volunteering and giving back to her community at the tender age of 15, and began her leadership role in the St. David’s Anglican Church in her native Chateaubelair as a Sunday School teacher. She was president of the Anglican Youth Movement (AYM) and also the secretary of the North Leeward Teachers Union Branch.
Prior to becoming president of COSAGO, she was vice president and chairperson of the Church Service Committee for two years.
She currently serves as chairperson of the Fundraising Committee, and serves on the Brooklyn-based SVG Relief Committee of New York and the Vincy Day USA Committee.
She also served as a member of the Brooklynbased Caribbean American Renal Failure Relief Fund, founded in 2002 to assist Caribbean nationals suffering from renal disease, and on the SVG Diaspora Committee of New York.
As president of the Chateaubelair Development Organization (CDO), McDowald-Thompson leads efforts in providing educational support to children and rendering humanitarian aid to natives in her home town.
“Standing here today, it’s a privilege; it’s a privilege not because I have the right or because I’m a member of the Council of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Organization, or because I’m being honored on the annual celebration of independence of our nation, SVG, it is because God has kept me,” said McDowaldThompson, who was
introduced by her close friend, Curlina Hills, executive member of COSAGO.
Mas Production –Wesley Millington
Mas Productions Unlimited (MPU) was founded in 1992 by a group of Vincentians, whose primary goal was to “reintroduce a Vincentian presence in the annual Labor Day Caribbean Carnival, and an overall goal of promoting all things cultural in the Vincentian community in New York,” according to co-founder, band leader and designer Wesley Millington.
Band; Junior “Melbourne” Constance; Ozzie Constance; and the late Vincentian mas designer and band leader Julian “Pilling” Pollard.
“Mas Productions
Millington said the first mas band was produced in 1993, and that MPU has participated in the Brooklyn-based West Indian American Day Carnival every year since, with the exception of the two years that New York City was plagued with the COVID19 pandemic.
“This has made MPU the longest running Vincentian mas band in New York and, as a matter of fact, one of the oldest continuous participating bands in the New York Carnival,” said Millington, who was introduced by executive member of COSAGOO’Brien Simmons.
Millington said MPU has also participated in New York’s Long Island Carnival, and has produced costumes for St. Vincent and the Grenadines Organization of Pennsylvania (SVGOP) for the Philadelphia Carnival.
Additionally, Millington said MPU has had “association” with the Brooklyn-based Dynamite Calypso Tent and several members of the Vincentian mas community, including Ricardo “Puzzle” Grant, now MPU’s resident builder; Kamal Aleem, formerly of Wizards Mas
Laverne Mc-Dowald-Thompson has personified what service to others is all about.
Left: Wesley Millington and the MPU has ensured a Vincentian presence in the
Unlimited appreciates the support they have enjoyed thus far, and looks forward to the continued support of the community, as they strive to maintain a presence in the cultural
life of the Vincentian Diaspora,” Millington said.
Patrons at Sunday’s ceremony were entertained by DJs SupaEyes and EZ Sounds, as well as by artistes Dennis Bowman and Abena Amory.
annual West Indian Carnival in New York City.
Public Servants can contest elections
THE ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES Parliament, on Tuesday 29th October, gave the nod to legislation allowing public servants to contest national or local elections and suffer no loss of employment or benefits, if they are unsuccessful at the polls.
Gonsalves said that at the time of independence, many people contended that people up to a certain level in the teaching, police and the public service as well as the medical and nursing professions should be allowed to contest elections, without having to resign their posts and lose all accrued benefits, whether they win or lose.
Gonsalves, who is also the Minister of National Security, said it was clear that no one “who is clothed with authority in respect of security” should be allowed to contest elections.
Among these, he mentioned police officers, Maritime Administration staff or offices “where you can use your authority to do something with an individual’s liberty or with their property”.
He told legislators that the “narrow group” of public servants to be barred from contesting elections also includes legal officers and people in senior positions in the government, such as permanent secretaries and heads of departments.
Despite the change in the law, magistrates, registrars, legal officers, the deputy director of audits, deputy
Prime Minster Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who piloted the amendment to the Representation of the People Act (RPA) that received bi-partisan support, said that the principle behind it “has had a gestation period since independence” in 1979.
accountant general, deputy controller of customs and exercise, the deputy comptroller of inland revenue, the deputy supervisor of elections and the director of Maritime Administration are barred from contesting national elections without resigning their posts.
Diplomats, assistant directors of public prosecution, the chief agricultural officer, the chief engineer,
the chief education officer and other senior positions “all the way down to Supervisor of Elections” also cannot contest national elections without resigning their posts.
A public servant who wishes to contest an election must be absent on leave during the election. To do so, they can take accrued leave or leave without pay. (Source: Loop News)
CBI: Ragguette out, Niles in
RAGGUETTE,long-standing Chairman of the Carnival Bands Incorporated (CBI) of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, formerly the Carnival Bands Association (CBA), has been replaced.
Following the elections for a new executive held as part of the CBI’s Triennial Conference at the Peace Memorial Hall in Kingstown on Tuesday October 22nd, 2024, Garth Niles, of Blondie Bird and Friends Mas Band, was elected chairman.
Niles has been an active member of the CBI dating back to its CBA years.
He will have as executive members:
Deputy Chairman — Ms. Alvern Cadogan
Secretary — Mrs. Petra Pompey
Treasurer — Mr. Leroy Rose Jr
Asst Secretary/Treasurer — Ms.
Alicia Sardine
Public Relations Officer — Mr. Duane Jack Band Leaders’ Representative — Mrs. Verlene Ralph-James Committee Members
In addition to holding the elections, the Conference received the Executive’s Report, and debated and passed several motions.
Making his debut Chairman’s address, Niles outlined several initiatives he would like to see materialize and listed as a priority item the acquiring a home for Mas bands.
The CBI was incorporated in July 2019.
SVG population shows decline
THE POPULATION of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has declined by some 11.4% over the past 24 years. This is according to PAHO who, in tracing the population movement between 2000 and 2024, said that SVG’s population was 113,545 in 2020 but had declined to 100,616 in 2024, accounting for the percent decline as cited.
PAHO profile on the multi-island state
indicated, “In 2024, individuals aged 65 and older represented 11.9% of the total population, marking an increase of 4.9 percentage points since the year 2000.”
In 2024, PAHO data indicates that there were 96.4 women for every 100 men and 55.9 older individuals (aged 65 years or older) for every 100 children under 15 years of age”.
PAHO indicates that individuals aged 15 to
64, accounting for 66,8% of the population (67.229 individuals) in 2024, are considered potentially active, meaning they could participate in the labour force.
In 2024, life expectancy at birth was recorded at 71.4 years, which is lower than the average for the Region of the Americas and shows an increase of 1 year compared to 2000, when it was 70.4 years.
(Source: PAHO)
HUGH
The new CBI executive (front from left): Jamal Jacobs, Cleopatra Weekes, Gath Niles, Alvern Cadogan, , Alicia Sardine, Kelly-Anne Neverson and Hugh Raguette; (back from left): Duane Jack, Petra Pompey, Leroy Rose and Verlene Ralph-James.
Prime Minsiter Dr. Ralph Gonsalves tabled the bill that got bi-partisan support to give some categories of public servants the right to contest national elections.
Cheating with my sister
Dear George,
I LIVE IN St. Vincent and my older sister lives in Brampton, Ontario.
My boyfriend went to Canada for a vacation and I made sure they met one another. That was the biggest mistake of my life!
He stayed with her two days and in that time she slept with him. It was only after she contacted me about her possibly being pregnant and I confronted my boyfriend that he told me the story.
According to him, while he was sleeping she got into his bed and began doing things to him. He said he thought he was in St. Vincent and it was me he was making love to. He said she forced him to discharge in her. He told me she contacted him and told him she may be pregnant but she was not one hundred percent sure.
As children growing, my sister always wanted what I had. I cannot believe she would do this to me. This has caused me to drift apart from her and my boyfriend.
However, I cannot fault him totally because you can say she raped him in a way. I need your advice on how to handle this.
Confused and Angry.
Dear Confused and Angry,
I am sorry but your boyfriend is an adult. I am not buying that she forced him to continue even after he would have recognised it was not you who was in the bed with him. He had the choice to put an end to her advances. He did not and therefore must take full responsibility for going as far as he did with your sister.
Your sister did cross the line. As for the pregnancy she hinted about you, you have to get concrete scientific evidence that she is pregnant, and that the child belongs to your boyfriend.
In the meantime, you need to have a serious sit-down with your boyfriend about limits and commitment. You need to know that he is serious about the relationship and enough to ignore all temptation that may or will come his way.
Try not to let this incident cause a wedge between you and your sister even though she ought to be called out for encroaching on what’s yours.
George
Too easy with men
Dear George,
MY FRIENDSall tell me
I love foolishly and allow men to use me.
I have had nine boyfriends in the past year. Most of them left after they got what they wanted — sex.
I was born with a knockout body, and they come at me professing love but quickly disappear after they sleep with me a few times.
You see, George, I cannot be alone for too long without falling in love. I hate to be lonely, but the men nowadays are not honest.
Frustrated.
Dear Frustrated,
You need to understand what love really is. You also need to learn the difference between love and sex partners.
When a man honestly confesses love to you, he will not be in any rush to get between your legs; he will respect your wishes to delay any sexual activities until you are comfortable enough, and you are convinced about his commitment to you and even to marriage. This approach will help you to stop the hemorrhage of men through your life.
George
Sex is uncomfortable
Dear George,
MY BOYFRIEND’s package is way too big. He is a good man and everything but I cannot handle what God has given him and I have told him so.
Sex with him is extremely uncomfortable and no fun. I cry all the time even when he tries to be gentle. This, as I told him, is the opposite to the times before I met him, when I found much pleasure in love making.
I am thinking of ending the relationship, but he does not want me to. I love him, George,
but I’m afraid he will have to go.
Can’t Take It.
Dear Can’t Take It,
At least you have been honest with your boyfriend and that’s a good thing. Sex, even though it is an integral part, is not all to a relationship. For what it is worth, maybe you should see a sex therapist before deciding on cutting the rope. However, the call is yours to make. In the final analysis, you have to do what you have to do.
George
Leisure
ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20)
Confronting a situation will only result in indignation and misunderstandings. It's time to get yourself back on track. Try a barbecue or a day at the beach. Plans to make physical improvements may lead to psychological changes, too.
TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21)
Go out with friends and avoid the situation on the home front. It might be best to work on your own; if possible, do your job out of your home this week. You can make rewarding connections through the organized groups you associate with. You need to spend some time with individuals who have more experience than you.
GEMINI (May 22-June 21)
There will be hidden matters that you may find disturbing. You can expect to have a problem with your lover. Don't put off the things that they have asked you to do. This day was meant for love. Make creative changes to your residence. Enjoy a quiet dinner for two and discuss some of the plans you have for the future.
CANCER (June 22-July 22)
You need to do more things that you enjoy. Finish projects that have been hanging over your head. Don't overspend or give too freely to others. You have a tendency to think that no one else will do things properly.
LEO (July 23-Aug 22)
You may be able to get some good advice about your personal problems. You should avoid getting involved in the personal problems of colleagues. Lay your cards on the table regarding your personal direction. Your emotions are fluctuating, so be careful not to say things you'll regret.
VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23)
You can write beautiful love letters this week. Be willing to listen, but don't be fooled. You may be emotionally unstable if you let someone you care about get away with verbal abuse. Arguments may flare up in your home.
LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23)
If you take on too much, you will find your self in martyrdom. Changes involving your domestic scene may be unpleasant. You will have to control the way you feel. You may find that your quick wit and charm will help you in obtaining allies.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22)
Rid yourself of that which is old and no longer of use. Your leadership qualities will come in handy. Don't avoid your true feelings. Set your goals and stick to your guns.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21)
You can meet someone who will become very dear to you if you get out and socialize. You need to take a good look at all sides of an issue before making a decision. If you can't get ahead in the company you're with, perhaps it's time to move on. Do not overspend on entertainment.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20)
Travel should be on your agenda. Be sure to find out all you can before you commit to anything. Although it does look promising, be careful not to overextend yourself or you will lose in the long run. Sudden changes at home will affect family members more than you anticipated.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19)
Involvement in financial schemes will be followed by losses. You should not be concerned with coworkers who insist on spreading rumors. You are best to keep your money tied up in a safe and secure place. Your mate may not have been honest with you.
PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20)
You may get upset with peers or relatives. Get involved in jobs that require creative input. You can win points with both peers and superiors. Don't expect new acquaintances to be completely honest about themselves. You may find a rare antique this week.
ACROSS
1.City abodes (abbr.)
5. Yellow vehicle
8. Mr. Crosby
12. Café au__
13. Select
14. Swear
15. Grape site
16. Nightclub feature
17. Actor Hackman
18. Pranks
20. Goads (2 wds.)
22. Canucks’ gp.
23. Prior to (prefix)
24. More impudent
28. Flawless
32. __ crossroads (2 wds.)
33. Computer game format (hyph.)
35. Play division
36. Coffee type
38. Stung
40. FBI worker (abbr.)
42. __ cream
43. Taste
46. Sir Isaac
50. Ear part
51. GI’s club
53. Sailor’s greeting 54. Fifty-fifty
55. Gymnast Mary __ Retton
56. Demolish
57. Marries
58. Gridiron units (abbr.)
59. Atkins, e.g.
DOWN
1.Thomas __ Edison
2. Suffering
3. Color
4. Beer mugs
5. Long, runnered coaster
6. __ creek (2 wds.)
7. Throat infection
8. Did a supermarket job
9. Singer Burl
10. Taboo (hyph.)
11. Dancer Verdon 19. Cub’s home
21. Facial expression 24. Yosemite
25. From __ Z (2 wds.)
26. Cul-de-__
27. Amtrak and Conrail (abbr.)
29. __ crow
30. Air hero
31. 1970s midsize
Ford
34.Portentous
37. Safe places
39. Word on a “Wanted” poster
41. Really 43. Emulated Superman
44. Romantic feeling
45. Sleeping 47. Siamese, now 48. Seep
49. No, to Yuri
52. Pregrown lawn
Residents in Haiti’s capital flee homes
AGANGattack in Port-au-Prince forced residents to flee their homes on Saturday as the gangs operating in and around the Haitian capital ramp up attacks on areas they do not yet control.
Smoke from gunfights billowed above the capital’s Solino neighborhood, where fleeing residents strapped mattresses, furniture, cooking supplies and other possessions to trucks.
Others fled on foot carrying what belongings they could.
Gangs have been escalating their attacks on a number of towns in and around the capital, where much of the city and its suburbs are under the control of various violent armed groups united under a common alliance known as Viv Ansanm.
In Solino, thousands of residents have been displaced in recent days,
including people who had previously been displaced from other neighborhoods, the U.N.’s World Food Programme (WFP) said in a press conference on Friday.
The total number of displaced people in Haiti has doubled in the past three months to almost 700,000, the WFP said.
“I can’t count the number of times I’ve left my house ... Every time I arrive in a new area, I run away,” said one man who did not wish to be identified.
Exasperated Solino resident Kettelie Morose, who said she suffers from hypertension and other illnesses, said that “bandits” had kicked her out of her home.
“I’m responsible for several children and I don’t know what to do,” she said.
Haiti’s security crisis continues to fuel the Caribbean nation’s humanitarian disaster. The World Food Programme said on Friday that 5.4 million Haitians, or roughly half of the population, is suffering from acute hunger, with pockets of famine-level hunger being reported among internally displaced people.
A U.N. helicopter aiding humanitarian efforts was hit by gunfire on Thursday while flying over Port-au-Prince, later landing safely, the WFP said.
While the U.N. authorized an international force to help Haiti’s police take back control from the gangs, the mission has been poorly resourced and has produced scant results. (Source: Reuters)
Violent protests persist in Martinique
NEWS REPORTSon October 23, 2024 told of protesters with automatic weapons targeting police and firefighters in the French Caribbean island of Martinique, during a fresh round of violent demonstrations.
No injuries were reported, but the government said in a statement that authorities were prevented from helping people during the protests that erupted late Tuesday in the community of Schoelcher, near the capital of Fort-de-France.
Flaming barricades were set up in the area as demonstrators once again protested against the high cost of living.
By Wednesday 29 October, international news agencies were reporting that protesters had torched cars and attacked police in a new night of trouble on the French Caribbean.
Indications were, said one report, that violent demonstrations over rising living costs showed no signs of abating.
The Martinique administration said seven cars had been burned and police attacked with stones and Molotov cocktails during unrest from late Monday into early Tuesday.
Four young people were arrested.
The protests began in September and prompted France to deploy special anti-riot police, known as the Companies for Republican Security, to Martinique, where officials also have imposed curfews.
Béatrice Bellay, a representative of the socialist party on the island, blasted the move, saying: “Martinique is not in a civil war, it is a social war.” She called for an “open and transparent dialogue” between protesters and the government.
Last week, government officials, importers, distributors and others signed a protocol aimed at reducing the price of basic goods and boosting local production, among other things. The government said the move would lead to an average reduction of 20% among the most consumed goods in Martinique.
Despite those measures, the protests have persisted, with one large activist group refusing to sign the protocol, saying the measures taken are insufficient.
Martinique has seen similar protests in recent years, many of them fueled by anger over what demonstrators say is economic, social and racial inequality. (Source: Reuters)
Gangs have returned to terrorise the capital’s population even as a Kenyanled security force operates there.
Thousands defy protest ban in Martinique even as France sends forbidden anti-riot force to the island.
45 years of Togetherness, Prosperity, and Perseverance
Continued from Page 10.
November; the December payment before Christmas 2024. This income support for the three months is expected to cost the government over $15 million. The government has already provided production support of $2 million to some 2,200 plantain and banana farmers, and $250,000 to 130 arrowroot farmers. Significant support in cash and kind have already been provided, too, for the households and students affected by Beryl. The $600 income support monthly will continue for a period in 2025, to be announced in Budget 2025.
Eleventh, for the three-month period, December 2024 to February 2025, a special Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA Special) of $175 monthly is to be rolled out for 3,000 means-tested, particularly vulnerable households costing $1.575 million ($525,000 monthly). This programme will be executed by the Ministry of National Mobilisation. The government will evaluate this programme after the initial roll-out with a view to a possible continuation further into 2025.
Twelfth, the government is ramping up its surveillance of those unscrupulous retailers who are reportedly engaged in price-gouging. The Consumer Protection Act and the Price and Distribution of Goods Act will be utilised to the fullest to curtail price gouging especially in the unusual situation occasioned by Hurricane Beryl.
Thirteenth, the duty-free concessions on “Christmas” barrels instituted unusually early as a result of Hurricane Beryl will continue to January 31, 2025.
Fourteenth, the government and the Police, through the Commissioner of Police, have reworked the numbers for the payment of all the police officers, from constable to Commissioner, for the extra provision of security during the recent T-20 Cricket World Cup competition in St.
Vincent and the Grenadines. The payout of approximately $500,000 to the Police will be effected shortly.
Fifteenth, the allowances for particular categories of public employees including aggrieved police officers, junior doctors, and some others, will be reviewed upwards for 2025. The details of these and other enhancements are to be provided in Budget 2025.
Sixteenth, the beefing up further of the institutions of the State charged with the maintenance of citizen security, including the Law Courts, the Police Force, the Coast Guard, the Prisons, and the National Commission on Crime Prevention. The details will be presented in Budget 2025.
Seventeenth, the following persons are being appointed as a Sporting or Cultural Ambassador: Shafiqua Maloney, as a Sporting Ambassador, an amazing athlete of exemplary resilience, as exemplified by her performance in the 800 metres women’s final at the Paris Olympics, 2024.
Jomel Warrican, the West Indies Test Cricketer, as a Sporting Ambassador. He is the second to be so-named from the distinguished Warrican family of Colonarie, following in the footsteps of Irvin Warrican, deceased.
As Sporting Ambassador, Fitzgerald John Hinds King, former national footballer, coach, a FIFA referee, and trainer of special athletes. He has been, too, a personality in the carnival culture for some forty years.
As Sporting Ambassador, too, Oalex Anderson, national footballer and outstanding youth personality.
As Cultural Ambassador, Alvern “Ali” Cadougan who has led the iconic Nelson Bloc Costume Band since 2003, the first woman to have led a mas band for such a prolonged period. Her earlier years were spent, too, in the cultural fields of dance and drama.
SVG Squash gives recognition
ON THE OCCASION OF THE COMMEMORATION of World Squash Day, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Squash Association (SVGSA) chose to recognize some standouts who served the sport well over the last year.
Toward this end, seven players were given plaques at a ceremony held last Saturday, October 26th, 2024, at the National Squash Centre, Paul’s Avenue.
Topping the list was Jayden George who was named the
Player of the Year.
George is the most decorated Junior Squash player, having won four titles at Junior Caribbean Area Sports Association (CASA).
At present, he is the reigning Junior CASA champion in the Boys’ Under-15 age group, having repeated the title he won in 2023, to add to his 2019 Under-11 title and 2022 Under13.
Other awardees at Saturday’s event were Ciara GeorgeSportsmanship, Nadira Morgan, for her Leadership, and Chloe Samuel who was recognised for her Determination.
Also, Aiden DeFreitas was highlighted for his exponential Improvement. Jules Snagg was named Coach of the Year and Roy DeFreitas took the Masters award.
Speaking at last Saturday’s brief ceremony, President of the SVGSA, Amber Glasgow, underscored the need for such recognition.
“As leaders, our goal is not only to instill our strengths in those we guide but also to inspire them to surpass those standards”, Glasgow proffered.
Whilst the spotlight shone on the awardees, the day’s activities also included friendly matches among players.
Additionally, parents got the opportunity to go on the courts and try their hand at Squash.
As the commemoration coincided with the celebration of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ 45th anniversary of political independence, the music and food that characterized the occasion were reflective of the Vincentian culture and heritage.
The event was supported by
The Patio and Tus-T Water. World Squash Day, 2024, was officially celebrated on October 12, but the SVGSA chose last Saturday, for a double celebration.
SVG to host OECS Swimming Championship
EIGHT YEARS AFTER HOSTING their first Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Swimming Championships, St. Vincent and the Grenadines will get its second turn, when the 2024 edition is convened at the Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre, November 8 to 10.
The heavily packed programme commences on Friday, November 8, with the Freestyle events, with the 8and-Under competing in the 100m, whilst the other age groups will do the 400m.
Then the evening sessions will have the 25m, 50m and 100m Breaststroke and Backstroke events.
Also listed for the evening session is the Opening Ceremony, as well as the 200m Medley Relay for 10-and-Under; 11-14 and 15-and-Over.
On the schedule for Saturday, are the 200m Freestyle, the 50m Breaststroke, as well as the 25m, 50m,
100m Butterfly; the 50 Freestyle and the 200m Mixed Relay.
On the final day, Sunday, are the 50m Backstroke and Butterfly, the 100m, 200m Individual Medley, along with the 25m and 100m Freestyle and the 10 and 4 x 50 Freestyle Relays.
The age groups are 8-and-Under, 910, 11-12, 13-14, 15-17 and 18-andOver.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ team will be looking to surpass their performance of 2023 in St. Lucia, when the country returned its best effort ever.
In last year’s outing, St. Vincent and the Grenadines pouched 92 individual medals - 29 gold, 33 silver and 30 bronze.
These were in addition to the relay medals: 2 gold, 6 silver and 3 bronze.
Overall, St. Vincent and the Grenadines placed third, with the males docking second and the femalesthird. Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada were joint winners in 2023.
The Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre will host the OECS Swimming Championship for the second time.
Jayden George
Ciara George
Chloe Samuel
Aiden DeFreitas
Jules Snagg
Roy DeFreitas
Nadira Morgan
SVGFF welcomes semi-pro Football initiative
THE ANNOUNCEMENTlast Sunday, October 27, 2024, by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph E. Gonsalves, that his government is fully onboard with incentivizing footballers for their efforts, has been welcomed by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF). Dr. Gonsalves, in his Independence Speech on Sunday at the Victoria Park, revealed that his government, in conjunction with the private sector and the SVG Football Federation (SVGFF) is on board with a soon to be rolled out semi-professional Football League.
This he said, “to make sure that our young football players make some money while they are playing Football”.
Responding to the proposal, President of the SVGFF - Otashie Spring welcomed it, and sees it as part of the progress of the sport.
“A player knows that it is not only his passion for the game that he can enjoy, but he can enjoy monetary reward as well… That is going to motivate the players, and once we have more motivated players, you are going to have players who are keener on training because now they are being remunerated”, Spring acknowledged.
Spring thinks that the standard of Football will see an upward pathway.
“It is going to raise the competitiveness and what you are going to find happening is that we are
going to have a semiprofessional product”, he opined.
President of the SVGFFOtashie Spring said the initiative is in keeping with his ‘campaign promises’.
Spring noted that the establishment of a semi-professional Football League was part of his campaign promises, but through the government’s initiative, it has been fast-tracked.
He noted that the semi-professional league is meshing well with the current infrastructure development, e.g. the lighting of playing facilities.
“We are seeing the infrastructural development, where there are three lighted facilities (which) can be used to play football. Prior to that, six months ago, we only had one”, Spring said.
Spring’s reference was to Victoria Park, Arnos Vale Playing Field and
the Brighton Playing Field, the latter on which the SVGFF has a lease hold.
And given the pace of development taking place, Spring is optimistic that two other playing fields will be lit before the end of 2025.
“We are on the right pathway, as my team promised leading up to our overwhelming election to progress the sport, and many things [that] are happening, point to those advancements”, Spring concluded.
Vincy Heat bracing for backlash
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES’senior men’s Football team- Vincy Heat, is bracing itself for some hostility from the El Salvador supporters, when they play their two matches in Group A of League C in the Concacaf Nations League (CNL) in El Salvador, later this month.
Vincy Heat’s Head CoachEzra Hendrickson did not hide
Ezra Hendrickson, Head Coach, seems to have breathed a new purpose into the game of the senior men’s Football team. (Photo Credit: FIFA)
his anticipation of a torrid time from the host fans, when his team meets Montserrat and Bonaire, November 14 and 17, respectively.
His predictions are based on what St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ historic 2-1 win over El Salvador, on Sunday, October 13, 2024, at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, means for the El Salvadorians at large.
Hendrickson reasoned: “Because we are neck and neck with them, their fans are going to come out and support Bonaire, they are going to support Montserrat when we play those teams, so it is going
Inter Secondary Football Round
GOING INTOthe break for the Independence Anniversary weekend celebrations, Central Leeward Secondary School (CLSS) had already made their presence felt in the 2024 Inter Secondary School Football Championship. Central Leeward and Troumaca-Ontario Secondary shared top honours, 9 points
each, in Group A of the Junior Division, ahead of Buccament Bay Secondary and Petit Bordel on 3 points each.
St. Martin’s and SVG Grammar school led Group B on 3 points each, with Thomas Saunders following on 1 point.
In Group C, West St. George led with 9 points, with Georgetown Secondary and
up
Sandy Bay Secondary on 3 points each.
In the Senior Division, Central Leeward with 9 points headed Group A, with Petit Bordel Secondary on 6 and Troumaca Ontario on 4 points.
In Group B, Intermediate High sat at the top with 9 points ahead of Bishops College Kingstown on 4 and St. Martins Secondary and Thomas Saunders Secondary both on 3 points. Group C leader was West St. George Secondary on 6 points followed by George Stephens Secondary and Georgetown Secondary on 3 points each.
to be away games the sense of, their fans are going to come out and make it seem that we are playing El Salvador”.
After the October window, El Salvador is on 9 points; St. Vincent and the Grenadines is on 6 points; Bonaire- 4 points and Montserrat- 3 points.
Acknowledging that the Central Americans are good at psychological warfare, Hendrickson admitted, “We have to weather that storm… We have to keep getting better between now and that first game”.
Accordingly, Hendrickson advanced that the Vincentian outfit has to tighten up some
aspects of their game.
“We have to make sure that the nuances, the inexperience that are hurting us sometimes in games, we have to show that up” Hendrickson proffered.
Both St. Vincent and the Grenadines and El Salvador have Montserrat and Bonaire in the November window.
Both St. Vincent and the Grenadines and El Salvador are looking to top Group A and earn a place in League of the next edition of the CNL. Additionally, up for grabs, is a direct ticket to the Concacaf Gold Cup.
In the round of matches before the break, in the Junior Division, Thomas
Central Leeward Secondary juniors.
Saunders Secondary School (TSSS) and Bequia Seventh Day Adventist played to 3-3 draw; Adelphi Secondary School beat Emmanuelle High School Mespo 4-1; Central Leeward Secondary defeated Petit Bordel Secondary 5-1; Troumaca Ontario Secondary beat Bethel High School 4-3.
In the Senior Division, Thomas Saunders Secondary beat Bequia Seventh Day Adventist 4-2; Buccament Bay
Central Leeward Secondary seniors.
Secondary outdid Dr. J.P. Eustace Memorial 5-0; Bishop’s College Kingstown beat Bequia Community High 2-1; Intermediate High School defeated St. Martin’s Secondary 3-0; Central Leeward Secondary edged out Petit Bordel 1-0.
I.B.A. ALLEN
Just reward
ANY ACCOLADESon our sporting personalities are justified. Shafiqua Maloney is proving that dreams can be fulfilled.
For Maloney, it is determination. She eclipsed the hometown favourite for the fourth spot, a phenomenal accomplishment at the last Olympics staged in France.
There was no other finalist from the Caribbean.
Oalex Anderson will step onto the field with an additional swagger the next time he appears in Vincy Heat colours. His recognition as Ambassador is just reward. He is a live wire of the Vincy Heat attack.
His speed, dribbling skills, all round strength, and tact make him a formidable character. He knows what he is capable of and his team can count on him. His combination with the experienced Cornelius Stewart makes for a dynamic duo. But Vincy Heat is a unit, which coach Ezra Hendrickson is molding.
A number of youngsters are showing their worth. With persons like Ian Sardine in the arena, there is bound to be an influx of talent. His has been a life of selfless application.
There is hardly a level of football development in which Sardine has not been involved. If there is a reserve of football information in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ian Sardine will rank among the most resourceful.
Anderson can easily be considered the standard bearer or poster boy as far as Vincentian football is concerned. And he will give you the impact of Sardine’s contribution.
And there are others worthy of acclaim as seen by our recent success against El Salvador.
Shakeem Adams may have just made his debut, but two goals in consecutive matches signifies an excellent record at senior football. He is not in the Ambassadorial column, but as long as his name shows on the goal list, his reward is not far off.
Fitzgerald King, also known as John Hinds, is an example of longevity. His figure belies his experience and contribution. He is a sporting and cultural enthusiast. His exploits in goal for St. Vincent and the Grenadines places him among the best the region has seen. Respected commentators will reflect on a particular performance in Martinique. It was an undersized field. The Martiniquais bombed the goal on countless occasions but they never penetrated, and the match ended goalless. Fitzgerald King was the only candidate for Player of the Match. Other aspects of his versatility highlight acts of national service.
There is reward for Jomel Warrican, the Vincentian born West Indies cricketer. These come in the spirit of national pride which peaks this season, but stand out as a hall mark of the Vincentian character.
LA Knights wins 3x3 BÊball
LA KNIGHTSproved they were the best team on show at the 2024 3x3 Independence Basketball Tournament, held at the Layou Hard Court on October 27 and 28.
The Knights sealed their superiority with victory in both the Round Robin and Knockout categories of the Tournament, with victory in each category over Northern Boys.
In the Round Robin, after a dead heat at 12 at the end of regulation time, LA Knights clinched victory with a 14-12 margin.
Victory was much easier for LA Knights in the Knockout category as they eased to a 15-9 win in regulation time.
There were two other teams in
the Tournament, Layou Pulse 1 and Layou Pulse 2, with Layou Pulse 2 emerging the better of the two.
Interestingly, it was the first time a 3x3 Basketball Tournament was held in Layou, the home of internationally acclaimed basketballer Sophie Young.
(L-R): Osric Lynch, Osinuga Oladunni, Junior Peters and Daniel DeZeon - overall winners of the Independence 3x3 Basketball Tournament.
3x3 Basketball features a number of differences from regular basketball. Among these are: each team has three players, while traditional basketball has five; games are played on half the size of a traditional court; teams have 12 seconds to make a shot, which is half the time compared to regular basketball games; the game is played for a maximum of 10 minutes, or until a team reaches 21 points; shots made inside the arc are worth one point (as against 2) and hots made outside the arc are worth two points (as against 3).
SGS, GHS win Tennis team titles
THE ST. VINCENT GRAMMAR SCHOOL and the St. Vincent Girls’ High School comfortably retained the Boys and Girls Secondary Schools’ team titles respectively, when the St. Vincent Tennis Association held its 5th Annual Schools Tennis Invitational tournament from October 21st to 23rd, at the National Tennis Centre at Villa.
Nathanael Lawrence of the St. Martins Secondary school boys open category winner.
The St. Vincent Grammar School retained their title by defeating the St. Martins Secondary School to maintain their unbeaten record since the tournament started in 2019.
St. Vincent Girls’ High School’s triumph came at the expense of the West St. George Secondary school.
In the Open Boys Singles Secondary Schools category, Nathanael Lawrence of the St. Martins Secondary school took the top position.
Loukyha Premraj of the St. Vincent Girls’ High School, already a national Table Tennis Champion, took the open singles title among the girls.
In the primary division, Calliaqua Anglican School defeated the Kingstown Preparatory School to take the title for the first time, with Pamelus Burke Government School in third position.
Pamelus Burke also claimed the Most Disciplined School Award while the Kingstown Anglican School won the Best Dress Award.
Stories: I.B.A. ALLEN
St. Vincent Girls High school retained their girls’ title. Loukyha Premraj, girls open category winner, is pictured at left.
St. Vincent Grammar School retained their boy’s title.
Caine shines in Tennis Tournament
NINE-YEAR-OLD Nakayda Caine continued to attract the attention of tennis enthusiasts when she walked away with three awards, as the Fuzion Tennis Academy’s 5th Annual Junior Tennis Invitational Tournament concluded at the National Tennis Centre at Villa, on the weekend.
Caine took the Girls age 10 category, stepped up to take the Under-12 and was awarded the Most Improved Player award.
Meanwhile, Zayden Charles continued his good showing by taking the Boys 10s category.
In the Girls 14s category, Danelle Kennedy beat Olivia Aussi to take the title, and Ethan Kent defeated Krish Puga to retain the Boys title.
This year, the Fuzion Tennis Academy is celebrating its 9th year of contribution to the growth of Tennis in SVG.
Nakayda Caine proudly displays here silverware.
Man loses mother and brother
LOSINGa mother and brother in the space of three months is one of the hardest things any human can endure.
Notwithstanding, this is the reality of Romarl John, of Murray Village, after his mother and brother were shot to death, mere months apart.
On July 13, 2024, Romarl lost his brother Jomarl, who succumbed to bullet wounds inflicted by a masked gunman, while at his place of business in ‘Pole Yard’, Arnos Vale.
On October 29, 2024, Romarl’s mother, Marilyn John, a 48-year-old vendor, died when three masked assailants opened fire on her, while she was seated in her vehicle not very far from her home in Murray Village.
In an interview with THE VINCENTIAN, Romarl said he was still recovering from his brother’s death when he got news that his mother was killed.
“My aunt called me and told me I will need to go and see my mother now, now, now at the hospital and it was very shocking,” Romarl recalled.
He said that he has spoken
with his mother the night she was killed and they were discussing visiting her sister as she was leaving for overseas.
“We were talking about getting something from her (Marilyn’s sister) for her father. We also spoke earlier during the day and someone met us and was talking
about elections in the area,” said the son as he recapped his last moments with his mom.
Marilyn wanted to ensure she was able to provide and care for her family and Romarl remembered that after his brother was killed, she wanted the other siblings to be careful.
“She was thinking that we better be careful and that things could happen, so we had to be aware of our surroundings. So I can say that she was thinking like, don’t trust nobody and remember that our lives could be at danger too,” Romarl said.
As it is now, the young man said he feels like his whole family has been destroyed.
“This has really left me shocked. Losing a mother feels like you don’t have anyone. She was always there making sure everything is okay and now she is no longer around,” he lamented. Romarl, adding that his mother death was going to affect her father and mother whom because, “she was the one taking care of them.” (KH)
Road fatality in Calliaqua
From Backpage
However, a source who was at the scene told THE VINCENTIAN that a car moving at a fast pace and heading in the direction of Kingstown, attempted to overtake a vehicle and in the process of doing so hit a gold SUV, causing it to lose control and hit Holder on the sidewalk.
“There was an ambulance passing with a patient, and the driver stopped to find out what happened. After he saw the serious nature of Holder’s injuries, he organized a private ride for the patient in the ambulance and assisted the nurses in getting him to the hospital. I really admired what he did, because somebody else might have passed straight,” said the source, who added that he had been told, though she could not determine the veracity of the statement, that a nurse was a passenger in one of the vehicles involved but she left the scene without offering any assistance.
Romarl John and his mother, Marilyn, on a special occasion.
AI REAL ESTATE
MOTHER KILLED:
GRANDSONS UNHARMED
Stories: KENVILLE HORNE
AWOMANwas shot to death in Paul Over, Murray Village, around 9:00 p.m on October 29, 2024, a police report confirmed.
The police report suggested that three masked assailants opened fire on Ms. Marilyn John, killing her in the process, while she was seated, along with her grandsons, in her vehicle. No other occupants of the vehicle
were injured.
The fatal shooting is said to have taken place near to Ms. John’s home. She was pronounced dead on the scene of the shooting by the District Medical Officer.
Ms. John, familiarly known as ‘Maro’, operated a business in the vicinity of Randy’s Supermarket in Arnos Vale.
Interestingly, Ms. John’s death comes three months or so after her son, Jomarl John, a 30year-old vendor of ‘Pole Yard’, was fatally shot on July 13, 2024.
Jason St. Rose, a 17year-old St. Vincent Grammar School student, was also fatally shot in that incident,
during which 63-year-old Sylvanus Matthias also received non-threatening bullet wounds to his legs.
John and St. Rose were residents of ‘Pole Yard’.
Marilyn John’s shooting death, counted as the 39th homicide for the year so far, is the fourth to have occurred in Murray Village since April.
Zenroy ‘Chucky Lee was shot dead in April, his brother Zeno Lee was killed in June, and Dwayne Jacobs’ bulletridden body was discovered on the banks of what is referred to as the Paul Over River, also in June. (Related story on Page 31)
ROAD FATALITY IN CALLIAQUA
A
RESIDENTof Villa is this country’s latest road fatality.
According to a report
from the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, the (RSVGPF), it is conducting an investigation into a fatal traffic accident that occurred on October 28, 2024, in Calliaqua.
“According to preliminary reports, police responded to an incident where a motor vehicle struck pedestrian
William Holder, a 44-year-old male resident of Villa, while he was on the sidewalk,” the police report stated.
Holder sustained severe
injuries to his lower extremities and was transported by ambulance to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH), where he later succumbed to his injuries.
In extending condolences on social media many highlighted the situation as unfortunate, some alleging that the deceased was in the right and his family should be compensated for the loss.
A video circulated on social media showed Holder moments before his death. He appeared to be in excruciating pain and his bloodied feet looked to be mangled.
Amidst allegations
First responders did their best to attend to Holder’s wounds.
that a police officer might have been behind the wheel of one of the vehicles involved in the incident, THE VINCENTIAN reached out to the Public Relations and Complaints Department of the RSVGPF for verification. Personnel there promised to relay the information when it became available.
Continued on Page 31.
Marilyn John and her sons (Jomarl is 2nd from right) in happier times.
Marilyn John was known to have resisted efforts to have her removed from her place of business in Arnos Vale.
William Holder was hit at a spot which he would have traversed on many occasions.
