THE VINCENTIAN PDF -22-11-24

by KENVILLE HORNE

THREE MALES were shot to death in the space of three days, pushing the homicide count to 44. This figure exceeds the 2022 (42) count by two and falls short, to date, by 11 over the 2023 record figure of 55.

Brent Hackshaw

ANOTHER BLOODY WEEKEND

Sometime after 9am on Friday 15th November, Cornelius Hacksaw, aka Brent, who was said to be originally from the Campden Park-Questelles area but resided recently in Arnos Vale, was shot at the Young Island dock, Villa.

A source said Hackshaw was on the dock when a car pulled up and an unknown man exited the vehicle. The man opened fire on Hacksaw, hitting him multiple times about his body. The gunman calmly re-entered the vehicle, which then left the scene.

A sign was found near Hacksaw body as it lay on the jetty. The sign read, “When you owe pay”, and at least one person ventured to say that it was left by the gunman.

The area is one of the country’s main tourist and hospitality centres of activity.

Jelani John

The following day, Saturday 16th November, during the early morning hours, Jelani John, aka Bolo, 37, of Fairbaine Pasture, was shot to death in the community.

His bullet-ridden body was discovered in a neighbour’s yard sometime between 6 and 7am, leading some residents to conclude that he might have been shot elsewhere and had tried to escape.

John, no stranger it appeared to the world of violent crime, had only recently been discharged from

the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital where he had undergone treatment after being shot.

The surgical cast that hugged the top part of his body as he lay motionless on Saturday told the story of the injuries he sustained four days before he ultimately met his death.

One Fairbaine Pasture resident said there might be many people who would feel a sense of ease and comfort, as bad as it sounds, by John’s death.

That person described John as “provoking.. always in your face… who behaved this way because people said he looked like the Chinese Movie star Bolo (Yeng) who always played ‘Bad Johns’ in his movies.”

Romano Durham

The spate of killings killing continued in the West Kingstown community of Edinboro.

Sometime between 10 and 11am on Sunday 17th November, 24-year-old Romano Durham, also referred to as ‘Killa Bean’ and ‘Spookie’, was sitting under a shed in his community of Edinboro, when a gunman appeared and opened fire, hitting Durham about his body, a source told THE VINCENTIAN.

Information received said that Durham made an attempt to run but did not escape the

John (photo unavailable) was shot four days before he was shot again and put down for good.

Meanwhile, some residents of Fairbaine Pasture say theywill feel safer now that Jelani ‘Bolo’

gunman, who ensured that Durham was dead by pumping more bullets into him as he fell to the ground.

The incident is said to have occurred in the vicinity of the Edinboro hard court not far from where the deceased lived.

Members of the community were for the most part tight-

lipped about the incident, save and except to say that they hoped Durham’s death was not the beginning of a resurgence of violent crime in the communities of Top Edinboro and neighbouring Ottley Hall. Police investigations into the three shooting deaths are ongoing.

John is gone.

Conelius Brent Hackshaw was gunned down at the usually well-patronised Young Island Dock.

Romano ‘Spookie’ Durham was shot to death in the community which he resided.

Jelani ‘Bolo’

V News 3

128 lots distributed

THE GOVERNMENT OF ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES on Friday 15th November, 2024 distributed letters of right to purchase, for 128 lots of lands to residents in the North Windward constituency.

The handing over ceremony was held at Langley Park, Georgetown, and heard addresses from government officials.

MP for North WindwardMontgomery Daniel, described the occasion as another historic moment for the constituents of North Windward.

“There is no doubt in my mind that the lands will be transformed in a much better way, for the life and living of our people,” he told the gathering and reminded then that the education revolution

and housing development are the hallmarks of the ULP administration.

Daniel assured those who would occupy and develop the plots that roads will be built in the area at an estimated cost of $6 million, and $5 million is to be spent on the establishment of a sports facility in the area.

One resident of Sandy Bay contacted THE VINCENTIAN on Monday 18TH November to remind us that there was a ground breaking ceremony for the Langley Park Playing Field as far back as October 2020.

The land for distribution in Langley Park, measured a total of nine acres and was land previously used for operations related to the banana industry, according to

MP Daniel.

Daniel said distribution letters are to be handed out for ninety-four (94) lots of land at Langley Park, and 34 lots at Orange Hill. The lands are being sold to the new owners at $2 per square foot.

Minister of Housing Dr. Orando Brewster, one of the newcomers to the ULP CABINET, using the backdrop of the most recent land distribution event by the Unity Labour Party (ULP) government, said that the development of the country has advanced by leaps and bounds, under the ULP administration.

Feature speaker, Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, assured the future occupants that the government will facilitate the installation of utilities. “We will bring water here, and we will bring electricity here,” Gonsalves declared, adding, “It is only a government which is

concerned about the welfare of the people that can carry out exercises of this kind.”

To conclude what was an address deliberately skewed towards reminding the North Windward constituents of the presence of the ULP in their lives, and the threat to that stability that the opposition New Democratic party brings, Dr. Gonsalves declared: “Never before in the history of St Vincent and the Grenadines have the poor and the marginalized received lands the way we have distributed them.”

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves used the opportunity to address the event, to remind the North Windward residents about the extent to which his administration has positively impacted their lives.

And with his eye on the next general election, he made it as clear and in a language that all could understand, that only the ULP could deliver on a promise to distribute lands

and bring housing to the those in need in SVG.

The government, he said, is expected to distribute more lands in different communities, going forward.

(KH)

Consultation on building bridges

THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE, Economic Planning and Information Technology, in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, Works, Land and Surveys and Physical Planning will host a community consultation regarding the construction of the permanent Noel and Overland bridges.

The consultation will be held on the grounds of the Fundamental Bible Church, Noel, on Tuesday, 26 November 2024 and begins at 3 p.m. It will feature remarks by Prime

Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and Area Representative and Minister of Transport, Works, Land and Surveys and Physical Planning Montgomery Daniel.

VEEP’s objective is to support efforts for restoration and delivery of the critical services and support resilient reconstruction in response to the April 2021 explosive eruptions of the La Soufriére Volcano.

The construction of the bridges is a part of VEEP’s second component, which is

restoration and “build back better” of critical services, strengthening of emergency preparedness and response capacity, and improving the road network and will enable the communities to have better access to public services and capitalize on opportunities for advancement.

This two-lane bridge system with footpaths will provide continuous access from one village to another, cross uneven ground and obstacles, so that residents can conduct their daily activities without disruptions.

Division (Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Information

& the Ministry of Transport, Works Land and Surveys and Physical Planning. (Source: VEEP)

The construction of the Noel and Overland bridges is a collaborative effort between the Economic Planning

Technology)/VEEP

The Construction of bridges is an integral part of the overall programme of rebuilding and restoration after the volcanic eruption of 2021.

Some among the large crowd at Langley Park would have come to accept their ‘Distribution Letters’.

A visibly overjoyed recipient accepts her ‘Distribution Letter’ from Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

Prisoners concerned about safety on release

Acting Superintendent of Prisons Dwayne Bailey made it clear that prison authorities do not have to power to extend prison sentences.

Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

INMATES at the local prison facilities are apparently concerned about their safety after the

completion of sentences and their release.

Shawn Tannis of Lowmans Leeward, currently serving a prison sentence but is scheduled for release early next year. told the court on Monday that some prisoners feel that it is safer for them to remain behind bars, and are even asking for extended sentences, because of the increasing number of murders on the outside.

Tannis made the claim when he stood as a complainant in a wounding matter against Serano Phillips, also of Lowmans Leeward.

When THE VINCENTIAN asked Tannis for a comment as he left the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court in police custody, he said, “We are asking for an extension of time because outside have too many murders.”

However, when contacted on Tuesday, Acting Superintendent of Prisons Dwayne Bailey made it clear that no prisoner has made any request to the prison authorities to have their

sentences extended.

Even if such a request was made, Bailey noted that the prison authorities do not have the power to extend prison sentences passed by the court, and the state cannot keep a person in prison longer than the time ordered by the court.

The Acting Superintendent explained further that each prisoner is given an automatic one-third discount on their sentence, on entry into the prison.

The prison authorities, he said, can give additional sentences, after the one-third discount was made, if prisoners breach the prison rules, but while these sentences can be set for up to a month, they cannot exceed the time given by the court.

That said, the acting prison boss did admit that it was brought to his attention, that there has been some talk going around the prison to the effect that some prisoners are saying that it may be safer for them to stay in prison than to be released, because of the rise in the murder rate in SVG.

Court closure causing delays

PRISONERS AT HIS MAJESTY’S PRISONS awaiting trial are concerned about delays in the hearing of their matters, due to the closure of High Court 1.

This is according to Acting Superintendent of Prisons Dwayne Bailey, while speaking to THE VINCENTIAN on Tuesday.

Bailey said that the situation had led to some prisoners who have matters listed for High Court trial, making inquiries with regard to the delay in the hearing of those matters.

High Court 1 has not been sitting since September of this year, following the retirement of Justice Brian Cottle, who presided over that court.

Justice Cottle retired in July of this year, resulting in Justice Rickie Burnett becoming the lone judge to preside over criminal matters up to press time on Thursday.

High Court 1, located on the lower floor of the old Parliament Building, sat for the last time on September 24, 2024 to accommodate the High Court arraignment which was presided over by Justice Burnett.

Lawyers attending that sitting

Prisoner begs for his assailant

A PRISONER, on Monday, pleaded with the court not to send the man who was charged with wounding him to prison.

The defendant, Serano Phillip of Lowmans Leeward, pleaded guilty to wounding Shawn Tannis also of Lowmans Leeward, who is currently serving a prison sentence which is expected to be completed next year.

Phillips was charged after he used a glass bottle to strike Tannis in his head, during an altercation at Lowmans Bay on December 27, 2021.

When Senior Magistrate Tammika McKenzie inquired of Tannis about his recommendation with regard to sentence and compensation, he told the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court not to send Phillip to prison, expressing the view that “It don’t make sense.”

Tannis told the court, “All ah we does make mistakes,” adding that he was serving a sentence for a similar offence.

“It don’t make sense I sit down in jail watching he (Phillip), he sit down watching me, no better the beef, no better the barrel,” Tannis said.

On the issue of compensation, Tannis said he would accept $5,000, but the Magistrate ordered that Phillip compensate Tannis in the sum of $1,000 to be paid by March 3, 2025, or go to prison for one year.

Phillip was also fined $500 to be paid by December 18, 2024, or one year in prison.

Of the $500, he was ordered to pay $50 forthwith or three weeks.

In addition, Phillip was handed a oneyear suspended sentence.

Tannis left the stand smiling, seemingly having no problem with the Magistrate’s decision.

The historic Courthouse in Kingstown also served as the House of Assembly, but has had no real restorative or rehabilitative work in recent memory.

had voiced their indignation with the excessive heat occasioned by the absence of a functioning air conditioning unit (AC), and/or electric fans, as well as mold in the courtroom.

Justice Burnett presides over High Court 2, located in the D’Ville Plaza Building, Kingstown, and is the only High Court where criminal matters are being heard.

High Court 1 and 2 sat

simultaneously in an effort to ease the backlog of cases.

However, work is ongoing at the building which formerly housed the Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (BOSVG) on Bedford Street, Kingstown, where the High Court is expected to be temporarily located, pending the completion of the Halls of Justice facility at Murray’s Road, where all the courts are expected to be housed.

Trial date set for students

JANUARY 8, 2025is the trial date set for two secondary school students who have been charged with possession of an offensive weapon, to wit, a knife, in connection with an incident in Kingstown on November 7.

Senior Magistrate Tammika Mc Kenzie, sitting at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Monday, set the trial date, and ordered that the prosecution disclose all witness statements and other relevant material to the case by December 20, 2024.

She told the third formers, who were unrepresented, to collect the disclosure documents at the Central Police Station, and if they get a lawyer by then, to give them to their lawyer.

If they don’t get a lawyer, she advised them to read the documents in preparation for their trial.

The students, aged 17 and 18, had initially appeared at the Serious Offences Court on November 11, as the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court, where the matter was listed for hearing but was not sitting.

Attorney Grant Connell represented the students then, as a friend of the court.

The matter was adjourned to the following day at the Serious Offences Court, but was further adjourned and transferred to the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court.

Both students are on station bail.

Victim pleads for no jail time for his assailant.

Students showing awareness

The Mustique Primary School student team and teacher was among the Fair’s outstanding entrants.

School’s ‘Under

STUDENTS ARE SHOWING AWARENESS of conditions around them.

Evidence of that trend was shown at the recent VINLEC National Science Fair which rounded up Friday November 17. It was marked under theme: ‘Sustainability - securing a brighter future for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.’

Among the schools that were adjudged to be outstanding was the

Mustique Primary School. It’s Desalination Project with Xidan Joyette, Olivia Liverpool and Noah Yorke at the helm, took the Upper Primary School award.

Teacher Zilpah Joyette reveled in her school’s accomplishment declaring: “I am proud. The children worked hard. Their efforts have not been futile.”

More success came to Mustique through their ‘Purification of Water,’ and ‘Under the Sea’ presentations.

Vedant Shelly from the Calliaqua Anglican School with ‘Which colour roof keeps the house coolest?’ put her institution on the list of awardess.

St. Mary’s Roman Catholic represented by K’Mar Rose, A’Zya Bobb and Azalia Cox hit the reward column with ‘Sustainable Housing’ — ‘Can renewable material be used for cooler homes?’

Girls High School’s ‘Biodegradable Plastics,’ presented by Amelia Williams, and Natalie Abu-Eid, was outstanding.

Emmanuel High School Mesopotamia Secondary’s ‘Rain Water Harvesting and Drip Irrigation,’ presented by Anicia Deroche and Taffia Gurley was outstanding in the Environmental Science category.

Sandy Bay Secondary School’s ‘Tropical Treasures’ by Shackeah Lorraine and Philicia McCoy took honours for Food Science. In the Open field, Shecania Small Agricultural Science project which looked at ‘Utilising Agricultural By-Products for Sustainable Agouti Diet, completed the rewards list.

Windsor Primary School represented by Donray Greaves, Kyra Haynes and Ajene King with a project dubbed, ‘Creating plant battery from renewable material’, was Most Outstanding at the Academic Level in the Science Technology and Environment category. (WKA)

The Girls’ High School

The Mustique Primary

the Sea’ exhibit.

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

Rethink the Police Service Commission

A READER CALLED RECENTLY and raised quite a storm about how this country was going to the dogs because of “out-of-control violent crime,” and went on to question who ‘truly’ monitors the operations of the Police Force.

As far as the caller was concerned, and rightfully so, the responsibility of all things related to the Police Force rests with the Minister of National Security who, in our case, just happens to be the Prime Minister.

The caller’s sentiments caused a knock-on reaction that spurred a deeper look into what was expressed.

As it stands, other than the Minister with responsibility for the Police Force the only other constitutional body that has any “say’ in the way the Police Force is governed and operates is a body we call the Police Service Commission (herein referred to as the PSC), whose membership also comprise the more overarching body known as the Public Service Commission.

As we understand it, “the PSC is an independent body that has the power to appoint, discipline, and dismiss police officers below the rank of Deputy Commissioner.”

What does all of this have to do with crime and fighting crime?

There is no getting away from it: Crime/criminality is the greatest scourge in our country. It affects citizens’ sense of security and wellbeing and increases the costs and risks of business activity.

It follows, that dealing with crime requires an effective police service — comprised of competent, honest, wellresourced (trained) men and women whose execution of their duties is not inhibited by some outside force/influence.

That is why we advance the view that the effectiveness of the Police Force, its operations, strategies should be determined and assessed by a genuinely independent PSC, not a body made up of persons named by the government of the day.

Sadly, as it is, the PSC has no control over the strategic objectives of the police service; it does not have the authority to monitor the operations of the police force as a whole; it is not empowered to oversee the recruitment pool of candidates for the positions of Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police.

The PSC does not decide the criteria for recruitment of the Commissioner, does not select the Commissioner, cannot monitor the performance of the police service, cannot independently verify whatever it is told by the Commissioner.

Simply put, it has no power to investigate anything and whatever it can do must be done in accordance with standards set by the police force, over which it is deemed to have some oversight. Dog and its tail???

It follows, given all the absurdities, that the PSC and the Police Force are ineffective in the face of an escalating crime situation in this country.

That there have been efforts made at reform of the Police Force we must acknowledge, but we must also admit that whatever might have been recommended have either not been enforced or enforced to a degree that did not test their appropriateness.

May be it is time that we consider reconstituting the PSC so that its membership is not determined only by the sitting government: that it is empowered to develop efficiency and accountability and promote high standards and transparency of the Police Force; that it assumes responsibility for the executive ranks in the Police Force — Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, etc. thereby removing Parliament and the Cabinet from the process of appointment of the Commissioner and Deputy.

Should the Prime Minister have a veto over these appointments?

What we are advancing is that the PSC must not be an arm of the government.

It must be allowed to oversee the human resource management of the Police Force, assess the competence of the Commissioner of Police and other top ranking officers to carry out their duties, based on strategic plans and objectives.

Our crime crisis will not be resolved by some ‘Lone Ranger’. It will be resolved by an effective Police Force which is competently led and managed.

This, though, demands an independent PSC with strategic oversight, inclusive of being authorized to act swiftly with poor performance and misconduct within the executive and ranks of the RSVGPF.

When will we begin to hold each other accountable?

WE NEED TO CHANGEour culture of silence. We must encourage people to speak up when we see something going wrong. Most of all, we build a culture where our leaders and everyday citizens are held accountable without playing the blame game.

Customers who complain about service usually end up being disrespected and receiving minimal service. If you think I am wrong, try calling one of our utility providers and complain. Try telling a police sergeant that someone he is trying to arrest, in your opinion, did nothing wrong. Just ask the lady in the recent minivan incident on Bay Street.

So whether it’s a customer complaint, a public safety issue, or a lack of talent attraction, most workplace problems can be overcome by increasing accountability…. but not if the word accountability equals threat or the assignment of blame.

The more I talk to folks in SVG, the more I understand why people get nervous when you ask them for specific goals or objectives about that they operate in a culture of blame. Most of the workplaces I visited are stuck between two centuries. Some workplaces have replaced carbon paper with a printer and a computer. Those officers with computers and a printer no longer write receipts with carbon paper duplicates. They print the receipt twice, one for you and one for their records. Why?

We struggle to decide whether to give field staff a laptop or a cell phone. Most field workers do not have a vehicle assigned to them and must scramble for one of the few vehicles assigned to the office. While I fully understand the political reasoning behind why “drivers” are assigned to these officers, this colonial relic of having someone in a senior position in a ministry be driven around must go. After all, we require all field officers to have a valid driver’s license for a reason.

Anyway, let’s go back to how leaders could use accountability to improve performance in the workplace. Accountability has become synonymous with blame. Instead of equating it with fault, consider it a measurement with a witness. The review process is the tool that tells you whether you are ahead, behind,

too big, too little, enough, or not enough. Holding our employees accountable is not the same as micromanaging. It is a light, hands-on leadership approach. Trust, but verify.

To encourage an accountable work environment, we must find ways to reward initiative. Employee initiative is a sign of a responsible culture. We need employees who take the initiative to think ahead, anticipate change, and head off problems before they become disasters. I am tired of a work culture centered around “that’s not my job, or I don’t make the rules or just doing my job, sir.”

Now, on to a broader conversation about accountability in our communities e.g. the recent plight of the owner of the shop, Buffalo Trading, on Union Island. The constant “killing” of our residents for, as yet unknown reasons, speaks to our unwillingness to hold each other accountable for our actions. What happened to the old saying, “See something, say something“? The fact is that no one person could or would eat and drink all of the groceries stolen from her shop. If, as she stated in a recent online video posting, this shop was fully stocked whoever did this must have a market and a network of individuals ready to help them distribute and/or consume these items.

The code of silence that has become the norm has permeated our society at every level. In the office, it’s “not my job,” on the streets, “we are just drinking water and minding our business,” and in the community, “see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil.”

This collective failure allows us to kill each at an average rate of one per week, with very few being arrested for any of these crimes. It makes it ok to buy fruits and vegetables from random people in our neighborhood, knowing they do not live or work on a farm. We must do better.

Horatio.

Where are the Teachers?

IT’S A SHAME what Teachers’ Solidarity Day has become. Anyone who saw the march last week Friday would have got a good idea about what I speak.

Once upon a time, teachers, even Principals, took pride in coming out in their numbers to commemorate “Tear Gas Friday” and the struggles they had to fight against a wicked St. Vincent Labour Party government.

Even through the Mitchell years, the Teachers Union was able to bring out a reasonably good showing on that day and remained vigilant in its mission to protect and serve teachers.

Has the Union failed to remind, effectively, its members and to educate its new members about the significance of the struggle of the 1970s, a struggle that bore fruit for other workers in the country?

When I recall how many of today’s and yesterday’s politicians rode the Teachers Union’s backs to get where there are or were, it is a shameful indication of how we can use our people for selfish

I wonder, Mr. Editor: Is it that we have fewer teachers in the system and the Union who would have had a firsthand knowledge and experience of that Labour Party-Mitchell period of struggle and sacrifice and therefore, because there is not that intimate connection, that teachers are not moved to participate?

PEOPLE ARE ASKING:

Was there any miscommunication between the captain of that ‘Car Boat’ and the Port Authority’s pilot that led to that mishap on Sunday `10th November, 2024?

When are we going to be informed about the exact cost of the construction and outfitting of the Holiday Inn Express and how much of that was the NIS contribution?

What is the Traffic department doing to rein in those reckless truck drivers? Are the officers blind to the danger these trucks pose to the public/other road users, and how many of them don’t appear to be roadworthy?

Is the Minister of Agriculture taking note of the fact that St. Lucia bananas are now available on supermarket shelves in Toronto, Canada? What has become of the plan to increase banana cultivation here?

Does the SVG Christian Council plan on meeting with the Prime Minister, who is also the National Security Minister, to discuss the crime situation, especially the violent crime situation in the country?

What has become of the National Youth Council, National Council of Women, National Farmers Union, National Labour Congress, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Fisherfolk Organization, the National Consumers Association, and the People’s Movement for Change?

Why is the ceremony that took place last Saturday at Diamond (re Holiday Day Inn Express) being referred to as an official handing over ceremony and not an opening ceremony? What’s the difference?

Why are some people saying they’re just standing by to count the next homicide? Is it that violent crime has become such a feature in SVG that we can’t wait for the next one to happen? Where are the policy makers in the fight against crime?

ends.

Not only that, but the last twenty years of governance of this country has seen a deliberate plan and action by the government to weaken the trade Union Movement. As matter of fact, it would not be unkind or wrong to conclude that all the major Trade Unions here have become soft and ready to compromise in what they would have us

believe is for the better of the country.

And worse, it appears that whatever was inflicted upon the ‘Workers’ Unions’ here has set them asunder since no longer do we have a show of solidarity on Workers Day and very seldom is there any kind of support for one Union’s activity by another.

Yes, as a former teacher, it hurts my

heart to say that it seems the sacrifice of people — Yvonne FrancisGibson, Michael Brown, Simeon Greene, Ferdinand Toney, Cecil ‘Pa’ Jack and others have all been in vain.

Just a reminder:

History speaks of the power of Trade Unions being such that they have contributed to the downfall of governments.

Former Teacher

Making the government ours

ACCORDING TO LUKE 22:2530,the leaders in this last government to rule on Earth shall be servant-leaders. Very few religious leaders will be a part of this government which Isaiah said shall be upon his shoulders (Isa.9:6-7).

The leaders of the Kingdom of the Most High shall have love for one another according to John 13:34-35. Their purpose in life is to serve. - committed to serve humanity, committed to transform the consciousness of humanity and souls globally, and committed to enlighten them to create luv (love), peace and harmony for humanity, Mother Earth and the universe.

Now that this enlightenment is given, the Most High is calling on all of His children to take the government from Gonsalves and Friday and establish the Divine government:

And our Constitution gives us that empowerment.

“Whereas the people of the Islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, who are known as

Vincentians- have affirmed that their nation is founded on the belief in the supremacy of God and the freedom and dignity of man;

Desire that their society be so ordered as to express their recognition of the principles of democracy, free institutions, social justice and equality before the law;

Realize that the maintenance of human dignity presupposes safe guarding the rights of privacy of family life, of property and the fostering of the pursuit of just economic reward for labour;

Desire that their Constitution should enshrine the abovementioned freedom, principles and ideals.”

As citizens of the Home of the Blessed we

“Honourable so and so”

EVERY TIME I LISTENto a debate in our parliament, I wonder how much longer we are going to put up with this “Honourable member for so and so”, in addressing the members of parliament.

And worse, we are expected to refer to these Parliamentarians as “Honourable so and so” whenever we address them at some public function and even when we are addressing a letter to them. Honestly, I don’t know what is so ‘Honourable of’ about these chosen few. At every little chance they get they go at one another’s throat in parliament with a lot of piccong and side chat that borders on some very harsh comments. At times, I think they get away with murder.

Not only will I like to see the removal of this Honourable title, since I am yet to understand what makes them Honourable, but I would also like to see the removal of this thing they call parliamentary immunity which allows a member to say certain things in parliament that he or she would dare say in public.

Sometimes, I also wonder whether we need a Speaker of the House since members often throw their respect for this office out the door.

Think we need some serious changes in how members conduct themselves in parliament?

Charles, Edinboro.

have been given the opportunity to serve our Creator by becoming servants of His Kingdom on Earth as we pray “thy Kingdom come”.

With spiritual and scientific understanding as to where we are in the prophetic, historic journey of the development of human societies, we can make a collective bold step forward to bring an end to wickedness on Earth. (Psalm 115:16) Christian Democrat.

Massive changes for the better in SVG

THE ISSUE

DESPITE THE RESOURCE LIMITATIONSand challenges facing SVG as a small island developing state, the extraordinary progress being made is a marvel to behold. The ULP’s compelling developmental narrative, grounded in the quest to build a modern, competitive, many-sided, postcolonial economy, is being made flesh before our very eyes. Never in the history of SVG have so much positive developments been taking place. And the trajectory for further development is becoming more and more evident.

All around us the country is buzzing with developmental excitement. Materially, the people of SVG are far better off than ever before. Many more jobs, much better jobs, much higher salaries and wages are being rolled out. The recovery and reconstruction after Hurricane Beryl is going well, despite some hiccups here and there. In practically every area of socio-economic activity there is immense progress. One disappointing area of real concern continues to be the criminal, violent misconduct of a tiny minority of young males; this is a complex issue of causation, but at its core it involves an active choice made by the criminallyminded.

TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECTS/PROGRAMMES WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT PARADIGM

The huge developmental projects and programmes jump out at any objective observer. Let’s list some of the more recent ones: The Sandals Resort built at a cost of EC$650 million; the Holiday Inn Express and Suites (EC$60 million); the roll-out of support for agricultural and fisheries (EC$50 million); the ongoing development of the Sir Vincent Beache Stadium at Diamond (EC $45 million); the massive upgrade of the Arnos Vale Cricket Facility (EC$35 million); the massive upgrade of the Arnos Vale Cricket Facility (EC$35 million); the ongoing construction of the Modern Port Project at Kingstown (EC$650 million), due to be opened in May 2025; the start-up of the construction of the 135-bed, modern Acute Care Hospital at Arnos Vale (EC $200 million to construct); the huge expansion of the local tourism plant, including Myah’s Suites, the addition of a substantial number of rooms at Hotel Alexandrina, Beachcombers’ Hotel, and others, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars; the Rainforest Seafood Plant (EC $10 million); the road programmes financed respectively by loans from Taiwan (EC $125 million), Kuwait/OFID (EC $90 million), CDB ($50 million); the sea defence projects at Sans Souci (EC $10 million), at Georgetown/Caratal (EC $17 million), and ongoing at Sandy Bay (nearly EC $40 million); the 104 national scholarships, national exhibitions, special awards, and bursaries based upon the 2024 exams (EC $25 million); the 1,800 tuition scholarships for university (EC $10 million); more scholarships to Taiwan, Cuba, and

elsewhere; the school rehabilitation programme (EC $60 million); more international and regional flights at AIA; and post-Beryl Reconstruction.

Across SVG, every village is awash with developmental initiatives, including roads paved or repaired by BRAGSA; houses repaired or built from scratch; building materials distributed; health centres repaired or built afresh; technical institutes built or refurbished; sports facilities built or upgraded; community centres built or repaired; the SET and YES programmes expanded; the PRYME and ON-SITE programmes continue to be rolled out; the ramping up of social protection supports for primary, secondary, and college students from the Ministry of National Mobilisation and the National Lotteries Authority; huge increase in assistance to patients travelling overseas for tertiary health care; the beefed-up roll-out of medical missions from overseas, including the iconic World Pediatric Programme; the delivery of water, electricity, and garbage collection/disposal has improved massively; and the tremendous support accorded sports and culture.

Further, in 2024, the largest evert increase in minimum wages in the history of SVG was put in place. The lowest paid workers across SVG got increases in minimum wages on an average of 50 percent. This has a knock-on effect on wages and salaries across SVG. At the same time there was a reduction in personal income tax and the marginal rate at the top has been reduced; the first $25,000 annually is exempt from personal income tax. Since 2001, the top marginal rate of tax has been reduced from 40 percent to 28 percent.

Moreover, in SVG today, there is the lowest ever unemployment, lowest ever poverty levels, lowest ever indigence, lowest ever homelessness. There is more work to be done in SVG today than there are able-bodied and willing workers to do the available work. The stark fact is that some able-bodied persons prefer idleness to honest labour; some persons choose not to work; and others seek jobs which are a mismatch with their skills and training. Some persons choose not to look for work; ofttimes such persons expect the work to look for them.

THE TRAJECTORY FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT

In agriculture, fisheries, tourism, manufacturing, professional/technical services, construction, wholesale and retail trade, banking and insurance, telecoms and electricity, water and sanitation, educational and health services, sports and culture, recreation and entertainment, there are growing prospects for further growth and enhancement. In each of these areas, both the private and public sectors are on a trajectory for a further uplift.

Lack of action to gun violence is costing lives

THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY (NDP) condemns the Unity Labour Party (ULP) government for its lack of action to combat the gun crime epidemic in the country.

The government’s inaction in reducing crime is emboldening criminals and making the crime situation worse. We need strong leadership. The government must make a public statement outlining what actions it will take to stem gun crime. Their inaction is costing lives.

Last weekend, three young men were shot to death in different areas of the country. Three killings in three days! These recent killings have brought the number so far for the year to forty-four (44). Two of those killings took place in broad daylight. One person was shot at Young Island dock according to news report. This is an area that is visited regularly by tourists. Were tourists in the area when the killing occurred? We knew that there was a tourist ship docked in Kingstown on that day.

Earlier this year, we erected a billboard highlighting the murder rate in the country for 2023. The billboard highlighted the fact that fifty-five (55) homicides were recorded in 2023.

There was an uproar from the ULP against the billboard. It was said that the information on the billboard would have a negative effect on the tourism industry. Now, which is worse, the billboard or the killing at the dock?

Too many lives are being lost. Think about it, one hundred and fortyone (141) persons have lost their lives for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024 so far. This is alarming especially when one has to accept that a small country like St. Vincent and the Grenadines is ranked number seven (7) in the world for homicides. What is even more disturbing is that a significant percentage of these homicides remain unsolved as the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force seems unable to come to grips with this crisis.

These senseless killings show that the ULP government simply has neither the interest nor the energy to counteract this rising levels of crime. The Prime Minister, who is also the Minister of National Security should be taking this issue in hand instead, he is not doing anything to deal with the crime crisis. Our people are being killed on a weekly basis. These killings must stop. We recall that in February 2023 the government said they had a plan to stop the rising level of crime. We are still waiting for that plan to be unveiled. The ULP is out of ideas. Its leader is tired, low on energy and out of touch.

Our Plan

President of the NDP, Honourable Dr. Godwin Friday, has outlined the following measures: We must focus on crime prevention. We should therefore invest heavily upfront, on crime prevention. In this regard, the programmes outlined in the NDP’s Spiritual and Social Redemption Charter should be implemented. The Charter promotes positive communityoriented programmes that would steer vulnerable young people away from crime towards socially positive behaviour.

We must restore trust and confidence in the police and the criminal justice system. Trust in the

system now is shaken and broken. Political connections should not shield anyone involved in a shooting, theft, domestic violence or other crimes from proper investigation and prosecution. Justice must be equal for all. This will help everyone and will help the police in their work and their lives. They and their families are members of society and like the rest of us are equally vulnerable to crime and violence.

The police cannot solve crimes by themselves. They need the community to provide information during investigations and to be witnesses in criminal cases. We can promote this by implementing and pursuing community policing. With specific training in community policing, the police would engage in trust-building activities in communities.

We need a well-resourced and wellequipped criminal justice system. There continues to be an outcry in our country about the ineffectiveness of our criminal Justice system that too often fails to impose appropriate penalties to deter offenders. Creating an effective and well-resourced criminal justice system involves the police, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the courts (i.e., magistrates and judges) and the prison system. It is vital that these components are appropriately equipped and that they function professionally and independently.

It also involves: (i) reviewing our criminal laws and revising them to provide greater sentencing options for magistrates and judges; (ii) introducing measures that would improve access to justice; (iii) increasing the number of magistrates; (iv) expanding the High Court and improving its facilities; and (v) upgrading forensic laboratory services to expedite investigation and prosecution of offences and thereby eliminate the backlog of criminal cases.

We must promote rehabilitation of offenders. Fighting crime is not only about punishing offenders; it must also involve rehabilitation. Offenders should be provided with programs that would help to keep them from reoffending and becoming a perpetual menace to society. In this regard, we should establish a Young Persons Rehabilitation Centre for non-violent young offenders. This will prevent many young offenders from becoming hardened criminals, lost to a life of crime. Focusing on rehabilitation is not coddling criminals (as some might say). On the contrary, it is effective crime fighting that protects all of us. Rehabilitation has been proven to work and is cost-effective.

We must professionalize and modernize the police service. To achieve the best outcomes in crime fighting, the best officers must be recognized, supported, and rewarded. This includes reviewing remuneration and promotion practices for the police, including the Auxiliary Police, and ensuring that they are done, not as political favours, but on merit. Fairness is key to success. It should be clear that combatting crime is not just for the police; it is everybody’s business. It requires us to work together at all levels to succeed.

V

Rekindled Passion

“YOU HAVE TO BE BURNING with an idea, or a problem, or a wrong that you want to right. If you’re not passionate enough from the start, you’ll never stick it out.” - Steve Jobs (1955-2011) – Former CEO of Apple.

It is not unusual to observe individuals who were previously passionate about an activity but may have allowed time and/or circumstances to deflate their desire to pursue their noble dream; individuals with talents and abilities who subsequently appeared to have lost their zeal. This probably happens more often than we will care to admit. We may see it portrayed in the workplace. It may also be evident in relationships. It happens to individuals who veer away from adequate diet and exercise as well as those who may have commenced a course of study but later opted to abandon the pursuit. It happens. Sometimes we conclude that the situation has “died a natural death” and that it is futile to rekindle the passion. This holds true for some relationships. It may also be considered accurate in relation to individuals who have abandoned their pursuit of higher education, art, athletics, music, and so on. However, a closer examination of many of the talents, abilities, and relationships that have been abandoned may reveal that this may have been done prematurely and that there is need to exert effort and energy to rekindle the passion.

In the grand variety of human existence, there will be times when we find ourselves drifting away, disconnected from the moorings of our passion and purpose; jolted by mountaintop experiences or traumatized by traumatic valley experiences that may have ushered in pain, disappointment, and abandonment. Such debilitating situations often seem to snuff out the fires within us. However, amid the challenges, detours, and distractions of life, there often exists an intense desire to rekindle that inner flame; that desire to persist even against great odds. It is possible to refuel aspirations and to resume the journey towards noble dreams and ambitions.

Self-awareness is considered the first and most crucial step on the journey towards rekindling passion. Objective introspection is foundational to this exercise as efforts are made to analyse what may have dimmed the inner spark or influenced the detour. It may have resulted from self-doubt in terms of the ability to pursue the task. This critical task of reflection requires courage and may reveal that the individual may have been influenced by a friend or associate. This exercise is certainly not intended to affix blame or to be considered a sign of failure. Engaging in such reflection is a means of understanding and appreciating where we are and how we got there. It then becomes necessary to reassess where we need to go and determine how best to rekindle the passion to get there.

Progressive business managers and leaders champion periodic stocktaking. This exercise is considered valuable in highlighting which products and/or services have performed well and which ones require some form of restructuring or re-energizing. A similar kind of introspection is needed on a personal level as efforts are made to constantly improve performance. Such reflections periodically reveal that individuals have allowed some passions to grow dormant. Invariably they require some form of

rekindling if the individual is to continue the pursuit of their noble ambitions with vigour. The rejuvenation of the passion may mean the acquisition of new skills, approaches, and/or attitudes. The pursuit is seldom straightforward. Detours and distractions occur. Accidents happen. However, these are very often critical to growth. Viewed in a positive light, each crisis provides opportunities to strengthen our resolve and rekindle our passion.

A supportive environment is often considered critical for rekindled passion. Relationships and community support are imperative in creating and sustaining motivation and passion. Many successful academics, athletes, politicians, and businesspersons testify of the value of the support they receive from individuals who inspire and uplift them; people who share their vision and challenge them to pursue their noble dreams with passion even when they may have lost hope or given in to pessimism and self-doubt; wise counsellors who encouraged them to be more focused on positive attitudes and outcome and to physically and emotionally distance themselves from detractors whose negative thoughts could be contagious and destructive.

The process of rekindling passion also demands resilience and a willingness to embrace positive change. The old saying still holds true: “If we keep doing what we’ve always done we will get what we’ve always got.” A change in attitude and/or a change in approach may be of paramount importance when efforts are being made to rekindle passion. John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937), one of the richest Americans of all time, provides same valuable insights when he states, “Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go after the great. Progress often involves making bold choices and embracing change.” However, this is not an excuse to be rash and/or to gravitate to risky behaviours. Every effort must be made to calculate the risk, the exposure, the likelihood of success, even as different approaches are contemplated for the resumption of the specific task.

The process of rekindled passion should not be viewed as a final destination; it is an ongoing journey. As good as we are we can all be better. That focus on constantly improving our attitudes and actions must forever be our focus. It is so very important to commit (and recommit) to improving our individual performances and broadening our accomplishments. Such a desirable approach to life requires an unwavering commitment to personal growth. As we rekindle our passion (especially following some encounters with failure and/or disappointments) we readily discover that our perseverance and commitment to excel will be a source of encouragement to others whose illusive dreams may have been prematurely abandoned but can now benefit from rekindled passion. As we mentally and emotionally regroup to pursue our noble dreams we may discover that our attitudes and approaches go beyond our accomplishments to inspire many — we aid others in rekindling their passions also.

A November to remember

AS CHILDREN, we were reminded that the rainy season began in June. But by November, it’s all over. Not so this year. Those whose job it is to pay attention to the weather may know more, but from all appearances, this November may be one of the wettest we may have experienced in a long time. Fortunately we have not lost lives on the scale of 2013 when 12 persons died, but heavy rains have resulted in floods and landslides across the country. These events continue to place a heavy strain on the nation’s slender resources.

Our Grenada, Trinidad, Martinique and Guadeloupe neighbours also experienced heavy rains and flooding. The weather systems we are experiencing these days have an out-of-this-world appearance. It’s too soon for us to forget the swiftness with which Hurricane Beryl developed and the devastating wrath with which she engaged Grenada, Jamaica, Mexico, and SVG. Coming as it did on July 1, 2024, climate scientists rarely expected to see a hurricane develop from a tropical storm to a category 4 in less than 48 hours, but Beryl did.

If we are paying attention to what’s occurring across the region, we know that the sister isle of Cuba, strained as it already is by the crushing illegal economic blockade imposed by the US governments for the past six decades, has been walloped by two hurricanes (Oscar and Raphael) and an earthquake that measured 6.8.

Many deniers claim that climate change is a hoax. However, we come down on this issue, one thing is certain: Days and nights are hotter than ever. Rain falls in swift, short bursts. Combined, the sun and rain results in a double whammy for our farmers whose produce is scorched or washed away. If things continue on this path, the right to cool air will assume greater urgency and more of our people will need assistance as their homes become compromised if they are not destroyed.

The sad reality is that small island states, least able to cope with the destruction caused by these weather patterns, are often made to carry the resulting burden alone. Bigger, richer countries whose reckless policies create the conditions that allow for drastic changes in our weather routinely refuse to help. Our countries are compelled to borrow more, thus sinking deeper into debt.

These challenges present a real problem for developing countries. We may be akin to ‘sitting ducks’ anticipating the next weather event. There’s nothing we can do to significantly impact the weather. Each year, those who can jet-set across the globe to climate conferences. They make pious pronouncements about Earth’s dangers and then commit to remedial action, which turns out to be empty promises.

However dire the situation becomes, we have a responsibility to ourselves. Our governments must do more than sit back, wait for disaster, and then run around the world hoping that international institutions or governments will lend a helping hand. All communities have to be mobilised to ensure that whatever little we can do is done.

Cuba has an excellent civil defence system. We can learn from it. To protect against loss of life, they move their people out of the way. We have

not lost lives to the extent that we did during the 2013 Christmas Eve floods, but property damage runs into the millions of dollars. We have to find ways to build better. In the northern Caribbean, building codes demand concrete roofs. Residents are encouraged to build solid foundations that may withstand the effects of prolonged heavy rains and earth movement.

Rivers, drains, and gutters must be cleaned regularly. Such proactive activities help us avoid flooding. After the recent rains and extensive flooding in Calliaqua, Camillo Gonsalves, the parliamentary representative, promptly pointed an accusatory finger at climate change. But was the change in weather and the heavy rains that caused the flooding?

The streets in Calliaqua are in disrepair. The government has contracted to fix the roads. Unfortunately, all of them were dug up at once, creating unevenness, blockage from debris, and construction barriers. Anyone with community knowledge of Calliaqua knows that only the area near the panyard experienced flooding. Why was a large section of Calliaqua, including the police station, overran by flood waters? The simple truth is that the river was blocked at the bridge next to Rain Forest. Massive logs, thousands of plastic bottles and other garbage accumulated over time blocked the water’s path. If the responsible parties had paid attention to regular river clearing, especially at the ‘chokehold’ at the bridge, the chance of such extensive flooding would be non-existent.

Two other points need to be made. In this age of scientific and technological advancements, it is depressingly shocking and disappointing to hear people who ought to know better blaming God’s wrath for natural occurrences and humanity’s failures. Do we still believe God speaks when the thunder rolls and lightning flashes?

The other vexing issue concerns our climate problems, which are explained as Gonsalves’ blight. For one thing, the frequent weather events are not a Vincentian reality. They occur across our region with devastating impact. Are PM Mitchell, Pierre, Mottley, Skerritt, and Rowley also blights on their nations?

The other point about these silly responses is that the damage caused by lousy weather distracts from the other pressing problems, many of which can properly be blamed on Gonsalves and his clansmen: official corruption, bad roads, unemployment, poverty, crime, and increasing hopelessness among the youth.

In these serious times, we need a clear mind and strong will. Any discussion about the way forward must be grounded in a scientific understanding of our reality and devoid of nonsensical political rhetoric.

Massive changes for the better in SVG

ULP View

Continued from Page 8.

From the standpoint of the ULP government’s initiatives, there are immediately several relevant projects/ programmes, including those funded by loans respectively from: The Saudi Fund for establishment of cultural and production hubs, health and educational facilities, and for repair/construction of police stations (EC $160 million); telecommunications through the World Bankfinanced Caribbean Digital Transformation Project (EC $80 million); CDB-financed Sandy Bay Secondary School at Orange Hill (EC $18 million); World Bankfinanced programmes for agriculture and fisheries (EC $30 million); World Bank-financed post-Beryl reconstruction (EC $160 million); the Marriott Hotel at Mt. Wynne of EC $325 million financed through an overseas private sector entity (EC $200 million) and government of SVG

through Taiwan loan (EC $135 million); capital investments by VINLEC and CWSA (EC $120 million in the aggregate); expansions planned by BOSVG; reforms initiated at NIS; further road programmes.

Meanwhile, the ULP government is elaborating the hugely transformational plan to develop, in conjunction with the private sector (local and overseas), the existing Port Kingstown area linked to the rolledout city at Arnos Vale via a tunnel under Cane Garden point. This is massive.

POST-BERYL RECOVERY/ RECONSTRUCTION

At the same time, the post-Beryl recovery/reconstruction continues apace. Over 2,000 of the 4,993 houses to be repaired or rebuilt have either been repaired already or are in the process of being repaired or rebuilt; great progress has been made in this regard on Canouan, Mayreau, Bequia, St. Vincent; Union Island is now being ramped up amidst a real scarcity of skilled labour on Union Island.

Public facilities (schools, airports, police stations, clinics, administrative buildings, community kitchens) in the southern Grenadines and Bequia have all been fully addressed or in the process of rebuilding. VINLEC and CWSA have been, and are, doing great jobs in their respective areas of responsibility. The private telecoms companies are upping their game after a slow, faltering start after Beryl.

Production supports have been rolled out already for banana, plantain, and arrowroot

farmers. There is a further roll-out for other farmers and fishers. Income support will be paid in late November or early December 2024, and ongoing, to over 5,000 families. A special Cost of Living Allowance (COLA Special) is being earmarked for 3,000 most vulnerable persons. The entire Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister, is hard and smart at work on the post-Beryl Recovery/Reconstruction.

LABOUR IS WORKING

Undoubtedly, “Labour is Working: Onwards to a Sixth Term”. This the appropriate theme for the 2024 National Convention of the ULP scheduled for Sunday November 24th at the Bethel High School at Campden Park. This event is likely to be massively attended by the Labour Warriors. The Political Leader has important announcements to make. This Convention is following upon a rush of activities inside the ULP itself. Last Thursday (November 14th), some 550 delegates attended the meeting of the ULP’s National Council at the Russell’s Auditorium at Stoney Ground. And on Sunday last (November 17th), the ULP’s leadership at the Central Executive level had an all-day retreat at Hotel Alexandrina with one agenda item: “Organising the Party for a Sixth Term”. Both the National Council meeting and the retreat were highly successful. Meanwhile, the government is very busy with its internal preparations for the 2025 Estimates and Budget. Stay tuned. Labour is indeed working, full of energy and will, vision and skill!

Holiday Inn Express: Open for business

THE HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS &Suites, located at Diamond, was handed over to the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines on November 16.

And as of today, November 22, 2024, the 59,000 square foot facility will officially open its doors for business.

Already, the facility is said to record full booking capacity by December 7, when it will serve as the temporary home to the visiting Bangladesh and West Indies Cricket teams.

The EC$52 million Holiday Inn Express & Suites features four floors of space, 93 rooms, 18 suites, two meeting rooms, a fitness centre and one outdoor pool, which, according to Romel Ollivierre, Lead Architect, is a break from the traditional Holiday Inn tradition of having indoor pools.

The facility also boasts larger than usual rooms and an additional conference room seating 50 people.

Part funding to the tune of some EC$28.9 was provided by the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) whose Director, Regional Development Division, Lennox Forte, was on hand last Saturday to say that the CDF put high expectations on its investments in the accommodation and tourism sectors.

“The CDF is committed and mandated to finance projects like this that support the advancement of

cohesion in the CARICOM Single Market,” he said, adding that it was the CDF’s vision for the hotel to serve as a catalyst for private investment in the accommodation sector.

Finance Minister, Camillo Gonsalves said that with the construction and now operation of an international airport, the government took the decision to get involved in improving the room stock.

That meant, Gonslaves said, “Getting more rooms on the island until the private sector can pick up the slack and move beyond what we do.”

The ribbon-cutting that officially declared the facility open for business.

have the facility managed by a local entity.

And the strategy was to attract hotels at various value points, realising that some visitors may not be able to afford high end luxury hotels.

But while the Holiday Inn Express is the second government-owned hotel in the country, Gonsalves sought to establish that the government was not in the business of becoming hoteliers, and that it remained determined to

In the interim however, as it was designed and built by the government, “then we also for the time being want to run it ourselves.”

A local company has been formed to oversee the daily operations of the hotel.

The facility has a staff complement of 50 which represents the top three percent of the 1,000 persons who applied, Gonsalves said. (DD)

The Holiday Inn Express & Suites, with its 93 room, is the latest addition to the hotel room stock in SVG.

Gender Equity in Sports Commission launched

Bungalow Restaurant, Villa, in a ceremony themed “Championing Equity in Sports for St. Vincent and the Grenadines”.

Call for Action

Chair of the commission- Ms. Natasha Baptiste, in underscoring the complexity of the process, advanced that cooperation among stakeholders was key.

A GENDER EQUITY IN SPORTS COMMISSIONhas formally been established under the ambit of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Olympic Committee.

The commission was launched last Saturday, November 16, 2024, at a ceremony held at the

“The process of achieving gender equity in sports is complex and ongoing. In order for this to happen, sports organizations, governing bodies, sponsors, and individuals must work together. As we break down barriers, promote equity, which will in turn lead to equality, and challenge gender stereotypes, we can make sport more inclusive and equitable”, Baptiste related.

Showing how it can

work, Baptiste advocated, “As an athlete and an Administrator, you are here as a commitment to ensure that in your sport Gender Equity becomes the norm. Athletes, you are here to ensure that there are equal opportunities for your fellow athletes no matter the gender or ethnic background and administrators you are to ensure that the policies within your association or federation is one that foster equity amongst your fellow administrators, coaches and management teams”. She made a clarion call for action, from all involved.

“We are now Called to Action in our various sporting bodies to ensure that equity, not equality but equity is fostered in our various disciplines. In addition to being a matter of fairness, achieving gender equity is essential for the growth and development of sports”, Baptiste echoed.

Challenging the norms

Featured Speaker- Ms. La Fleur Quammie, United Nations Country Coordination Officer, outlined some “musts” if any semblance of gender equity is to be achieved. Among Quammie’s roadway includes challenging societal norms about gender roles that discourage young girls from participating in sports.

Quammie preferred: “Overcoming these ingrained attitudes is essential for fostering a culture that values athleticism in all genders. We need policies (and legislation) that promote gender equity in sports at all levels. This includes equal funding, resources, and facilities for women’s sports. Hence this Gender Equity Commission is well-placed to advocate on behalf of all athletes and to distribute funding proportionately so that extra support can be provided to the under-

represented in vulnerable communities”.

Also as part of her list of prerequisites, Quammie cited “We need to invest in building the capacity of women and girls in higher learning education so that they can occupy leadership and administrative positions in sports. Moreover, encouraging participation at all levels is vital for fostering gender equity. From youth sports programs to professional leagues, girls must have equal access to resources, facilities, and opportunities”.

And as for the role of men and the media in the grander scheme of things, she posited: “Men in sports, whether as athletes, coaches, or administrators, have a crucial role to play in advocating for gender equity. Their support can amplify voices and drive change within the sporting community. Media outlets must prioritize covering women’s sports and

La Fleur Quammie did not sugar-coat the need to break down barriers and inhibiting societal norms on the way to building genuine gender equity in sport.

highlight their achievements. This can shift public perception and encourage young girls to pursue their athletic interests”. Also addressing the launch were President of the SVGOC- Stephen Joachim, while General Secretary of the SVGOCKeith Joseph did so in absentia, via a prerecording.

Dr. Halimah DeShong gets new appointment

Institute for Gender and Development Studies (IGDS). Dr. DeShong began her duties in September and is expected to serve a two-year term.

(Editor’s Note: The following is a release from The University of the West Indies. It is carried in its entirety.)

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES(The UWI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Halimah DeShong as the new University Director of the

A proud alumna of The UWI, Dr. DeShong holds both a BA and an MPhil from The UWI Cave Hill Campus, and a PhD from the University of Manchester. She is an accomplished feminist researcher and Senior Lecturer, having previously served as Head of the IGDS’s Nita Barrow Unit at the Cave Hill Campus. Her research focuses on sexual and gender violence, feminist methodologies, anti-colonial feminisms, qualitative interviewing, and text and talk analysis. Among her many publications are her co-edited books: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on COVID-19 and the Caribbean, Volume 1: The State, Economy and Health; Interdisciplinary Perspectives on COVID-19 and the Caribbean, Volumes 2: Society,

Education and Human Behaviour; and Methodologies in Caribbean Research on Gender & Sexuality. Her scholarly work appears in many peer-reviewed academic journals and books. She has also served as the single and joint editor of five special issues of refereed journals on topics including Feminist Methodologies, Men and Masculinities, Gender, Sexuality and Feminism in the Caribbean, and Anti-colonial Feminisms.

Dr. DeShong is committed to addressing enduring inequalities in the Caribbean through her teaching and research engagement with communities. She has advised Caribbean governments on policies and laws related to gender-based violence (GBV) and authored the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines National Gender-based Violence Action Plan. Additionally, she co-designed a GBV and Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) curriculum for post-secondary students in Saint Vincent and

the Grenadines (SVG). She was the lead researcher and author of the qualitative component of the UN Women/CARICOM/Caribbean Development Bank Women’s Health Survey on violence against women in Grenada. Most recently, Dr. DeShong created guidelines, teaching tools, and a curriculum for gender-responsive comprehensive disaster management and climate resilience specifically for Caribbean civil society organisations and communitybased organisations as part of the USAID PROSE project. She has also served as Chair of Barbados’ National Advisory Council on Gender, The UWI Cave Hill Gender Task Force, and the Cave Hill Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures Implementation Committee. Currently, she chairs the Gender Mainstreaming Committee responsible for implementing The UWI Gender Policy.

From December 2019 to December 2021, Dr. DeShong served as Ambassador and

Second Deputy Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Nations. During the country’s two-year term on the United Nations Security Council, she acted as SVG’s expert on Women, Peace and Security; Children and Armed Conflict; Youth, Peace and Security; and the Protection of Civilians. She also covered situations in Mali, Somalia, Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, and the Sahel. Dr. DeShong is a former Vincentian Sports Woman of the Year, a national netball player and captain, and a recipient of the Commonwealth and Wellcome Trust scholarships.

The UWI community warmly welcomes Dr. DeShong in her new role and wishes her a successful tenure.

THE VINCENTIAN extends congratulations to Dr. DeShong on her latest appointment and and wishes her continued success in her endeavours.

Dr. Halimah DeShong, new University Director of the Institute for Gender and Development Studies at The UWI.

Natasha Baptiste pictured raising a toast to the launch of the commission, made a clarion call for concerted and unified action if gender equity in sport is to be achieved.

And the rains came...

DURING THE LAST THREE or so weeks this country has had its fair share and more of rain. Following on a period of ‘heat fo so’, it was a welcomed break.

But the rains came and came and what followed was rushing water from and in all directions, bringing with it the trademark signs of danger and destruction.

Here’s just a glimpse of what the rains left in their path here on mainland St. Vincent.

Yambou

Belmont

Rabacca

Murray Village

Vincentian military personnel celebrate

MOST PEOPLE ARE AWAREthat their compatriots have been joining the British Army since 2001. What most might not be aware of is that Vincentians have been volunteering to join the British Army since World War I. Unfortunately, the bravery, dedication and legacy of these volunteers are too often forgotten. In an unprecedented event on 25 October 2024, several Vincentian officers and soldiers, seized the initiative to organise a semi-formal regimental dinner for their fellow Vincentian officers, soldiers, and veterans. The event symbolised the legacy they built, the paths they paved, and the doors they opened for generations to follow. Moreover, it was a powerful reminder of what is possible when individuals are given the tools and opportunity to succeed.

The successful inaugural event saw 32 Vincentians gathered at the 2 Army Air Corps Officers’ Mess, in Middle Wallop, England, to celebrate their heritage, unity, and achievements. This first-of-its-kind event is a milestone not just for the attendees but for the British Army. It recognises the profound contributions of Vincentians as British Army officers and soldiers who, despite initial challenges, have become central to the Army’s fabric. Their journeys reflect resilience, solidarity, and a dedication to excellence. This Dine-Out was not just a celebration of personal successes, it was an affirmation of the impact they have had and continue to have, both within the Army and in the wider community. One of the most

striking aspects of this event was the powerful sense of camaraderie. Many worked in different parts of the United Kingdom (UK) and rarely crossed paths over the years. Yet, they came together for this special occasion, some travelling from as far Germany and Northern Ireland: a testament to their deep bonds. Reunited, they reminisced about their shared beginnings and celebrated the individual and collective growth that had brought them to this moment. As they look to the future, they pledged to strengthen bonds with the Vincentian diaspora, building a lasting network of support and inspiration for generations to come. The significance of the event cannot be overstated. When these Vincentians first joined the agency, they stepped

into an unfamiliar environment. The Army’s culture, norms, and expectations were foreign to them; there were no role models who shared their backgrounds or experiences to offer guidance. Yet, through perseverance, adaptability, and a strong sense of community, they learned to navigate the social, cultural, and structural intricacies of their new environment. Over time, they not only succeeded but thrived, ascending to leadership roles and redefining their expectations. At first, reaching the rank of corporal appeared to most as the pinnacle of success. Not only did every attendee achieve this milestone, but many also surpassed it, with several achieving the rank of Warrant Officer Class One or being commissioned as Late

Entry Officers.

One particularly inspiring example was a female who rose to a senior leadership role, a remarkable feat in a field that remains predominantly male dominated and historically challenging for Black women to excel. Her ascent required not only professional excellence but also a determined resolve to transcend cultural and gender-based barriers, setting a new precedent for what Vincentians, especially women, can achieve.

Though some of these trailblazers are nearing the end of their active service, they remain deeply committed to uplifting future generations of recruits from St. Vincent and the Grenadines and wider Commonwealth. Their accomplishments have made them powerful role models, and their

mission now is to empower those who come after them to rise even further.

This inaugural 22Year Dine-Out is a reminder that legacy is about more than individual milestones; it is the collective journey that strengthens and uplifts us all. For these Vincentians, their achievements are not the end goal but the solid ground from which future generations will rise. By coming together, they celebrated not only their own successes but their shared commitment to building pathways for others to follow and surpass. They recognise that true progress is about lifting each other up, measuring success not by single moments but by the enduring impact created together. This gathering marks just the beginning of what we can achieve as one.

Those Vincentian nationals, now members of the British Armed Forces who gathered for the inaugural Dine-Out.

IndiaÊs PM Modi arrives in Guyana

PRIME MINISTER INDIA - NARENDRA MODI- who arrived in Guyana on Wednesday — the first visit by an Indian head of the state in 56 yearssaid his visit “will deepen the friendship between our nations.”

But this was not Prime Minister Modi’s first to Guyana. He visited the South American country 23 years ago on a private trip and also visited when he was chief minister.

Following the pleasantries at the airport, the visiting delegation was taken to the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Georgetown where they were treated to a cultural display representing unity in diversity under the “One Guyana” initiative.

While at the hotel, they were joined by the Prime Ministers of Grenada Dickon Mitchell (current chairman of CARICOM) and Barbados Mia Amor Mottley, who

are among the leaders attending the second India-CARICOM Summit in Guyana.

The Indian head of state was also handed over the ‘Key to the City of Georgetown’ as a testament to the close India-Guyana ties, officials said.

The prime minister, who is visiting Guyana at the invitation of President Ali, is on the last leg of his three-nation visit after attending the G20 Summit in Brazil and visiting Nigeria. He is expected to remain in Guyana until Thursday.

The prime minister’s agenda included an engagement with regional regional leaders and overseeing the exchange of multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between India and Guyana. (Loop News, India Express)

INDIAN PRIME MINISTER NARENDRAModi said on Wednesday he would share technology for combatting seaweed infestation with Caribbean nations, as he visited Guyana in the first such visit by an Indian leader in more than 50 years.

Guyana, a South American nation with many citizens of Indian origin, serves as headquarters for the 15-member Caribbean trade bloc known as Caricom, and Modi met with regional leaders Wednesday, as part of the India-Caricom summit. They last met in 2019.

Prime Minister Modi arrived with promises to help the region in areas including health, energy and agriculture. He also announced more than 1,000 scholarships over the next five years for Caricom nations, mobile hospitals for rural areas and drugtesting laboratories as well as river and sea ferries for marine transport.

PM Modi offers aid to the Caribbean

But Caribbean leaders reserved their loudest applause when the Indian head announced that India had made tremendous progress in converting large quantities of sargassum into fertilizer and other economic uses, and he urged the region to take advantage of his offer.

He added that additionally, his government is willing to fully equip at least one government building in each of the trade bloc nations with a solar power system.

In reciprocation, the Prime Minister noted Guyana’s growing importance as an oil-producing nation after vast quantities of oil and gas were discovered off its coast in 2015, and declared, “Guyana will play an important role in India’s

energy security.”

Speaking after meeting with Guyanese President Irfaan Ali, the country’s first Muslim leader, Modi promised to help Guyana and the region improve agriculture production, saying food security is important to island nations.

Trade between India and Guyana has strengthened in recent years, with India providing Guyana lines of credit for military passenger planes and funding to buy a fast river ferry that services far-flung jungle areas close to neighboring Venezuela.

Narendra Modi’s visit marks the first time an Indian prime minister has come to Guyana since Indira Ghandi in 1968. (Source: AP)

Prime Minister of India - Narendra Modi (right) is greeted on arrival at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, by President of Guyana – Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali,

Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister of Barbados- Mia Mottley exchange pleasantries when they met at the Guyana Marriott Hotel.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with heads of government and other officials in what is now known as the India-Caricom Summit.

Trump on Black politicians and Whiteness in US

(Editor’s Note: This is an abridged version of an article that was written by Marya T. Mtshali, Lecturer in Studies in Women, Gender, and Sexuality, Harvard University, and published on November 3, 2024 in THE CONVERSATION, NETWORK.)

Making whiteness great again

IN THE AMERICAN IMAGINATION, white people are often perceived as being more authentically American than other racial groups.

Additionally, Trump and some of his followers see many of America’s strides on civil rights as detrimental to white people. Trump has said that “antiwhite feeling” is a significant problem in America. And Republican voters, who are overwhelmingly white, are more likely than the general population to view racism as a

bigger problem for white people.

Trump has said he believes America was at its best in the 1940s and 1950s. However, Trump’s long-standing inflammatory rhetoric around race –including his recent racist comments degrading Haitian refugees in Springfield, Ohio – do not simply glorify a time immediately before the civil rights era. They recall an older era.

Calls to “Make America Great Again” hearken back to colonialism, when whiteness – particularly white, male power – was at its peak. The period from 1500 to the 1960s was a time when white men could exercise control over people of color by racially classifying their bodies. And they protected whiteness by passing laws that declared “one drop” of Black blood as enough to declare someone

Black.

Whiteness is property, as the legal scholar Cheryl Hines has argued. It’s an asset for those who possess it. It offers benefits like white privilege and the idea of being white as moral and superior.

One-drop statutes, such as the Virginia Racial Integrity Act of 1924, attempted to scientifically define who was Black based on how much African ancestry a person had. Passed in dozens of states in the 20th century, these laws were about maintaining white purity.

More specifically, one-drop statutes reflected a fear that people who were considered white in terms of their appearance but had Black ancestry could reproduce with other white people. This, in turn, would result in the supposed degeneration of the white race.

These laws attempted to legally define Blackness.

Foil to white identity

“She was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting Indian heritage. I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago, when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black,” Trump said in July at a gathering of Black journalists.

He added: “So I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black? I respect either

one, but she obviously doesn’t, because she was Indian all the way, and then all of a sudden, she made a turn and she went — she became a Black person.”

By suggesting that Harris has strategically identified as Black for political gain, Trump implies that there’s a political advantage to being Black in America.

This notion aligns with the racist belief, fueled by white racial resentment, that Black Americans are afforded privileges over whites and Asian Americans.

The sociologist Arlie Hochschild has shown that many white Trump supporters believe circumstances in America have gotten worse for whites in recent decades. They believe many of the gains for people of color –affirmative action and other diversity policies – have been at the expense of the rights of white people.

Simultaneously, Trump’s comments emphasize his own whiteness by using Harris’ and Obama’s race as a foil to his white identity. Research on the construction of race in America shows that whiteness is devoid of meaning without something to define itself against.

For white people who feel many things have been taken away from them in an increasingly multiracial America, Trump is their warrior. He campaigns to protect the white population and culture of America.

Wickham joins RHFL Board of Directors

REPUBLIC FINANCIAL

HOLDINGS LIMITED(RFHL)

has announced the addition of Mr. Robert Wickham to its Board of Directors, effective November 19, 2024.

Robert Wickham is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in leading technology-based businesses and a notable track record in management, consulting, entrepreneurship, and corporate leadership. He began his professional journey at the esteemed Boston Consulting Group.

His distinguished career includes leadership roles at multinational companies, Salesforce and Oracle where he spearheaded significant growth initiatives and technological advancements. At Salesforce, Mr. Wickham served as a former General Manager of Tableau Asia Pacific and Chief of Staff for the Asia Pacific region where he was responsible for the Platform & Emerging Technologies portfolio and the launch of Salesforce’s $50 million Australian venture fund and regional startup programme. At Oracle, Mr. Wickham had responsibility for leading the Engineered Systems business in Australia and New Zealand, and System Management business in North America. He also co-founded Go Fly Limited, a low-cost airline later acquired by easyJet.

Robert Wickham, brings among other strengths, a solid foundation in technology to the RFHL’s board room deliberations.

In announcing the appointment, Mr. Vincent Pereira, Chairman of the RFHL Board of Directors shared, “Robert Wickham’s formidable leadership expertise in technology, entrepreneurship and

corporate strategy makes him a valuable addition to our Board. We welcome him onboard and look forward to his keen insight which will certainly contribute to the Republic Group fortifying its position as a leader of innovation in the financial services industry.” (Source: RFHL)

Flow Launches Christmas Promotion

FLOW, a leading communications and entertainment provider, is excited to unveil its Christmas promotion, “Christmasing with Flow.”

Running until December 31, this promotion celebrates the company’s dedication to connectivity through care, celebration, and festivity, offering a variety of thrilling prizes and experiences for customers.

Flow staffers are already in the Christmas mood, ready to bring cheer to Flow customers, as they launch the company’s Christmas promotion.

Participants can enter for a chance to win from a prize pool exceeding one hundred thousand dollars in cash, including a grand cash prize. Prizes also include smart TVs, kitchen appliances, handsets, electronic gadgets, and vouchers for groceries and fuel.

The centerpiece of ‘Christmasing with Flow’ is the grand prize of ten thousand dollars in cash. This generous prize is sure to enhance anyone’s holiday season with joy and provides the winner with the freedom to use it as they wish.

“Christmas is such an exciting and joyful time of year, and I am delighted to celebrate ‘Christmasing with Flow’ with all our customers this season. This promotion not only offers

fantastic prizes but also highlights our commitment to connecting people through memorable events and special occasions,” stated Nikala Williams, Marketing Manager — FLOW Windward Islands.

“Flow’s Christmas offers are designed to connect and bring joy to as many customers as possible during this festive season, so we invite everyone to join the ‘Christmasing with Flow’ celebration. Stay connected with us on social media @ flowstvincent for updates, exclusive content, and winner announcements. This season, let Flow spread joy and good cheer through festivity and, most importantly, connectivity.”

For further details about the ‘Christmasing with Flow’ campaign, please visit discoverflow.co.

Not me and a man

Dear George,

I AM NOT HAPPYat home. My father beats my mother night after night and pretends to be the sweetest person during the day.  My mother is afraid of him, but I am not.

I’m tired of telling her to let us get away from him but she claims he will kill her if she reports him or try to move out. That experience has led to me never wanting a man in my life. No man is laying his hands on me. My best friend has another girl for her lover, and she is very happy. She is encouraging me to do likewise.

I have not made up my mind yet, but I do

know I would not be choosing any man to be my life partner. They are too abusive and wicked. I do want to help my mother, but she is feeling trapped.

Out of Concern.

Dear Out of Concern,

The first thing you should understand is that your father is not representative of all men. There are men who love, care and commit to keeping their partners happy. Do not let your father’s abusive ways lure you away from being with a man. Meanwhile, your

Forgive? Yes.

Go back? NO!

Dear George,

My girlfriend broke up with me just after COVID all because I could not provide her with money and material things. She left me and started something with a man who used to call me useless. Now, the table has turned.

I am now striving in my new business and the man she left me for is unable to work because of an accident so, she wants me back. She apologized for what she did and wants me to forgive and forget,

mother needs to reach out and get help quickly or else she could very much perish in this relationship. His greatest hold over her is her silence. She has the option of reporting the physical abuse, and she can get support from a relationship counselor who can help her through this. Support your mother as best as you can and encourage her to go see someone soon. Her silence will be of no help to her.

George.

like nothing ever happened. People are saying I should forgive her, but I beg to differ.

Not Feeling

It.

Dear

Not Feeling It,

Forgiving her does not mean you should take her back. I guess she has learned her lesson but at the same time, that lesson should teach her not to be like that to the next man she chooses as her partner.

You need someone in your life who can stick it out with you through thick and thin, and from the evidence presented this individual is not that person.

George.

An orgasmic problem

Dear George,

I HAVE BEEN DATING this girl for three months and we see each other nearly everyday. She is complaining that I am not able to give her an orgasm and admitted she has always longed to be with a man who can bring her to that point multiple times. George, I have tried everything in the book. She is now hinting that she may leave me. I am feeling the pressure and to be honest sex with her is not fun anymore. I hate to be in such a

position. Unhappy.

Dear Unhappy,

It is not such a good idea to put all your focus and energies on achieving an orgasm. I am referring to both of you, especially your girlfriend. Some women have very difficult times achieving orgasms while others experience multiple orgasms at will.

Reaching an orgasm should never be the goal of sexual intercourse and it does not mean sex

cannot be satisfying if it’s not achieved. Both of you need time to settle into the relationship and enjoy each other’s company and shift the objective from reaching an orgasm to building a sound relationship. Comfort in a relationship can unexpectedly result in orgasms. It you are still pressured to, but cannot help her achieve her orgasm, then it may be best for you to tap out now and leave her to find her superhero. George.

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20)

Look at the big picture. Don’t let a stressful moment interfere with a love connection. Chill out, slow down and enjoy the simple things in life. When it involves money, be business–like to keep an arrangement open and honest.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21)

Love is in the stars! An intense love exchange could have some of you racing to the altar. There is too much happening in your life to get involved in other people’s drama. Focus on your own priorities. Hard work will pay off –be patient!

GEMINI (May 22-June 21)

Life is about to enter the first class category! Your financial position is set to improve with your budget catering to champagne tastes. A creative concept can show others that you are a class act. Join the A–list party goers to find love.

CANCER (June 22-July 22)

Prepare to be lucky in love! Affectionate moments are yours for the asking. Someone’s caring and sharing attitude can win your heart. A family environment brings emotional security. Spending money on your home provides enjoyment.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22)

Your work wish–list can now be granted. Schmoozing the boss can go a long way in rising up the ranks. Money mix–ups are possible – double check finances. A creative idea could be a stroke of genius, don’t underestimate your ability.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23)

If you have an influx of cash, invest it wisely. Be careful of divulging personal business, not everyone is trustworthy. If you want to get your message across at work, communicate to the right people. To let love in, share inner thoughts.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23)

This is your time to shine! An abundance of planets signify the commencement of a new solar cycle. You have the power to change your life; all you need to do is change your attitude. When it concerns love, listen to your heart. Powerful and passionate feelings provide you with all the answers you need.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22)

Venus radiates love vibes in your direction, your popularity is on the rise. When all else fails at work, use your common sense to find answers. Health and happiness go together. When life gets hectic, you need to look after your wellbeing. Long hours giving back to others can take its toll.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21)

To keep more money in your pocket, be creative. Your next move at work can cause a domino effect of new opportunities. It’s a chain reaction that puts you in a positive position. When love and friendship go together, it can be long–lasting.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20)

Looking for love? The love of your life could be associated with work. Love and life take time to perfect. Don’t sit back and wait for life to happen, when it’s about your career, fight for what you want. Family communications need attention, keep your schedule flexible.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19)

Money setbacks can now diminish with extra cash due to head your way. When everyone is emotional about family matters, you can be the practical one. If someone is being difficult, it may be time to tell him or her a few home truths.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20)

Money setbacks can now diminish with extra cash due to head your way. When everyone is emotional about family matters, you can be the practical one. If someone is being difficult, it may be time to tell him or her a few home truths.

ACROSS

1.Walk

5. NYC transit org.

8. By means of 11. “Terrible” czar 12. Grouchy person

13. Shad __ 14. El __ (weather phenomenon)

15. Makes the load less heavy

17. Take for granted 19. IIk

20. U.S. Pacific territory 22. Performer Della 25. Secede 29. Drawer pull

30. Summer beverage

31. Coastal sights

33. Fill in for the teacher

34. Patricia of “Hud”

36. Trespassers

38. Humbles

40. Floating arctic mass

41. Beach sight

43. Turns 47. However 50. Farm animal 51. Comprehend 52. “Sure!” 53. Tortoise’s race rival 54. __ Serene Highness 55. Cribbage scorer 56. Boxing outcomes (abbr.)

DOWN 1.__ colada (cocktail)

2. Hertz competition

3. Recyclable containers 4. Sufficient 5. Modern diagnostic test (abbr.) 6. Luggage markers

7. Despise 8. Sham 9. Long time 10. Home (abbr.) 12. Become sunny

again (2 wds.)

16. Difficult journey

18. Newsman

Roger __

21. “The __ a Thousand Faces” (2 wds.)

23. Producing a pucker

24. Declines

25. Crave

26. Mental image

27. Trucker

28. Rich

32. Canal boat

35. Jacob’s

wife

Elevation

Nosy one

Duchess’s mate

Washing machine option

Starchy, edible root

Fr. female saints 47. Pulverized lava 48. Grant’s foe 49. Funny prank

Wayne Williams gets worthy recognition

WAYNE WILLIAMS got his moment of honour at the New Montrose Basketball Facility, on Thursday, November 14, 2024, when his contributions to St. Vincent and the Grenadines Basketball over the years was acknowledged publicly.

The recognition, as bestowed, was the initiative of the organisers of the Open Court Invitational Basketball Competition on the venerable and indefatigable Williams.

Presented with a plaque, the indefatigable Wayne Williams was singled out for his “lifetime achievement in Basketball development, growth and expansion”.

For many persons, Williams has been the fulcrum on which local Basketball was able to survive over the years.

Furthermore, for his selfless attitude exemplified by personal sacrifice towards the sport and its growth, he has been revered by many within and without the sport here.

Thanks to Williams’ instrumentality and personal involvement several

Ezra Hendrickson, pictured addressing a welcome ceremony for Vincy Heat on their return from El Salvador, was a bundle of optimism as he projected his team’s chances.

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES Senior Men’s Football team- Vincy Heat will have a second chance to reach the Concacaf Gold Cup.

The Vincentian outfit finished as one of two best second placed teams with 13 points, gained from four wins, one draw and a one loss in

players were able to obtain Basketball scholarships to attend US universities and colleges. These opportunities for others came as a result of his networking with friends and basketball-related connections.

A long-standing Basketball administrator, Wayne Williams was President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Basketball Federation from 2005 to 2007, and again from 2016 to 2018.

A certified Level Three FIBA Coach, having attained his qualification in 2003, Williams was the Head Coach of the SVG Women’s Basketball team from 1994 to 2001.

Beyond that direct involvement in Basketball, Williams has served in many capacities in sporting and civic organisations, and has been a representative for Basketball on the National Olympic Committee of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, now the SVG Olympic Committee

He served as Vice President of the SVGOC from 2009 to 2021, Trustee

Wayne Williams has devoted the better part of his life to contributing to the development and growth of basketball in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

from 1997 to 2009, and was a delegate to Olympic Forum in Paris in 2019, and to FIBA Congresses in Peru and Slovakia.

Williams brings to his endeavours on behalf of Basketball and sports generally in SVG, University level qualifications in Business Management and economic, obtained through studies in the USA and Japan.

John Ballah who read the citation at the acknowledgement ceremony, referred to Wayne Williams as “a father figure in my life”, one, he added, who is deserving of his “flowers”, whilst he is alive.

Williams in responding to the recognition told THE VINCENTIAN that he welcomed it, saying, “I cherish and welcome the award, however, what I do for Basketball is for the love for it”.

He underscored his push to get players out on Basketball scholarships as one of his highlight achievements.

“I was able to get an education through Basketball and I thought that I can also help others the same. I also thought and still do, that to fill the national teams we need players who are exposed to training on a regular basis, hence that has always been my push”, Williams added. Among his other cherished accomplishments was the founding and continuing commitment to the Sunshine Basketball Academy. As one would expect he expressed his commitment to seek each and every opportunity to assist in the growth of Basketball here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Vincy Heat in Gold Cup prelims

their sojourn in Group A of League B of the Concacaf Nations League. They will next meet Jamaica in the Gold Cup preliminaries in March, 2025. Vincy Heat managed six points from their last two matches in El Salvador.

On November 14, at the Estadio Cuscatlán, Vincy Heat came away winners, 2-1 over Montserrat. Steven Pierre and Cornelius Stewart netted for St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the 42nd and 86th minutes, respectively. Donervorn Daniels scored for Montserrat in the 88th.

In their second outing on November 17, Diel Spring hit two goals in the 19th and 82nd minutes and Kyle Edwards67th minute against Bonaire. Vincy Heat’s defender- Jamol Yorke scored an own goal

75th, to gift Bonaire a spot on the scoresheet.

However, it was El Salvador that advanced directly to the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, as well as earning a promotion to League B at the next CNL.

Going one step better

For the Vincentian, this is the second occasion on which they will have to traverse that route to reach the prestigious Gold Cup.

They were placed in a similar position in 2021, after finishing second to Suriname in the 2019 CNL, but went on to lose to Haiti 6-1 in Fort Lauderdale, having had to field a depleted team because of US visa woes.

But this time around, they plan to make a fist of it, with Head Coach- Ezra Hendrickson committing to take the team as deep as possible, promising that his charges will be prepared for what is thrown at them.

Speaking at the La Vue

Hotel, last Monday night, November 18, on the team’s return from El Salvador, the Head Coach was overflowing with optimism.

“The kind of growth that I have seen in the ninety days that I have been here, it gives me hope. As a coach when you see players are able to go out there and perform and make your job easy, it makes your job exciting. It makes you want to go out there and work harder”, Hendrickson affirmed.

He admitted, however, “Between now and that time, we have to get better, lot of improvements we have to do so we can’t just rest on our laurels. We have to continue to push”.

Hendrickson, a former St. Vincent and the Grenadines captain, took over as head Coach in August, 2024, guiding the team to this point.

To date, St. Vincent and the Grenadines has to its credit shown a lone qualification to the Concacaf Gold Cup in

Diel Spring scored two goals versus Bonaire.

1996. Hendrickson was a member of that historic outfit. St. Vincent and the Grenadines earned their Gold Cup spot after finishing runner up to Trinidad and Tobago, in the then Caribbean Cup.

V Local swimmers in record-breaking form

Kennice Greene set 2 individual OECS records, 1 OECS Relay record, and 2 national records.

HOST ST. VINCENT AND THE Grenadines docked third in the OECS Swim Championships, held here at the Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre (SAC), from November 8 to 10, 2024, but local swimmers also left their marks in the sub-regional and local record books.

Among feats achieved at the threeday championships, were six OECS records and four St. Vincent and the Grenadines records.

Leading the way for the Vincentian contingent was Alex Joachim.

Joachim grasped two OECS records,

clocking record-breaking times of 1:05.16 in the 100m Breaststroke, and 23.53s in the 50m Freestyle.

Joachim’s time in the 100m Breaststroke also established a St. Vincent and the Grenadines new mark. Additionally, his 26.54s in the 50m Backstroke set a new local mark.

Meanwhile, Kennice Greene reset the OECS record in the Girls 15 to 17 50m Breaststroke to 26.64s, as well as the St. Vincent and the Grenadines record in the 15 to 16 age group 100m Butterfly to 1:05.60.

Both Joachim and Greene were also part of record-breaking efforts in relays.

Joachim along with Matthew Ballah, Eltonte Leonard and Kenale Alleyne rewrote the OECS 15 and Over Boys Medley relay time to 1:46.11, and in the OECS 200M Mixed Relay, Joachim, in combination with Zariel Nelson, Greene and Alleyne, established a new mark of 1:40.85.

Similarly, the team of Greene, Nelson, Abigail De Shong and Mya DeFreitas now holds the OECS record in the Girls 15-and-Over 200m Freestyle Relay, as they swam a combined time of 1:49.16.

Relatedly, Greene lowered the St. Vincent and the Grenadines record in the 15- 16 age category and the national Open category of the 100m Butterfly, with her 1:05.60, being the best time ever.

And, Matthew Ballah‘s 27.76s in the Boys 15-16, became the best time registered in the 50m Backstroke.

Apart from their third-place and record-breaking feats, St. Vincent and the Grenadines tallied 88 medals which included 30 gold, 27 silver and 31 bronze.

Come 2025, the Vincentians have a chance of improving, when the championships will once again be hosted at the Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre.

Double Masters Squash titles for Bentick

VINCENTIAN- JAMES BENTICK continued his dominance on the Malaysian Squash circuit, winning two back-to-back Masters titles.

First up he retained the Penang Masters that took place in Malaysia, November 8- 10, 2024, at the Nicol

David Squash Centre.

En route to the title, Bentick beat Kong Kai Yurn, 3-0, before registering the same margin of victory on Low Chin Hong.

Bentick then saw off Tan Tien Huat in the final, also winning 3-0.

Rugby Team in RAN 7s Tournament

THE NATIONAL MEN’S Rugby 7s team will represent this country in the Rugby Americas North (RAN) 7s Tournament in Arima, Trinidad and Tobago this weekend.

Dellon Durrant, Chairman, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Rugby Union believes this tournament is a key fixture in the rugby calendar and provides an invaluable opportunity for our players to showcase their talent on a regional stage, while representing our country with pride.

“Our team comprises some of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ most dedicated and skilled athletes, each of whom has trained rigorously to prepare for this competition. Our players and staff are determined to bring their best performances to the field in Trinidad,” Durrant told THE VINCENTIAN.…

“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the coaches, support staff, and each player for their hard work, commitment, and unwavering

The SVG Senior Men’s Rugby team that left here on Wednesday for Trinidad and Tobago.

determination to uphold the high standards of our nation’s rugby legacy.,” he added.

The squad reads: Paul “PJ” Kirby, Cornelius “CJ” John, Richard Morris, Kevin Cain, Dugal James (Captain), Tijani “TJ” Peters, Sydroy Bentick, Bazid Delpesche, Jaiden DaSilva, Jonte Bowens, Dimitri Samuel, and Benson Nanton.

Team Staff includes Head Coach: Justin Tittle, Team Manager: Brian Alexander, Medic: Frankie Joseph, Technical Director: Wayne

Pantor. Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago will contest Men’s Tier 1. Curacao, Dominican Republic, SVG and Turks and Caicos Islands will compete in Men’s Tier 2. SVG will play its first fixture against Dominican Republic followed by Turks and Caicos Islands and Curacao.

I.B.A. ALLEN

He then turned his attention to the ACE Malaysian Masters Open 2024, which ran from November 13 to 17, at Lake View Club.

Again, Bentick, who was seeking a fourth straight title, got the script written and executed in his favour.

Competing in the Men’s 55 and Over category, Bentick laced Balakrishnan Rangasamy 3-0 (114 11-3 11-7), and registered another 3-0 (11-3, 11-3, 11-7) win over Alvin Chong.

Facing Simom Ward in the Playoff, Bentick trumped 3-1 (11-8 911 11-1 11-0).

Bentick then formalized proceedings by trumping Chhabi Lal Paija Pun in final.

An uncomplicated 112, 11-4, 11-7 trumping of his opponent, gave Bentick, another Malaysian Squash title.

Reflecting on the retention of his titles, Bentick said: “You always enter a tournament with

Alex Joachim set 2 individual OECS records, was part of 2 OECS relay records, and set 2 national records.

James Bentick – ready to defend his titles in 2025

apprehension as you are not familiar with most of the players, but I had trained well and kept focused on the end goal”.

Bentick highlighted that getting the chance to play in the glass court was an exceptional opportunity.

“Playing on the glass court in the final of the Malaysian Open in the final was a special touch. Playing on the same court as the PSA (Professional Squash Association) players was itself a great feeling. The location and environment are second to none. I have played on many courts around the world, but this one is very special”, Bentick emphasized.

Buoyed by his successes, Bentick pledged to be part of the happenings in 2025, as he gears to again defend his two crowns.

Sports V

Vincy Heat in Gold Cup Prelims

THE ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

Senior Football team, affectionately referred to as ‘Vincy Heat’, has an opportunity to display their skills at a higher level when they meet Jamaica, March next year. The Vincentians earned their berth as one of the best second-finishers during their League B campaign.

Wins over Bonaire and Montserrat in El Salvador closed off the round. Steven Pierre scored in the 42 minute against Montserrat, and Cornelius Stewart converted in the 86th. Monserrat’s came in the 87th.

Figures reveal that the Vincentians enjoyed 38.4 % possession in that match. It appears that the Vincentians adapted a tactical defense plan, and pounced on their chances. The percentage fell to 35.9 against Bonaire last Sunday afternoon, but that was enough. Goals from Diel Spring 19 and 82, supported by Kyle Edwards in the 67th, spurred the Vincentians to their win.

The result is pleasing to coach Ezra Hendrickson. He will be content with the score sheet. However, the matter of possession might be of concern.

The Vincentians are scheduled to take on Jamaica in a Home and Away showdown in March. The winner progresses to the Preliminary stage of the Gold Cup.

The clash with Jamaica will be litmus test for the Vincentians. This nation had shown itself to be worthy of its Gold Cup placement. The brand and quality match their Caribbean counterparts. The obstacle seemed to have been our adoption to the Central America style of play.

Invariably we succumbed to the Spanishspeaking Central Americans. Our best performances have been recorded against Nicaragua. But even that has not been known to be dominant.

Our recent displays against El Salvador reflects a level of adaptability, and it appears that a state of maturity is creeping into our game awareness.

The matter of ball possession will give Coach Hendrickson something to think about, especially as the ferocity of opposition teams will increase as the competition deepens.

Analysis will dismiss the statistics as irrelevant, especially that it is the result that matters.

Congratulations are in order to the Vincentian midfielder Brandon John. He etched his name on League B’s Best XI, in the October package. His goal and assist on debut against El Salvador went some way in establishing his credentials. Perhaps by the release of the next list, more Vincentians would have enhanced their standing. Diel Spring’s brace against Bonaire could see him in contention.

In any event, preparations are ongoing for the Jamaica battle.

Other teams in the quest for qualification to the Group stage of the Gold Cup are: Costa Rica and Belize, Honduras and Bermuda, Guatemala and Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Cuba, Martinique against Suriname, and Nicaragua against Guadeloupe.

Sport Science Soon Grads: 2024 SVGCC Football Champs

Sports Sciences Soon Grads – champions of SVGCC football.

THE 2024 ST. VINCENTand the Grenadines Community College Invitational Football Championship came to an absorbing end, when Sport Sciences Soon Grads emerged winners with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Jebelle Youths at the Victoria Park, last week Friday.

Isiah Charles scored in the 45th minute for Sport Sciences Soon Grads in the Championship decider.

Earlier in the evening, System Three Youths took the third spot when they came from behind to defeat Sport Sciences Freshers 63. Denzel Bascombe helped himself to four of the six goals, two of which were penalties, converting in the 14th, 65th, 69th, and 73rd minutes. Jahiem Kirby in the 20th minute and Aeron Colliser in the 33rd minute completed the tally for System

Three Youths. Sport Sciences Freshers’ goals came from the boots of Kareem Davis who converted in the 8th and 48th minutes and Dimitri Walker in the 77th minute.

In the top awards for the MVPs, in Semi Final 1 Trent Ragguette of Sport Sciences Soon Grads. MVP for Semi-Final 2 was Ajay Delpesche of Jebelle Youths.

New Champions Sport Sciences Soon Grads also copped the most individual awards: MVP of the Tournament and Best Midfielder - Delano Benjamin; MVP of the Final - Cori Durrant; Best GoalkeeperAnthony Hazell; Best DefenderPharon Durham.

Other awards went to Denzel Bascombe of System Three

Masters T20

concludes this weekend

RSVG POLICE MASTERS,GECCU

Stanley Browne Stubbs, North Leeward Masters, North East Masters are into the semifinals of the SVG T20 Masters Tournament, to be contested this Saturday.

The final will be contested at the Sion Hill Playing Field on Sunday.

SVG Police Masters can thank Hyron Shallow for their win over Cato Heavy Equipment Premium Products Glamorgan in their quarter-final clash at Stubbs, last Saturday. Shallow scored 107 not out in Police Masters’ total of 215 for 2 in the allotted 15 overs, so reduced because of a late start. Salvan Browne contributed 58. Glamorgan Masters struggled to 75 for 5 in their 15 overs, Shallow 2/11, to hand Police Masters victory by a whopping 140 runs.

At Stubbs, on Sunday, GECCU Stanley Browne Stubbs had the better of Mustique Company by 47 runs. Stubbs got to 140 for 6 off 17 overs (overs reduced to 17 because of a late start), Kissinger McLean getting 71 of that total and Jomo Toney returning 2/21 for Mustique who replied with 93 for 8 off 17 overs, Ceron Padmore leading with 24 and Stubbs’ Ricky Thomas returning figures of 2/19.

At Sion Hill on Sunday, North Leeward won from Davis Construction Bequia by 8 wickets. Burton Forde, 38, was Bequia’s leading scorer in their

total of 122 all out off 18.3 overs. Clemore Millington led Bequia’s undoing with 4 for 18. North Leeward eased to 123 for 2 off 15.3 overs, Millington turning in a good all-round performance with 44 not out.

At Sion Hill, also on Sunday, North East Masters beat Sion Hill Masters by 116 runs. Renrick Williams with 85 ensured North East got to a formidable 191 for 7 in 20 overs. Conrad Jack snared 3 for 18 for Sion Hill who were bowled out in 12.2 overs for a paltry 75. Emron Lorraine claimed 3 for 13 bowling for North East.

I.B.A. ALLEN

Youths - Most Goals (10); Lenroy Dalzell of Jebell Youths - Best Striker; and Gabriel Jackson of DASGS Year One — Best Goal in the Championship.

I.B.A. ALLEN

Delano Benjamin - MVP of the Tournament and best midfielder.

Lenroy Dalzell - Best Striker

Hyron Shallow hit 107 not out for RSVG Police.

Denzel Bascombe scored the most goal.

Book about Frankie McIntosh launched

Continued fron Backpage. narratives of immigration and musical Diaspora.”

Another view expressed was that it was “An alternative to traditional scholarship that tends to focus on calypso and soca singers, this work explores the instrumental dimensions of the art form through the life and music of one of the most celebrated soca arrangers and keyboardists of all time.”

Added was that the book, a “fascinating collaboration between Frankie McIntosh and music scholar Ray Allen, places the music arranger at the center of

several overlapping narratives of immigration and musical Diaspora.”

In her review, Jocelyne Guilbault, coauthor of “Roy Cape: A Life on the Calypso and Soca Bandstand”, writes: “Frankie McIntosh and the Art of the Soca Arranger is a path-breaking contribution to the scholarly literature on Caribbean popular music and the first serious publication on the journey of a West Indian arranger in Diaspora.

“In their exchange, Frankie McIntosh and Ray Allen provide a unique account of not only the African Diasporic sonic and

human interconnections that animate Frankie McIntosh’s musical life and thinking,” she writes. “It reveals the labor of an arranger and the arranger’s sheer joy of exploring what a melody can become.

“This book also speaks volume about how the production of popular music emerges out of a complex negotiation between the arranger’s personal taste, public expectations and economic considerations,” Guilbault adds.

“Frankie McIntosh and the Art of the Soca Arranger” is published by University Press of Mississippi (November 15, 2024).

AI REAL ESTATE

BOOK ABOUT FRANKIE MCINTOSH LAUNCHED

US CORRESPONDENT naking@verizon.net

PRE-EMINENT CARIBBEAN

CALYPSO-SOCA Arranger

Frankie McIntosh and Ray Allen, professor emeritus of music and American studies at Brooklyn College, City University of New York (CUNY), on Sunday released their book, “Frankie McIntosh and the Art of the Soca

Arranger”, during a booksigning ceremony and Steel Pan Jazz Performance at the Don Buchwald Theater and Tow Atrium, Brooklyn College. Several calypso-soca fans, and music and book lovers were on hand to witness the ceremony and to purchase the book that has already garnered rave reviews. — a book that speaks to

McIntosh, a pianist and music arranger, as being “recognized internationally as one of the architects of the popular West Indian soca style that emerged in the late 1970s.”

The book-signing ceremony was preceded by a discussion on the book by Vincentian-born McIntosh and Allen, hosted by Trinidadian

broadcaster Eric St. Bernard.

It was followed by the Steel Pan Jazz Performance, with McIntosh on piano; Trinidadians Gavin Blake on steel pan and Dean James on drums; Guyanese Max Gouveia on bass; and Jamaican Charles Dougherty on saxophone.

The ensemble performed Becket’s “St. Vincent My Homeland”; “Caravan”; “Afraid” by Sparrow; “No Money, No Love”; and “Nica’s Dream.”

During the discussion segment, Allen said that the COVID-19 pandemic was “good for the book because Frankie was home, and I was home.

“It’s a very immigrant story,” he said, adding that “the second half of the book is about the calypso that he (McIntosh) arranged.”

The authors said: “’Frankie McIntosh and the Art of the Soca Arranger’ tells a story of Caribbean music in the Diaspora through the eyes and ears of a pioneering soca arranger.”

They said that the co-written memoir “places the music arranger at the center of several overlapping

Continued on Page 23.

APOLOGY TO THE MR 1 GROUP SPEARHEADEDby Keith Boyea and Andre Iton for a misrepresentation in the article headlined ‘Union Island students getting help’, as carried on page 5 of our issue of Friday 15th November 2024.

Seems we ‘short-changed’ the extent of MRI’s philanthropy, when we stated (in article referenced) that 68 students of the Union Island Secondary School will each receive a handout of #C$300.00.

I fact, as we now acknowledge our error, each of the 203 students on enrollment at the Union Island Secondary School will receive a handout of $300.00 from MR 1. We assure MR 1 that there was no ill intent on our part and hope that our error did not cause any undue inconvenience.

Frankie McIntosh signs book, while Ray Allen (to McIntosh’s left) speaks with a book/cultural lover.

Right: Ray Allen makes a point in discussion with moderator Eric St. Bernard, center, and Frankie McIntosh, right.

Frankie McIntosh plays the piano during the Jazz Performance.

Vincies, including keyboardist, composer, calypsonian Robert “Patches” Knights/King (right), show their support for Frankie McIntosh at book-signing ceremony.