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FRIDAY,

JUNE 01, 2018

VOLUME 112, No.22

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PHILROY MATTHEWS:

BIG ON THE CATCH

Sohan Lucas and his crew, hauled in the heaviest catch in Class Two. Philroy Matthews – Fisherman of the Year 2018 - improved on last year’s winning catch by more than 100 percent.

by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY

Fisherman of the Year.

Matthews picked up his prizes, including a 75 WHEN THE NUMBERS HP Yamaha Engine and were tallied, Philroy $3,000.00, last week Matthews tipped the scale Friday, May 25 at the at the highest mark. His Agricultural Input catch of 928 pounds Warehouse/Kingstown surpassed all others and Fish Market. he was announced The prize-giving

ceremony was rescheduled from May 21 owing to a wet Calliaqua Playing Field.

Originally from the North Leeward community of Petit Bordel, Matthews now resides in the Central Leeward town of Layou.

He has been fishing for the past 17 years and is currently captain of the boat ‘Obstinate’.

Michael Cordice, in charge of the boat ‘Omarly’, brought in 865 pounds to take second spot and $2,000. Cliff Young, captaining the

Right: Victoria Browne had the heaviest single catch among the female competitors. boat ‘La Toya’, grabbed the third spot and $1,000 with a catch of 495 pounds.

Continued on Page 3.

2. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

V News 3 Parliament gets update on geo-thermal project

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. 3.

PM Dr. Ralph Gonsalves admitted to a delay in developments, but assured that things were back on course as far as the geo-thermal project was concerned.

CIVIL WORKS ON THE GEOTHERMAL project are expected to begin soon.

According to Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, the contract for this phase of the project was awarded to Kelectric Company Ltd and signed on May 16, 2018.

This information formed part of Gonsalves’ response during the May 24 Sitting of the House, to a question posed by Leader of the Opposition, Dr Godwin Friday on the status of the geo-thermal project, among other things related to the project.

The civil works include the construction of a water supply system with up to 1.5km of pipeline from the Rabacca river to the drill pad site, and a water

intake system with a pond and pumps, within a structure that keeps aquatic organisms out, the prime minister said.

It also entails the construction of the drill pad, a water and mud pond, the construction of the drilling re-injection sites, about 500 metres below the drill site, and the laying of the pipe system between the drill site and the re-injection site.

All the farmers, except one, in the affect vicinity, have already been relocated and compensated for their land, Gonsalves told the Parliament.

The drilling contract is expected to be signed in June, with an Icelandic drilling company, with the drilling rig expected

to be mobilized by December this year and drilling set to commence in January 2019.

Gonsalves admitted to delay for the commencement of commercial operation of the geo-thermal plant, apportioning reasons for this to delays in getting the drilling contract organized, and the discussions associated with the power purchase agreement.

He said that the project was on hold since October 26, 2017 pending the conclusion of commercial agreements between VINLEC, the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Emera and Reykjavik.

“The negotiations were difficult, real problematic,” Gonsalves said.

He thanked a number of persons involved in the discussions, including the team from VINLEC, Elsworth Dacon, Maurice Edwards and Edmund Jackson.

He said that he was also grateful for the advice from the legal team representing the Clinton Climate Initiative, and the advice from Japan and New Zealand.

All final agreements, including the shareholders agreement, are expected to be signed by June 18, Gonsalves noted. (DD)

Thompson Home Philroy Matthews: Big on the catch gets donation

Victoria Browne, with a catch weighing 28.25 pounds, took the Sohan Lucas, a Ratho Mill top prize among the women for resident who captained the boat the heaviest single catch. She ‘Etano’, hauled in the heaviest beat Orla Matthews (27.85 catch in Class Two and walked pounds) and Tavia Richards (21 away with a 25 HP Engine. He pound) into second and third beat Julian Bradshaw in ‘J8-329- respectively.

CA’ who netted 140 pounds and Benjamin Miller of Layou won Stanley Bradshaw in ‘Bounce the Row Boat Competition. His 37 Back’ with 129 pounds. pounds was higher than Cornan Stanley Bradshaw had the Roberts from Clare Valley, 31 largest number of heads (197), pounds, and Brian Francois from and shared the first prize for the Rose Bank with 30 pounds. heaviest single fish (13 pounds) In related activities to mark a with Lucas. month of activities leading up to In the Beach Seine Competition Fisherman’s Day, May 21, 2018, contested between May 14 and Isabelle Bollers, a first former at May 18, renowned seine operator the St. Joseph’s Convent Eli Slater from Barrouallie, with Marriaqua, took the top spot in his boat ‘Ellianna’, hauled in a the Hats Off to Fishing Schools catch of 5,247 pounds to take first Competition. She was followed by place. Albert Neverson and the Dominic Davis of Adelphi crew of ‘Jehovah Nessie’, was Secondary and Annika John of second with 3,621 pounds, and Girls’High School. third was Augustus Pierre and Amara Samuel from the the crew of ‘Little Nezza’ with Calliaqua Anglican School won 1,667 pounds. the Upper Primary School Continued from Front Page.

Category. A Grade five student from Fair Hall, she beat Caresse Laborde from Sugar Mill Academy into second place.

Aiden Defrietas, a Sugar Mill Academy student, took the Lower Primary category, outpointing the C. W. Prescod duo of Zahndra Roberts and Kerissa Samuel.

This year’s Fisherman’s Day, with weather conditions described as rainy, recorded a dramatic increase over last year in terms of the total catch for the day. Last year’s catch of 4,448 pounds was eclipsed by a catch in 2018 of 9,533 pounds.

The average weight per boat for the day was 316 pounds compared to 185 pounds in 2017.

Twenty-seven boats, compared to 24 boats in 2017, returned with catches this year.

The 2017 Fisherman of the Year was Vanrick Allick, who captained his boat ‘Rainbow’ to a haul of 452 pounds.

Dr. Reynold L Hintzen, Director of Ceremonies, presenting a cheque for £500.00 Sterling to Mrs Annelle Thomas, President of the Thompson Home Committee, on behalf of the Lodge of the West Indies No 9424 UK.

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4. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Courts

Shooting spree suspects walk free:

Case remains live Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS THE QUESTION, ‘Will Shooting Spree Suspects Walk Free?’, as carried on the front page of THE VINCENTIAN of May 18, 2018, has been answered.

The two male suspects who were slapped with 11 charges in connection with the October 14, 2017 shooting spree at Diamond, were discharged on all counts, at the Serious Offences Court on Monday.

Alaskie ‘Beaver’ Samuel, 30, of Redemption Sharpes and Obandelle Neverson, 43, of Murray’s Village, had been charged with the murder of Gregory ‘Pecker’ Abraham, also known as ‘Woody’, as well as the attempted murders of Kenneth ‘Bullo’ Barzie, Venus Thomas, Kerwin John, Karime Benjamin, Kamani Richards, Fitzroy Iris, Oslin Thomas and Andrew Layne, all of Diamond. They were also accused of attempting to murder Michael Richards of

MORE COURT STORIES ON PAGE 28.

to go through with the case and have my family in problems outside.”

Charges withdrawn In light of this development, Delpleche requested, and was May 14 was the final granted, a short adjournment adjournment date for the to consult with the Acting Preliminary Inquiry (PI) to Director of Public Prosecutions commence, but when the main (DPP), Sejilla McDowall. witness, Ricardo ‘Shrek’ When the matter was called McFee, took the stand, he on Monday, May 28, the expressed unwillingness to Senior Prosecutor informed testify. the Court that the Prosecution McFee had given a was withdrawing all the statement to the police, charges against Samuel and October 20, last year, in which Neverson. Chief Magistrate he named Samuel and Rechanne Browne then Neverson as the persons discharged the men. involved in the shooting Speaking with THE rampage, but subsequently VINCENTIAN later, the gave another statement to a Senior Prosecutor disclosed lawyer saying that what he that more than 40 witnesses told the police was not true. were slated to testify for the He, however, told the Court on Prosecution at the Preliminary May 18, while being Inquiry, but explained, “McFee questioned by Senior was our main witness. He held Prosecutor Adolphus the key to the case. Without Delpleche, that the statement him, we had no case”. he gave to the police was true, He, however, indicated that but added, “I don’t really want the matter was not dismissed, Choppins and Ricardo ‘Shrek’ McFee of Villa.

DPP’s decision shocks mentally ill man head with a hammer during an incident at Glen around 4 a.m., January 7, 2013.

At a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) heard at the Serious Offences Court between July 31 and August 8, 2013, then Chief Magistrate Sonya Young committed Robinson to stand trial in the High Court for manslaughter, in connection with Hackshaw’s death, and Robinson, who was also charged with wounding, was granted $25,000 bail with one surety.

Robinson’s attorney Grant Connell described the DPP’s decision to now upgrade the charge to murder, after his client had been on bail for several years on the reduced charge of manslaughter, as “an abuse of process”.

Connell told the High Court on Tuesday that the defence had been holding discussions with the DPP’s office, in relation to the matter, for the past four or five years, and Social Inquiry and Psychiatric reports on Robinson were already prepared.

Justice Brian Cottle inquired of McDowall whether the Prosecution was ready to proceed with the matter. The acting DPP indicated that there was

Sejilla McDowall, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Ag. Informed the Court that the charge against Reuben Robinson had been upgraded from manslaughter to murder.

REUBEN ROBINSON, a 56year-old former police officer here, with a history of mental illness, was reduced to tears at the High Court on Tuesday after Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Ag. Sejilla McDowall, informed the Court that the DPP’s Office had indicted Robinson with murder, in connection with a matter for which he had been on bail for almost five years.

Robinson, who was on bail on the lesser charge of manslaughter, was then remanded on the upgraded charge, as persons are not usually granted bail on murder charges, unless in exceptional circumstances.

McDowall brought the new course of action to the Court’s attention, during a case management hearing on Tuesday.

In January 2013, Robinson was charged with the murder of Kemmie Hackshaw of Glen, who died after reportedly being struck in the

another matter in progress, and did not give any specific date when Robinson’s case could be started. Connell said he was ready.

“It is not fair to the accused to have him now remanded in prison, after being on bail for such a long time”, Justice Cottle contended. He questioned why couldn’t the issue have been discussed with the defence.

Justice Cottle made it clear that he was not questioning the DPP’s decision to indict for murder, but was only trying to see how he could have the issue dealt with in the interest of both sides.

Speaking with THE VINCENTIAN later, Connell confirmed that a copy of the indictment was served on him, May 23.

“It was signed by the DPP (Ag.), the most powerful pen in the land. Who is Grant Connell to question that?

“I hope the matter would be brought to trial as soon as possible. This is very unfortunate. What I can say is that I hope the Office of the DPP will be filled soon, and I trust one of the qualities of the person who fills that position, will be the ability to handle power”, Connell said.

McDowall was appointed DPP (Ag.) earlier this year, after then DPP Colin Williams resigned the position to take up duties as High Court Judge in Belize.

Ricardo ‘Shrek’ McFee was listed as the witness on whose evidence the prosecution built its case. as Preliminary Inquiries cannot be dismissed, since they are not trials.

McFee -to face the High Court McFee was one of the persons who had escaped unhurt when masked gunmen alighted an unmarked white Toyota Sprinter and opened fire outside and inside the ‘Road Side Bar’ at Diamond around 9 p.m., October 14 last year. Several persons were wounding during the shooting including Abraham, who succumbed to a bullet wound in the stomach two days later, at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.

While Samuel and Neverson walked free, McFee would remain in custody where he is awaiting High Court trial on charges of: murdering 9month-old Mozarie Lee; unlawfully and maliciously wounding with intent the baby’s father, Mozart Lee, and mother, Shelly Ann Durham; and the attempted murder of Monty Hillocks of Belmont.

The charges stemmed from a shooting incident at Fair Hall, October 7, 2016. McFee is charged jointly with Martin ‘Jahson’ James of Villa, on all counts.

(L-R): Obandele Neverson and Alaskie Samuel walked free, while the witness that could have prevented that remains on remand.

On April 2, this year, McFee along, Colin ‘Coco’ David of Fair Hall and Jomarno ‘Small Man’ Tash of Rockies were discharged at the Serious Offences Court, on charges of attempting to murder Paul’s Avenue businessman Jawanza ‘Sanga’ Fraser, using a firearm with intent to murder Fraser, and possession of a firearm to endanger Fraser’s life.

The charges against the trio were withdrawn after Frazer, the virtual complainant in the matter, was not present when called to take the witness stand at the Preliminary Inquire (PI), after being given notice to be there.’

Frazer was reportedly shot several times in the vicinity of the Bar he operates at Paul’s Avenue, when occupants in a vehicle that pulled up alongside, opened fire on him around midday, October 15, last year.

The incident had occurred about 15 hours after the shooting rampage at Diamond.

Mentally ill ÂChopper manÊ detained MUNRO DUNCAN, a mentally ill man who used a cutlass to chop his 85-year-old mother, Lydia Duncan to death some six year ago, will remain in custody until he is deemed fit to be released.

During a sentencing hearing at the High Court Criminal Assizes on Tuesday, Justice Brian Cottle ordered that the Vermont man be detained at the Court’s pleasure, during which time he will receive his treatment.

Duncan is to be returned to Court in two years for review and there will be biennial reviews until such time as the Court deems him fit to be released.

The Court will receive psychiatric reports for guidance.

During a previous sitting of the Criminal Assizes, Duncan pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, but sentencing was adjourned.

Continued on Page 28.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. 5.

Regional

No seats for the Incumbent: Barbados elects first female PM

inflicted on any party, this time on the incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP) who failed, to any appreciable degree, same and accept for very few candidates, to show any real fight.

Neither party had been as bold as to predict a 30 — 0 victory in its favour, especially since the history of elections in Barbados had shown at least one constituency (St. John) had voted the DLP in 14 previous elections, and was not expected to change.

Mia Mottley led the BLP to victory and That was not to fulfilled a promise she had made to one of her teachers…. that she would become be, and in the May 24, 2018 Prime Minister one day. (Photo Credit: general election, caribbeanlifenews) Barbados not only BARBADOS BECAME THE saw to it that one party (BLP) SECOND CARICOM country this won all seats, but that they year in which one party won all had elected a female Prime the seats constitutionally up for Minister for the first time in grabs in a general election. their history.

The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) joined with the Dr. PM Mia Mottley – a first for Keith Mitchell led New Barbados National Party (NNP) of Grenada in winning all seats Mia Mottley, 52, who in a general election. assumed leadership of the But while in Grenada’s case Party from Owen Arthur after this was the third time that defeat in the 2013 elections, the NNP was winning all the was sworn in on Friday 25th seats, in Barbados’ case, it was May, becoming Barbados’ a crushing defeat never before eighth Prime Minister and the

fifth female head of government in the English speaking Caribbean, joining the likes of the late Dame Eugenia Charles of Dominica, Janet Jagan of Guyana, Portia Simpson Miller in Jamaica, and Kamla Persad Bissessar in Trinidad and Tobago.

In celebrating with her BLP and its thousands of supporters outside the party’s Bridgetown headquarters early on Friday, Miss Mottley told them: “This victory is the people of Barbados’ victory,” and described the result a vote for a more inclusive and transparent kind of leadership for Barbados.

“This must be our legacy to the people of Barbados: to give you back your government and your governance,” said Mottley, a former minister and attorney general who was sworn in later on Friday.

The result means the Barbadian House of Assembly is without an official opposition, despite the fact that an unprecedented 135 candidates ran for office across nine parties.

DLP dogged by hard economic times Outgoing Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, who had served since 2010, congratulated Mottley,

Barbados Labour Party supporters taking in the victory speech of their leader Mia Mottley at the party headquarters. (Photo Credit: Barbados Today) Left: Freundel Stuart’s voice is said to have cracked as he gave his first speech as outgoing Prime Minister. (Photo Credit: Loop News conceding that the DLP had suffered an “overwhelming defeat.”

“In campaigning, whenever there is success, success is shared by all those who succeed and by those with whom they are associated; but when there is failure, failure points to one man,” he told reporters at his party headquarters, adding that he had already given notice to his party that the 2018 election was his last.

The DLP’s handling of the economy over its two terms in office was one of the major issues in the campaign.

The Barbadian economy has struggled since a sharp contraction in 2009 after the global financial crisis.

Weak growth has put strains on Barbados’ public debt, pressuring foreign exchange reserves and helping to spark repeated downgrades of the island’s credit rating.

The DLP’s economic record dogged Stuart in the campaign. Many voters expressed frustration at the party’s failure to reduce debt and the cost of living even as their taxes rose, but no one had predicted that the backlash would have been so severely inflicted on Freundel Stuart and the DLP. (Sources: Reuters, Telesur)

Arthur gets caught in post elections loop FORMER PRIME MINISTER and leader of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Owen Arthur congratulated the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) on its overwhelming victory at the polls, May 24, 2018.

“I offer the Barbados Labour Party congratulations, and I wish them and the country good luck and good fortune.”

That was the extent of the sentiment expressed

by Arthur, according to Barbados Today Online New Agency.

There was immediate response to Arthur’s ‘offer of congratulations’, with one person posting on the Barbados Today

opinion page, “You congratulated the BLP but not PM Mia personally. If the DLP had won, you would be all up in Stuart`s butt.”

Another reminded Arthur that, “You blotted your book irretrievably when you came out with your stupid statement decrying a segment of the manifesto. ….

However, despite your tittle-tattle, the people were clever enough to realise you just being a grumpy old man. So, do sit on rocking chair and reflect on your actions and give our new Prime Minister your wholehearted support.”

There was, however, less anger vented from

from members of the BLP which he once led.

Arthur led the BLP to victories in the 1994, 1999, 2003 general elections. He served as Prime Minister from 1994 — 2008, when he led the party to defeat at the polls in 2008. He stepped down as leader of the BLP, and was replaced by his former Deputy Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who also became Opposition Leader He subsequently returned in 2010 to successfully retrieve Arthur’s tenure leadership from Miss The former Prime Mottley, but led the Minister has remained in party to defeat once the limelight but has more, in the 2013 faced much criticism elections.

certain circles, with one person posting, “Your contribution to Barbados cannot be erased. You also had a hand in helping to mold Mia, by giving her several opportunities to hone her skills in the various ministries under your great administration. We are only sorry that things have played out the way they did. But like God, we all can forgive and move on as we take Barbados forward together.”

He resigned officially from the BLP in 2014 but continued to sit as an independent member of parliament until its dissolution to make way for general elections, May 24, 2018.

Interestingly, Arthur, speaking at a press conference on May 14, said in response to a question about if he would be willing to take up post with a BLP government if that party won the May 24 elections, he said that that if requested by Mottley, he would consider serving as an advisor, but that he preferred to focus on a ‘professional career at the University

There is a school of thought that Owen Arthur was pressured to relinquish leadership of the BLP after its defeat in the 2008 general election.

(Photo Credit: loopnewsbarbados) of the West Indies’.

(Source: Barbados Today, Reuters)

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6. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Diaspora

NY ex-police group honours four Stories and photos by Nelson A. King naking@verizon.net; kingnaking@yahoo.com US CORRESPONDENT THE ST. VINCENT and the Grenadines Ex-Police Association, USA, Inc. Saturday night honored three outstanding nationals and a corporate entity during its annual Dinner Philip Richards receives and Awards Ceremony at ‘Surprise President Award’ the Friends of Crown St. Vincent and the Heights Educational Center from Ardon Tannis, right, and Sylvan Dick (left) receives award, on behalf of Square Grenadines Ex-Police, Orton in Brooklyn.

NY Consul General Howie Deal Shippers and Movers, Guy receives award from The Brooklyn-based Prince. from Anthony Husbands.

Malethia Joseph-Thorne. group presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to Guy, a Georgetown-born foundation Treatment as a Stationary Engineer Vincentian centenarian Mitchinson “Mitchie” Maurice James (story carried member and trustee of the group, said Electric. the association has “gone through Sylvan Dick, who received the in THE VINCENTIAN of May 25, different stages, as all organizations go award on behalf of Ruby Wood, the 2018); its Diamond Award to former through, but we’re still standing after owner and chief executive officer of the detective corporal in the Royal St. 38 years.

Brooklyn-based Square Deal Shippers Vincent and the Grenadines Police “I want to say thanks to the and Movers, said: “It’s an honour to Force (RSVGPF) Orton Guy; its association,” he said.

“This award, I know how much her work is Corporate Citizens Award to Square humbly receive it.” appreciated.”

Deal Shippers and Movers; and its As a police officer, Guy worked in Like Guy, Wood, a native of Mt. Special Recognition Award to various stations, divisions and Pleasant in the Argyle area, migrated Caribbean Life’s Dr. Nelson A. King. to the US in 1975, joining her The St. Vincent and the Grenadines departments, including the Criminal Investigation Department.

He was one husband, the late Egerton “Creech” Ex-Police Association, USA, Inc. also of the original officers of the Narcotic Wood. recognized recently-retired RSVGPF Squad. He attained the rank of Six year later, she and her husband superintendent Ruth Hazel Ann Detective Corporal. established Square Deal Shippers and Jacobs with a bouquet of flowers.

Guy migrated to the United States Movers, Inc. The group’s secretary - Philip in 1975, and retired from New York Mrs. Wood said their goal was to Richards received the president, Ardon City’s Bureau of Waste Water offer first-class shipping services to the Tannis, “Surprise Award.”

Caribbean and the rest of the world.

Mrs. Wood is active in the Caribbean Diaspora community, and

Dr. Nelson A. King (2nd from right) receives award. has used the success of Square Deal Shippers and Movers to “spread kindness and prosperity.”

She has made considerable donations to the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, the Red Cross, School for Children with Special Needs, among others.

In addition, she said she has provided food for the homeless and underprivileged school children, and acquired and distributed books, computers, medical supplies and building materials for hospitals and correctional facilities.

Mrs. Wood said her life is evidence that “a candle loses nothing if it is used to light another.”

Jacobs, who enlisted in the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force on Jan. 5, 1983, served as a prosecutor at the Serious Offenders Court and the Family Court before being appointed head the Criminal Investigation Department.

She was the second female to attain the rank of Superintendent and retired on May 3, 2018, after 35 years of service in the RSVGPF.

Vincy charity holds fundraising gala group JAMAICAN gospel artiste Croswell Daily was the major act at the recent annual gala fundraising dinner of the Bronx, New Yorkbased Vincentian group, St. Matthias Charities, Inc. The event, held on April 28, at the Friends of Crown Jamaican Heights Educational Center in Brooklyn, gospel artiste attracted other Coswell Caribbean nationals, Dailey such as Jamaicans, Guyanese, Barbadians, Grenadians and Nevisians.

Daily — who performed during the two segments — provided much spiritual food to patrons through his uplifting songs.

They included: “He was There”; “Surely Will Deliver”; “Run Him Out”; “Behold”; “Blessed Assurance”; and “A Wonderful Savior.”

Vincentian Bishop Aaron Moore, of the St. Jude Baptist Church in Brooklyn, exhorted patrons to “examine yourself.”

“Every man who invests in anything will like to see growth,” he said. “So, you have to know when to invest, how to invest.

“Examine yourself,” he urged.

“Think about it. What’s in my heart’s condition. How do you respond to the word of God? “You must put in the work to reap a good crop,” Moore continued. “You must prepare the soil to receive the seed. Check your heart. My word

tonight is to prepare your heart to meet the Lord.”

Georgetown native Pastor Robert McBarnett, president of St. Matthias Charities, Inc., lauded patrons for contributing to the event.

“Everywhere I go, I Pastor Robert tell folks — even in St. Vincent and the McBarnett.

Grenadines — [that] it’s the folks in New York why we’re able to do this,” he said. “Your contributions make us do this.”

Since the group was founded in 2012, McBarnett said members have made annual pilgrimages to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, distributing medical and other supplies to hospitals and clinics, and delivering food, clothing and books, among others, to communities and schools in the length and breadth of the country.

In response to McBarnett’s appeal for contributions for EKG machines in every hospital in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, patrons contributed US$791.00 on the spot.

“This is the biggest [single] donation thus far,” McBarnett said.

“So, it means we are going to get an EKG machine.”

During a missionary trip to St. Vincent and the Grenadines last December, St. Matthias Charities, Inc. distributed four commercial washing Continued on Page 12.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. 7.

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8. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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

Editorial Vigilante justice BETWEEN MAY 18 AND MAY 27, 2018, there were two reported acts of vigilante style justice in this country.

On May 18, Simeon Francois was severely beaten by residents of Petit Bordel before being handed over to the police.

Francois had been declared by public notice from the police, to be a person of interest in an abduction and attempted rape matter involving a 10-year-old girl of Petit Bordel.

The May 27 incident occurred when what appeared to be mourners, turned on Paul Stephens of Keartons, Barrouallie, at the Questelles cemetery, where his wife, Jetonnia Thomas-Stephens, was being laid to rest.

Stephens’ beating may have been as a result of residents of Keartons believing he had something to do with his wife’s death, though a post mortem had ruled she died of a cardiac (heart) related malfunction.

In both cases, the extent of the blows inflicted on the men resulted in each of them being hospitalised. Some witnesses reported that both men looked near to death after the beatings.

So, what has gone so wrong that ordinary citizens of this country would take the law into their own hands?

Vigilante justice is defined as “the actions of a single person or group of people who claim to enforce the law but lack the legal authority to do so.” That taken, what those citizens did on May 18 and May 27 was illegal.

By extension, therefore, if those who had cast the stones can be identified, law enforcement agents here have all right to arrest and charge them.

That said, is it anywhere near safe to conclude that this eruption of vigilantism is a reaction by a people who have lost faith and trust in the law and order agents and/or the legal system as a whole?

Put another way: Is this extrajudicial punishment (vigilante justice) motivated by a perception of a nonexistence of law and order and/or dissatisfaction with the justice system — how justice is served?

Is it that, having lost that faith and trust, that citizens feel it incumbent that they have to resort to that school of justice premised on ‘an eye for an eye’, forgetting, as Mohandas Gandhi enunciated, that ‘an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind’.?

But ours is not a country without laws. Ours is a modern, postcolonial society founded on the principle of equality for all (to include equal opportunity) and a system of jurisprudence that gives each and every citizen his/her day in court. You are, according to the law, innocent until proven guilty.

But this sudden vigilantism? Could it be a reaction by citizens who have lost patience with the pace at which the wheels of ‘justice turn’, as they would have witnessed recently in a matter that took two years to bring a man to court to answer charges of rape and indecent assault of his daughter, and then freed him unconditionally?

Is there a rising tide of questioning of a justice system that is perceived to rule or work against the natural moral order of the people it should protect and serve?

It could well be that as more and more ordinary citizens perceive that the justice system and justice have been perverted, that they will hold on to a view that vigilantism is morally correct, as justification for their actions.

When the understanding that there has to be a defined method for determining crimes, and the extent to which they should be punished, fail to satisfy the expectation of those who are likely victims, the urge to ‘take things in your own hands’ will be intensified.

So, do vigilante groups have a place in today’s society?

Unsurprisingly, law enforcement agencies and those who guard our organized society say unequivocally, ‘No!!’

And there is good reason for this. To allow this law-into-your-ownhands approach would lead to a destruction of law and order, give rise to anarchy, in which only the strong, literally, survive.

When a people resorts to vigilantism to enforce ‘justice’, it should be seen as a reminder that humans have an inborn morality, a Human Law so to speak, which should inform the laws that govern the state in which they live as one society.

It should also be a reminder of, if not an awakening to, the fact that vigilante style justice is no lasting fix for the deficiencies we might find in those systems of justice which we design for ourselves.

To repeat. There is no room for vigilante style justice in a modern society founded on laws and, more importantly, the impartial application of those laws.

A look at some political basics deterrent but rather as a challenge to our pursuit of this noble goal of “LAST TUESDAY EVENING, the Vincentian independent nationhood.

Association of Journalists hosted a Panel At the same time, we must put on our Discussion on the topic “The Multi-Party dedication to working towards not only system, is it ripe for overhaul?” By Sheer regional political integration but regional coincidence, the three panellists, comprising political integration.

Adrian Fraser, Stuart Nanton and me, were The realities of the present situation, all members of the Democratic Freedom however, dictate that we go to it alone at least Movement which was launched on the 9th in the first instance” August 1974.

When Independence was in the air in 1979, In the very month that Joshua pulled out of the DFM sought to help fashion a the ill-fated Alliance virtually to bring constitutional framework which could invest together the two parties, the PPP and Labour, our sovereignty with real meaning by into a conservative bloc, the DFM Draft committing itself, body and soul, to the Manifesto focused on change. And many of the creative work of National Independence suggestions which came both from floor and Committee under the Chairmanship of the panel last Tuesday night, turned out to be venerable Henry Williams. restatements or refinements of what the DFM The NIC came up, among other things, with had put forward nearly twenty years ago. Let the ideas of Republican status for the new us reflect. nation, a separate and independent In its section on Political Reform, the DFM boundaries and election commission to ensure manifesto had pledged the following among that election were truly free and fair, and free other things. from fear. ” (1) The formation of a People’s Assembly The country rejected the DFM and its views composed of delegates nominated by all nonin 1974 while Cato and company laughed the partisan voluntary groups and organizations contributions of the NIC to scorn in 1979. operating on an island-wide basis, to debate Yet, like good cream which always floats to matters of public interest and to forward the top, many of the ideas resurfaced, were recommendations to the Government. warmed over, and repackaged for marketing (2) a. To enable the electors in every during the exciting exercise in democracy constituency to remove an elected which marked the processes of the Regional representative from office before the expiry of Constituent Assembly that deliberate on the his normal term, in cases where the question of Windward Island Unity 1990. To performance of such representative has been these were added notion of an Executive found to be totally unsatisfactory from the Prime Minister, a mixed-system of voting that point of view of his constituents. imported elements of proportional b. to require elected representatives to representation, and a fixed tenure of make a full declaration of their assets at the Government. beginning and end of each of their legislative So that Tuesday night’s meeting far from terms; being a revelation in fact carry strong hint of C. limiting the term of office of any déjà vu in endorsement of Becket’s dictum person as Head of Government, to two that “what goes around, comes around”. consecutive terms, with the possibility of In sum, there is delightful nonsense in the resumption for a further term of office; notion of the No-party State which is d. limiting the amount of money which unpractical, visionary and utopian, in the real candidates will be allowed to spend on election workaday world, parties are the motor that campaigns. drives the engine of politics which is necessary e. requiring parties or candidates to for governance in modern civil society. disclose their principal sources of finance.

The one-party system is undemocratic and 3. To ensure that all government-controlled repressive. news media will allow reasonable space and The Communist One- party claims a time for the expression of views other than monopoly on absolute truth and the right to be those of the ruling party. the repository of eternal varieties.

4. To intensify the search for a system of It has fallen under its own weight and democratic government as an alternative to today stands rejected and discredited by all the present Westminster parliamentary freedom-loving peoples. model.”

For all its shortcomings and limitations, the On the specific matter of Independence, the multiparty system of which the Two Party fourteenth anniversary of which we are now variety is its flagship, seems to be the way to celebrating, the DFM was clear and concise. go continuing efforts must always be made to decoction provide the social and legal framework best We believe in the inherent right of all suited to its operation. There is little else that peoples to self-determination... imperfect human being can do.”

It follows, therefore, that early attainment In any event, I look forward to the NDP to of Independence is accorded a high place in winning at least eleven seats in the next our priority list. general election and instituting changes which We need only add that we regard of small will safe-guard our democracy. size and economic dependence not as a (Cross Country newspaper: 26 May 2001, First published October, 1993)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. 9.

Letters

Men must Vulgar music change played in minibus I MUST CONFESS that I have been involved in sessions with some men that, now that I reflect, had to be some of the most degrading episodes in my life.

Those sessions would have heard us men brag about how many girls we had sex with, and some of the men even boasted about how they had to ‘slap-up’ their girlfriends. It was always those who had the most girls who were considered ‘macho’, and those who beat their girlfriends were considered the ‘dons’.

Never for a moment back then did I ever stop to consider what I was

MAN-ABOUTTOWN returns by popular demand, and would like to know: * Why couldn’t the closed Arnos Vale airport be the site for a National Stadium? * Is it true that officers ‘squared up’ to fight at the last meeting of High Ranking Officers? * If Carnival is mas, calypso and steelband, how can a street jump-up in the rural areas be referred to as a rural Carnival? * Why do users (vehicles) have to endure so much inconvenience because of these rural street jumps? * Do the persons who give permission for rural jump-ups know if you get caught in a vehicle in the South Leeward jump-up, it takes four hours for that vehicle to travel between Chauncey and Questelles?

involved in and what I was encouraging.

I woke up to the evil that surrounded me when I went to visit the girlfriend of one of the chaps in the group. He had really beaten her badly- her swollen face, burst lip and all. I realized there and then that I was part of something very, very bad.

Of course, I made myself very popular with the boys when I confronted my friend about the beating he had inflicted on his girlfriend. I was accused of being soft… a ‘soft man’ as they said.

I walked away from that group of ‘friends’, and have since reflected on my life and especially my relationship with women. In fact, I now have a steady girlfriend, and it looks like my next step could be marriage.

Now that I am more concerned about how we men treat our women, I must admit that it seems, regardless of how much (laws) we put in place to protect our women, the scourge of domestic violence and physical abuse of our women still continues.

This is not to say that we should throw our hands in the air and give up. NO!! We cannot expect this attitude that our men have towards our women to go away overnight.

The beating will continue, and those women-beaters will remain in society as upright citizens until men decide that woman is not God’s gift to them to do with her what he pleases, but that God gave man woman to be his equal companion.

Until men turn to the Lord in whom they will find forgiveness and a new life, they will remain women-haters.

I pray that my friends of old would find the peace I have found and the new attitude to women that I now have, by turning to a life dictated by the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Dan McN

A FEW DAYS ago, I was at the Windward Bus Terminal. I was standing within earshot of a minivan whose radio was set on a particular radio station , which was playing some local soca tunes. The tunes were extremely vulgar.

I was shocked, especially when I heard a tune that was asking people to “mind their ‘funking’ business.”

The announcer was saying the topic was ‘funking’ business, but listening to the tune, you could hear another word. As we say locally, it was the raw cuss word.

That radio station went to the extreme.

To add insult to injury, the announcer had a ball. He was carrying on, giving credence to the tune. He kept shouting — “‘Big tune, Da One ya tun up!”

Among the adult passengers (who showed signs of discomfort), were four (4) children, all below the age of ten (10).

I wonder what they were thinking.

Is there a broadcast policy in SVG? It appears that anything is played and said on these stations (especially two

(2) of them). It seems as if the authorities only pay attention to what is said on talk shows on a particular radio station.

That’s not nice! Pay attention to what is said and done on all radio stations, and not only on the stations’ talk shows. the fabric of society?

Some of these stations think what they do and Disgusted say is the best way to get to number one (1) in the rankings.

It is disgusting, something need to be done with these radio stations.

Can anyone sue these stations for destroying

Black is Beautiful YES, Mr. Editor, I was one of those persons with no apology to give to anyone for having sat and enjoyed live coverage of the wedding of Prince Harry and Mehgan Markle. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Even though when I thinkabout the couple and how much they seem to enjoy one another’s company, I can’t help but comment on the liberties taken, as far as certain nonwhite things are concerned.

I mean, look at it. Who were some of the big time invitees? Oprah Winfrey, Idris Elba and Serena Williams — all black.

Who delivered the sermon? A black American minister.

Who said the prayer? A black female Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin, a person of Jamaican roots.

Who delivered that heart-moving rendition of that classic ‘Stand By Me’? The Kingdom Gospel Choir — a

activities — like what Morgan did, and even organize public meetings involving groups and leaders in the community.

This is one way the police can win the trust of the community, which in turn, will assist them in their effort and duty to make our community safe and free from crime.

We, all residents, have to play our part. We cannot live in fear forever.

IS THERE a message somewhere in the results of recent general elections in some of our partner CARICOM countries?

Grenada: A stinging message to the opposition that “We don’t trust you, we trust Dr. Mitchell fully.” Dr. Mitchell takes all seats.

Antigua, where elections were called before they were constitutionally due. A sweeping victory for the incumbents who the socalled progressive governments would have frowned on because of their history. Message to the opposition — the so called ‘progressives’: “We don’t trust you with our future.”

Now Barbados — a country deemed to be conservative but considered the bastion of two-party democracy in the English-speaking Caribbean. The incumbent fails to win one seat. A clean sweep by a single opposition. Message to the Democratic Labour Party founded by the Father of the Nation Errol Barrow. “You have sat too long and did nothing. We will bear the hard times under a different regime, for you have not been truthful and accountable.”

Message for SVG???

Anyone cares to say what this might be?

Ronald, Kingstown

Dreamer

black choir with a black choir mistress. And who composed the song? A black American - Ben E. King.

And the fellow who played the cello? A black youngster who I understand has Antiguan roots.

I never thought I would live to see this happening in an event involving someone of the Royal Family of the UK. Man, I tell you, I have a different take of Her Majesty now. She must be commended for giving her full support. This event, with all its ‘blackness’, couldn’t happen if she did not approve.

Big up to Her Majesty and all those persons of colour who gave such outstanding accounts of themselves at the wedding of Prince Harry to his mixed race Mehgan Markle. .

Noel J - SVG

Stronger communities needed to fight crime I MUST CONGRATULATE police officer Julius Morgan for the initiative he took to have a recent 5K Walk/Run focus a positive light on the Ottley Hall community.

We all know how we think about that community; but if we believe that among all the bad, there is always some good on which we can build, then that is the first step in turning things around.

It is no use we sitting idly in our communities

and complain about the crime around us. We must do our part to fight off the criminals. I know that there is a fear that has gripped us; but it is only when we come together that we will be able to deal with that fear, and begin to take a step towards dealing with the crime in our community.

And the police can help in this regard — they can take a leaf out of officer Morgan’s book.

They need to do more community policing

Recent elections and their messages

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10. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

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The Splendid Record of the ULP and Comrade Ralph in Advancing the cause of Women in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Part one

Introduction ON SUNDAY, May 20, 2018, on the occasion of the Annual Convention of the Women’s Arm of the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), the guest lecturer, Marcia Hinds, reportedly said among other things: “So, there is no specific role for us women ___ just a role. Indeed, I believe that if we understand we have a role and our role is often purposely blocked by men, like Ralph Gonsalves, then women must become ___ should become ___ far more mobilized, far more militant and political as a precursor and facilitative mechanism for political change.”

Now, Marcia Hinds, reportedly, has been referred to as “a Barbadian academic and activist” and as a “University of the West Indies lecturer”. Designations as “academic” and “lecturer” normally connote objectivity and the delivery of opinions or conclusions based on facts or a sufficient matrix of facts.

But, of course, these are not “normal” times; activism gets in the way of facts; and these are the days when the “fake news” of Donald Trump are accorded a semblance of normality.

At a political gathering of the NDP, Marcia Hinds, was in excellent company of some notorious dissemblers, purveyors of falsehoods and untruths, internet and associated crazies, and those who consider that natural disasters and climate change in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are caused by “spiritual wickedness”, not global warming.

Being in the NDP citadel of “fake news” and falsehoods, it was not surprising that Marcia Hinds, “academic and lecturer”, offered not one scintilla of evidence, not one iota of facts, to justify her assertion that men like Ralph Gonsalves “purposely blocked” women.

interested even in ‘Black Lives Matter’; I am about “Women Lives Matter’.”

This outburst from one of the Hinds duet in the presence of students and lecturers was marked by its plain ignorance; she and her two co-protestors clearly need proper political education.

There is a letter written by Ralph Gonsalves, dated March 12, 2018, to Dr. Tennyson Joseph, a university colleague of Hinds, on her very declamation. We hope that Dr. Joseph showed this letter to the two Hinds and their single co-protester.

In it, Ralph Gonsalves wrote about Hinds’ outburst as follows: ‘It is elementary that there is a profound inter-connectedness between anti-colonial and antiimperialist struggles, working people’s struggles, black people’s struggles, and struggles of women.

Historically, and in the contemporary political economy, monopoly capitalism maintains its overrule by subjugating, and dividing, countries, the working people, ethnic groups, and gender constellations.

A liberation struggle, a struggle for the enlargement of freedom and our people’s possibilities, involves the nation and all groups within it, and their connections regionally and globally. I have been, and I remain, committed in theory and practice for the fullest freedom of our historically oppressed nations, working people, ethnic groups (indigenous, African, Asian), and women. How, for example, can a working woman attain her fullest freedom if the working man is not freed of all his shackles?

There is, of course, a bourgeois feminism to which I do not subscribe, that denies this analysis. Can a working woman be truly free under monopoly capitalism? Of course not!

Conceptual discussion To be sure altered relations of production do not translate Well, let us begin with a conceptual discussion, then go to the automatically to “gender” freedom.

So that a category “gender” has to be record of Ralph Gonsalves on specifically incorporated into the advancing or not advancing the cause of women, their role in politics, overall struggles around other categories and so as to have a and the state administration.

At the recent three-person protest composite struggle based on nation, a few months ago at UWI, Barbados, class, race, and gender linked to the global political economy and our likein a lecture hall full with over 150 minded allies within it. A dialectical students and lecturers, one of the protesters, Marcia Hinds, was led by rather than a mechanistic either-or approach is thus required always’. another protester, Dr. Kristina For the sake of improving the Hinds, reportedly too from UWI, political education of the Hinds’ delivered herself of this outburst: group and the NDP, they ought to “I am not interested in historic read and re-read this succinct struggles; I’m not interested in paragraph by Comrade Ralph; it is workers’ struggles; I am not profound and clear.

The Attorney General Constitutional Questions Bill (Excerpts of Dr. Friday’s presentation on the Attorney General Constitutional Questions Bill) THE BILL IS SIMILAR to one that operates in St. Lucia, and the main intention is to create an avenue for taking matters of constitutional interpretation to the Court of Appeal. In principle, Mr. Speaker, in our constitution matters that are an issue in litigation are resolved by the court. In St Vincent, having a matter resolved by the court is not an issue.

Members of the opposition have raised some of the serious concerns that we have with respect to the Bill publicly. We have heard responses and many of the concerns remain and they will have an opportunity as well to address the Bill.

The origin of the Bill, as I understand it, comes from the issue with the respect to the Motion of No Confidence. Of course, the Bill is broader than that and we had a very difficult turn of events that day in the parliament when the Motion of No Confidence was brought to the House, and you made your surprising ruling that the government side could amend the Bill to suit their purposes, so that it no longer reflected the original intention of the motion that the opposition had presented. On behalf of the members of this side of the House, I made myself very clear that the law was very clear on the issue as to how a Motion of No Confidence should be brought to the House and, having done so, the motion should have been debated substantially as presented by the opposition. To have a Bill that does not reflect what it originally intended, violated the right that was provided for us to bring a vote of No Confidence in the House.

Bringing it as a means to have the court rule on something that we on this side of the House feel is transparent, and the practice of the House is clear on the issue, seems to me is asking us essentially to participate in correcting an error that we don’t see that is there before this Honourable House. What’s more, there was reference made that the possibility that this Bill could be used to refer the question of my citizenship, as a Commonwealth citizen. What implication it has for sitting in this Honourable House? You are asking me to participate in a process that is totally unnecessary and irrelevant to my status here in this Honourable House, and to the representation that I have provided to my constituents over the years.

Never mind the Bill reflects one that exists in some other OECS countries; it seems to me that it has some problems that internally require that I state the objection of myself and the other members of the opposition with respect to them. Before I do so, let me put a context to it, Constitutional questions are matters that are of serious importance to the country as a whole as to how you interpret the constitution. There are provisions there for persons or groups whose interests are affected to be given notice and representation.

Yet in clause (3) of the Bill, the Attorney General is given authority to bring the matter to court but, it says, solely to be done with the approval of

cabinet. Clause (3), The Attorney General may, with the approval of cabinet, refer to the Court for hearing and consideration, any important question of law or fact concerning: (a) the interpretation of the constitution; (b) the constitutionality or interpretation of any legislation enacted by parliament and (c) any other matter, which in the opinion of the court ejusdem generis with matters contained in paragraphs (a) and (b) submitted by the Attorney General as an important question. The question that I have: Why is it that of this general importance, a matter of interpretation of the constitution is left simply up to cabinet and to the Attorney General to be presented as a matter before the court?

It is a matter that there should be some public engagement; that the matter should be alive in the public before it proceeds and that you don’t find out about it on a Monday morning when you sit down on the docket before the Court of Appeal, so that a matter of such magnitude should come to the House at least for debate perhaps as a resolution, and so that the entire parliament may have an input in the question that is of general interest as it goes forward to the Court of Appeal.

Right now, as it is, it’s really a matter for the government to decide which questions are put forward and it says the Attorney General but with the approval of cabinet; not the Attorney General in his own deliberate judgment. So, it is really a Bill to allow the government to take questions of constitutional importance to the Court of Appeal. That to me seems very narrow and limited… everything has to originate from cabinet because that is where the Attorney General would get the approval to go forward. The Attorney General may raise a question but cabinet has to approve it. Why not the parliament? Why does the matter not get broader discussion here so that the public is alive to the issue and all parties who have an interest in the matter could then proceed with it?

In Clause (4), a question concerning any matter mentioned in section (3), and referred to the Court by the Attorney General, shall be considered to be a question of public interest or public importance. Clause (6), the court has power to direct that any person interested or, where there is a class of person interested, anyone or more persons as representatives of that class, shall be notified of the hearing on a reference under this Act and those persons are entitled to be heard thereon, whether in person or by counsel acting on behalf of that person.

It contemplates that there is a matter of public interest and the public is alive to the issue, but the way in which the Bill is structured and presented, you may find out that the matter that is of such importance is brought to the court and to find out about it only in argument or the court sends a notice to persons who may have an interest.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. 11.

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Hedy Lamarr: Beauty and Brains

Reparations is a just demand

“Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr, ‘the Angelina Jolie of her day,’ was also an avid inventor and the person behind advances in communication technology in the 1940s that led to today’s Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth.” David Brancaccio and Paulina Velasco.

FOUR YEARS AGO last Thursday, as a senator of the governing Unity Labour Party and someone with a long history in the fight against colonialism and neocolonialism and for a new world economic order, I tabled a private members motion in the House of Assembly on Reparations.

When the motion was published, my only request was for it to be read, critiqued and or praised so that all of us could benefit from the wise counsel of those who joined the debate. Then the biggest push back against the resolution was that it should not have credited PM Gonsalves for his pioneering role in returning the Reparations question on to the front pages and taking points regionally and internationally.

The push back locally was not against the reparations issue, but who should be the face of this fight. To me, this is a non-issue, and I ask those who hold this view, to declare their position as to whether the reparations movement would be helped or hurt if Sir James Mitchell, Arnhim Eustace, Barrack Obama, and Queen Elizabeth were to issue statements in support of reparations for persons who suffered Native Genocide, Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, Slavery and Colonialism? The resolution follows: WHEREAS before the advent of European colonialism, our indigenous population lived a very dignified and cultured existence with their own governance institutions.

AND WHEREAS the intrusion into our region by colonial powers, especially Britain led to the conquest, subjugation and genocide of our people where after the capture and assassination of Paramount Chief and National Hero Joseph Chatoyer in 1795, close to 5,000 of our Garifuna ancestors were first exiled onto the island of Balliceaux, where some one-half or 50 percent of them met their death, and then to Roatan island in the Bay of Honduras.

AND WHEREAS the survivors of this genocide and forced deportation, who approximate over 600,000, are now living in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the United States of America.

AND WHEREAS all Garifuna people in exile recognize St Vincent and the Grenadines (Yurumein) as their ancestral homeland; AND WHEREAS the conquest and genocide of our Garifuna ancestors were the precursor of the Trans- Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery in St. Vincent and the Grenadines which brought unspeakable pain, and suffering to our people, not to mention the loss of our culture, history and religion.

AND WHEREAS in the bulk of the Caribbean territories, the trading in, and enslavement of, Africans were in train since the 16th and especially the 17th century onwards, until emancipation.

AND WHEREAS the economies and fortunes of Europe, including Britain, were, in the 17th, 18th and 19th century, largely built upon the slave trade and slave labour; AND WHEREAS under the system of slavery, the British slave owners were guaranteed an abundant supply of free labour, which was critical to the productivity of their plantation in agriculture, industry and commerce.

AND WHEREAS, by further political action, the British Parliament paid to the British slave owners a sum of £20 million as economic compensation for the loss of the slaves who formed a major component of their production machinery; AND WHEREAS no similar political action was taken by the British Parliament to compensate the former slaves or their descendants for their labour, which built the economies of Europe, including Great Britain, nor were the former slaves allowed to own land;

IT IS OFTEN QUITE AMAZING how easily and readily we place persons in “boxes”.

We may categorize them based on their professions, nationalities, religion, gender, political allegiance and so on. These prejudices (pre-judgements) are often influenced by our experiences and how we were socialised. Persons influence our thoughts. Parents, teachers, and church leaders are especially powerful in shaping young minds. These individuals play a major role in how persons are categorised.

As a society, we need to unshackle the minds of our young persons (and old ones too) and let them understand that they can pursue their dreams in any profession, regardless of where they were born, their ethnicity, the colour of their skin, the texture of their hair, or their gender.

Sometimes we unwisely limit our boys by directing them away from interests and careers in cooking, sewing, cleaning, and so on. In our ignorance, we may do the same in redirecting our girls away from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. There are instances, too, when as a society we may have foolishly encouraged our “attractive” and “beautiful” children to rely more on their physical beauty and less on their brains (intelligence). The life of Hedy Lamarr (1914-2000) emphasises the folly of such thought patters.

Hedy Lamarr was an Austrian-born actress and inventor. The older among us may recall that she received an Oscar nomination for the role that she played in the movie ‘Sampson and Delilah’ back in the 1940s. She was featured in an article that was written

by Shivaune Field and published in Women@Forbes on 28th February 2018.

The article, entitled “Hedy Lamarr: The Incredible Mind Behind Secure WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth”, commences with Hedy’s 1990 powerful quotation, “The brains of people are more interesting than looks I think.” It continued by highlighting the fact that this strikingly beautiful movie star was also an inventor in her own right. She codesigned the frequency-hopping technology that the Americans and their allies used during the second world war.

This technology prevented the torpedoes from being detected by the German battleships, U-boats, and submarines.

She and her co-inventor, George Antheil, patented the radio communications technology invention in 1941. Although not trained as an engineer or in the sciences, she is credited for the genesis of this technology that is now considered foundational to wireless communication.

Unfortunately, up to the point of her death in 2000, she never received notoriety and compensation for her ideas.

South Florida PBS featured the life story of this talented actress and innovator during the early morning hours of Monday, 21st May 2018. The documentary provided viewers with a “seesaw of emotions”. There were moments of joy as watchers noted her outstanding accomplishments as a Hollywood actress. However, these were regularly punctuated by moments of sadness, as a result of her broken relationships, not receiving adequate recognition or money for her inventions,

and her challenges as a single mother of two young children following her divorce. It was therefore not surprising to discover that she suffered from depression during the latter stages of her life.

History records that, while residing in Beverly Hills, Hollywood, this Viennese beauty socialized with celebrities such as John F. Kennedy and Howard Hughes. These individuals, having noticed her passion for invention, provided her with the equipment to conduct experiments in her trailer during those slow times when she was not fully engaged in acting. Innovation appeared to come naturally to her. She is recorded as having said, “Innovations are easy for me to do. I don’t have to work on ideas, they come naturally.”

Hedy Lamarr created a wonderful legacy that reminds us that women (including those we describe as “beautiful”) have been, and continue to be, multi-talented. It is precisely because of this that we should avoid boxing them into one category or another. They often fit into many classifications. We must change the mindset where we seek to fit people in general, and women in particular, into a one-dimensional framework that is often created and sustained from a male viewpoint. They must be credited for more than their physical attributes. As ridiculous as this may sound, Lamarr reminds us that women also possess the ability to invent and create. After all, they have the ability to think and to solve complex problems. They are no less capable than their male counterparts. And many of the female readers of this column may immediately reject the preceding sentence and edit it to read, “They are often more capable than their male counterparts.” Point taken (and debate ended).

As the South Florida PBS documentary on Hedy Lamarr referred to earlier neared its end, Hedy’s voice is heard as she encouraged viewers by repeating Mother Theresa’s now famous quote, “People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful you will win some false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years building, someone may destroy overnight. Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will forget tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give them your best anyway. In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It never was between you and them anyway.” Hedy Lamarr, like Mother Theresa, has left a legacy that magnifies the inner beauty and magnificent brain power that we each possess, regardless of whether or not we are blessed with the physical characteristics that others call “beauty”.

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

AND WHEREAS the former slaves and their descendants should have been paid for their labour which built the economies of Europe, including Britain; AND WHEREAS the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), of which St Vincent and the Grenadines is a member, took a decision to form a Prime Ministerial Committee of the Conference of Heads of State and Government to oversee the work of a CARICOM Reparation Commission on July 6, 2013, to pursue genocide and reparation claims against Britain and other former slave-trading countries, including France and Holland.

BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House endorse the decision of the governments of CARICOM member-states to pursue actively a claim for appropriate reparations from the European nations, including Britain, France and Holland, on behalf of the people of the individual nation-states of the Caribbean Community, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines, for the said native genocide and enslavement of their ancestors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the reparations claim be lodged within the framework of the Ten Point Reparation Agenda adopted by CARICOM at its International Heads of State and Government Conference in March 2014 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Honourable House follow the lead of the Jamaican Parliament and enjoin other CARICOM countries to make similar political decisions on this matter, and that this Honourable House instruct the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines: 1. To give all practical political, diplomatic and material support to the Caribbean Reparations Commission and the CARICOM Prime Ministerial Reparations Committee, whose Chair is the Prime Minister of Barbados, the right Honourable Freundel Stuart, in the quest to engage the former European slave holding nations in a developmental conversation which will result in reparatory justice for the descendants of the Garifuna and those who endured and suffered through slavery.

2. To take this case of Genocide and Slavery to the International Court of Justice and any other juridical and political fora for reparatory justice on behalf of the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines within the framework of the Plan and Road Map for reparatory justice outlined by CARICOM. 3. To ensure proper funding of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Reparations Commission, which has already been established, to carry out the quest for reparatory justice.

4. To put on record its high regard and commendation to Prime Minister Ralph E. Gonsalves in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for his commitment to, and determination, in initiating the reparations conversation at the highest level of regional governmental authority and for pushing forward the fight against European Conquest, Genocide, the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery, Colonialism and for reparations.

Last month, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela committed to join the reparations struggle. We can do not less than to draw new energy from Venezuela’s commitment and reinvigorate our fight for this just cause.

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

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12. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

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The country has NO confidence in the ULP regime

loan. Interest payments and loan charges in the 2018 Budget amount to EC$62 million. Even after 17 years of THERE IS EXTREME poverty and high opportunity wasted. We could have are killing the SVG economy.

ULP regime begging and borrowing, unemployment throughout SVG. The ULP built a billion-dollar tuna fishing and Increasing taxes, when the SVG the SVG economy is very weak and regime has been an economic and canning industry for the export marke, economy is so weak, is a backward unemployment is very high. financial failure and the country has NO and created thousands of new jobs. step. Higher taxes mean less Warrant Officer Ivan O’Neal has a confidence in the ULP regime to create The ULP regime has tried tourism, disposable income for households. As a BSc (Hons) in Accounting and Finance prosperity and a strong economy in SVG. and that has failed. Tourism result, people will spend less money in and Economics from Oxford Brookes According to Warrant Officer Ivan contributes little to the SVG economy. shops and other businesses, which University, England, and very strongly O’Neal BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, Leader Since 2001, the ULP regime has means even more businesses will close believes that Gonsalves is grossly of SVG Green Party, all the major focused the economy on tourism, but in down. As more and more businesses incompetent in managing the SVG economic strategies that the ULP has all that time, there has been virtually close down, there will be more job cuts public finances. tried have failed. zero trickle-down of wealth to the and higher unemployment, which Economically and financially, The ULP regime has tried people. The poor are still poor and means less money for households virtually everything the ULP regime agriculture, and that has failed. suffering. Tourism has not boosted the …and so the downward spiral has tried has been a failure. The Agriculture contributes very little SVG economy, and SVG is worse off continues. country has NO confidence in the ULP financially to the SVG economy, today than in 2001.

The ULP regime has tried begging regime’s ability to create prosperity because the ULP regime has The ULP regime has tried the and borrowing, and that has failed. and a strong economy in SVG. decimated agriculture and virtually ‘education revolution’, and that has The ULP regime borrows and begs to killed the rural economy. Many of our failed. Education contributes very little pay debt, but creates more debt. They SVG Green Party farmers live in poverty and struggle to financially to the SVG economy. In are digging a hole to fill a hole, with www.svggreenparty.org feed their families. Many farmers have 2011, SVG suffered its worst CEE the hole getting bigger with every https://twitter.com/svggreenparty complained to Ivan O’Neal that the results in history, with 1116 children feeder roads for the agricultural of the poor and 56 per cent of boys industry are in very bad condition, to failing. For the 2012 CEE, roughly 55 the extent that farmers cannot get per cent of the 1,076 males writing the their produce to market. exams failed and roughly 40 per cent The ULP regime has tried the of the 1,043 females failed. Almost Argyle airport, and that has failed.

1000 children did not pass and some The Argyle airport was a waste of children scored as low as 5 per cent. health facilities continue to lock up Saint Vincent and the Grenadines EC$1.5 billion. It costs much more to Building a new jail and not our own over 100 Vincentian youths. Hundreds became the 96th ‘ratifier’ of the maintain - EC$20 million a year — SVG university is laughable. more are forced to take toxic Convention on the Rights of Persons than it contributes to the SVG The ULP regime has tried high antipsychotic medications which cause with Disabilities (CRPD) on October economy. Argyle airport was a massive taxes, and that has failed. High taxes nerve damage and liver disease among 29, 2010. The nation also took a other things, and this for ‘crimes’ as further step in ratifying the CRPD Optional Protocol, which gives citizens minor as smoking weed.

I am calling on the Government of additional avenues for pursuing St.Vincent to take immediate steps to justice if all other legal resources fail implement the Convention on Rights to act within the country.

The CRPD is the first international, of People with Disabilities, as it has committed itself to do, and to make legally binding human rights treaty the necessary changes to the laws of targeted at protecting the human the land. rights of people with disabilities. A In addition, I would like to see them few examples of the human rights that the CRPD protects include, but are not do the following: Advise the Mental Health limited to: • The right to be protected from Authorities, the Courts and the Police, of the Ratification of the CRPD and abuse, violence, and torture ensure that they are brought fully up • The right to live in the community, with one’s family, to date with the rights of Disabled without being institutionalized Persons.

Advise the patients of the Mental against one’s will Health Centre of their rights in simple • The right to have access to education, transportation, and English, and provide legal counsel for those whose rights have been abused. other public services Stop the forced injections of • The right to access information and communication, including antipsychotic drugs.

The Government cannot afford to be via sign language or Braille • The right to employment and a seen as blind to the needs of its citizens. Please print this letter for the decent standard of living sake of all disabled persons.

• The right to access social justice.

Robert A Haydock - Tel: 458 4268 Ratifying a treaty commits a country to implementing it. This may mean the country needs to modify existing laws, or abolish old laws, to be more consistent with the treaty.

From among the 147 signatories of Continued from Page 6. the CRPD, 96 have taken the next step by ratifying the treaty. Of these, machines, one commercial dryer, 59 also have ratified the Optional three television sets and recreational Protocol, which gives people with games to the Mental Health disabilities in ratifying countries an Rehabilitation Center and the Lewis additional avenue for pursuing justice Punnett Home (a home for the aged) if all other standard methods for — both at Glen, about five miles from pursuing justice within their country capital, Kingstown. should fail.

Over the years, the group has also To date no effort has been made to conducted missionary trips to implement the convention and no neighboring Grenada, distributing medical and other supplies to mention of it has been made in hospitals, clinics and communities. parliament or the media. Our mental

Gov’t commits to CRPD but fails to implement

Vincy charity holds fundraising gala group

V RandyÊs SM contributes to WPP patient

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. 13.

Community

MIKELL HALL, a 13-year-old student of the School for Children with Special Needs Kingstown was in dire need of funds to support his medical trip to World Pediatric Project (WPP) medical headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri in the United States, to undergo open heart surgery.

Randy Kennedy, the proprietor of the chain of ‘Randy’s Supermarkets’, stepped forward to support his travel finances,

thereby removing a great weight from Mikell’s mom Georgina.

She is now able to take the necessary steps towards getting Mikell on schedule for surgery.

The connection between Kennedy and Mikell came when WPP Eastern Caribbean Regional Representative Sister Jackie King contacted the businessman, requesting support. He agreed, without hesitation, having

already been familiar with the WPP and its work.

“He has a life to live.

Whatever I can do, I will do,” Kennedy said.

Within the next few months, Mikell and his mother will be travelling to St. Louis, USA, but this will be no vacation for Mikell. He has a long and difficult road of recovery ahead.

And even though he is well aware of the challenges he faces, Mikell

is very excited to be travelling to the United States, saying that he is looking forward to all the new and interesting foods he is going to try.

The local WPP team issued a public ‘thank you’ to thank Randy Kennedy, with the hope that others will follow suit as they (WPP) move to provide the critical medical services that many of our children so desperately need in the future.

Mikell Hall, his mother, Georgiana (right) and WPP Eastern Caribbean Regional Representative Sister Jackie King share a happy moment, knowing that Mikell is on his way overseas, for much needed surgery.

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14. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Taiwanese Soil Expert visits SVG

DR. SYU, ASSISTANT RESEARCHER of the Agricultural Chemistry Division, Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, made his third visit, may 9 – 23, to this country, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, on invitation of the Taiwan Technical Mission to visit St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

During his visit, Dr Syu engaged directly with farmers across mainland St. Vincent, and conducted field training and workshops for farmers and agricultural officers.

He especially advised and shared his expert knowledge in areas such as soil fertility management, nutrition deficiency diagnosis, application of GIS

(Geographic Information System) on soil information, soil investigation and soil analysis methods.

Mr. Renrick Williams, the Agriculture Instructor of the Plant Protection and Quarantine Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, said that the training by Dr. Syu was informative.

He anticipated that the Mission and the Ministry of Agriculture could further cooperate on matters related to soil analysis to benefit local farmers.

No stranger to SVG, Dr. Syu played a critical role in the establishment and operation of the Soil Lab, which, according to Mr. Chun-Chun Huang, the Specialist of the Taiwan Technical

Mission, so far there have been more than 400 samples of soil analyzed at the Lab and has offered at least 300 reports with the results of soil analysis to local farmers.

All of this, and Dr. Syu professional input, are in keeping with the Taiwan Technical Mission’s role of working with the Ministry of Agriculture on the implementation of the “Project for Strengthening Framers’ Organizations and Improving Fruit and Vegetable Production Technology in St. Vincent

Dr. Syu leading farmers and agricultural officers through an interpretation of a soil profile during the field training. and the Grenadines”, an initiative launched in 2015.

VINLEC partners with Fire Department for fire drill MEMBERS OF STAFF From VINLEC and officers from the Fire Department of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force were involved in a Fire Drill on Thursday, May 24th. The exercise was held as part of activities to commemorate the Company’s Environmental Health and Safety Awareness Month.

The simulation exercise took the form of an Engine Room/Building Fire at the Lowmans Bay Power Plant. Once the fire alarm was sounded at the Plant, all parties on duty were required to follow the Protocol established for Power Station fires across the Company.

Employees of the Company served as first responders. The Fire Truck took fourteen (14) minutes to arrive on scene at the Lowmans Bay Power Plant from the Kingstown Station. Once on site, officers from the Fire Department continued work as they

Some of the participants in the fire drill. would at an actual scene.

An evaluation of the session was done immediately after, where both parties outlined the strengths and weaknesses observed. VINLEC’s CEO, Thornley Myers said that the partnership between both parties is essential because VINLEC provides an essential service throughout this country and any such event can affect our citizens. He said that the Company is taking steps to ensure it is

adequately prepared for any such eventuality.

Chief of the Fire Department ASP James commended VINLEC’s efforts and said that the partnership is important, noting that he was pleased with the measures put in place by VINLEC. Both parties have committed to continue work to ensure that they are better able to respond to any such incident at VINLEC’s facilities.

(Submitted)

AMP Music Awards postponed THE SVG ASSOCIATION of Music Professionals’ (SVGAMP) Music Awards Ceremony to recognize work done in 2017, and which was scheduled for last Wednesday 30th May, has been postponed to Wednesday 20th June, 2018.

A release from SVGAMP made available on Monday to this media house, said “Due to a clash between The Upstage Experience calypso tents show on Wednesday 30th May, SVGAMP, as the governing body for music in SVG, has made an executive decision to postpone our annual awards at this time of year.”

In that news release, there was no indication of a new date, save and except that APM said, it will be thoroughly checking the calendar “to ensure our chosen date doesn’t conflict with any major musical or creative sector event.”

It, from its more recent news release — May 30, 2018, has done its homework.

This is the sixth year that the Awards Ceremony will be held.

SVGAMP is now headed by composer/musician Gary Young who replaced Ornade ‘Bomani’ Charles as President when the Association held elections late last year.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. 15.

Parliament

Poor response to tax amnesty DATA FROM the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) suggests that individuals and companies in arrears in Value Added Tax (VAT) and PAYE payments have not taken advantage of the tax amnesty period.

Minister of Finance Camillo Gonsalves made the disclosure in Parliament last week Thursday, as he announced an extension of the tax amnesty period which will now run up

until June 30.

The extension was in response to the request made by some of this country’s accounting firms who, Gonsalves said, had asked for a little more time in bringing some of the corporate accounts current.

“They thought that the amnesty period was a little too short, and they have asked for an extension of this period,” the finance minister said.

Minister Gonslaves also took the time to thank the 469 companies and individuals that had taken advantage of the original amnesty period, which ran from February 15 to May 15.

The initial threemonth amnesty period was announced during Gonsalves’ 2018 Budget

presentation back in February.

The decision to grant an amnesty was taken following the disclosure

by Prime Minister and former Minister of Finance, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, that tax arrears to the IRD had amounted to EC$169(million) with interest charges and penalties pushing the figure to EC$300 million.

There was some concern expressed about the amount owed in VAT and PAYE payments, which were amounts already collected (from consumers and employees) to be paid over to the government.

However, Camillo Gonsalves noted that the majority of individuals and companies who visited the IRD to make

The Tax Amnesty for defaulters on all categories of taxes here, has been extended upon requests. their accounts current or make payment arrangements, were defaulters in the property and corporate taxes.

“And the individuals and companies that are in arrears in VAT and PAYE by this data, to

date have not yet taken advantage of the amnesty period. I hope some of those individuals are the ones that are asking for more time with their accountants to get matters sorted,” Gonsalves said. (DD)

16. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. 17.

News

Flow Caravan takes the windward by storm THE FLOW CARAVAN hit the streets of the windward communities over the last weekend, bringing great deals and even better vibes for Vincy Mas 2018.

On Saturday, May 26th , the communications giant placed all hands-on deck and took to the road with its vibrantly decorated Flow caravan and fittingly dubbed carnival slogan ‘Get Pump’d’.

The roadshow saw many members of the Flow team engaging with scores of community residents, to equip them with the best telecoms deals for this festive season.

According to Consumer Sales Manager Andrea Liverpool, much can be said for the hard work invested in the designing which incorporated all the elements of carnival, to create great offers that cater to each and every customer.

Liverpool added that Saturday’s event was a whopping success, as many persons raved about the $50 trade in deals, as well as the island-wide double credit.

When asked about her anticipations for the Leeward road show, scheduled for this Saturday June 2nd, Liverpool said that the leeward trek is always an exciting one, as the residents are known for extending a warm welcome to Flow.

Liverpool also raved about the carnival promotion, and noted that she was eagerly looking forward for the season to get fully ‘pump’d’.

Last Saturday’s road show also featured live entertainment, with performances by major soca artistes like Flow Ambassador Delroy ‘Fireman’ Hooper, Mason and Sita the Lyrical Diva.

Meantime, Flow’s Country Manager Wayne Hull gave the assurance that carnival fanatics are in for a treat, as the company’s carnival promotion is strategically designed to meet the needs of not only new customers, but also keeping its existing customers thoroughly satisfied.

He added that customers can look forward to Flow’s presence in every aspect of Vincy Mas 2018 as the company continues to promote the development of culture.

Marketing and Communications Lead, Nikala Williams did not hesitate to highlight the company’s Scratch N’ Win promotion, in which new and existing customers can win over $100,000 in cash and prizes, a FREE summer vacation, trips to Soca on the Hill in Barbados, Unlimited Talk, FREE WhatsApp, extra data, smartphones, FREE Monday Band Packs, show tickets, costumes and more.

Fireman Hooper was on hand to add his usual energy to the Flow caravan.

The Flow Carnival Caravanl was a hit with residents of communities on the windward side of mainland St. Vincent.

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18. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Carnival

ÂThings people sayÊ

from Owen Ralph and the Professionals

Ass This Year.’

Despite having a downsized band and a smaller workforce in 2018, bandleader Ralph-James assured that they will make their contribution to Vincy Mas 2018.

“The mas this year is very simple…It is about things that we have been hearing people say, so it L-R: Who the Cap Fit, let Them Wear It and Moon Run Till is a mas that Day Catch Um. people can relate to,” already produced, Ralphcompounding their task of Ralph- James said of the James indicated that producing the band, but 2018 mas concept. registration has been slow, plans to persevere this Pleased with the year, amidst the many designs and the costumes but anticipates a pick up as the days to the festival challenges. draw closer.

Owen Ralph and the “Let us hope this year Professional Mas Camp is that more people would located in Mala Village, come out and support the Sion Hill, in the building band, because we have the known as Top Ranking cheapest of all the bands, that once housed the Sion and although our mas is Hill Euphonium Steel cheap, we can still work Orchestra. out something with people Persons who are wishing to play with us interested in getting more and even make it information on Owen cheaper,” Ralph — James Ralph and the related.

Professionals’ production One of two female for Vincy Mas 2018, can bandleaders here, Ralph — contact Ralph — James at James registered her telephone number- 593sentiments that the band 6940, Owen Ralph at 455Verlene Ralph- James (left) with her father Owen is lacking support from 2511, or visit the mas Ralph, busy preparing their band’s production for (corporate) sponsors, thus camp.

Vincy Mas 2018.

SOME OF THE LOCAL SAYINGS, which have become part of Vincentian oral folklore, have been given an artistic expression by renowned local artist Owen Ralph, and he has gone a step further.

Ralph has transformed those artistic interpretations into designs for a Vincy Mas 2018 masquerade band appropriately entitled ‘Things People Say’, to be presented by the Sion Hillbased mas camp , Owen Ralph and the Professionals, led by Verlene Ralph-James.

The presentation will comprise six sections: ‘Who the Cap Fit Let Them Wear It’; ‘Little Donkey Have Big Ears’; ‘It Takes Two to Tangle’; ‘Too Many Cooks Spoil the Pot’; ‘Moon Run Till Day Catch Um’ and ‘Ah Catching Me

Miss Glen cops Miss St George’s title EIGHTEEN YEAR-OLD Glennette Peters, appearing as Miss Glen, was last Friday crowned Miss St George 2018.

Peters’ crowning glory was at the decommissioned ET Joshua Airport, where the 2018 St Georges’ Beauty Pageant was staged.

Peters got the judges’ favour from a field of five, as she won the Best Interview and Best Talent categories.

She had an added boost as she was a clear crowd favourite.

Taking the First Runner- up position was Zoneh Seymour - Miss Diamond. Seymour copped the categories of Best Swimwear and Best Evening Wear.

And, Miss Ratho Mill-Zanel

Glennette Peters – Miss Glen (center), is flanked by Zanel Cumberbatch- Miss Ratho Mill- Second Runner-up (left) and Zoneh Seymour- Miss Diamond - First Runner-up (right).

Cumberbatch took the Second Runner-up position.

Aaliyah Miguel- Miss Belair, and Neisha Walters - Miss Calliaqua, were the other contestants.

The 2018 Miss St George’s Pageant marked a return of the show after a year’s absence.

Apart from the Beauty Pageant, St George’s Carnival progamme,

also saw the staging of J’Ouvert celebrations on Saturday morning and a Street Jump-Up on Saturday afternoon into evening.

The activities culminated on Sunday with the Kiddies Carnival at the Culture Pot Square in Calliaqua.

Rural carnivals looking up – Flow commended COORDINATOR OF RURAL CARNIVALS and Deputy Chairman of the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) Ezzie Roberts says he is pleased with the standards of the rural carnivals thus far.

Roberts, in a recent interview, commended the rural carnival committees for their improved efforts of marketing their events this year. While he acknowledges that the organizational capacity varies across the rural spectrum, he stressed Ezzie Roberts, that he has witnessed some Coordinator of committees utilizing their connections to maximize their Rural Carnivals, is pleased with the activities, which has improvement in translated into early promotion of events, via radio marketing efforts by rural carnival ads and aggressive social committees. media push.

Last weekend saw the hosting of a series of events across the country: the Calliaqua J’Ouvert and street jump up; the Launching of the Windward carnival activities; the Owia carnival and the North Leeward Soca Monarch Competition.

Roberts commended patrons for “a massive turn out” in support of the celebrations, and stated that Vincy A jam packed Culture Pot Mas 2018 is off to Square speaks to the level of a good start.

The Coordinator patronage at rural carnival activities. of the Rural Carnivals also took the opportunity to express much gratitude to telecommunications company and super platinum sponsors of Vincy Mas, Flow.

He noted that over the years, Flow’s contribution to Vincy Mas has been nothing short of significant, noting that the company’s long list of support of Vincy Mas extended to privately promoted shows and rural carnivals.

He urged other corporate entities to follow suit and in so doing, aid in the development of culture and moreso, the Vincy Mas product.

Roberts was particularly pleased by the work of the South Leeward Carnival Committee, highlighting that their celebration, held on the weekend of May 18th , was a resounding success given, especially, the significant patronage.

Meanwhile, Flow’s Marketing and Communications lead Nikala Willams pledged the company’s commitment to connecting communities and nurturing talent, and recognized carnival and its related activities as one way of achieving that objective, hence the company’s generous support.

(Source: Flow)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. 19.

News

Right: Minister of Foreign Affairs Sir Louis Straker (sitting right) with Ministry officials, Digicel representatives and participants at the ceremony to mark the closing of this year’s Essay Writing Competition.

supports Essay Writing Competition FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE year, total communications and entertainment provider Digicel has contributed to the successful hosting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade & Commerce’s Essay Writing Competition - an exercise geared at stimulating discourse on a number of developmental issues here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

The competition saw participants writing on the topics: 1. In what ways can the new Argyle International Airport facilitate increased foreign investments and aid in diversifying our trade portfolio? And 2. As of January 2017, SVG began a three-year term on the United National Economic and Social Council. Additionally, SVG is bidding for a seat on the UN Security Council as a nonpermanent member. How is it beneficial for a small country like SVG to serve on these international committees?

Speaking at the competition’s closing ceremony on Friday, May 25, Sandy Peter-Phillips, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry said this year’s competition saw an increase in interest and entries when compared to previous years. She extended much thanks to Digicel for partnering with her Ministry on such an important venture, which directs secondary and

tertiary level students along with young professionals, to do intensive reading and research on matters of great national importance.

Jamisha Wright, Digicel’s Marketing Executive, commended all the participants for their contribution, and challenged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade & Commerce to not simply host the essay writing competition year after year, but to continue to seek out topics for discourse that can positively impact leaders’ decision-making, and lead to the further development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The top positions in the competition were secured by Lynallia Isaacs in Group 1 and Shineco Sutherland in Group 2, who both received Samsung Galaxy handsets, compliments of Digicel, along with prizes from other sponsors. The second place in the Group 1 category went to Rayon James who also received a Samsung smartphone and other tokens.

The closing ceremony also featured remarks by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade & Commerce Sir Louis Straker, Deputy Director of Foreign Policy- Doris Charles, and Senior Foreign Service Officer Tamira Browne.

20. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

CELEBRATION OF THE WORLD MILK DAY FRIDAY 1ST OF JUNE, CHATEAUBELAIR PLAYING FIELD Friday, 1st of June is World Milk Day. Since 2001 this special day, which was originally established by the FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations), has been celebrated annually around the world on the first of June. The World Milk Day celebration is about sharing the story of milk as an important nutritional source.

Dutch Lady celebrates World Milk Day in many countries worldwide and also in St Vincent & the Grenadines.

On this year ‘s World Milk Day, all are invited to visit the Holland Fun Farm at the Chateaubelair Playing Field on Friday the 1st of June. “All visitors will experience where milk comes from as there will be various activities organized to commemorate this day which includes a farm where you can milk a cow, color or play the spiral game “from grass to glass”. Additionally, a photographer will be present to take pictures using the Holland Fun Farm background in remembrance of this year’s World Milk Day celebration. During the activities, all will sample the taste of Dutch Lady Milk and will learn about the goodness and heritage of this milk.”

Milk is unique because it is, by nature, one of the most nutritionally complete foods. It provides essential nutrients, proteins, vitamin B2 and B12 and minerals such as calcium. Our bodies need these nutrients every day as they are essential sources of fuel, growth and protection.

In order to get enough of these nutrients, we advise the drinking or eating of approximately 500 ml of dairy a day (not just milk, but also yoghurt and other dairy drinks). This is equivalent to three glasses of milk per person per day. The recommended intake for children, adolescents and older persons is slightly more. Worldwide milk and milk products are recommended as a healthy food source for everyone, young and old.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. 21.

Tribute

SVGÊs ÂUnsung HeroÊ passes THE 2004 CIBC UNSUNG HERO, Lucy Miguel, commonly referred to as ‘Tanty Lucy’, died last Saturday at the age of 94.

The former Freeland, Mesopotamia resident was best known for her work with the many children whom she unofficially adopted.

In fact, it was because of her love for children and her involvement in foster child care that she was recognized in 2004 — she was also runner-up in the regional competition that same year.

Over the years, Miguel took into her home, and ultimately her care, a number of children from all parts of the country, including the Grenadines.

Today, some of those that were fortunate to have come under Tanty Lucy’s care have gone on to accomplish great things in life.

She has single-handedly produced teachers, entrepreneurs, high-ranking government officials and even a Roman Catholic priest, Fr Vibert Stephens, who now serves in the Diocese of Bridgetown.

As she was quoted in an interview in the publication ‘Unsung Heroes of the Caribbean’: “I said all of you going to be teachers... and they started to cry, they don’t want to be teachers.

“I said, listen, when they going to treasury to work you might see money, you might be tempted by a friend — you not giving me a headache — I work hard and raise you, you not giving me a headache. I said, when you are a teacher and you

take a little piece of the chalk and you bring it home, no police will come to my house... but you all is not going to work anywhere else.”

Apart from her work with children, Tanty Lucy would be remembered as a businesswoman.

She once owned a small shop and operated Mesopotamia’s first gas station before moving on to work at the popular ‘Shopping Centre’ in Freeland.

In the years following, she went back to operating her small shop until she handed it over to her grandson.

Tanty Lucy, although raising in excess of a dozen children, only had one child of her own — a son who also, believe it or not, became a school teacher.

And like her father, Henry ‘Papa’ Miguel, Tanty Lucy was very religious: “What has guided me... well, who has guided me is the

Lord, Jesus Christ — I believe in Him and I put my trust in Him every day... I didn’t have anybody to harass me or to tell me what to do or what not to do. I just believe in Him, I trust Him, and I went on my way.”

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28. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Sailor gets 20 years for murdering lover Chapmans Village, was 32 at the time of the incident. He had pleaded INSHAN HUMPHREY will guilty to murder, at a spend the next 20 years previous sitting of the behind bars for the murder Criminal Assizes, but of his former common-law sentencing was wife Annyann Tittle, who adjourned. was hacked to death, He was sentenced to August 24, 2013, in the 25 years imprisonment presence of the couple’s at a sentencing hearing children. on Tuesday, but Justice Humphrey, a sailor of Brian Cottle ordered that Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

the five years spent on remand be deducted.

The facts revealed that Tittle, 33, was hacked to death with a cutlass following an argument over a missing cutlass.

The incident occurred around 7:45 a.m., August 24, 2013, next to the house where she lived with Humphrey and

their three children, all boys.

Tittle tried to get away from Humphrey, but he chased her to the back of the yard. She jumped over the wall of an adjoining property.

He did likewise and chopped her three times, then returned to the house saying, “Enough is enough.”

When the police came on the scene, they met Tittle lying on the ground. She was pronounced dead by a doctor.

An autopsy revealed that she suffered chop wounds to the neck and face.

Humphrey’s lawyer, Kay Bacchus-Baptiste told the Court that he had been to the Family Court on several occasions to have his common-law wife counselled, and that he had also asked attorney Inshan Humphrey gave assaulting her. adjourned. sentencing hearing, that Andrew Cummings (now himself up to the police The sentences will run The offences were the victim suffered deceased), to get Tittle to after chopping his concurrently, which committed between severe psychological common-law-wife to means that Yearwood September and October damage as a result of the come in to settle the matter. death. would serve ten years 2012. The victim was ten ordeals, and that According to Bacchusbehind bars. at the time, while Yearwood had betrayed that he had looked at the Baptiste, Tittle had Justice Brian Cottle Yearwood was 42. the trust of the child’s medical report, which poured rum on handed down the Yearwood was a friend father. She also stressed penalties during a of the victim’s father, the prevalence of offences Humphrey’s back and lit revealed that one of Tittle’s legs was broken. him afire in 2012. She sentencing hearing at and was entrusted with of this nature.

He believed that she the High Court Criminal the responsibility of In mitigation, defence noted that following the broke her leg when she Assizes. carrying supplies and lawyer Stephen Williams incident which resulted jumped over the wall, A nine-member jury money to the child. in Tittle’s death, recognized the and therefore, could not had found Yearwood Crown Counsel Humphrey called the seriousness of the guilty at the conclusion Jameisha Prince, who have escaped the fatal police and gave himself offence, but noted that of a trial, April 20, this prosecuted the matter, blow. up.

Yearwood had no year, but sentencing was told the Court, at the In sentencing, Cottle But acting DPP Sejilla previous convictions, and took into account McDowall, in response, that, according to the said that the prosecution Humphrey’s guilty plea, Social Inquiry Report, was not saying there was that he had no previous most people in the convictions, was not domestic violence community had a relatively young and not from both sides, but positive view of him, beyond rehabilitation, stressed that the fatal with the exception that offered no difficulty to incident was triggered by he had an alcoholic a missing cutlass, which the police, and had been problem.

In sentencing, Justice McDowall described as a on remand for the past five years. But the baseless reason for the Cottle told the accused, Judge also stressed the attack on Tittle that “Children need to be seriousness of the morning. protected, whether it is offence.

Justice Cottle noted your children or other people’s children.” He pointed out that offences of this nature were prevalent in this society, and the Court must send a strong message to Continued from Page 4. potential offenders that such behaviour would The Court heard that Duncan, who was at the not be tolerated. time 55 and the only family member living with his Pointing to the mother, chopped her multiple times at her home, aggravating factors in August 8, 2012. this case, Justice Cottle The woman suffered several chop wounds to her stressed that Yearwood neck and other parts of her body, including one had sexual intercourse which almost severed her left forearm. with the child on more After committing the act, he called his brother than one occasions, and Noel and told him he had killed his mother because that he betrayed the she and others had come to kill him, he also gave a trust of her father statement to the police saying, inter alia, that he Yearwood’s sentence was under attack by his mother and others, and started on Tuesday. acted in self defence.

Unlawful sexual Duncan’s lawyer, Stephen Williams, told the intercourse with a girl Court that his client was, on a number of occasions, under the age of 13 a patient at the Mental Health Centre, and that his carries a maximum state of mind had led him to believe that his life penalty of life was in danger. imprisonment and a The lawyer added that another of Duncan’s bench mark of ten years. brothers, Norris, a retired nurse, had agreed to be The maximum penalty responsible for the accused’s care, especially his for indecent assault is medical needs. five years.

Williams also noted that his client had no Yearwood’s sentence previous convictions, and had cooperated fully with started on Tuesday. the police.

Man jailed for raping friend’s child A 47-YEAR-OLD MAN of the North Windward community of Orange Hill received prison sentences on Tuesday, amounting to 22 years, for raping his friend’s 10year-old child, and indecently assaulting her, almost six years ago.

Andrew Yearwood was sentenced to ten years each on two counts of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13, and two years for indecently

Mentally ill ÂChopper manÊ detained

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Help elders with their concerns. Make changes in your domestic scene. You can sell your ideas to those who have the money to back them. You can make changes that will enhance your appearance.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) You may find that you are a little lucky this week. Partnerships will be favorable and contracts can be signed. Take matters in hand when it comes to dealing with clients or colleagues. Joint ventures might prove to be unfavorable.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Don't bother trying to make someone you live with see your point of view. Seminars will provide you with knowledge and amusement.

Don't let an incident at work play on your mind. Your emotional state could leave you vulnerable and confused.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You may have difficulties with someone close to you. Discord could be unnerving. You are best not to discuss your personal life with others. Don't make accusations unless you are completely sure that you are correct.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Self-deception regarding your own worth may lead you down the wrong path. Think before you act. Chronic health problems are likely to surface if you are keeping your problems locked up inside. If you work in conjunction with someone else you may find they're trying to steal your thunder.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Start sending out those resumes. Too much too fast will be the attitude surrounding your home environment. It will do you some good.

Finish overdue paperwork and catch up on letter writing and reading.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Be prepared for an active but rewarding day.

Be sure to take care of the needs of youngsters. Your ideas are right on the mark and your work commendable. Don't be shy to promote your own interests.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Get domestic chores out of the way early.

Take whatever time you can to get to know each other all over again. Call siblings or old friends to catch up on recent news. Expect some flak.

SAGITTARIUs (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) You need to do more research before you make your final decision. Emotional upset at work will set you back. You should socialize with clients or upper echelons of your industry if possible. Acceptance is the key.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Your practical approach to life may charm someone who has been observing you. Try to concentrate on research and acquiring information that will be of value in your chosen field. Your outgoing charm and obvious talent will be admired. Don't put all your cash in one place.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) You need to get out and have some fun to reduce tension. Get involved in groups that will help you meet established individuals. You will be highly entertaining when in contact with your lover. You can't make things better if you don't know what to fix.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Don't let children hold you back from doing things you enjoy. Restrictions may be difficult for you to live with. Try not to be overly generous. Don't use emotional blackmail on someone you love.

ACROSS 1. Retained 5. Highest point 9. Inquire of 12. Islamic chieftain 13. Capital of Western Samoa 14. Wealth of Flowers 15. Seaward 16. Emperor of Rome 54-68 17. Highest mountain in Crete 18. Junipter 20. Father of Leah and Rachel 22. Photographic device 26. Tiles collectively 26. Humiliate 27. Sea eagle 28. Greek goddess of Night 29. Month 30. State of drowsy contentment 33. Knot in wood 35. Japanese poem 37. Resembling an echo 40. Climbing device 41. Pertaining to the ileum 42. Great age 43. Father 44. Acquire through merit 46. Exclamation of surprise 50. Unit of energy 51. Monetary unit of Angola 52. Snare 53. Cereal grass 54. Bring forth young 55. TV award DOWN 1. New Zealand parrot 2. Printer’s measures 3. Filled pastry crust 4. Vestiges 5. White-and-black Bearlike mammal 6. Fencing sword 7. Atmosphere 8. Fine white clay 9. Person used as one’s excuse

10. Enclosed automobile 11. Wild as wild ass of Tibet 19. Part of verb to be 21. Malt beverages 22. Metal container 23. To endure 24. Maximum 25. Attempt 27. Organ of hearing 29. Family name prefix 30. Young goat 31. Supplement 32. Fine hair 33. Hawaiian acacla 34. Pleasantly 35. Monetary

unit of Vietnam 36. Congenitally attached 37. Duck with soft down 38. Strongly fragrant sage 39. Barrier

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. 29.

40. Russian revolutionary Leader 42. Extent of space 45. Admiration 47. Upper limb 48. Thigh 49. Engage in espionage

V

30. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Culture/Heritage

ECBI makes injection into Vincy Mas A NUMBER of entities will benefit from an injection of money made by Eastern Caribbean Group of Companies. One of its affiliates Eastern Caribbean Bottling Institute (ECBI) is making $55,000 available as its contribution to Vincy Mas 2018 celebration.

Donations have gone to the Carnival Bands Association and Rural Carnival Committees in St. George, Marriaqua, North Leeward, South Leeward, North Windward, and Bequia.

The group Country Meets Town received help and ECBI is linking with Digicel in a Carnival Monday Band.

From today Friday, June 1, persons seen with a Village Ram will be given entry forms into a special promotion. If you are one of five drawn as winners the following day, you earn tickets to Carnival Development

Corporation Shows, private events, and J’Ouvert and Monday afternoon bands.

Winners can also get T/Shirts and Village Ram Six Packs.

The offer runs to July 6.

Lorne Holder, ECBI’s Sales and Promotion Supervisor, outlined

aspects of the venture at Campden Park last Tuesday.

ECGC’s Chief Executive Officer Osmond Davy described the donation as a “corporate responsibility” Beneficiaries (Standing) of ECBI assistance and CDC and ECGC/ECBI even in hard economic representatives at last Tuesday media briefing hosted by ECGC/ECBI. times.

He sees support for establish the ECBI as a only in St. Vincent and throughout the OECS.” the ECGC as helping to (WKA) “flagship company, not the Grenadines, but

Indian Foundation to mark INDIAN ARRIVAL DAY THE SVG INDIAN Heritage Foundation (SVGIHF) will commemorate the 157th arrival of Indians to SVG June 1st 1861, Indian Arrival Day, with an

enactment of the arrival on Sunday, June 3, 2018.

The day’s programme will commence with the boarding of a boat at Blue Lagoon at 8.30 a.m.

The boat will leave Blue

lagoon and moor at Indian Bay. Persons on board, upon disembarkation, will be handed their registration certificates with their names.

The ceremony will also be addressed by Mr Junior A scene from the 2017 reenactment of Indian Arrival Day.

Bacchus - President of the SVG Indian Heritage Foundation.

This re-enactment of the arrival of Indians will be followed by the Foundation’s Annual General Meeting and Brunch at the Murray’s Heights Hotel, beginning at 11am.

Mr Kandhi Kangal of Trinidad and Tobago, a supporter of the Foundation since its inception in 2006, will be in SVG for the day’s

events.

In addition to Mr. Bacchus, the other members of the current executive of the SVGIHF are: Dave Baptiste Vice President; Luann Hadaway- Secretary; Anna Insanali- Asst.

Secretary; Cheryl Rodriguez-Treasurer; Denzil Bacchus Cultural Officer; Laurel Thomas — PRO, and Elmore Gaymes - Past President.

V Dominica dethrones SVG

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. 31.

Dominica: Windward Islands Champions of Limited Overs cricket. finals of the 2018 Windwards Limited Overs Cricket Competition, played last Wednesday at the Gros Islet Cricket Ground, St. Lucia.

Alick Athanaze, the West Indies Under 19 cricketer, with a polished knock of 101, steered Dominica to 215 from 45 overs. He had help from Kavim Hodge 38, and veteran Liam Sebastian 22.

Seamers Obed McCoy picked his form late in the competition and returned the outstanding figures of 4 for 17, with Casmond Alick Athanaze’s century Walters continuing his good showing with the came at the right time ball, taking 3 for 25. for Dominica.

The Vincentians would not have taken the target DOMINICA ARE THE CHAMPIONS of Senior Male of 216 in 50 overs as a tall Limited Overs Cricket in the order, especially on the strength of their batting Windward Islands. form going into the finals, They earned the right to that accolade when they notwithstanding that their only defeat in the disposed of defending champions St. Vincent and Competitions to date was at the hands of the the Grenadines, in the Dominicans.

An air of confidence quickly eroded and as it turned out, it was captain and opening bowler Delorn Johnson who topscored with 37 in a chase that ended on 200 all out in 40.5 overs. Donwell Hector was the next best showing on the score sheet with 36.

Hodge and Sebastian, not satisfied that they had put the Vincentian bowlers to the test when they batted, combined to put the Vincentian batsmen to the test, claiming 3 for 32 and 4 for 45 respectively, to ensure victory for their country, still recovering from the destruction wrought by Hurricane Maria.

It must have been a disappointment of some proportions for the Vincentians, for they had shown good form with both bat and ball to earn their place in the finals.

Immediately before the finals, the Vincentians inflicted quite a licking on

Grenada, bowling out their southern neighbours for 154 in 31 overs, in reply to their mammoth 336 for 8 from 43 overs.

SVG had to thank Man of the Match Casmond Walters, who slammed 141 ( 14 x 6, 7 x 4) off 92 balls, allrounder Alston Bobb 50 and opener Atticus Browne 41 for their formidable total. , Barring 64 from Devon Smith, the Grenadians had no answer for Keron Cottoy, 3 for 5, Bobb 3 for 11 and debutant right arm fast bowler Darious Martin 2 for 46.

An overdose of confidence may have been their undoing against Dominica in the preliminary round.

Dominica totaled 279 from 50 overs batting first, with captain Tyrone Theophile leading with 81, Jerlain Robinson getting 46, Hodge 43 and Sebastein 25.

Casmond Walters, 5 for 23 and Keron Cottoy, 3 for 52 proved sharp and penetrative with the ball.

SVG in reply were dismissed for 180 from 37 overs. Atticus Browne topscored with 69, Delorn Johnson hit 22. Theophile was the leading bowler with 2 for 29 and Kevin James 2 for 34.

The defending champions bounced back to beat the host team by 119 runs in round three.

SVG 337 from 50 overs.

Keron Cottoy 126 (11 x 6, 5 x 4) from 97 balls, all but unsettled the St. Lucian bowlers and allowed for newcomer Anson Latchman to get

Casmond Walters had a good outing with both bat and ball, including a century and a ‘five-for-23’. his maiden half century, 54.

K. Augustin was the standout among the St. Lucia bowlers with 4 for 36 Then it was time for Bobb to work his magic.

His 6 wickets all but accounted singlehandedly for St. Lucia being kept to 218.

In the playoff for third place, also played today, host St Lucia beat Grenada.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Kenroy Cottoy answered his recall with a century.

Alston Bobb is having one of his all-time outstanding year with both bat and ball.

Campbell attains Level 111 Coaching Certificate provided Ms Campbell with intensive education - the result of lecture sessions, field visits, project planning — and required that she undertake a project in her home country before she could be certified.

Ms. Campbell’s project focused on the introduction and development of a beach volleyball in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Held over a period of six (6) months, the project culminated on Saturday 7th Nikita Campbell (far left) and fellow coaches proudly display April 2018 and saw a total of forty (40) athletes ‘graduating’ their FIVB Level III Certification. from the programme.

THE ST. VINCENT AND THE International Coaching The lack of a beach volleyball GRENADINES VOLLEYBALL Enrichment Certificate Program facility here meant that the ASSOCIATION (SVGVA) (ICECP) and being a recipient of initial training began at the recently announced the further a Level III Coaching Certificate Kingstown Preparatory School certification of another from the Fédération hardcourt, but later moved to Vincentian coach.

Internationale de Volleyball the Buccament Beach to allow Ms. Nikita Campbell was (FIVB). the participants to learn the introduced as having recently A release from the SVGVA movements on the sand. successfully completed the said that the 2017-2018 ICECP After the completion of the

Participants in the ICECP Project conducted by Campbell as part of her training. project, Ms. Campbell travelled to Lausanne, Switzerland, to undergo analysis of her project.

On being accessed as having adequately completed her training and project, she was awarded her certification as well as the Level III Coaching Certificate.

Since her return, April 2018,

Ms. Campbell has been coaching the teams in preparation for the Youth Olympic Games Beach Volleyball Qualifier to be held in Antigua from June 15th — 18th, and the ANOCES/ECVA Beach Volleyball Championships scheduled to be held in St Kitts over the period July 12th to 16th, 2018.

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32. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

DyieÊs Fried Chicken rule Largo Height football United handed the DFC their second piece of silverware.

A goal each from Morelli Solomon Left: Best Defender- John and Caine.

Seymour Bailey Below: Goal mouth action in accounted for DFC’s last Sunday’s final at the tally. Zidane Sam Largo Height Nine- A – Side netted for Sharpes Football League.

United.

In the lead up to Sunday’s final, DFC beat Montrose Pit Bulls (MPB) 4-nil, and Sharpes United beat Tookies Bakes and Chicken (TBC) 2-0, in the semi-finals matchups.

Going into Sunday’s final, DFC had already bagged the League title

DYIE’S FRIED CHICKEN (DFC) was last Sunday afternoon crowned double

champions, when they claimed the Knock Out title of the Primus Mini Mart Largo Height Nine- A -Side Competition, at the Largo Height Playing Field.

A 2-1 win over Sharpes

Double champions- Dyie’s Fried Chicken.

Inset: Best Goal Keeper- Kenneth Marshall. in the round robin format, all the individual awards award. The Most which was played among that were presented at Disciplined Team award six teams.

Sunday’s Closing went to Sharpes United, Dougie’s Punch De Ceremony. and DFC collected the Crème was second in the Kenneth Marshall award for scoring the League and Tanty’s Food took the Best Goal most goals in the and Beverage (TFB) was Keeper award; John competition. third.

Caine - Best Defender; Organisers say that The other Morelli Solomon- Best they intend to expand participating teams in Midfielder; Carlos the competition in 2018, the League Competition Solomon — Best Striker; hence the invitation of were Farmers United, Giovanni Johnson — top teams from neighbouring Primus Mini Mart and goal scorer with 11 communities - Montrose TBC. goals. and Sharpes - to be part Meanwhile, the Primus Mini Mart won of the Knock Out phase. double champions copped the Best Dressed Team

Rain affects Marriaqua Softball Cricket

BSS to represent SVG ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES Senior Schools’ Netball champions- the Barrouallie Secondary, will be this country’s representative at the inaugural Caribbean Americas Federation of Netball Association (AFNA) Champion of Champions High School Netball Tournament.

The Barrouallie Secondary School (BSS) earned the right to be this country’s representative after trumping the 2017 Ministry of Education’s tournament, beating the Thomas Saunders Secondary, 31-12, in the final last December at the Arnos Vale Netball Complex.

The maiden tournament is set for Jamaica from 15th to 21st July this year, and the BSS is among twelve participating high schools from seven

countries.

Apart from the Barrouallie Secondary School, participation will come from Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and host Jamaica.

Two schoolsthe Springer Memorial and Christchurch Foundation will represent Barbados, while Dominica State College and North East Comprehensive are Dominica’s representatives.

Anglican High School will represent Grenada.

Carrying the hopes of St Lucia are Micoud Secondary and Soufriere, with Scarborough Secondary and Toco Secondary, the representatives from Trinidad and Tobago.

Jamaica will be banking on Excelsior Community College and Holmwood Technical to make use of

Barrouallie Secondary School Netball team will be looking to take their local form to the wider Caribbean stage. the home advantage.

Barrouallie Secondary is lodged in Pool A, alongside Dominica State School, Holmwood Technical, Christchurch Foundation, Scarborough Secondary and Micoud Secondary.

Battling for honours in Pool B are Toco Secondary, Springer Memorial, Soufriere Secondary, Anglican High School, North East Comprehensive and Excelsior High.

The preliminary round of the tournament takes place at the Leila

Robinson Courts, with six matches fixtured for each day of competition.

The two top places from each of the two pools advance to the semi-finals and finals slated for the National Indoor Sports Centre.

The other teams will play for fifth to twelfth places.

Reports are that the G.C. Foster College of Physical Education & Sport is the designated Games Village for the tournament and the venue for the consolation matches on the final day.

RAIN AFFECTED TWO OF THE THREE matches in last weekend round of matches of the Flow/Carib Beer Marriaqua T20 Softball Cricket Competition.

In a match reduced to 15 overs, Country Meet Town Out-Ah Trouble (1) made light work of Warriors CC, beating them by 28 runs. Country Meet Town Out Ah Trouble 1 made 111 in 15 overs.

Warriors CC replied with 83 for 9 in 15 overs.

The match between CGM Gallagher Novices and Ian Trucking and Block Making Fully Loaded was even more severely affected, with the match having to be decided on a faster run rate after 5 overs, this after the match had been reduced to 15 overs.

CGM Gallagher Novices made 150 off 15-overs, but Ian Trucking and Block Making Fully Loaded’ repy was halted in the fifth over by which time they had got to 27. CGM Gallagher Novices made 36 off their first 5-overs and therefore, were awarded victory on a faster run rate.

In the only match in which the teams had their full allotment of 20 overs each, Street Fighters defeated Dr. Thomas Injectors by 8 runs. Street Fighters were bowled out for 121 off 18.4-overs, to which Dr Thomas Injectors replied with 113 for 9 off 20-overs.

All matches were played at the Richland Park Oval, where matches in the competition are slated to continue this weekend.

I.B.A.ALLEN

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. 33.

Sports

West Indies resort to Sandals PROBABLY DEVON SMITH might play the 12th man role when the team is selected for the first Test against Sri Lanka at Queen’s Park Oval starting June 6.

The West Indies returned to Smith after three years. The left-handed Grenadian was never given the opportunity to cement his place.

When he encountered problems with spin, instead of allowing him to overcome the obstacles, Smith found himself at the receiving end of harsh treatment and without the privilege of making a defence.

A 13-man squad has been named including wicket keeper batsman Jahmar Hamilton.

Unless he breaks through as a batsman, it is hard to see him replacing Shane Dowrich, even with questions over Dowrich’s recent performances.

Unless the West Indies go for speed, Miguel Cummings may be omitted, making room for four opening batsmen. That will make space for Smith.

Cricket West Indies terminated their contract with Digicel in time for the charity match at Lords yesterday. The West Indies team was supported by Sandals Resorts whose logo was emblazoned on their outfits.

Ronald Webster Park in Anguilla; Sir Vivian Richards Stadium: Antigua; Windsor Park Stadium; Dominica; Cancryn Cricket Grounds United States Virgin Islands, and Carib Lumber Ball Park: St. Maarten will befit from that parade.

Whether Sandals Resorts accommodate Cricket West Indies in the future is open to speculation.

Uncertainty is nothing new to West Indies Cricket.

The itinerary for the Sri Lanka tour remained in obscurity, even as the date scampers towards the Queen’s Park Oval showdown.

A second Test is carded for the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia from June 14.

Barbados stages the region’s first day/night Test from June 23.

Whatever the uncertainties, sports lovers welcome the opportunity for some entertainment.

They will not be overly concerned about the tug o’ war in West Indies Cricket. When questions arise such as match fixing, spot fixing and other corrupt practices by cricketers and other affiliates, prestige and image of the sport are severely battered. To what extent are West Indies players involved in gambling is another aspect of the branch of conjecture that has overtaken the regional forest.

There are tentacles crawling over the rocks of regional cricket. Everyone is seeking a strangle- hold of the situation in order to suppress the victim or exert control.

The negotiation table is open. There must be ways of arriving at an amicable solution. There is another occasion to seek amends in one year’s time. While we play the waiting game, we must ensure that our zone is tamper free, and that all our players pledge to maintain integrity in the interest of their fans.

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Police Two, Smashers win big in National T20 NATIONAL CLUB CHAMPIONS Police Two continued on their path of victory, with two convincing victories in last weekend matches in the Neil Williams National T20 Cricket Competition.

The lawmen earned their first win when they beat Triumph United by 77 runs. Police Two posted 172 for 5 from 20 overs, with Salvan Browne topscoring with 49, and Ahmed Baptiste, 4 for 38, being Triumph United’s best bowler.

Triumph United were hapless in reply and were boweld out in 19 overs for 95, Rangel Small accounting for 41 of those runs. Keswick Williams, Sylvan Spencer and Beniton Stapleton each had 2 wickets.

Police Two’s other victory, by 39 runs, came against the in form SVG Community College.

Police Two made 141 for 9 from 20 overs Rickford Walker 39 and Andew Thomas 35. SVG Community College made 102 from 17 overs, with Romando Mars contributing 57. Kevin Braham took 5 for 15 and Romario Bibby 4 for

15 to humble the College students.

Smashers recorded the first of their two victories against North Windward Youths, whom they beat by 18 runs. Smashers made 161 for 7 from a reallocated 18 overs, Kurtbert Springer 63 and Rawdon Bentick 47 leading the way. Kerwin Williams 3 for 19, Antonio Edwards 2 for 43 led the Youths’ bowling; but their batsmen failed in their chase, closing at 143 for 8 from 18 overs, Trevin Baptiste topscoring with 43. Marvin Harry had 3 for 33 and Anthony Charles 2 for 41.

Smashers’ second weekend win came at the expense of Radcliffe Two. Steady batting allowed Smashers to register a formidable total of 205 in 20 overs, Ronald Scott blasting 62of those runs.

Radcliffe Two were laborious in reply, eventually closing on 148 for 8 from 20 overs, Kensley Joseph leading with 40, to hand Smasher victory by 57 runs.

The SVG Community College bounced back

Police Two seems bent on taking another cricket title this year. from their defeat at the hands of Police Two, to record a whopping 9wicket victory over North Windward Youths.

North Windward Youths, with little answer to Reynolson Hillocks, 3 for 12 and Alex Samuel, 3 for 18, were all out for 73 in 18 overs. SVG Community College cruised to 74 for 1 from 10 overs, Urnel Thomas remaining not out on 45.

North Leeward beat Victors Two by 68 runs.

Scores: North Leeward 192 for 5 from 20 overs Kenny Stapleton 70, Denis Byam 3 for 37;

Victors Two 124 for 9 from 19 overs, Deswayn Williams 29, Javon Samuel 2 for 11.

Gaurdian General Saints beat Prime Consulting Mespo by 16 runs. Scores: Prime Consulting Mespo 68 from 17 overs - Kenlon Davis 4 for 17; Saints 70 for 1 from 8 overs.

Ronaldo Coombs 24 not out, Seon Sween 23 not out.

Matches continue this weekend at various venues across the state.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Zefal Bailey second in Antigua Cycling Road Race LEADING VINCENTIAN cyclistZefal Bailey placed second in the 2nd Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union 51 mile/ 82 kilometre Round Island Challenge Invitational Road Race, that took place in Antigua last Sunday.

Bailey’s time was 2 hours 23 minutes 51.03 seconds.

Bailey was sandwiched by the Antiguan pair of Robert Marsh and From left: Zefal Bailey, Robert Marsh, Jeffrey Jeffrey Kelsick, Kelsick. who were first and Kelsick finishing just behind third respectively.

Bailey in a time of 2 hours 33 Marsh won in 2 hours 23 minutes 52.69 seconds. minutes 41.04 seconds, with Meanwhile, another Vincentian Samuel Lyttle was eighth in 2 hours 44 minutes 6.13 seconds.

Ten cyclists contested the Elite Category of the event.

The three top finishers each received cash prizes, along with plaques.

Meanwhile, the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cycling Union will this Sunday host a Time Trial from Arnos Vale to Belvedere, Cyclists began the 51-mile ride from in front of ‘Freedom Hall’, the beginning at 630am. headquarters of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union.

34. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. THE VINCENTIAN

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 01, 2018. 35.

Classifieds

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Sunday 27th May 2018 Viewing: 1 p.m.

Service: 2 p.m.

St. Theresa Spiritual Baptist Church Barrouallie Interment: Glebe Hill Cemetery

Kingdom Life Tabernacle Church Mespo Saturday 26th May, 2018.

Viewing: 1:00 p.m.

Service: 2:00 p.m.

Interment: Dumbarton

HANSON SYLVANUS LESLIE Deliverance Baptist Church Saturday 26th May 2018 No viewing Service: 2 p.m. ,QWHUPHQW ¶ Mac Fan Cemetery Lowmans WD

CARMEN WILLIAMS Funeral Service Saturday, May 19, 2018 Viewing: 2:00 p.m.

Service: 3:00 p.m.

Barrouallie Methodist Church Interment: Glebe Hill Cemetery

SHAWN ELSWORTH CASBERT CARTER also known as Bam Community Bible Baptist Church Fitz-hughes Saturday 26th May 2018 Viewing: 12:00 noon Service: 2:00 p.m.

Interment: Fitz-hughes Cemetery

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

F O R S A L E

FRIDAY,

JUNE 01, 2018

VOLUME 112, No.22

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NO DRAMATIC CHANGES IN NDP EXECUTIVE THERE WERE no dramatic changes in the make-up of the Executive of the opposition New Democratic Party when it held the first part of its 40th National Convention.

Having decided to separate what it described as the business and political elements of the event, constituency delegates and members of the Central Committee met last Sunday, May 27, 2018 at the party’s Headquarters, Murray Road, in the closed business session, to elect positions of the party’s executive that had come around for election.

What changes arose out of last Sunday’s deliberations were marked, in the main, by two changes: one in the persons elected, and the other a constitutional amendment that created a new executive position of Deputy Chair.

The two changes in the make-up of the Executive were: Doris Mc Intosh, with 139 votes, replacing Margaret London (120) as Assistant General

Secretary; and Horace Williams becoming the Party’s new Treasurer when he beat Cleve Lewis, 156 to 106, in a two-man race, after the incumbent, Dr. Bernard Mills, opted not to contest.

Any expected change in the two Vice-President positions proved to be ill-founded, when incumbents St. Clair Leacock, 196 votes, and Rolan Patel Matthews, 175, left Zita Barnwell,104, behind for yet another year.

All the other positions up for the vote remained as were, with each officer being elected unopposed, namely: Chairman — Daniel Cummings; PRO — Lavern King, and Committee Members - Amos Cruickshank, Clemroy Bert Francois, Maurice Horne, Jeanie Olliverre and Johann Stewart.

The position of Deputy Chairman was filled by Glenford Stewart, a party stalwart who has served as a NDP Minister of Government and Parliamentary Representative for the

Some members of the new NDP Executive: (L-R): Lavern King - PRO, St. Clair Leacock - Vice President, Dr. Godwin Friday - President, Doris Mc Intosh Assistant Secretary, Daniel Cummings - Chair (back), Horace Williams - Treasurer, Glenford Stewart - Deputy Chairman, and Tyrone James - Secretary General.

(Missing Roland Matthews – Vice President and Committee Members). (Photo Credit: NDP) Southern Grenadines.

The positions of President and General Secretary were not up for election. Both Dr. Godwin Friday, President, and Tyrone James, General Secretary, are into the first year of their constitutionally allowed threeyear terms.

Last Sunday’s business session heard reports from the party’s Chairman, General Secretary and President.

According to a release from the Party’s Secretariat, Chairman Cummings told those gathered that “the NDP remained a strong and viable party because of their continued sacrifices” and urged them to “hold fast to their conviction.”

Secretary General — Tyrone James is said to have highlighted several of the accomplishments of the party over the year, inter alia: solidifying its Chairman Daniel Cummings addressing last Sunday’s business session of the NDP National Convention. (Photo Credit: NDP – Facebook)

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regional and international profile; the Senator Zita party’s active engagement with Barnwell lost, once again, a bid to the Vincentian become one of people NDP’s Vice (‘walkabouts’, Presidents. town hall meetings).

Party President — Dr. the Hon. Godwin Friday addressed several issues of national concern, including his Commonwealth citizenship, and the upsurge in heinous sexual crimes and other abuses against our women and young girls.

He made particular mention of the party’s outreach to the youth, reminding the Convention about the party’s successful hosting of a National Youth Dialogue in November 2017, and committed to continuing the consultation with the youth.

The ‘political session’ Rally of the NDP’s 40th National Convention is set for this Sunday, June 3, at the Greiggs Primary School.

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