Vin pages 02 01 15 e reader to use

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

FRIDAY,

JANUARY 02, 2015

VOLUME 109, No.01

Runner-up in the 2013 Miss SVG Pageant, Anna Laborde, stamped her charm and grace on a competition that featured 41 other competitors.

by DAYLE DA SILVA ANNA LABORDE, Public Relations Officer with Metrocint General Insurance Company Ltd., says that she is now ready to take on new challenges after placing first runner up in the prestigious Miss Heritage World Pageant, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on December 20.

“I have grown more professionally and personally, and gained more confidence — it just motivates me to keep pushing forward to do better,” the 25-yearold said.

“The entire experience was great, and the response from the other contestants was well received,” Laborde continued.

Odessa Mae Tadya of the Philippines walked away with the crown, However, Laborde did well enough to beat out Botswana’s Katlego Gaotsenelelwe (2nd runner-up), Kgomoto Caroline Angel Pilane of South Africa (3rd runner-up) and Jennifer Hunt of Australia to round off the top four.

Success in beauty pageants is nothing new to the young lady. She copped the 2010 Miss P’tani title and walked away with the 1st runner up position in the 2013 edition of the Miss SVG Pageant. But she admits that this recent experience was far different from the others that she has had in the past.

“This pageant is not like the normal pageant.

There are things that you have to do,” she explained.

The entire process took months leading up to the final stage on the African continent, according to Laborde.

She was engaged in photo shoot sessions at various heritage sites; did an official promotional video on St Vincent and the Grenadines, and media appearances. These accounted for 35 percent of the final points tally.

Continued on Page 3.

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2. FRIDAY, JANUARY 02, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

Arts

Artistic expression for a cause

CHRISTINE BROWNE is unlike many artists, in that she openly and unabashedly admits to finding motivation in her (religious) faith and God. The young lady recently offered the first public display of her unquestionable artistic talent, with an exhibition on December 15, at the former Blenz Restaurant, Back Street, Kingstown.

And that first exhibition was married to a good cause — that of raising funds to assist with the cost of medical treatment for Ayana Findlay, who she said was instrumental in getting her to where she is today.

Findlay suffers from kidney failure.

“She (Ayana) motivated me to show off Christine Browne the latest Vincentian artist to launch her work, speaks about being motivated by my work…that just really her faith. inspired me to push the general public see. myself,” Browne told THE Browne said that in her younger VINCENTIAN. days, she was inspired by other Art runs in her blood, she says, people’s work. being born into a family of talented She recently graduated with a First musicians, song writers and artists, Class Honours degree in Fine Arts and she credits her family for their from the University of the West continued support.

Indies, and disclosed that her formal She got started drawing comic education has completed the process sketches of family members — work that she says she was not ready to let and helped her grow in confidence.

“After going to college is when I realised that art is more than just drawing things; it was drawing something from feeling, so I started to come into myself…. I started to know what art is to me.”

Browne describes her work as making use of “a lot of colour.”

Her debut exhibition featured some items she said she did as projects as a student, and included a special piece done in honour of Findlay. (DD) The piece done in honour of Ayana Findlay.

V News 3 Sylvester responds to PMÊs letter

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 02, 2015. 3.

by HAYDN HUGGINS

NICOLE SYLVESTER, President of the local Human Rights Association (HRA), wants to make it clear that the HRA’s call for the clergy and the public to come together at the Clare Valley Hard Court on January 11, 2015, to pray for healing and peace, is not ‘a politically contrived, inappropriate or opportunistic summons”.

Sylvester’s comments were in response to a letter from Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

The Prayer and Peace Rally, scheduled initially for December 18, 2014, was postponed, out of respect for the funeral of the late Edgar Cruickshank, held on December 20, 2014.

Sylvester is of the view that the Rally will offer a way to ‘healing’ those affected by the December 6, 2014 vehicular crash at Clare Valley, which resulted in Cruickshank’s death and injuries to several others.

However, the Prime

Minister turned down a written invitation, dated December 8, 2014, by the HRA to join them in leading the rally.

In his response, December 11, 2014, to the HRA’s invitation, Dr. Gonsalves stated that Prayer Rallies are usually initiated by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Christian Council, a religious denomination or a particular church, and that he was not aware that the local HRA has been, hitherto, in the business of sponsoring Prayer Rallies.

He added that he was at a loss to understand properly the circumstance and purpose of the rally, and as far as he was aware, “there was no war which has arisen as a consequence of the unfortunate motor vehicle accident at Clare Valley on December 6, 2014.”

The letter went on to accuse the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) and some of its

Tragedy in Bequia POST MORTEM results to determine the cause of death of 67-year-old Dagma Gregg, a resident of Hamilton, Bequia, were expected to be completed earlier this week.

Gregg, a mother of two, was rushed to the Port Elizabeth Hospital where she died on December 25 — Christmas Day — after encountering difficulties when she ventured out into the sea, in the Hamilton Bay area.

The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m.

Her nephew, Renald Gregg, told THE VINCENTIAN that he and some other people were sitting along the beach when his aunt, who was reportedly mute, went into the sea.

The man insists that his aunt was not intoxicated at the time of the incident.

He said that their backs were turned, and that they were not paying attention to the woman’s whereabouts as she ventured into the water, and due to her condition, she was unable to call out for assistance.

They were alerted by another person who was on the beach, and who assisted with getting her to shore.

She was then rushed to the hospital where she later died. (DD)

fellow travellers, of stirring up, by way of false statements or unfounded rumours, fear and alarm in, or among, the public.

In an interview with THE VINCENTIAN last week, Sylvester stated, “I must say I am somewhat taken back by the Prime Minister’s response, which he saw fit to make public, and I vehemently reject any notion that a prayer, peace and healing rally is a politically contrived, inappropriate or

opportunistic summons, and the Human Rights Association will move forth by the grace of God to hold the Prayer, Peace and Healing Rally, and all clergy and members of the public are invited to attend”.

Sylvester pointed out that, “The Peace Rally is meant.. to remind us that we must recognize the presence of God in all the people who are around us, and it is for this reason why we seek to embrace everyone in peace because in so

doing, we would be recognizing the presence of God in everyone”.

In a second letter to the Prime Minister, dated December 18, 2014, Sylvester informed that the rally was rescheduled for January 11, 2015, and invited the Prime Minister to send a representative to the event.

Nicole Sylvester, President of SVG Human Rights Association, views the prayer rally as an opportunity to offer healing to those who have been affected by the tragic vehicular accident of December 6, 2014.

Anna Laborde says that the experience has boosted her confidence and she was proud to have represented her country well. the objective of the competition.”

She says that she has enhanced her communication skills, and is Continued from Front Page. people were curious to learn about looking forward to more St Vincent and the Grenadines.” challenging things in life.

There was a lot of paperwork A total of 42 countries were “After looking back at this required too, as part of the represented at this year’s show, I couldn’t believe that I had application process. competition, the second since its done it all,” she said.

And then, there were a number inception in 2013, which was won Laborde has a long list of of challenges that the contestants by Shequera Grace King of the persons and organisations she were engaged in during the finals. Bahamas. says that she is grateful to for “We had to cook, and we had to Laborde was the lone helping her along the way, take part in games — we did participant from the Englishincluding God, family, Omari interviews about our countries,” speaking Caribbean in this year’s Williams, Ron Browne, Maxine Laborde said. pageant and she says that she Browne and her photographers.

She won the national flag was well received.

The list also includes Managing challenge and placed in the top “The crowd response was great. Director of Metrocint General six for the Best Interview of Your I remained confident and kept Insurance Desiree Richards, Kirk Country and Best Interview as smiling,” she said.

Da Silva and the St Vincent Miss Heritagee 2014.

Laborde said that she has Cooperative Bank among others, And although she agreed that it returned with a wealth of for allowing and facilitating “the was a lot of work leading up to knowledge from her experience, opportunity of a lifetime.” the finals, she told THE and that she will encourage every THE VINCENTIAN and its VINCENTIAN that she decided to young woman to participate in sister company Metrocint General enter because it gave her the such an event.

Insurance extend heartiest opportunity to feature and “While having fun, it is congratulations to Anna, and promote her country. educational because you are assure her that we consider it a “So I took the opportunity learning about other countries’ privilege to have her as part of because we were not known to heritage and culture — which is the family. those countries, and a lot of

Anna does SVG proud

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4. FRIDAY, JANUARY 02, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

Law

Prosecutor wants swifter disposal of cases During an interview with THE VINCENTIAN last week, SENIOR PROSECUTOR Adolphus Delpleche, Head of the Delpleche is urging police Summary Division in the investigators to work a bit Office of the Director of Public harder and more conscientiously Prosecutions (DPP), disclosed in 2015, to get the files ready on that his major challenge in time so that cases could be 2014, from a prosecutorial disposed of more swiftly. standpoint, was getting the

“There are some matters I know, because of the process they have to go through, would take time.

On the other hand, there are other matters that can be dealt with straight away. I would love to be able to dispose of those matters expeditiously,” he explained, and cited the old maxim, ‘Justice delayed is Adolphus Delpleche, Senior justice denied’.

Prosecutor, is adamant that it is The Senior not reasonable to have persons Prosecutor pointed CHRISTOPHER BENJAMIN, recorded in 2007, the second on remand for inordinate periods out that, “It is Assistant Commissioner of highest count ever in one year. of time unreasonable to have Police, in charge of operations, is Most of the murders that year that he believes in swift of the view that it’s time for the were drug-related, and as a persons lingering on justice.

Royal St. Vincent and the result of domestic disputes. remand for an Despite the challenges, Grenadines Police Force Twenty-one were gun-related inordinate period of time (RSVGPF) to go back to the and eleven were under Delpleche is satisfied with the without having their drawing board in its approach to investigations. disposal rate at the Serious matters heard.” fighting crime.

Benjamin said most of the Offence Court in 2014, taking And he noted that “I think it is time for us to go murders recorded in 2014 were into account the absence of a persons on bail should back to the drawing board, look drug-related. He cited rivalry Chief Magistrate for about five also have their matters at our strategies and crime between factions over a months. heard within a fighting plan, and see how shipment of drugs which landed The post of Chief reasonable time. better we can execute such plan here through the country’s Christopher Benjamin, Magistrate became vacant Delpleche added that to make St. Vincent and the porous borders. “Because of that, Assistant Commissioner of after then Chief Magistrate it is unreasonable to Grenadines safer for its citizens there were a lot of senseless Police, has assured that Sonya Young presided here for and visitors alike,” Benjamin killings”, he explained. several murders remain under have witnesses waiting the last on April 3, 2014. for long periods to have told THE VINCENTIAN during Several murders remain investigation.

Rechanne-Browne, Matthias their day in court, when an interview on Monday. under investigations, and was sworn in to the office of statistics for the overall crime But he hastened to add, “The Benjamin assured that the that could be avoided. rate in 2014 were not yet police can’t do it alone; police “were working diligently The Senior Prosecutor Chief Magistrate, September available from the Criminal everybody must be on board in to have them cracked.”

15, 2014. She had been had stressed during Records Office (CRO) of the the fight against crime.”

In 2013, 27 murders were previous interviews with Magistrate at the Kingstown From the police standpoint, recorded of which ten were gun- RSVGPF. Magistrate’s Court for 19 THE VINCENTIAN, Benjamin admitted, “There is related. months prior to her elevation. always room for improvement, Eleven of the 28 murders and we must get our house in recorded, in 2012 were gunorder for 2015 and beyond, to related, compared to ten in deal with the crime situation.”

2011. Twenty murders were RECENTLY AWARDED traffic cop.

At press time Tuesday, about recorded that year.

Traffic Cop of the Year “At the beginning of the two days before the beginning of Nine of the 25 murders (2014), Constable 150 year, I began working a New Year, 37 murders were recorded in 2010 were gunBrenslee Bobb, has his eyes hard. I continued to do so recorded for 2014, the highest related. set on becoming Head of the throughout the year. count for one year in this Benjamin said that, while Traffic Department of the Working hard became a country’s history. Forty-three there has been an increase in Royal SVG Police Force, habit for me. I looked up homicides (killings) were homicides and gun-related some day. to my superiors, and I recorded in all, 27 being gunincidents, statistics show that Bobb is also aspiring to be tried to improve in certain related, and up to press time 28 crime generally has not a prosecutor for the Traffic areas that I was lacking. were still under investigations. increased.

Department and he is My goal is to become the Thirty-six murders were Up to press time, the thinking of pursuing studies best traffic cop, not only in law to assist for 2014 but also beyond,” him in this the police officer of six regard. years explained.

The 24-yearBobb has served as a Constable Brenslee Bobb old Richland motor cycle traffic cop for aspires to being Head of the Park man has the last three years, and he Traffic Department, some day. been attached to disclosed that he is the Traffic currently doing an the Mountain View SeventhDepartment for assessment of the roads, day Adventist Academy. He the last four with a view to identifying was into his second year at years. He told where and how accidents the Community College THE could be reduced. He would when he decided to join the VINCENTIAN be advancing his police force. that during a recommendations to Head of He has a special message general meeting Traffic, Supt. Kenneth John. for his colleagues: “Work of the He lauded the Department hard and do the best in every Department at for the excellent job it was aspect of duty.” the end of 2013, doing, and intimated that he He makes a special appeal he told the holds Supt. John in high to drivers to be more gathering that esteem for his leadership considerate of each other, his goal for 2014 skills. and to comply with the was to be named Bobb received his early traffic laws to make the the most education at the Richland roads safer for the public. outstanding Park Government School and

Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS

files on time.

“I understand the difficulties an investigator can face at times in getting the files organized, but I feel with a little more effort, we can alleviate such difficulties,” said Delpleche, a former police investigator.

‘Back to the drawing board,’ ACP proposes

Cop aims at higher goals

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 02, 2015. 5.

USA-CUBA Feature

US-Cuba trade has billion $$$ potential WHEN PRESIDENT Barack Obama announced on Wednesday 17th December 2014 that the United States and Cuba had agreed to restore diplomatic ties that Washington severed more than 50 years ago, the disclosure was met with resistance from Republicans, who will control both houses of Congress from January, and who oppose normal relations with the communist-run island.

However, not even the Republicans with their majority control of the legislative chambers could stop American business from lining up the ducks of potential commercial advantages.

Aware that the US administration’s policy shift includes opening to more commerce in some areas, allowing use of U.S. credit and debit cards, increasing the amount of money that can be sent to Cubans and allowing export of telecommunications devices and services, business experts are already predicting enormous returns

for the US economy.

One such group of experts is the Peterson International Economy Institute, a private, non-profit institution for rigorous, intellectually open, and in-depth study and discussion of international economic policy, estimate that US exports to Cuba could reach $4.3 billion annually, if commercial relations between Carnival Cruise Line could well add Cuba to the two countries are reits cruise routes. established.

According to the experts, the lifting The PIEI added that, if the of the US blockade could benefit US executive decision by US President Barack Obama is implemented, Cuban farmers, manufacturers, airlines, hotel companies, and telecommunication exports of goods to the United States entities, among others. could reach $5.8 billion dollars, up At present, Washington authorizes from zero currently, representing $10 the sale to Cuba of foods like corn, billion in total trade exchanges. rice, soybeans and frozen chicken at Bilateral trade exchange between about $350 million annually, but Havana and Washington was cut in requires advance cash payment, since 1962 following the US decision to no credits are allowed for the island. impose an economic, commercial and One of the companies interested in financial embargo against Cuba.

Delta Air, one of the American airlines standing ready to do business in and with Cuba. doing business with Cuba is Cargill, which is in the business of the sale, purchase, processing and distribution of grains and other produce, as well as animal feed and pharmaceutical raw materials.

Other US entities that have expressed interest in the Cuban market include Delta Airlines and Jet Blue, as well as hotel companies like Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International and Carnival Cruise Line.

And according to the experts, US oil companies could find a new market for their fuels and refining technology in Cuba, if the embargo is lifted. (Source: strategicsourceror.com)

Support for Obama-Castro decision the re-establishment of diplomatic political office who supported the rerelation with the island. establishment of diplomatic relations”; According to the survey by * A large majority – 71 percent – Bendixen and Amandi International responded that the U.S. embargo of published in South Florida, Obama’s Cuba has not worked at all or has not decision can count on stronger support worked very well. from younger generations of Cuban So while mainstream media in the Cubans who settled in Miami hold migrants, and from those born in the USA reported Cuban-Americans United States to Cuban families. nationwide are almost evenly divided intense feelings about their ancestral homeland, Cuba, and have no The poll found that 53 percent of over support for the embargo and for the youths between 18 and 29 years President Obama’s effort to normalize hesitation in showing them. said they agree with the measures, relations with Cuba, the President and while 47 percent of those between 30 his Cuban counterpart may well have and 49 years also backed the seen the wisdom in making a decision hemispheric relations. (Source: www.prensa-latina.) initiative. now, which will change the future of A previous survey by Florida International The handshake between Barack University in mid-2014 Obama and Cuban President Raul revealed that a large POPE FRANCIS HAS been Castro at a memorial ceremony for from our people. I want to majority of Cuban described as the figure that thank and recognize the Nelson Mandela was, after all, a sign emigrants living in the gave significant impetus to the support of the Vatican, that many may have misread.

United States and their historic thaw in U.S.-Cuba especially Pope Francis, for offspring support THE CUBAN-AMERICAN community relations between the relations announced his work to improve relations constitutes a major voting bloc in the Wednesday 17th December, between the U.S. and Cuba.” two countries. That poll 2014, by Presidents Barrack USA. The historic supported the following: Obama and Raul Castro. announcement out of the This is particularly so in Florida * 68 percent of “His Holiness Pope way, the Vatican issued where Cuban-Americans account for respondents favour Francis issued a personal a statement in which it approximately 7% or 1.3 million of the restoring diplomatic appeal to me and to Cuban congratulated both population.

Pope Francis gives the relations with Cuba; President Raul Castro urging governments on the “historic The focus, therefore, settled on ‘thumbs up’, knowing that * Among younger us to resolve Alan’s case,” decision.” The statement Florida within minutes of President’s his work to help break down respondents, 90 percent Obama said during a confirmed that Pope Francis Obama’s announcement, Wednesday barriers between the USA of respondents favour statement from the White had written letters to both 17th December 2014, which the and Cuba was not in vain. restoring diplomatic ties; House. presidents urging them to United States and Cuba had agreed to * When you include The President thanked resolve decades of dispute. commitments that we’re restore diplomatic ties. only registered voters, 51 Pope Francis, the first Latin The Vatican was the only making today.”

Politicians, news persons, all and percent of them support American pope, for helping to government to take a direct The senior official said sundry wanted to know first-hand, continuing the embargo; facilitate the deal, saying: “… role in facilitating the that was the key meeting how Cuban-Americans had taken the * 69 percent of all I want to thank His Holiness conversations between the between the delegations President’s bold move, and whether, in respondents favour the Pope Francis whose moral U.S. and Cuban where “all was finalized.” fact, the President had misread the lifting of travel example shows us we should governments, according to About two months later, Cuban-American political reality restrictions impeding all work for the world as it the Vatican and senior U.S. Obama and Castro spoke President Obama and President should be, instead of Americans from officials. over the phone in the first Raul Castro of Cuba may well have accepting it as it is.”

In October, Pope Francis traveling to Cuba; presidential-level discussion been moved by a recent survey which For his part, President hosted delegations from the * 53 percent of between the countries since revealed that 58 percent of Cubans Castro said, “This decision by two countries, where a U.S. respondents said they the Cuban revolution. between 50 and 64 years of age, and President Obama deserves official said the countries would be likely to vote The rest is now history. resident in Miami, Florida, support the respect and recognition were able to “review the for a “candidate for (Source: FUSION Beta)

A Pope in the middle

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6. FRIDAY, JANUARY 02, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

Diaspora

US$250,000 raised for Christmas relief

Minister Dr. Ralph E. Gonsalves, noted that damage from that storm were to the tune of EC$330,000,000 (1US$=EC$2.67).

At least seven people were killed by the unusual storm, which also left a trail of destruction.

“It was wonderful to see the way Vincentians rallied to the cause, New York Counsel giving generously of their General Selmon Walters time and resources, gave an account of the packing boxes and rehabilitation effort that barrels, (and) donating followed the floods of generously and December 2013. willingly,” said Walters, who has been Counsel General for the past four Stories and photos by years.

NELSON A. KING “In responding to this naking@verizon.net; major catastrophe, we neloking@msn.com sent out a call to the US CORRESPONDENT Diaspora to assist our brothers and sisters at New York Counsel General home, and the response Selmon Walters says the was truly overwhelming estimated value overall of and unprecedented,” he the contribution by the added.

United States Vincentian As a result, Walters, Diaspora to the freak who chaired the interim Christmas storm victims in St. Vincent and the 2013 is about Grenadines Relief US$250,000.

Committee of New York, In his 2014 Christmas said four 40ft. containers message to nationals of relief supplies and an residing in the US undisclosed quantity of Diaspora, Walters, a boxes and barrels, with former government additional supplies, were minister in the dispatched home to help administration of Prime those who suffered from

Peters’ dream comes true From Page 32.

And as far as what he thinks he means to SVG, his focus shifted from himself and pointed at the future, saying, “I will like to encourage all our young cricketers in SVG, and the Windwards, to work hard at their skills, have that discipline to put in the extra hard work, and set goals to reach the top one day. ... Who wants it the most will get that opportunity to play at the highest level.”

In his first test innings, Peters had figures of 20 overs, 7 maidens, 69 runs, 2 wickets, including opening batsman D. Elgar, who made 121, as his first Test scalp.

Peters has played 62 first class matches, taking 190 wickets, with a best performance being 7 for 36. He was the leading wicket taker in the 2014 West Indies first class season.

He also represented the St Lucia Zouks in the Caribbean Premier League in 2013.

During his youth cricket career, Peters represented the West Indies Under-19 team to the Youth World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2000, and in England in 2001.

THE VINCENTIAN joins with all cricket-loving Vincentians in wishing Kenroy Peters a successful and rewarding Test cricket career.

the storm.

From the monetary donations received, the Committee contributed US$20,000 to the relief effort, “with a reserve of US$8,000 to build on for any such need in the future, God forbid!”

Referring to figures provided by the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), Walters said, as a result of destruction by the storm, 15 new houses were built at Fitz Hughes, 12 at Cumberland and 10 at Hope on the Leeward side of mainland St. Vincent; and eight each were built at South Rivers and Colonarie, 10 at Langley Park and six at Caratal on the Windward side.

Another 60 houses

were rebuilt “on the spot where they once stood”, and 300 were repaired.

Walters said five persons are still in shelter at Rillan Hill on the Leeward side, awaiting re-location.

Furthermore, he said an additional EC$24,000,000 in materials was distributed to families and individuals to aid in repairing damaged houses.

According to Walters, another 75-100 houses are still to be relocated.

At the same time, he said a total of 28 bridges were affected, of which 14 were “destroyed and 14 severely damaged.”

Currently, five bridges are being rebuilt on the Leeward side, with assistance from Ecuador

— at Hope, Fitz Hughes and Sharpes (in the town of Chateaubelair.

On the Windward side, he said one bridge is being replaced in Bailey, Georgetown; one at Caratal is being rebuilt, and another at Basin Hole has been completed.

Walters used the occasion to urge his compatriots to “continue to work together, despite whatever differences may exist between us.”

He acknowledged that, in 2014, “we had many challenges at the Consulate (General in midtown Manhattan),” but added that “God has helped us amidst them all.”

He had special thanks for: Calliaqua native Vaughn Toney, chief

executive officer and president of the Friends of Crown Heights Educational Centers in Brooklyn, New York, who allowed use of space at one of the centres for collecting, storing and packing relief supplies to be shipped home; and Gideon ‘Fessie’ Yorke, the Biabou-born owner of Standard Shippers, on Clarendon Road in Brooklyn, who ensured that the supplies were moved and shipped in a timely manner.

And in closing, Walters urged, “Let us work together. Let us rise up and build a nation of which all of us can be justly proud, so that we build a good foundation for those who must continue to build long after we are gone.”

Vincy children get special Christmas treat SEVERAL Vincentian businesses in New York demonstrated their commitment to give back to the community by hosting an extraordinary treat for children.

Hundreds of Vincentian children and their parents participated in the special Christmas Party, held during the afternoon and early evening hours on Sunday 21st December, at Café Omar in Brooklyn.

“This is the biggest event I’ve ever had,” said Biabouborn Gideon ‘Fessy’ Yorke, owner of Standard Shippers on Clarendon Road in Brooklyn, in a VINCENTIAN interview.

“This is very good,” added Yorke, who has been hosting Kids, toddlers and parents flank Santa Claus at Christmas Party at Café Omar in Brooklyn. the party for the past eight years. “We appreciate all the happy,” he said. “And I think we need more of this people who donated their time and toys. We look — bringing people together.” forward to bigger and better things next year.”

Newly-appointed Deputy New York Counsel Yorke said the children, including toddlers, were General, Sehon Marshall, was also in attendance treated to free gifts, entertainment and food. at the grand party.

Many kids also participated in karaoke, arts “It’s indeed a pleasure to be here and to bring and craft, face-painting, and sat on Santa’s lap. greetings, and also to thank the children,” he told One of the ‘Friends, Ruby Wood, of Mt. Pleasant the audience in a very brief message. “Let me (Argyle area), owner of Square Deal Shippers and commend each and every one of you, and wish you Movers on Church Avenue in Brooklyn, said she happy holidays.” contributed to the event for the second successive Bishop’s College, Kingstown alumnus Atiba year.

Williams, of Rose Place, Kingstown, who “It’s good that he’s (Yorke) giving back to the coordinated the party and served as Master of community,” she told THE VINCENTIAN. Ceremonies, described the event as “an “Thanks to everyone who supported us (Square overwhelming success,” adding that “the response Deal Shippers and Movers) over the years.” from everyone was tremendous.”

Biabou native Steve Minors, owner of Minors He also thanked Union Is. native, former New Catering, said he was delighted to prepare “all the York City Councilman, Dr. Kendall Stewart, food” free of charge. proprietor of Café Omar, for “the use of the venue “I feel wonderful just to see how the kids are free.”

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 02, 2015. 7.

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8. FRIDAY, JANUARY 02, 2015. 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 Going out wit ‘too much talk’ ONE SUNNY, typically Caribbean afternoon, two seagulls were having a stroll along a beach. Worried that he was becoming something of an outcast, one seagull took the opportunity to explain himself to the other.

“Do you think I talk too much? I mean, people say I talk too much, and these days it seems no one wants to give me an ear. But I don’t think I talk too much. I may talk a lot, but lots of people talk a lot more than I do.”

If the truth be told, we love to talk — at least those of us who can — and there are those who simply talk too much, not least being our leaders.

Interestingly, in some languages, there is no word that would translate leader — the closest they come to leader is the word orator, a word that means someone who speaks eloquently. Seems, therefore, that many of our leaders have accepted the other languages’ lead, and believing they are all ‘orators’, tend to say a lot of things, even at the most inappropriate times.

Lesson One: Effective leaders know when enough is enough.

Once, a group of experts met to assist a team of potential investors with understanding the market in which they (investors) had shown interest. Each mentor was asked to give an input. One mentor had something to say about each and every idea anyone and everyone else brought up and, in so doing, he made some ridiculous suggestions. He just had to say something, forgetting the wisdom in what the American literary icon, Mark Twain, had to say: ‘It is better to remain silent and let people think you’re a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.’

Lesson Two: You don’t have to say something just to say something.

And there was the case of the ‘leader’ who took it upon himself to shower congratulations on the feat of an outstanding athlete — congratulations that were eloquently delivered but just too weighty and consequently over-patronizing. It was a case of too much talk that diluted the impact and diminished the effect Lesson Three: Know when enough is enough, when to stop talking.

Then there was the case of the audience who showed signs of boredom and tiredness as a speaker went on and on. The more he spoke, the less the audience seemed to listen. As a result, what the speaker offered became like background music; that which is heard but so often ignored.

The leader’s speech ended up being irrelevant; he had talked too much.

Maybe the speaker had failed to learn from the true exponents of kaiso — those who know how to write economically.

Lesson Four: Acknowledge and submit to the reality that too much talking causes over-exposure.

How often have our leaders demonstrated that they are the ones to do all the talking? That they fail miserably to give others an opportunity to express themselves in real time and language? Yes, those leaders would have pointed to (a) Mike in the audience as the person who had four or five sound reasons why such and such project should be undertaken, but said leader proceeded to detail all those reasons. Poor Mike smiled away into silence.

Lesson Five: Too much talking discourages others from talking much at all and trains everyone to wait for you to talk.

So a man stepped up to a counter and the clerk asked him what he would like. He tried to order cupcakes, but as soon as she asked him for his order, she began speaking to another employee behind the counter, drowning his words in hers.

“Will that be all?” she asked.

He challenged her with, “What did I order?”

She counted back the order. He had asked for only two types of cupcakes, but she got both of them wrong. Why, because she was so busy talking she did not really listen, not unlike so many of our leaders who hear but seldom listen.

Lesson Six: The more you talk, the less you listen.

So as we venture into the unknown of a New Year, let’s pray that our leaders do not accept unto themselves, an ‘uncontestable’ right to speak for everyone. Even if the ideas that come from others need re-fining, don’t shoot them down and produce your own theses as the end all.

Rather, genuinely engage others in a process of dialogue towards discovering the greater good. There is a time to talk, but more importantly, a time to listen.

May the joy of listening instruct our relationships with others throughout 2015 and beyond.

Deaths towards the end of 2014 First Michael Hamlett, a promising ULP colt, had a sudden death. He was given a state funeral for which he did not qualify according to the prescriptions of “The Right Way” written

by Brendon Browne, ULP’s first appointed Cabinet Secretary. The eulogy was given by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

There followed the highly controversial death of Glen Jackson, who had announced that he had a bomb to drop on the very day that he was found nude in his car, fatally shot.

Of course, he too was awarded a State Funeral, all expenses paid. Sir Vincent Beache had declared that the “assassin” will be brought to justice, never mind the warning of Glen’s own widow who delivered the eulogy that she did not relish “any scape-goat justice” in her husband’s homicide trial. Of course, Ralph said his piece by way of tribute to the dead, while Julian sang lustily “My Way”.

There was, indeed, a truncated trial that smelled of the very “scape-goatism” of which Mrs. Jacksons had warned.

Then there was the unexpected death from natural causes of one of the newly established Permanent Secretaries Julian Caruth, who apparently could not keep pace with the many changes wrought by the regime, especially in his name- sake’s Ministry of Works.

There was the death of another PS, Shirley Francis who was thought to be an NDP leftover, and was of a delicate constitution which could not stand up to the harassment to which she was subjected. The death of two permanent secretaries in the first term of the ULP was certainly a record.

The PM did his best to ensure damage control, but the sudden heart failure of “Sugar George” Mason rocked the ULP’s world somewhat. “Sugar George” had been a worker especially among the grass-roots, and the PM’s expansive eulogy was a good report of the exemplary life of this indefatigable ULP footsoldier.

The next three cases took the cake for drama. There was first of all the sudden death of the influential and brilliant comedian, Lucian “Saluche” Small, who had transferred his support to the NDP, owing to rough treatment from top members of the ruling ULP. At his funeral, the crowd was annoyed when Gonsalves was allowed to pay tribute to someone he had ridiculed and starved of government employment. But they were taken aback by the surprised move, and could only show a controlled anger.

But the lesson of “Saluche” reappeared in bolder relief when Dr. Gonsalves was “invited” to pay tribute to Lynch, to whom for over ten years he had done and said all manner of evil things. The mass exploded, Gonsalves could not raise a whimper, but tongues wagged over this spontaneous outburst at Lynch’s funeral.

Finally, there had been the tragic episode which unfortunately led to the death and burial of Edgar Cruikshank that was mired in controversy. To cut a long story short, the case was again presented of a citizen who had changed his party loyalties a matter of weeks before the sordid event.

Gonsalves stoutly defended his right to eulogise the fallen comrade, praising his party faithfulness to the hilt, which others thought to Some Firsts of the ULP be pure hypocrisy which may be effective as an election ploy.

There are some firsts of which we can be The lessons can be graphically capsuled proud or should hang our heads in shame, but I choose one which is morally neutral and most thus: some hold that there is stark choice “red or dead”, others answer “better dead than red” captivating. I refer to the number of and so the story goes. tributes/eulogies delivered by our Prime Minster over the past 14 years.

THERE WERE MANY fatalities in 2014, among which was the passing of people generally, marked by a good, representative crop at end of year, in the month of December.

I lost my son-in- law, David’s father, Vini Robin who died after a prolonged illness.

He was once Deputy Supervisor of Customs, a tremendous citizen and Head Villager of DuBois, a veritable plank of the Anglican community.

He has left to mourn him his loving wife, Yvonne, a daughter Fraline Samuel, and David, a goodly part of the Vermont community, and Sir Vincent Beache who found in him a stalwart friend from the day it was discovered that they shared a common birthday. Beache was asked to deliver the eulogy, but Ralph had to second the motion!

Vini had these innocent political links: a step-son in Glen Jackson, a son-in-law in “Sugar George” Mason and a wife whose expertise in nursing had ensured the recovery of Ralph’s brother after a near-drowning incident.

Other octogenarians to pass along include Mitchie Huggins, appropriately of Golden Vale; Alma Johnson of New Town Village, who bore two children for Comrade Joshua, behind whom she loyally stood in his early days of firebrand politics and militant trade-unionism; and political activist Edgar Cruickshank, whose manner of death sparked much controversy, but who in life was candid, pleasant and dutiful in serving a cause. He was also a dashing batsman and outstanding fieldsman on the SVG team of the early 1960s. And Eulie Mandeville, another pillar of the Anglicans Finally, I lost two contemporaries, the one a Diamond in the sky, the other a grass-roots nugget from my own Bottom Town Community of Rose Place.

Solomon appeared in a small coterie of youngsters of Northern Diamond, whose aspirations for social betterment were not limited by the small patch of earth that they inhabited. I refer to Oscar Allen, Simeon Green, Earlene Horne and Solomon Butler who, beginning in the 1970s, lit a torch which threatened to illuminate the darkness, and still flickers brightly to this day.

I remember that they were all foundation members of the UPM in 1979. In order to educate themselves, they read voraciously of anything within reach. I recall being Solo’s defence lawyer when he was found with a copy of the banned Soviet Weekly! Solo never gave up the struggle. He died as he lived, still striving for a more meaningful life which beckons still.

The last representative to whom I say a fond au revoir is one of a band from Bottom Town, who, unlike me, never went to secondary school. Tiey Sam and company lived through perilous times, but did the best that they could in the circumstances.

I think that Tiey had been the last remaining. He played cricket, excelled as a half-back in football, and worked tirelessly as printer at the Government Printery.

Only a fading memory now remains of the lot.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 02, 2015. 9.

Letters

‘Live up’ wants justice How I MY NAME is Alistair Simon, better known as ‘Live Up’. I am not a foreigner. I am a born Vincentian, who has a right to make a living here in my country.

Sometime ago, I bought a truck from a certain gentleman for $5,000 in order to get a part and to sell the remaining parts to make some money. I managed to sell the differential for $2,000.

Another gentleman left all the comfort of his home in Keartons, Barrouallie, journeyed to Penniston, like a thief in the night, and took all the remaining parts from the truck I had bought.

The resale value of those parts I put at over $10,000.

I was hoping to make some money from those parts. In fact, I thought I could get up to $4,000 for the engine, $2,000 for the gear box, $3,000 for the pan, $1000 for the chassis and maybe $2,000 for the hoist.

I discovered that the persons who had removed the parts sold them and made a hefty sum for himself.

On uncovering who it was that had stolen my parts, I took that person to court, hoping to recover the exact money which I had paid for the truck.

His lawyer said to the Judge that the truck was in a plantation field rotting, and my client cannot pay for that. The Judge said to me, seeing the truck was in a plantation field rotting, I can’t let Mr. Stewart pay for that, and I must stand down.

I accepted the ruling, but deep down I knew what had really happened. That is why I want to say to all the leaders and those in authority that what the Bible says is true.

In the 14th century, the standard of education was not like what we have today, and still for all the great books were produced and published. In communist countries, they persecuted Christians, took away their bibles and burned them. Yet, for all that, there are still more bibles there than in my country.

Many great men wrote

A roadside execution Was it a lesson, then?

That traitors, just like heretics, Must be publicly punished?

Street gangs and the Mafia Act accordingly; Why not political parties?

Not martyred; A martyr dies with his faith intact.

No, an old man, at his end, Cannot keep his faith In a creed he sees corrupted.

Did he scream as he was crushed, Or was the pain too quick for sound?

Perfect timing: Christmas coming, Frantic fix-ups, Loose ends soon forgotten, Suspicion silenced.

Was the lesson learned?

Will potential defectors In the future Stifle moral outrage And acquiesce to Maximum Leader, “…Underlining the smallness of resistance In the face of unimpeachable power?”

HJA

great books, but through time they became outdated. But the Bible is a unique book; it teaches about faith, guidance, you name it.

So God says a woman is not supposed to usurp and preach in church, because the first woman caused the first man to sin.

I want those men in authority to read those verses very carefully: 1 Corinthians 14:34-36; 1 Timothy 2:12-14. It is no doubt that America is the greatest nation on earth. The women there enjoy justice, but the American people will never support a woman to become president of America. In our region, there are two female prime ministers.

When the court gave that man the right to walk away from court a free man, so to speak, that did harm to my living. I wonder if I should say to myself that buying old vehicles is not for me to scrap and sell to make a living; it is reserved for persons like for Mr. Punett, Mr. Thomas and others.

I don’t have anything

personal against women, but what is to be will be.

There are some people just like me who are asking for justice in my country.

I must end with a prayer: ‘Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise, for the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are open against me, they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.’

Alistair ‘Live Up’ Simon

Tribute to our son Yowani Bartholomew IT SEEMS like just yesterday that our only son, Yowani Bartholomew, was called home to be with his Saviour. A Saviour whom he knew personally, as a friend, father, protector, counsellor and deliverer.

Though gone under tragic circumstances, we are thankful that God gave us the opportunity to be his parents, if only for a little while.

Life for us is not and will never be the same. We battle daily with questions and ‘what ifs’: What if you had spent Christmas at home with us in Barrouallie, as was always the case? What if….? What if….?

What we do know, however, is that we have learnt through this difficult period, to lean solely on God’s everlasting arms, since He alone holds

the answers to all of life’s questions.

During our time of bereavement, we were heartened with the comfort, love and support we received from persons from all walks of life. We wish to take this opportunity to thank all those at home and abroad who sympathized with us in any way.

To the government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, relatives and friends, friends of Yowani, staff and students of the St. Vincent Community College, especially Mr. Nigel Scott and Mrs. Samantha Rouse, we thank you for your outpouring of love and support.

Special thanks to Pastor Maxwell Providence and family, for it was under your steadfast watch that Yowani committed his

remember Christmas

Editor’s Note: This piece ideally should have been published in our pre-Christmas edition, but it reached us too late. We apologise to the writer.

As I reflected on what Christmas has become, I accept that times have changed and will continue to change.

Children of today, the centre of all that Christmas should mean, are all about the most popular toys. They have a wide choice of brandname toys and a host of electronic and remote control gadgets.

This is in stark contrast to when I was a child many decades ago. In those days, we were contented to get toys that were made by our parents or some skilled persons in the village.

How well I remember the cash pans/’save-alls’ made from milk tins with a slit at the top, through which you dropped your pennies or ha’pennies. And those wooden trucks with crown corks or thread bobbins for wheels, which the boys pushed around with long sticks. Then there was the sling- shots with bicycle rubber as straps. And what about the bean bags made from scraps of cloth and filled with tamarind seeds?

And don’t forget the colourful rag dolls.

From among these and more, parents made sure their children got something for Christmas.

Then there was the food and drinks: ham for those who could afford it, black cakes for sure, and homemade bread all made from scratch, with the children lying in wait to ‘scrap’ out the bowls in which the flour and sugar were mixed.

The drinks always included homemade ginger beer and sorrel, and some punch de crème for the adults.

But what I remember most of all was that some families, especially in the countryside where I lived, went in search of a cherry tree or even a black sage tree, from which to get a Christmas tree. It was usually fixed in an old bucket or paint pan with sand, and the branches were decorated with handmade ornaments made by family members.

And if there were any gifts to put under the tree, they would be wrapped in old newspaper or brown paper.

So even though I must accept that how we celebrate Christmas has changed, I wonder if the changes have resulted in us losing the real purpose of Christmas; I wonder if Christmas has not become too commercialised and is too much about gift-giving and merry-making.

To someone well into their twilight years, I still believe that Christmas should also be about maintaining traditions and spending time with family and friends, as it used to be when I was a child.

V. Thomas From the country

life to the Lord, and quickly warmed his way into your life as his second dad.

We ask that you continue to uphold us in your prayers as we endure this season of reflection, which for us will never be the same.

Rawl and Syd Batholomew of Barrouallie.

Parents of Yomani

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10. FRIDAY, JANUARY 02, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

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Providing leadership in 2014 2014 - A great year for the New Democratic Party

The issue THE CONSENSUS among many Vincentians, including those who support the opposition New Democratic Party, is that 2014 was one of the most challenging years in the history of the development of the country. Indeed one would have to go back to 1979, the year of the eruption of the La Soufriere volcano, to find a comparable period.

Even so, 2014 was by far a period that provided more challenges to the government of the day, and the state machinery.

For the few who may have forgotten, the Christmas Eve floods of 2013, wreaked havoc upon the infrastructure of the country, and resulted in the deaths of twelve of our citizens. When the dust had settled in the New Year 2014, the damage was estimated at EC$330 million, or seventeen percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. How can a small country like St.Vincent and the Grenadines survive such a massive blow to its economy and infrastructure? How would Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and his ULP administration respond to this latest disaster?

Those Vincentians who have been observing the performance of the ULP administration over the last thirteen years, had no doubt at the time, that the country was going to pull through this latest difficulty. After all, the ULP administration under Comrade Ralph, survived Tomas in 2010, the floods of 2011, and two periods of droughts in 2010 and 2014. All these weather systems have resulted in damage valued at over EC$600 million, since 2010. Add to this the BAICO/CLICO fall out, and the terrible effects of the 2008 global economic and financial crisis, and we see the context in which the ULP administration had to govern.

Providing leadership Despite all these disasters, despite the world economic crisis, despite the BAICO/CLICO problems and other minor related matters, the ULP administration has governed the country through a state of normalcy.

This is a combination of the resilience and productivity of our people, and the active policies and strategic interventions by the government. The response to the Christmas Eve flood is a case in point.

While the Opposition failed to “report for duty” after the flooding, the ULP administration went into high gear. The impressive response of the government has been documented, but we need to mention the provision of stoves, fridges and mattresses for those persons who were affected, and the construction of houses for those persons whose dwelling units were destroyed.

In the whole process, the ULP administration managed to raise over EC$300m in assistance, mainly due to the progressive foreign policy of the ULP, and the practical solidarity which friendly nations abroad, have rendered to the government. Through all of this, and the leadership provided by Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, the country has returned to a degree of normalcy. Some people take this development for granted. Others see it for what it is, a further practical application of the policy of the ULP

administration, of its “people centred development” philosophy.

And what of the central focus of the government? Despite the disaster, the government has been able to continue a wide range of services. The Education Revolution continued to flourish, and the construction of the international airport project at Argyle continued apace. There have been impressive developments in the field of health, and the resurgence in the agricultural sector is gaining momentum. In all this, no public servant has been laid off, salaries have not been reduced, and have been paid on time, and the country has been given a stamp of economic approval from the IMF. By comparison, what does the opposition NDP provide for the country? We have become accustomed to the series of lies and half-truths promulgated by Arnhim Eustace and his cronies, all aimed at “bad talking” the country. We must mention the conduct of the NDP at the funeral of the late EG Lynch, a debacle that they have failed to recover from. We must talk about the response of the NDP to the recent disaster, when they played politics with the unfortunate plight of Vincentians. We must never forget the way the NDP attacked the Community College, in their bid to criticise the associate degree programme. And we must never forget their unfortunate statement, in that they will not cooperate with the ULP administration; and their subsequent withdrawal from Parliament.

In all this, the NDP failed to show leadership and direction, failed to provide their supporters with hope, and failed to illustrate and explain their developmental policy for the country. This is so because the NDP offers no hope for the development of this country, and must never be considered as such.

Conclusion So it is clear that the ULP administration provided critical leadership to the country in 2014.

There is more work to be done as the country continues on its developmental path, but the ULP under Comrade Ralph is ready for this task. Sometime over the next fifteen months, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves will announce the date of the next general elections. At that time, Vincentians will be called upon to make a decision. Do they want to continue the forward developmental march which the ULP began in 2001, that has brought so many benefits to Vincentians? Or, do they want to resign the country to a period of backwardness, underdevelopment and chaos under the NDP? The good sense of the Vincentian people will prevail, and they will return the ULP administration to office for a fourth term, to continue the impressive developmental work that we have experienced, over the last thirteen years.

Forward ever, backward never!

TWO THOUSAND AND FOURTEEN was a tremendous year for the New Democratic Party (NDP), and we welcome 2015 with great expectation. In 2014, the party increased its popularity significantly, which will ultimately propel it to victory in the next general elections.

These gains were achieved through a number of initiatives by all the organs of the party.

One of the major achievements of the year was the launch of the mobile web app by the Young Democrats. The app provides details for voter registration and other important information to prospective voters. The Honourable Arnhim Eustace, President of the NDP, commended the Young Democrats for their accomplishment, and made the following statement at the launch, “It is with a deep sense of pride that I look this morning at our Young Democrats demonstrating this webbased application to promote voter registration, which was developed by a team of talented Vincentians, right here on these shores. The idea was conceived that the young people wanted to get the word out to their friends, that voting is important and indeed critical if we want to see change in this country, so, with the assistance of local technologists and developers and our Media Relations Department within the party led by Sen. Vynnette Frederick, this mobile app was created.

“I am here, as a happy and proud observer. This is a youth-driven idea.

This is for the mobile Smartphone and tablet device generation; those who populate and get their information on social forums, like Facebook and Twitter; those who follow ‘Hitman’ before they look at SVGTV for information; this app is designed to mobilize them. This is where and how our young people communicate. We don’t call them internet crazy — we call them internet savvy and we embrace the opportunity to join the conversation where they are comfortable. That conversation is now online and on mobile.

“I have long believed that an opportunity was being squandered here in St. Vincent in the area of ICT. There are young business people here who have not been approached to make use of the legislative benefits of bringing IT based businesses to this country. We see a place for our young people to be trained and put to work in technology businesses, which we must work to attract to these shores.

Of course, in order to do this we must be competitive and attractive as a destination. We must encourage innovation and opportunities for those among us who are interested to be mentored and supported by those in the world who are world class innovators. We are pleased to name one such innovator, Gabriela Draney the CO-Founder of Tech Wildcatters, which made the Forbes List as one of the top accelerators in the United States, and Miss Draney was listed as one of top creative innovators in the world.

“We in the New Democratic Party are ready to put our youth to work, ready to give them opportunities in innovation, ready to see them lift our country through mastery of this space and these opportunities in technology.

A strong economy is at the foundation of all that we see our youth

accomplishing. You can’t expect our students to make full use of a laptop if they live in a struggling household, where employment, food and other necessities are always scarce.

Without a well-planned ICT in Education programme, which this ULP government lacks - students and teachers still cannot use their equipment in the classroom in a predictable and structured way. Folks are still at a loss as to how this whole thing is supposed to work on a daily basis.

“The New Democratic Party sees the economic recovery of St. Vincent and the Grenadines as being crucial to providing the environment in which we want our creative youthful energies and talents to spark and burn bright. This app is just one example of the creativity, capacity and ability of our internet-savvy generation, and we look forward to seeing them produce even more.”

Another huge success for the party was our Agricultural Consultations that were held throughout mainland St. Vincent. The Consultations served the dual purposes of giving farmers the opportunity to offer suggestions as to the way forward in agriculture, and allowing the party to present its agricultural programme, which was compiled after visits to their farms by members of the NDP. In those Consultations, farmers expressed their opinions as to the importance of the banana industry, and they were given the assurance that the NDP will undertake a rehabilitation and replanting exercise of one thousand (1000) acres of bananas, in the first year of its return to office. The NDP will also seek markets for other agricultural produce, repair and construct feeder roads and address the problem of praedial larceny.

In addition, the Honourablbe Arnhim Eustace began his island tour.

To date, he has visited the South Central Windward, North Leeward, Central Leeward and South Leeward constituencies, where he was well received by all those with whom he came into contact. Those persons shared their concerns, and revealed the hardship and suffering that they were experiencing. His message to them was one of hope.

The other constituencies that have not been visited can look forward for their visit early in the New Year.

Because of the gains that the NDP made in 2014 and previous years, there is no doubt that the NDP will win the next general elections. The party has been outlining its programmes and policies on a daily basis on radio, social media and on its political platform, and will continue to do so in 2015.

Most Vincentians have realized that the Unity Labour Party (ULP) has failed miserably, and will now turn to the NDP for a new way forward, i.e. a path to economic growth and development, a path to job creation and an improved standard of living. Only the NDP can deliver these. The time is now for the NDP.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 02, 2015. 11.

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Progression

“Progression: you can start from where you are.” - Boyd K. Packer (1924– ) American religious leader IT IS COMMON (and a very good practice) to use the latter part of the closing year and/or the early part of the New Year, to engage in some personal strategic planning. There is wisdom in pausing to see where we are, where we need to get to, and formulate plans to accomplish our noble goals. The introspection that is required can play a critical role in influencing the level of success that we eventually achieve.

And while there are some who will advocate that New Year resolutions have little or no value, this writer advocates that modern research confirms that those individuals who engage in such activities, tend to accomplish much more than those who do not. Such planning engagements can significantly enhance our progression.

The concept of Action Learning that was developed by Professor Reginald (Reg) Revans in the 1950s is now widely used by many individuals and in many firms, public sector departments, and non-government organisations. Companies such as IBM, Xerox, and Motorola (to mention a few) have used various aspects of the Action Learning programme to enhance their efficiency. Many of the employees in these firms testify of the personal and corporate value of engaging in critical self-analysis; reviewing their personal, department, and organisation circumstances; designing plans that are specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time-bound (SMART); and ensuring that these are implemented, even as they regularly monitor/review performances. This simple approach has enabled many to observe significant progress. There is value in planning. There is value in making the time to engage in activities of this nature, that will have the potential to enhance our personal and corporate progression.

How much progression are we planning for this year? While this may initially appear to be a “strange” question, it will be valuable for each of us to seek to respond to it before reading any further. There is value in conducting such an exercise. What physical, social, emotional, spiritual, and educational progression would we like to see during the next twelve months (and beyond)? What skills can we learn? We (you and I) have so much potential; so many untapped skills and abilities. Imagine what our lives would look like if we dedicated a little more time to enhancing some of these. Several of these would have the potential to generate added income. However, even in the instances where income is not created, we become bigger and better whenever we utilise more of our Godgiven talents and abilities. Each skill that is gainfully engaged aids our progression.

While some readers may conclude that a structured approach to personal development is unattractive, we highlight the danger of designing a life that is depicted by “floating with the tide”. Good planners know the value of setting goals. Some may

Tell me something I don’t Know even advise that “Failing to plan is planning to fail”. Some individuals may seem uncomfortable with such structures but they do help to hold us accountable. The milestones can also help to pace our steps. The absence of these moorings can be disastrous.

While a student at the St. Martin’s Boys Secondary School, our esteemed mathematics teacher, Brother Francis, reminded us that “Any dead fish can float downstream”. He would regularly use that statement to encourage us to develop the discipline and determination to focus on what was noble — and to pursue those goals with vigour. This was key to progression. We need to have a plan, and develop the discipline to pursue that plan. Failure to do so could very well make us prone to regression and possible catastrophe.

As we put our plans in place for a productive year, we must consider that many of these may be fraught with complications. We must expect obstacles and detours. We would be so very naive to assume that it will be “smooth sailing”. William Blake (1757-1827), the English poet and artist, reminds us that, “Without contraries is no progression.

Attraction and repulsion, reason and energy, love and hate, are necessary to human existence.” We should therefore not think it strange when hindrances emerge. Among other things, these will test our resolve.

Our determination and strength of character will shine through. We will plan our work and work our plan! We will make every effort to pursue our noble dreams. We will do so with gusto!

So, let us start from where we are.

We know where we want to go. We have some indication of what needs to be done to get there. We visualise the “new and improved me”. The weightloss programme (or weight-gain in some instances) is possible. We can learn or improve that new skill. We can commence that course of study that we previously assumed was beyond our academic or financial reach. We can form that new company. It is feasible to improve that relationship within our home, neighbourhood, workplace, or church.

We can afford to take that family vacation if we planned our time and/or budget a little better this year.

Whatever the goals that we set, we can make progress with an enhanced focus and determination. We will not be distracted. We will not entertain the detractors. We set sail ... to discover a new land. We see beyond the horizon, and embrace that new and improved me. This time next year, we will look back and see that we have progressed. So, we embrace the New Year with confidence. We anticipate the challenges, but know that, with God’s help, we can make the impossible possible. We commit to the process. We know that progression is possible!

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

1. SEVEN MILES of New Blood Vessels for Every Pound of Fat Gained.

When you gain a pound of fat, your body makes seven new miles of blood vessels. This means your body must work harder to pump blood through all of these extra new vessels, which may put a strain on your heart, and may reduce oxygenation and nutrient replenishment in other tissues.

Fortunately, if you lose a pound, your body will break down and re-absorb the now unnecessary vessels.

2. Most People Only Breathe Through One Nostril at a Time Though you’ve got two nostrils, about 85 percent of people only use one at a time. But, erectile tissue in your nose slowly swells the tissue in one nostril while shrinking it in the other, so you automatically switch breathing between nostrils about every four hours.

Interestingly, body position, illness and other factors can influence which nostril you breathe from when, and, in turn, the nostril you’re breathing from can impact your health. For instance, breathing through the right nostril causes you to use more oxygen and raises your blood sugar levels.

3.Yawning Helps Cool Your Brain Yawning is an involuntary behavior that may perform the important function of cooling your brain. When you yawn, the influx of cool air may ventilate your sinuses and facilitate brain cooling.

4. Some Women See More Colors Most people have three types of color receptors that allow them to see color vision. Some women have four, however, which allows them to see a wider range of colors than the average person (a small percentage of women even have five color receptors). Why women? The red and green color receptors, which can be shifted to allow for a greater range of color vision, are located on the X chromosome; blue is on the Y. 5. Memories Work in Mysterious Ways Have you ever walked into a room and then forgotten why you went there in the first place? This is because your brain perceives the doorway as an “event boundary,” and memories from the room you just left are “stored” there for when you need them. This is why when you go back through the doorway into the prior room, you can often remember what it is that you forgot!

6. Sugar Can Help Your Wounds Heal Not by eating it, of course, but rather by sprinkling it directly on the wound. Sugar is hygroscopic, which means it absorbs water that bacteria need to survive. This method has been popular among healers in Africa for generations, and it is reportedly useful for bed sores, leg ulcers, amputations and more.

A twist on this idea is to use honey, which will help draw fluid away from your wound and suppress the growth of microorganisms. Part of what gives honey its antibacterial properties is the presence of beneficial Lactobacillus bacteria, found only in raw honey, which fight infection.

7. You Salivate More Before You Vomit …And there’s a very good reason for this. Because stomach acid can be harsh on your throat and mouth, the extra saliva helps dilute the acid and rinse it away to minimize any damage caused by vomiting 8. Loneliness is Physically Painful Loneliness is emotionally painful for sure, but it’s physically painful as well. In fact, both loneliness and physical pain are processed in the same region of your brain, the anterior cingulate cortex. So just as you have a powerful drive to avoid causing physical pain to your body, you have a similarly powerful drive to connect with others and seek companionship — in order to avoid painful feelings of loneliness.

9. You Have Two Brains Just as you have neurons in your brain, you also have neurons in your gut, which is also found in your brain and is linked to mood. Your gut literally serves as your second brain, and even produces more of the neurotransmitter serotonin — known to have a beneficial influence on your mood — than your brain does.

In other words, you have two nervous systems: the central nervous system, composed of your brain and spinal cord, and the enteric nervous system, which is the intrinsic nervous system of your gastrointestinal tract.

To put this into more concrete terms, you’ve probably experienced the visceral sensation of butterflies in your stomach when you’re nervous, or had an upset stomach when you were very angry or stressed.

10. You Can’t Swallow and Breathe at the Same Time Virtually every other mammal can; however, human babies can only until they’re about 9 months old. Around this time the voice box drops quite low in the neck compared to other animals, which allows us to have a wide range of sounds for speech — but takes our ability to breathe and eat or drink at the same time.

And here’s a bonus 11. It Might be Healthy to Eat Boogers Your nasal mucus might be host to small amounts of contaminants (acting as antigens) that may actually “educate” and boost your immune system when they’re consumed. So contrary to the belief that eating boogers could make you sick, it might actually help your body to fight off illnesses For more all round goodness about the human body and how to keep it healthy, go to the holistic sites of Dr Mercola and Dr Sears.

Send comments, criticisms & suggestions to wefirst@aol.com

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12. FRIDAY, JANUARY 02, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Budget Estimates 2015 ULP regime delusional

cause of crime, i.e. the lack of education. To significantly cut crime in SVG, we must educate our people. So what is Gonsalves doing in this regard?

In his ‘wisdom’, Gonsalves has slashed the education budget by about 50% in the Budget THE BUDGET ESTIMATES 2015 show that the ULP shown in the table. It seems that the ULP regime Estimates 2015. regime leadership is delusional. Their beliefs clearly are wants to appear poorer in front of the IMF when In 2014, $28.7m was budgeted for education, but not based on reality, and contradict the evidence; they they are on their knees begging for money, yet when for 2015, this has been cut to $14.8m. No wonder have little ability to distinguish their own thoughts and it comes to telling our people about the Budget why in 2014 SVG saw about 40 murders. Crime will ideas from reality.

Estimates, they beat their chest and say how well Figures from the Ministry of Finance show that they are doing, and present to us a totally different, continue to rise as Gonsalves has budgeted to slash the education pot for 2016 to only $10.6m and the actual total grants and revenue for the first 6 delusional figure of $971.4m. virtually wipe out the education budget altogether months of 2014 was $252.41m. The table (below) One needs only look at the poverty and in 2017, with a budget of only $4.1m. shows that the actual total grants and revenue for destitution all around the country to know that The ULP regime’s message to parents and young the whole of 2014, based on the 6 months figure, everything is not alright. people is clear: they have little interest in educating was about $504.82m.

Other Budget Estimates 2015 concerns are: * Non-tax revenue drops from $56m to only the children of SVG and helping them obtain a $46m - this shows that the SVG economy is close to prosperous future!

After being in office for 13 years, the ULP regime collapse; has decimated the SVG economy and let the country * Local loans up from $47m to $71m — will the ULP regime kill the NIS as well as having killed fall to ruin. Businesses experience their worst sales for 40 years, and there is high unemployment. the NCB?; Gonsalves, who is not a university graduate in * Other Receipts are $155m — money the finance, is utterly hopeless. When it comes to ULP regime expects to grow on trees; finance, the ULP regime is deluded. * Fiscal Deficit of $143m - eleven SVG needs a strategy for success, and that consecutive years of fiscal deficit highlights means going Green. A Green government will Gonsalves’ financial incompetence; significantly boost revenue and create thousands of * Health cut to $1.7 m in 2017 — new jobs by taxing the super-rich of Mustique and Vincentians’ health will suffer; Canouan,and setting up our own SVG tuna fishing * Education budget is being slashed — pure and canning industry. madness.

We will produce budget estimates to boost SVG Gonsalves expects us to believe that 2015 will be The ULP regime’s way of tackling crime is to wait a miracle year, and that an extra $466.58m will until crime happens and then fight it, illustrated by and its people. This means proper funding for health, job creation and education, and building our appear out of thin air. The ULP regime leadership is Gonsalves’ announcement of new vehicles for the own SVG university, so parents can see their clearly deluded. For Vincentians, 2015 will be police in the Budget Estimates 2015 discussion. children get a good education and high-paid, longanother year of extreme hardship, pain, high Unfortunately, this is the type of thinking you get unemployment and high crime. from the dunce at the back of the class, who has air term jobs.

What is interesting is that the Ministry of between his ears, and little else.

SVG Green Party Finance gave a different Budget Estimates 2015 to All around the world, the evidence shows that www.svggreenparty.org the IMF in mid-2014, that being only $597.7m as the best way to fight crime is to fight the main

JCI hosts threesome award Three new members were inducted, namely John Kiel, Jane Balcombe, and Delroy John. Hazell appealed to the JUNIOR CHAMBERS inductees to take advantage of the INTERNATIONAL (JCI) St. Vincent, opportunities the JCI offered, and commonly referred to as Jaycees, reminded them that they were taking announced their new executive at a ceremony held at the Fair View Guest an oath to be active members.

“What you put in is what you get House, New Montrose, on Saturday out.

So if you sacrifice your time and 20th December. your talent, and your treasure, you Immediate Past President, Ryan will see the worth,” Hazell advised the Hazell, described the ceremony as a Inductees. very auspicious occasion, since it was The ceremony concluded with the the very first time JCI was having “a presentation of awards to outstanding threesome”, which included the members over the 2014 period. The induction of new members, installation award for the Most Punctual Member of 2015 Local Board Officers, and the Presentation of Awards to outstanding went to a past president, Phillip Cambridge. Keitha James took the members for the 2014 period.

The function also marked a historic awards for Best Attendance, Best New Member for 2014, along with the occasion, according to the President, Member of the Year 2014. Best because it recognized the success of accomplishing “our membership quota Committee went to the Community Committee, Best Chairperson for administrative year 2014.”

Shevern Lewis, Senator of the Year The incoming president, Mandisa Claudius Hamilton, and the Most Stephens, along with the 2015 Local Improved Member award was Board Officers, were officially presented to Mandisa Stephenson. installed. The Officers included The JCI is a leadership training and Secretary Keitha James, Vice civic organization for people between President Shevern Lewis, Treasurer the ages of 18 and 40. Areas of Gabriel Glasgow, and two Advisors Cuthbert Tucker and Sherlene Wyllie. emphasis are business development,

by KENVILLE HORNE

Some of the members of the 2015 Local Board Officers, (LR): Incoming President Mandisa Stephens, Immediate Past President Ryan Hazell, Secretary Keitha James, Treasurer Gabriel Glasgow and Advisor Cuthbert Tucker. management skills, individual training, community service, and international connections.

The Mission of JCI is to provide development opportunities that empower young people to create positive change.

Keitha James, Member of the Year 2014, The organization was accepts her award from Immediate Past established here in 1959.

President Ryan Hazell.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 02, 2015. 13.

Marriaqua alive with ÂFatherlyÊ love

(non-father) ensured the first draw in the competition’s 8th CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT tradition, year of existence. and one tradition that is highly “It was a very interesting anticipated is the annual game,” said Kevin James, Fathers versus Non-Fathers member of the ‘Out Ah football game held on Christmas Trouble Family’ who organises Day, in Cane End, Marriaqua. the event.

This year’s game finished in The competition has been a 3-3 tie, with Mikel Mapp dominated by first the nonopening up the scoring for the fathers, winning the first Fathers; Emerson Prince three years, and then the equalised shortly for the non- fathers took over, James fathers; however, Marlon St continued.

John put the ‘Dads’ ahead.

The event has attracted the Dwight Allen levelled again participation of some of the for the non-fathers, and former big names in strikes from Eric Caruth Marriaqua football — Jerry (father) and Carlos James Stories by DAYLE DA SILVA

Government to source funds for stadium Football Federation (SVGFF) and the governing body of world football, FIFA. “In fact, they had asked us to make a submission on works that they want us to be completed through the FIFA body,” McKie said.

He explained that the submission made did not meet the requirements, and that a decision had been made to move to alternative discussions, using the diplomatic route, “[By using] our aggressive Cecil Mc Kie, Minister of foreign policy to see Sport, spoke to if we can get the Government’s new approach support from to soliciting funds to friendly construct a Sports Stadium. governments to assist us in that GOVERNMENT IS NOW project. moving to source funding from He continued, what it termed “friendly saying that some governments,” for the cost saving on construction of the long resources will be anticipated national stadium. made available According to Minister of upon the Tourism, Sports and Culture, completion of the Cecil Mc Kie, the project international remains one of high priority airport at Argyle. for the ministry and the These include the government of St Vincent and concrete, asphalt the Grenadines. and stone crushing McKie, in response to a plants currently in question posed by MP for use on that project.

South Leeward, Nigel “Those plants Stephenson, during the last will allow us to session of Parliament, said reduce significantly that his ministry was the cost of the previously engaged in construction of that discussions with the St stadium project,” Vincent and the Grenadines the minister said.

and Donovan Crick, Keith Gilbert and Mikey Tesheira.

But it also attracts some of the future stars in the Valley, including U-17 player Emerson Prince.

“And we are glad for that,” James said.

But it’s more than just about the football, he continued.

“It’s not to send the Keith Gilbert, an active footballer message to the Carlton Woodley, one of the younger guys to in his younger days, made a organisers, cites the event as one become a father; welcomed and much appreciated aimed at bringing people together. return to the playing field. it’s more than that — we are the event as an opportunity within the community. doing something to ‘lively up’ for them to come out and send Carlton Woodley, another of the community,” James told a message to the next the organisers, added that, THE VINCENTIAN. generation of young men in with all the violence that is It is all about the the community. occurring around the country, community, he continued, According to Woodley, it the event was organised to saying that people usually does not take much to have a bring the youths together, come from all corners of the child, but to be a father and to especially on a day such as Marriaqua Valley, including come out and show the love Christmas Day. Richland Park, and from as and be an example take much “Some of the guys with far away as Evesham. more. behavioural issues can come Knowledge and skill are “So we might pass and go, around, we don’t passed on to the younger guys, but we’re showing that they discriminate,” he said. he said — and most should follow in our footsteps,” Woodley admitted that importantly, it is all about the fathers have come under some Woodley said. support which comes from heavy criticism, and he viewed

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14. FRIDAY, JANUARY 02, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Ayana shares her plight gathering.

Ayana went on THE ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES to attend the SVG Community Chamber of Industry and Commerce, in College, but had conjunction with Telecommunication Company LIME, hosted a ‘Business After to curtail her studies there Hours Christmas Cheer’ function on Friday 19th December, at the Cruise Ship when her illness advanced Terminal. significantly.

The wide cross-section of businessmen and women, government She was then diagnosed with Ayana Findlay officials and other invited guests in end stage renal describes her attendance may just have had a rude situation to the awakening to what some persons here failure.

“Over the last gathering of have to endure. four years, I have business persons.

Providing that awakening was been battling Ayana Findlay, a 23-year-old young with kidney woman who has been diagnosed with failure. I have had to undergo Nephrotic syndrome, ‘a kidney disorder characterised by an dialysis,” said Findley.

Since 2012, she has undergone increase in permeability of the numerous dialysis treatments at a capillary walls of private institution here. Each the glomerulus, leading to the treatment comes at a cost of EC$ 500 presence of high levels of per session. She is required to have protein passing from the blood into three sessions of dialysis per week, but the urine’.

She was so diagnosed while a third has to be satisfied with two, since that form student at the Girls’ High School. is all she can afford.

Findlay’s condition has shown little Undaunted, she graduated from that institution with 9 CXC subject passes. improvement, and her body is now “I was very happy to have passed all reacting adversely to the treatment.

Worse, her family funds have all but my subjects, especially Accounts , not dried up. only because I want to be an “My condition, unfortunately, has Accountant, but also because of all the placed my entire family and myself challenges I was facing travelling for under severe pressure, since we simply medical evaluation and treatment, missing school, all the medication and do not have the money necessary for coping with the situation,” she told a surgeries, etc. ,” she told the Stories by KENVILLE HORNE

A section of the gathering listens attentively as Ayana bravely describe her daily trials. now stunned gathering, and expressed thanks to the institutions and individuals who have assisted her.

In an effort to ease the financial burden on her parents, Findlay has established her own business. “I sell cakes, cupcakes and banana bread; I try my best to help out my father as I cannot cope with the way he is struggling because of my condition. I help with buying medication, groceries and transportation, and also to

experience some level of independence,” said Findlay.

That may have hit a chord, for THE VINCENTIAN understands that a number of persons have since made pledges to assist Ayana in one way or another.

And the end of the night, after all, there was some ‘cheer’ brought into the life of one needy Vincentian young woman.

‘FCIB is a post box,’ says PM PRIME MINISTER Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has expressed disappointment with the operation of the First Caribbean International Bank (FCIB).

According to the Prime Minister, the bank is a post box. “The decisions are made in Barbados. If you want to get a loan from them to do something, it takes six to eight months before you can get a proper decision out of them. Unless you are ‘Silky’, who is a different story, but not everybody is like ‘Silky’ who can call the HO in Barbados and say I want two million dollars, and they say ok, you could get it tomorrow or the same day for that

matter,” said Gonsalves, referring to local businessman Bertille ‘Silky’ DaSilva.

According to the Prime Minister, the First Caribbean International Bank’s operation is a good example of the need for an indigenous bank here, towards understanding “what we are doing, and that we are not a post box for anybody.”

The Prime Minister expressed the sentiments during an address at the St.Vincent and the Grenadines Chamber of Industry and Commerce Business after Hour Christmas function, December 17, 2014, held at the Cruise Ship Terminal.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves didn’t mince his words in describing the modus operandi of FCIB.

Members of the local business fraternity taking in the Prime Minister’s assault on FCIB.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 02, 2015. 15.

Egerton McLean Richards and Metrocint General Insurance

by PATMOS RICHARDS IN HIS BOOK ‘Entrepreneurs of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’, Senator Luke Browne in profiling Egerton ‘Eggie’ Richards, perhaps revered most as being founder of Metrocint General Insurance Co. Ltd., had this to say: “There are other business ventures in which the indomitable ‘Eggie’ was either directly or indirectly involved. He had a quarry at Happy Hill, for example, and considered stones to be ‘black gold’.

Richards had so much foresight. He wanted to produce cheap electricity for his companies. He tried solar power before it became popular even in the United States of America, (and) also experimented with wind energy.”

That quotation from Senator Browne’s profile summed up the business versatility of Egerton McLean Richards, who earned the soubriquet ‘Uncle Metro’ after an advertising giggle in 1977 to promote Metrocint General Insurance Co. Ltd., which he officially launched on December 31st 1968.

Asked what motivated him to feature Richards in his book, Senator Browne

replied: “His sheer achievement as a local businessman prompted me to write on him.

‘Uncle Metro’s’ ground breaking achievement of being the pioneer of an indigenous financial institution was exceptional.”

Under the leadership of ‘Uncle Metro’, and in the face of challenges thrown up by an industry that was predominantly owned by absentee conglomerates, Metrocint General Insurance Co. Ltd. flourished and, by the time of ‘Uncle Metro’s passing in January 2001, had become this country’s leading insurance service for vehicle owners.

The Company, too, had immersed itself in the social and cultural life of Vincentian people, Uncle Metro’s philanthropic spirit ensuring support for education, and sports and cultural activities.

On the passing of ‘Uncle Metro’, the mantle of leadership of Metrocint fell on the shoulders of his daughter, Desiree, and she has proved to be as much of a visionary and astute leader as her father.

Today, as the Company marks its 46th anniversary, credit is due her and her dedicated staff who, together, have weathered the tests of an ever expanding industry, while being able to maintain a family-like relationship with all its clients, just the way its founder, Uncle Metro’ would have wanted it.

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24. FRIDAY, JANUARY 02, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

Leisure

Aries (Mar. 21- April 20) Be a leader, not a follower! Keep business dealings at a high level of integrity. When connecting with loved–ones make allowances rather than expect too much. Money is on the increase, stay positive. To understand what a friend is going through, listen to what they are not saying.

Libra (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Be diplomatic. Watch what you say and how you say it. A sensitive comment can be taken the wrong way. Beware of being tempted to indulge in an out–of–control retail therapy splurge.

Great things are happening; the best is yet to come!

Taurus (Apr. 21- May 21) If you want to change your life, you need to change your life – take action.

Work is demanding, but don’t let spending extra hours at the office cause you to neglect your health. A friendly heart–to–heart chat with someone close can prepare them for what’s to come.

Scorpio (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Finish what you start. If you’re feeling overwhelmed at work, deal with one thing at a time. With money, be patient and finances will turn in your favor. If the moment of truth has arrived in your love life; it may be time to give someone the key to your heart.

Gemini (May 22-June 21) Look for solutions, not problems. When you have a positive attitude, it can improve every area of your life. Tighten the purse strings – this is not a week to be extravagant. At work, use your common sense to stand out from the crowd.

Sagittarius (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) It can cause mistrust when you keep secrets from a sweetheart. If you have something to say, don’t hold back.

Divulge how you feel to clear the air.

With money, check the fine–print. You are in control of your life, keep it that way.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Love and work can connect when you least expect. Say “yes” to business events. Your perfect partner could be closer than you think. Don’t back away from a challenge; it’s what keeps your spirit alive. A financial hic–cup will be short lived.

Capricorn (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Your career life is headed for the top; you can take a giant step ahead now.

The right people will step forward to help you – look for the sign posts of synchronicity. Love and friendship go hand–in–hand. With money, be optimistic.

Leo (July 23-Aug 22) For love to last, you need an unbreakable connection of trust and respect. Be optimistic at work, with lucky stars on your side, anything is possible. Beautifying your home creates a sense of peace and harmony for family closeness to grow.

Aquarius (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) Passionate love moments can have your heart racing. Couples can tie the knot.

Singles can meet someone wonderful.

Work life is up for review with change on the horizon. People you meet now can make life–changing decisions. Think carefully about your next moves and those you share life with.

Virgo (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Love and money often connect, and how you deal with this combination will determine the outcome. Don’t get confused, business is business, even if it does fall in to the personal area of your life. At work, don’t let a past incident have influence over the decisions you make today.

Pisces (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Be career smart – focus on the details to see what’s really happening. It is easier to make money when you are passionate about what you do. When discussing a sensitive topic, tread carefully, someone close could be emotionally fragile.

ACROSS 1.Bank door letters 5. Paper quantity 9. Toothpaste form 12. Small amount 13.Furthermore 14. Kanga’s baby 15. At no time, Poetically 16. Poker declaration (2 wds.)

17. Canadian prov.

18. Nordic capital 20. Tic-__ (breath mint) 22. “Good Times” actress 25. Delays 28. Actress Lupino 29. Soprano’s operatic solo 32. Annoying child 33. Freckle 34. Actress Gibbs 36. “Here __ again!”

(2 wds.)

37. Delighted smile 39. Actor Wallace __ 40. Conger 41. Real __

43. Politician Jackson 45. One, in Mexico 46. Leave one’s chair 48. Ky.’s neighbour 50. Single group 52. Complete defeat 56. Actress__ West 57. “__ Man” (1984 Film) 58. Rick’s love in “Casablanca” 59. Public TV letters 60. Ugly duckling, eventually 61. First garden DOWN 1.Fish propeller 2. Fawn’s mama 3. Native of (suffix) 4. Actress Channing 5. Racetrack enclosure 6. Sailors’ saint 7. “Do __ say…”

(2 wds.)

8. __ Carlo 9. Purchases at the supermarket

10. Long, long time 11. Large amount 19. Joining place 21. Lackland, for one (abbr.)

22. Raised strip 23. Perfumes 24. Widths 25. Painter Salvador 26. Fits of temper 27. Mink cape 30. Prime rib order 31. Wrath 35. Parts of speech (abbr.)

38. Bert

Bobbsey’s twin 42. Jaunts 44. Kind of creepy 46. Phibin’s co-host 47. “Blame __ Rio” (2 wds.)

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 02, 2015. 25.

48. Little devil 49. Catch, as a crook 51. Freshly made 53. Like an antique 54. Manipulate 55. Bronzed skin tone

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26. FRIDAY, JANUARY 02, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

Communityy

Christmas cheer for the children

CHILDREN WARDED at two institutions here enjoyed some much appreciated Christmas cheer this year.

While others were enjoying the traditions of a Vincy Christmas with their families, members of The Get Nice Crew were on the road on Christmas Day, bringing cheer to the children of the paediatric ward at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH), and the St. Benedict’s Day Nursery and Children’s Home in Georgetown.

Candace Gordon-Llewellyn and Sylvia Llewellyn, main organizers of the initiative, said that the group decided to organise a toy drive in New York, to gather toys and other supplies for distribution to less fortunate children in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Crew and Santa began the day with a trek to Georgetown, where toys were presented to some thirty children.

The group then journeyed to the MCMH to the paediatric ward, where they presented gifts to approximately ten children.

The children of Rose Place, the community in which the MCMH is located, were not left out, as they too received gifts.

A barrel each (of supplies) was presented to the Salvation Army Children's Home and the St. John’s Roman Catholic Church in Mesopotamia.

The Get Nice Crew hopes to make its toy drive an annual event, and to extend their reach to other institutions and communities.

The Get Nice Crew wishes to thank its members, non-Vincentians and Americans, for their contribution to this worthy cause.

The Get Nice Crew brings cheer to the children of the St. Benedict’s Day Nursery and Children’s Home in Georgetown.

Santa made sure the children at the MCMH paediatric ward were not left out of the Christmas cheer.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 02, 2015. 27.

Kenroy Peters happy

him, bigger efforts have batsman nick the ball, I was to be put in to get off celebrating, and did not rewards. even wait on the umpire’s “At this level, you finger to go up,” Peters said of see the difference in the taking his first Test wicket, level of quality which, he told reporters, he batsmen, and you have had dedicated the wicket to his to work for your seven-week-old son Ethan. wickets…..you just He is the fifth pace bowler have to believe in out of seven players who have yourself because fewer represented the West Indies at mistakes are being the Test level, following the made by the batsman path of Winston Davis, Ian so bowlers had to work Allen, Cameron Cuffy and extra hard to get Nixon McLean. The late Alfie wickets,” he said.

Roberts (batsman) and Peters had put Michael Findlay himself back in the loop (wicketkeeper) are the other with a 40-wicket haul two players to represent the in the 2014 regional West Indies at the Test level, first class season -the while Deighton Butler, most by any bowleranother seamer, represented and continued in the the West Indies at the ODI 2014/15 season with a format.

In addition, two other Cameron Cuffy: Test debut - five wicket haul against the Leewards.

Vincentians, Neil Williams Ian Allen: Test debut - England India v West Indies at And on Boxing Day (allrounder) and Wilf Slack v West Indies at Lord’s, Jun 20- Mumbai, Nov 18-22, 1994.

24, 1991.

2014, the slightly built (batsman), both played Test Vincentian, who always cricket for England, while Africa, at Port Elizabeth, appeared to be punching above allrounder Andre Adams, with South Africa, after being his weight, with the first ball his roots in Bequia, called up as a replacement of his 13th over, got his first represented New Zealand in a for the injured Kemar Test wicket when he had Dean series of ODI’s, including the Roach.

Elgar (121) caught behind.

1999 Cricket World Cup in He ended the innings “It was a great England. with 2/69 from 20 overs, Kenroy Peters:Test debut - West feeling…when I saw the after the hometeam Indies v South Africa, at Port had declared on Elizabeth, Dec 26-30, 2014. The 417/8. He had ended latest Vincentian seamer to be called the opening day up for active West Indies duty. with 1/44, with South Africa going to stumps 270/2.

Prior to leaving here, Peters had THE WINDWARD ISLANDS indicated, “..jet lag cricket selectors have announced a or not, I will be 14-member squad to represent the heading to the nets Windwards Volcanoes in the to make sure I WICB Nagico Super50 cricket create an impact.” tournament, to be held in And he must have Trinidad and Tobago from done just that, for January 15th, 2015. he was named in the The Windwards Volcanoes will final 11, to use the be looking to regain the form they new ball. had a couple years ago when they “I got the joyous won the regional One Day title. news that I had Toewards this end, the team will been called up on assemble in Dominica from Saturday last week, January 2nd for a 12- day camp Nixon Mc LeanTest debut - and then I was told ahead of the tournament.

West Indies v England at yesterday morning The team will be led again by Kingston, Jan 29-Feb 2, that I would open Liam Sebastein, and includes 1998. the bowling. That Devon Smith, Andre Fletcher, time put me in the Johnson Charles, Keddy Lesporis, for this opportunity to frame of my mind to get Dalton Polius, Kenroy Peters, Winston Davis: Test debut play in a Test match,” Peters myself ready and also Delorn Johnson, Miles Bascombe, West Indies v India at St said via social media, hours prepare myself for the Alston Bobb, Shane Shillingford, John’s, Apr 28-May 3, 1983.

Liam Sebastein returns as after ending his first day as a day’s play,” Peters told Mervin Mathew, Kavim Hodge captain.

Test cricketer.

“It was a

by E. GLENFORD PRESCOTT reporters in a post first and Craig Emmanuel. mixture of nerves and Campus and Colleges (CCC), day’s play interview.

The reserves are Traick KENROY KEON PETERS became obviously excitement,” he while the other zone comprises Gabriel, Josh Thomas, Kenneth Peters admitted it the seventh Vincentian to earn a added.

Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Dember, Kieron Cotty. was a tough day and a The 32-year-old Vincentian senior West Indies test cap, Leewards and the West Indies B The Windwards Volcanoes will learning curve on was making his debut in the when he made his Test debut team. play in the same Zone as entering the Test arena against South Africa this week. second Test against World Barbados, Guyana and Combine where, according to number one ranked South “First I must thank GOD I.B.A.ALLEN

Windwards Super50 team named

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28. FRIDAY, JANUARY 02, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Tyrone James. General Secretary of TASVG, describes the Review as a process of formalizing what has already been in practice.

by E. GLENFORD PRESCOTT TEAM ATHLETICS St. Vincent and the Grenadines (TASVG) is to review its Selection Policy, heading into the 2015 Season, and the organisation’s General

TASVG sets out selection policy

Secretary, Tyrone James, said that this is among a number of areas to be examined as his Association moves to enhance the efficiency and professionalism of the body.

“The following policies apply to the selection of athletes who will be eligible for selection to national representative teams of Team Athletics St. Vincent and the Grenadines (TASVG), at regional and international competitions of Athletics, as well as Multisport Games, under the auspices of the National Olympic Committee (NOC),” a release from TASVG read in part.

TASVG has come in for heavy criticism over some of its team selections over the years, including 2014, but James dismissed suggestions that the Review was as a result of this.

“I am not aware of what you speak…please enlighten me,” was James’ terse response to a question referring to this.

“All organisations review from time to time. If you

know or want to attribute other reasons, I can’t help you with that,” he continued, before asking, “Why must a review be a sinister activity?”

In James’ view, the review was a process of “formalising practices that were already in place.”

Ace track and field coach, Michael ‘Mercy’ Ollivierre, who has been at loggerheads with TASVG over what he deemed ‘some questionable team selections’, welcomed the decision to do a Review of the policy, but expressed concern about whether the guidelines arrived at would be used.

“It is important to have guidelines that will assist you in getting your best team … but from what we have seen, there are some athletes who have done well to meet the necessary standards, but still remain home, while some who perform below them get to travel. That cannot be fair,” Ollivierre contended.

Adherence to the selection policy will engender a sense of confidence among athletes as

they work toward being rewarded for top performances, Ollivierre proffered.

Ollivierre, one of this country’s most experienced and qualified coaches, also questioned the absence of a policy for the selection of coaches and officials, to travel with teams to Meets.

“You cannot be picking up any coach to go away with athletes. And while I am not trying to make a case for myself, we have got to send not only our best coaches, but those who work with athletes on a regular basis and show a level of commitment and professionalism”.

He said that there have been instances where coaches who have no connection or knowledge of athletes, were sent out to Meets, and it was counterproductive.

“Coaching an athlete is not only about getting them to run, throw or jump; it is about getting their confidence and developing a bond.”

The Selection Policy covers

Michael ‘Mercy’ Ollivierre, coach, called for a Policy to govern the selection of coaches. a number of areas including citizenship and residency of athletes; qualification standards for sub-regional, regional and international events.

This policy stipulates that the meeting of the standards by athletes does not guarantee selection to the final national representative team. Other criteria relate to, inter alia, discipline, tour experience, participation in local Meets, health status, attitude to training, respect for coaches, administrators and fellow athletes, and funding.

Ollivierre holds Christmas Time Trial Camp “I HAVE IT every year.... to keep them busy during the holidays. This is basically the core of my squad.

Most of them are mature athletes who really want to go somewhere in the sport. We have a time trial to see where they are. It’s an exciting time for me as a coach to know who is short of what, as we come to the end of one competitive phase and prepare to enter another.”

That is how Michael ‘Mercy’ Ollivierre, renowned track and field coach, described his Christmas Time Trial Camp which ended here on Wednesday.

Some 40 athletes participated in the camp.

Ollivierre is pleased that “my athletes” have dominated places in the teams that have represented this country overseas; but he is

Athletes involved in the Christmas Time Trial (Michael Ollivierre extreme left). determined to keep them in shape so that they can improve their medal hauls within and outside the region.

“Even though they are the best in St Vincent, there is still a lot of work to be done, and it takes time, around 3-4 years,” he admitted.

He also has his eyes set on bringing his ‘cares’ to a level that will open opportunities for studies abroad, and points to Brandon Parris who is presently in South Carolina on an Athletes extending themselves in a time trial run.

athletics scholarship.

“We are hoping, by the summer of next year, that we will have at least 3 or 4 athletes on scholarship,” Ollivierre said.

And towards ensuring that those under his care get as much assistance and exposure as possible, he is moving towards involving more coaches in his ongoing programme.

He cites former field events national record holder, Garth Saunders, as one who has committed to assist with the throws.

“My quest is to assist as many athletes as are interested,” Ollivierre pronounced.

I.B.A.ALLEN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, JANUARY 02, 2015. 29.

Sports

Simple Boys, 2014 Biabou 20/20 Softball champions.

Simple Boys take Biabou Softball title GARY CONSTRUCTION Simple Boys beat CMT Out ah Trouble Family Attacks by 4 wickets last weekend at the Biabou playing field, to capture the title in the 2014 Hairoun Beer Biabou 20/20 Softball Cricket Competition.

Stein Joseph topscored with 35, with 20 from Jabarie Cunningham and 20 for Elric Morris, to help Simple Boys to 101 for 6 from 16 overs.

Westrick Staugh 2 for 7 and Danny Allen 2 for 14 created concerns for the Simple Boys batsmen.

This was in reply to CMT Out ah Touble who made 95 in 19.5 overs.

Rodney Lawrance topscored with 28, while Sunil Ambris contributed 18. Vernnado Primus was the pick of the Simple Boys bowlers, with figures of 4 for 24, and Travis Cumbertbatch had 2 for 17.

The presentation ceremony that followed Sunday’s final, heard addresses from Hon. Frederick Stephenson and Chairman Dwight Samuel.

Simple Boys dominated the individual awards segment of the closing ceremony: Stein Joseph taking home the Most Sixes (21) and Most Runs (179) of the Competition awards; Desron Maloney — the

Stein Joseph, of Simple Boys, scored the most sixes and runs in the competition.

First Century of the Competition and Most Sixes (17) in an Innings; and Eldon Morris - Most Wickets (11) of the Competition.

Shemic Eldon Morris (R), collects his award Roberts of for having scored the Competition’s Nar Fren first half century, from MP Frederick Dem broke Stephenson. the Simple area, Frederick Boys’ dominance by Stephenson, was on hand claiming the award for the First Half Century in to assist with the presentation of awards. the Competition.

Parliamentary I.B.A.ALLEN Representative for the

30. FRIDAY, JANUARY 02, 2015. THE VINCENTIAN

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PETERS’ DREAM COMES TRUE

by I.B.A. Allen

“IT’S LIKE A DREAM come true.

This was my dream.”

So said Kenroy Peters, the most recent Vincentian to be called to active service for the West Indies Cricket team, when he spoke exclusively with THE VINCENTIAN’s Ian Allen, he himself a former West Indies speedster.

Speaking after Day One of the second Test, his debut Test, between South Africa and the West Indies, played at Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Peters said, “When I received a phone call from Courtney Browne (a West Indies selector) that I was selected to replace Kemar Roach for the remainder of the series against South Africa, it was the best Christmas gift I ever received. I am so excited to be given the opportunity to represent West Indies, since it has always been my dream to play Test cricket, from the moment I

Kenroy Peters in action in his debut Test, played against South Africa in South Africa.

started playing cricket.”

Peters admitted to “feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness” on Christmas Day, when he was told that he was included in the final eleven for the Test match beginning the next day, Boxing Day. More feelings of being overwhelmed set in, Peters said, when, on the morning of the Test match, “Denesh Ramdin (West Indies Captain) came up to me and asked which end I will like to bowl from. Straight away I knew I was opening the bowling, and that was quite something for a bowler making his debut.”

And how did he approach his first over? “I already had planned how I was going to go about my first spell; look to assess the condition, and also work out the strengths and weakness of the batters,” the left arm fast bowler said.

“I started by pitching on a good

line and length, and after my first over, I started to feel my way into my spell… started to relax more,” he added.

Peters recalled the two proudest moments of his debut: “Receiving my cap from Sir Richie Richardson, the West Indies Manager, which was an awesome feeling; and my first Test wicket, which I dedicated to my son Ethan who was born on November 1st.

Peters, who was called up in the West Indies set-up in 2006/7, but could not fulfill that assignment because of injury, became the seventh Vincentian to play Test cricket, following in the footsteps of Alfie Roberts, Michael Findlay, Winston Davis, Ian Allen, Cameron Cuffy and Nixon McLean. The other Vincentian to wear the Regional maroon colors is left arm fast bowler Deighton Butler, who represented the West Indies in One Day cricket.

Reminded of this, Peters responded, “It’s a great feeling to be among the list of Vincentians who represented the West Indies, because there is a lot of talented Vincentians who wore the maroon colors, and there is no greater feeling than to follow in their footsteps.

“I also believe that this is a testament of the quality of players we have in the Windward Islands, and how much our cricket has developed.”

A proud moment for Kenroy Peters as he accepts his West Indies cap from Manager Sir Richie Richardson.

Published by The VINCENTIAN Publishing Co. Ltd, St. Vincent and the Grenadines;

Cont’d on Page 6.

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.