The Vincentian PDF- 02-08-19

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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FRIDAY,

AUGUST 02, 2019

VOLUME 113, No.27

IN THIS ISSUE OF : THE VINCENTIAN

Amended Drug Bill..but Page 3

www.thevincentian.com

‘$400 for a bullet Page 4

Chaves’s birtday commemorated Page 14

EC$1.50

Coast Guard welcome Japanese Page 16

SVG at Pan Am games Page 23

STILL ILLEGAL TO SMOKE ÂWEEDÊ

by: DAYLE DA SILVA

ownership, and that it is an illegal substance, they will receive a card offering both educational and health information, including places where one can go for counselling.

If, however, in cases of the above in which individuals lie about the substance not being cannabis or that it belongs to another individual, and it is determined otherwise, the offender could be arrested, charged and taken before a magistrate.

As described in the case of admission to possession, etc. the amended Bill makes it mandatory for the police to offer guidance on the availability of counselling services to young people under 18 and adults who demonstrate a physical dependency on the drug, if these categories of persons are found in possession of cannabis.

According to Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves as he addressed Parliament, St Vincent and the Grenadines is a signatory to international narcotics conventions which makes marijuana possession and use illegal.

This was why, he said, the act of being in possession of cannabis had to remain illegal.

IT IS STILL A CRIMINAL OFFENCE to be in possession of cannabis/ganja, and to do so and be charged and convicted, carries a maximum penalty of a fine of EC$500.

However, under the proposed 2019 Amended Drug (Prevention of Misuse) Bill passed in Parliament last week, a charge and subsequent penalty do not have to be imposed.

The highly anticipated Bill marked the completion of the passage of a triad of laws concerning cannabis.

In December 2018, Legislators voted on a Bill to establish a medicinal cannabis industry, followed by a Bill for amnesty for cultivators of cannabis.

Under the 2019 Amended Drug (Prevention of Misuse) Bill, offenders will no longer be arrested, jailed or have a record if found in possession of 56 grams (two ounces) or less.

The previous law stated that a person caught with 15 grams or less could be charged not only with possession, but also, with intent to supply to another.

Under the new Act, an individual found in possession of 56 or less grams of cannabis and is accosted by police, as long as they are honest and admit to Continued on Page 3

Though there has been relaxation in the approach to the use of ganja here, smoking/possession of ganja remains, in essence, illegal.

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2. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Education

The Canouan Education Complex.

Terry Bynoe, an activist on behalf of the rights and privileges of Canoaun people, voiced support for the effort.

PM Dr. Ralph Gonsalves with Achille Ris (left), representative of the Developers, and education officials on site.

Canouan secondary schooling on the way Photo Credit: API THOSE CPEA candidates from Canaouan who are expected to begin their secondary education in September 2019, will do so on the island.

Classroom instructions for these students will begin in a temporary facility that will house one classroom, a science laboratory, an IT lab, a library, and staff room among other amenities.

All of this was confirmed by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves during a visit to the education complex on Tuesday 23rd July, 2019. He was accompanied by Minister of Education St Clair Jimmy Prince Construction on the official secondary school, being carried out by Canouan Resorts Development Company, is ongoing and is expected to be completed soon.

In refuting claims that the Southern Grenadines is at a disadvantage when it comes to the sciences, the Prime Minister said Union Island Secondary School teaches all the sciences, including Physics, and there are schools on St.Vincent that don’t teach Physics.

“So when it is said that the Southern Grenadines are disadvantaged, that is the language of those interested in political mischief. More and more the sciences are expanded because the focus of the government is on STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts and Maths). That is the focus.”

Minister Prince said the people of Canouan have been asking for a secondary school for years, but the main concern had always been whether it would be sustainable with respect to the number of students and other related issues.

“Last year I said in Parliament that we will have a secondary school in Canouan by September of this year. I had given the commitment and had said we would have the school whether or not the developers completed the building on time,” he said.

Prince pointed out that when the complex is complete, it would be different in that it would also accommodate primary school students.

The Canouan Secondary School is expected to start off with a staff of five teachers, and brings the number of secondary schools in St.Vincent and the Grenadines to 27.

Canouan resident and activist Terry Bynpe had encouraging support for the effort, saying, “I have always embraced this project since it came on stream. I have stood by it and I am very, very happy.” (Source: API)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02, 2019. 3.

News 3

Amended Drug Bill: A step in the right direction, but⁄ WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT the recently Amended Drug (Prevention of Misuse) Bill was a step in the right direction, Leader of the Opposition Dr. Godwin Friday said that there are still a number of issues going forward.

As far as he is concerned, the end game ought to have been legalization of cannabis.

Though he conceded, “I am glad to see as well, that the Prime Minister has come around to accepting that we should at this time move forward with measures to decriminalize small quantities for recreational purposes.”

According to the Opposition Leader, the members of the New Democratic Party (NDP)

have always contended that it would be incongruous to have a legal industry, yet youths are still being treated as criminals for being in possession of small quantities.

“And we have been consistent in pushing for the decriminalization for possession and smoking, that it be done at the same time to show that we do accept the science, and we accept the cultural and social conditions that move us towards a nonpunitive regime,” Friday said during his contribution to the debate on the Amended Bill brought in Parliament last week.

Under the New Bill, individuals could now avoid

Dr. Godwin Friday, Leader of the Opposition would have liked the Amended Drug (Prevention of Misuse) Bill to have gone a few steps further. being arrested, detainment and having a record for

marijuana possession, and , the penalty for someone

Still illegal to smoke ÂweedÊ

SVG has set in motion the platform for an extensive Medical Cannabis Industry.

etc., a person found smoking cannabis ‘on the block’ will not be arrested, incarcerated and have no record, Continued from Front Page. but will, instead, be served with an EC$80-ticket payable within Smoking in public one month, all of this conditioned on the cooperative THE AMENDED BILL ALSO addresses behavior of the ‘offender’. the use (smoking) of cannabis in public.

Failure to pay the fine within According to the Amended Bill, the designated time means that smoking in one’s home or in a place of the ticket will serve as a worship, as in the case of the summons for that person to Rastafarians, did not constitute smoking appear before the magistrate, in public, save and except those private who can serve up to a $500.00 residences used for commercial purposes. fine on the offender.

The Bill also allows the Minister of “If there is obvious disregard Legal Affairs the power to designate for the law, there will be public areas where smoking is consequences,” Dr. Gonsalves permissible. said.

And, the smoking of cannabis, He also pointed out that What 56 grams of cannabis could look like. particularly in public spaces like ‘blocks’, anyone found in possession of any is expected to demand tolerance on the quantity, 56 grams of less, on be guilty of committing a criminal offence part of the police. school premises, at cultural and sport as obtains under the old law. (DD) Instead of being arrested, charged, events where students are gathered, will

It remains a criminal offence to be caught smoking near schools and at sport and cultural events.

smoking in public is an EC$80 ticket.

But this was still not enough, according to Friday.

An individual found smoking cannabis in public may only be subjected to paying an EC$80 ticket; however, Dr. Friday was of the view that this could be an amount that some may have issues coming up with to pay.

He also told of a possible scenario where an individual is targeted by the police and racks up numerous smoking in public tickets within a time period.

“These are considerations that are real in terms of the way in which this legislation is implemented,” he said.

Another issue identified by the Leader of the Opposition, was that he heard the Prime Minister say that those who were arrested, charged and convicted for being in possession of small quantities, ought to get an apology. But Dr. Friday called for those persons’ records to be expunged, as has been done in Antigua.

And with respect to making it legal for someone to have two ounces of marijuana in their possession, Dr. Friday contended, “Where are they getting it from? They had to get it from an illegal trafficker, unless growing it themselves, they have to buy it from someone else,” he said.

“So, my proposal is if you are going to do it, make it a complete circle, so then you do not have to go buy it. I don’t see why that is so complicated.” (DD)

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4. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Jamaican to seek High Court bail

Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS ATTORNEY Grant Connell intends to make a bail application before the High Court on behalf of his client Novian Travis Vaughn Mullins, a Jamaican national charged in connection with the reported seizure of 30 pounds of marijuana at the Argyle International Airport last Sunday.

Connell gave the confirmation to THE VINCENTIAN on Tuesday.

Mullins, a 29-year-old mechanic of Kingston, Jamaica, was denied bail by Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne when he appeared at the Serious Offences Court on Monday, charged with possession of 30 pounds of marijuana with intent to supply, possession for the purpose of drug trafficking, and attempting to export the drug. He pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

Connell made an application requesting that bail be granted at three times the value of the drug, as the Court has the power to fine someone up to three times the value.

Connell put the value of the drug at $6,000, noting that marijuana is $200 per pound.

“I have an affidavit to support that from someone who is recognized in this new movement,” he told the Court.

The lawyer did not say from whom he got the affidavit.

However, in a recent major

Burglar jailed for four years JEFFREY JORDON, a 27-year-old man who pleaded guilty at the Serious Offences Court last week, to burglaring a jewel store in Kingstown between July 22 and 24, and stealing EC$50,434 worth of jewellery, was sentenced to four years in prison Monday.

The store is the property of Lancelott Morgan of Calliaqua, and is located upstairs the P.H. Veira building on Bedford Street.

Police investigations led to Jordon, but only a gold bangle was recovered.

Jordon told the Court he gave the person who was watching for him, while he carried out the act, some of the items.

Jordon had over 20 previous convictions for offences of a similar nature.

The offence carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in the High Court, and seven years in the Magistrate’s Court.

marijuana case at the High Court in which Connell was involved as a defence lawyer, two affidavits were prepared and sworn to, in relation to the value of marijuana. One by head of the Narcotics Unit, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Foster Scott, on behalf of the Prosecution, and the other by head of the Cannabis Revival Committee (CRC), Junior ‘Spirit’ Cottle, on behalf of the defence.

Crown Counsel Tameka McKenzie,

had indicated to the Court earlier, that the prosecution was objecting to bail on the grounds that Mullins was a non-national, without any significant ties to this country.

However, Connell argued that this was no ground for objection. He pointed out that, once the Court was satisfied that Mullins would turn up for trial, and could apply the adequate surety, he should be granted bail.

Connell said that to deny the

defendant bail, would mean keeping him in prison for the next three months pending the testing of the drug.

But the Chief Magistrate refused the bail application, and adjourned the matter to September 13.

Mullins was nabbed at the Argyle International Airport last Sunday, as he was about to leave for Barbados.

He told the Court he came by plane, July 25, on a 3-day visit.

Traffic records success rate HEAD OF THE ROYAL St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) Traffic Department Superintendent Kenneth John, has attributed the Department’s recently recorded success rate, to the hard work and vigilance of his staff, as well as an improvement in the use of the road by some motorists, including minibus drivers.

John told THE VINCENTIAN on Monday that, despite the rapid increase in motor vehicles here in recent years, there has been a 23 percent reduction in reported vehicular accidents up to July 25, compared to the same period last year.

John said statistics show that from the beginning of January to July 25 this year, there were 402 accidents recorded, compared to 517 over the same period last year; and for the tenday Carnival period, there were 38 in 2018 and 30 in 2019, representing a decrease of 21.5 percent.

Up to July 25 this year, two fatal accidents were recorded compared to three over the same period last year.

From the beginning of January to Monday, July 29, 15 persons were charged with offences, some in relation to dangerous driving, others for reckless driving, with 13 of them already being convicted in Court. The others were pending, up to press time Tuesday.

The convicted persons, who all had their driver’s licences suspended by the Commissioner of Police, pending the outcome of the matters, had them reinstated by the Court, after receiving penalties for their respective offences.

The licences for the defendants in the pending matters, which were also suspended by the Commissioner of Police, remained suspended, up to press time Tuesday.

John said the Department was able to crack down on a number of reckless and dangerous drivers, due to undercover work done by the officers, and the cooperation of the public.

The Traffic Chief said that 13 of the persons who were charged with reckless and dangerous driving were minibus operators.

As recent as Monday, minibus operator Hosea Toney of Richland Park was fined $500 or two weeks in prison for dangerous driving. He was accused of driving his vehicle in the

wrong direction at the Arnos Vale Round-about. Instead of driving around it, he took the shortcut.

In relation to the issue of loud music in vehicles, John admitted there are still persons who were not complying. He said there has been

some improvement in this area, and many persons, including minibus operators, have been cooperating in this regard.

John is urging the public to continue cooperating with the police to make the road safe for everybody.

$400 for a bullet RAPHAEL LAVIA, a 26year-old Sandy Bay man who told the police he found a .22 round of ammunition in a drain, was fined $400, and bonded on Monday for possession of the bullet, without licence.

Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne handed down the penalty at the Serious Offences Court, following a sterling mitigation plea from Lavia’s lawyer Ronald Marks and response from Crown Counsel Tameka McKenzie.

Lavia had pleaded guilty to the charge.

The facts revealed that on July 26, the police, investigating a report of robbery, arrested Lavia, and executed a search warrant at his home.

The .22 bullet was found in his bedroom.

When cautioned, he told the officers he found it in a drain while walking through a shortcut.

The bullet was checked by firearms expert, and found to be capable of firing.

In mitigation, Marks said that Lavia’s explanation that he found the bullet, is a familiar one that the Court may have heard before, but he believed Lavia’s story. He noted that the bullet was a bit longer than the usual .22 bullets, and those are mostly used for hunting.

Marks also noted that

the area where his client said he found the bullet at Congo Valley, Georgetown, is a hunting area.

Marks added that Lavia recently got himself a job as a maintenance man with Mountain Top, and helps his home financially.

The lawyer acknowledged that the defendant had two previous convictions, but they were not of a similar nature. He noted that one was for wounding, in which Lavia claimed five persons attacked him, while the other was for cocaine possession.

Marks said both offences were committed at dances, and the defendant was only 19 at the time.

The lawyer stressed that his client pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity, and the bullet was of a very small calibre.

Marks admitted that ammunition possession is a very serious offence, but expressed the view that, in the circumstances, this case

should be at the lower end of sentencing.

He requested a noncustodial sentence, but if the Court was mindful to impose a prison sentence, it should be suspended.

McKenzie, in response, said ammunition possession usually attracts custodial sentence, but she agreed that the circumstance of this case should be considered.

In handing down the penalty, the Magistrate contended, “I really don’t think that a custodial sentence will go to his benefit”.

Lavia was ordered to pay the fine by August 23 or three months behind bars. He was also bonded for six months.

In breach, he would have to pay the Court $1,000 or go to prison for six months.

In the Magistrate’s Court, firearm or ammunition possession carries a maximum penalty of $20,000 or seven years in prison, and a person could be fined and confined.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02 , 2019. 5.

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6. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Ambassador King leaves good advice

By Nelson A. King naking@verizon.net; kingnaking210@yahoo.com US CORRESPONDENT The outgoing president of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Vincentian Ambassador I. Rhonda King, has urged the UN agency to remain “a formidable tool” for development cooperation.

In passing the gavel on Thursday to the new ECOSOC president, Mona Juul, of Norway, King highlighted strides made during the council’s 2019 session.

She also voiced conviction that “much more can — and will — be done in 2020.”

Describing ECOSOC’s recentlyconcluded High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) and its Voluntary National Review (VNR) process as the “jewels” of the council’s agenda, the Vincentian diplomat said discussions at the 2019 Forum revealed that countries are not yet on track to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

(SDGs) by 2030.

However, she said, the two-weeklong meeting that concluded last Thursday also demonstrated that there is still time to change course.

“It is our mandate to use [the Economic and Social Council] to guide the work of the United Nations system,” King said.

While it may not be the UN’s “most glamorous organ,” she said ECOSOC remains “a formidable tool”, urging it to deepen collaboration with other agencies and charter bodies.

In concluding HLPF last Thursday, King urged the global community to “stay together and step up” action in order to attain the SDGs. “Even though the global picture is mixed, we have made encouraging progress, sometimes despite political and other headwinds”, she said.

During the past two weeks, King said the UN’s chief global forum for reviewing successes, challenges and lessons learned on the road towards reaching the 17 SDGs mobilized and inspired action towards fulfilling

Vincentian Envoy Rhonda King (left_ passes the gavel of the ECOSOC presidency to Mona Juul. the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

But she lamented that “we are currently not yet on track to achieve the SDGs by 2030”.

“To deliver, we need to move out of our comfort zones in pursuing new ways of collective action”, King said.

“And we need to adapt and transform at a much swifter pace”.

Looking ahead, she, however, said that “we can expect that the SDGs will be more systematically incorporated in designing plans and policies, with a focus on interventions that have potential multiplier effects across the SDGs”.

King also acknowledged the need to include SDG planning in national budgets, as well as integrated financing strategies, and to “enshrine them into our institutions and societies”.

The UN said the Forum also reviewed, analyzed progress and looked at the influence of six individual SDGs in supporting empowerment, equality and inclusion.

It said the SDG goals under the spotlight are: Goal 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all; Goal 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all; and Goal 10 - Reduce inequality within and among countries.

The others are: Goal 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts; Goal 16 Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels; and Goal 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed thanked King for her work and highlighted her many achievements, including efforts to

make ECOSOC deliver on its mandate, from addressing climate action to widening participation of young people.

Confident that the newly-elected members will continue this legacy, Mohammed commended ECOSOC for electing a woman president for the third consecutive year.

In her inaugural speech as ECOSOC president, Juul underscored that the body’s mandate today remains “as relevant and compelling” as it did back in 1945, when it was tasked with “fostering international cooperation on economic, social and cultural issues”.

Having served as one of the four ECOSOC vice-presidents, Juul was elected by acclamation on Thursday morning, the UN said.

Juul said the council should promote “universal respect and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion”.

“Today, we also have the overarching 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, she stated, which “guides our efforts to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity for all”.

Juul said ECOSOC offers “a multitude of opportunities” to assist the global community in reaching the UN’s 17 SDGs, noting that “ECOSOC and its intergovernmental structures make up a whole ecosystem”, with each component providing a specific function.

She thanked her predecessor, King, for “her great work and dedication”.

“It is my ambition as president, to make ECOSOC work better — as an ecosystem” Juul declared, saying that she would work “to ensure that we collectively deliver on our goals”.

She encouraged the council to use the HLPF to follow-up and review the UN’s 2030 Agenda, saying that she would hold “an inclusive, fact-based and action-oriented” HLPF in 2020.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02 , 2019. 7.

News

ECCB launches new Public Debt Portal Antoine singled out that there was an effort to broaden the investor base for the region’s government securities market.

Chairman of the Regional Debt Coordinating Committee (RDCC) Edmund Jackson said that the launching of the web portal was a welcomed event.

“The RDCC endorsed the creation of the Web Portal with the goal to provide a wide range of

Edmund Jackson, Chairman of the Regional Debt Coordinating Committee (RDCC), speaking at the ECCB local agency office at the launch of the Public Debt Portal.

THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN CURRENCY UNION (ECCU) Public Debt and Market Information Web Portal was officially launched on July 23.

The launch was held at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank’s (ECCB) headquarters in Basseterre, St Kitts, and was broadcast live via a regional media conference throughout ECCU member states.

It was noted that the portal was part of the ECCB’s Strategic Plan and marked another milestone in the Bank’s ongoing enterprise to build a financial market infrastructure within the ECCU that is fit for a modern, strong and diversified financial system.

The web portal was developed in collaboration with member governments and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and was done out of the need to ensure that the public had access to accurate and timely information available to make informed decisions.

The site features information including legislation, public debt for each ECCU member state, budget addresses, and caters to the needs of: investors considering purchase of government security; credit rating agencies looking into the credit worthiness of governments; regional and international financial institutions undertaking surveillance; and academics and students doing research, and media practitioners.

“The currency of the 21st Century is data, and not just data but data at our fingertips,” Timothy Antoine — Governor of the ECCB said.

“It is indeed a wonderful tool made available to all our partners and stakeholders,” he continued.

According to Antoine, the ECCB recognized that information is a public good, and that the dissemination of relevant and timely information by both the private and public sector is an indispensable element in the quest to transform the Currency Union.

He explained that the idea for the portal was born out of the desire to ensure that the public has the best information available to them, to help in making informed decisions.

Too often, the region was misrepresented because of the lack of the availability of information and data, Antoine said.

But the truth is, there is information that is available, and while he admitted that more can be done in terms of the gathering of critical information, there was also the need for a place from which the information can be disseminated.

Among the many objectives of the initiative,

stakeholders across the globe with access to information on the operations of the Regional Government Securities Market (RGSM),” Jackson said.

“This will serve to enhance the transparency of the market and imbue further confidence in the purchase of government securities,” he continued.

(DD)

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8. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02, 2019. 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 The strength of Emancipation Day August, 2019, marked the 185th Anniversary of the passage of the Emancipation Act, which signaled the dismantling of chattel slavery in the then British West Indies.

It, in effect, signaled the freedom of our enslaved African citizenry.

For many, if the truth be told, what should have been a joyful tradition celebrated year after year, has become one that holds little historical significance.

This is a day when despite all the challenges we face as a developing economy and a maturing democracy, we should feel a sense of pride in the achievements of our ancestors, and the achievements we continue to strive for as we learn from our past.

August 1, 1834 notwithstanding, August 1, 1838 legally removed the chains of physical bondage which had wrought unimaginable brutality on thousands of African slaves, generated by the greed of colonials, i.e. the marauding European capitalists.

It would make us better citizens, a people committed to building one nation for all, if we stopped on Emancipation Day to note that that freedom of 1838 was won and attained from the heroic and self-sacrificing struggles of the slaves… human beings whose self-worth and dignity had been ripped asunder from their very bodies and souls.

Today, we can find strength in according recognition to those struggles; a strength that would engender in us an irrevocable commitment to defend the independence and general sovereignty that we have since gained, against subtle efforts across the globe to re-establish colonial structures in the context of substantially different and new conditions.

Yes, yesterday should have been a day devoted to not only our Afro-Vincentian citizens, but to all citizens, as we recognize how far we have come in the past 185 years.

Recognition that we have hurdled many an obstacle, some of them rooted in our history

blazoned with the selfishly motivated intentions of the colonialists and their local collaborators, and those who have sought to mimic them in contemporary Caribbean.

In what should be a celebration of this significant historical milestone, we should take pride in the progress made against all odds, and let the achievements motivate us to reach yet greater heights.

As so many leaders of the Caribbean and the African Diaspora generally have said before, though our times (today) are serious and challenging, we can draw strength and heed the lessons from our forefathers.

Our hopes for a better life, society and world, are realizable in our unity and principled struggles.

But we have to clothe ourselves in the resilience of our forefathers which drove them to face seemingly insurmountable odds and achieve what would have been considered the ‘unachieveable’.

If it is but one lesson we can take from marking Emancipation Day annually, is the lesson that we ought to emulate this resilience to overcome the difficult times we face today. That there are those who would want to run roughshod over the populace and be allowed to get away with it, is an indictment against us for our failure to embrace the courage and fighting spirit of our ancestors, who survived the harshest conditions inflicted on humankind by humankind.

Emancipation Day ought to teach us not to accept nor be drawn into a world whose standards and values are detrimental to our national existence.

Therefore, as we embrace the lessons of Emancipation Day, we have, one and at the same time, to take pride in the progress made against all odds, let that motivate us to resist attempts made to corral us into a certain way of thinking, and reach for greater heights, as individuals, families, communities and as a society.

NDP and Freedom-Gentle Reminder The Government has taken heavy blows in the steady YET MUCH OF THE MUZZLING and restriction flow of adverse and remain enshrined in the draconian Public negative criticism Service Act of 1971 which to their credit the from some of the stations. But the NDP has NDP Government, though they have not accepted that such is the price of democracy, repealed it, has treated like a mere curiosity even while they anticipate a levelling off of piece. The forgoing is testimony to the distance the enthusiasm so evident in the intoxication covered by the NDP in so quick a time. The of people enjoying new freedoms. In the field restrictions were a blockage that impeded our of calypso, the Mitchell Government kept its progress in so many ways. Of course, the promise never to ban a calypso, no matter Teachers’ saga and the Cyrus Affair to the late what the provocation or justification! Time 1970s are instructive as to how far we have was when banning had been the order of the travelled the freedom road with the NDP. In the day. case of Cyrus there was the sorry sight of In 1977, calypsonian De Man Age had his police officers removing him from an airplane “Society Needs a Spectacle” and “Who Cares” because he had insisted on taking leave that banned from the sole radio station that was was officially refused, in order to earn rest and then run under a Labour Party re-charge his batteries. The Cyrus Affair administration. Similarly, Kaisoman Lord involved nurses on the march, and eventually Have Mercy had one of his calypsos cut off merged with the teachers who had initially while being played over radio St. Vincent. come out in sympathy with them. For weeks on And the Georgetown band, Affestuosos, end, the Vincentian public was treated to the suffered like treatment. Down to poor Randy disturbing spectacle of dozens of nurses being D was ordered not to play revolutionary hauled before the Courts “every Monday songs such as “Take Warning” that sounded morning” on various charges related to sympathetic to the Grenada Revolutionaries unlawful assembly. in 1979.

At about this time twenty- five years ago On the other hand, even Blazer Williams the repression of the Labour Party reached has expressed pleasant surprise over the its zenith with abuse of the teaching liberal attitude of the NDP in these matters. community that culminated in the infamous There have been one or two calypsos directed “Tear Gas Friday”. Without going into the at the perceived school-masterly attitude of sordid details, this much can be noted: that former, Attorney General, Parnel Campbell. the nine teachers who had tasted pre-trial In this regard Poorsa’s “Mouth in ah Me jail for taking part in an illegal Mumma” is a classic. Cato was never so demonstration, were all exonerated in the directly hit when he imposed his bans. ruling regime without lawful cause or The following are a simple of bouncers excuse. from which Mitchell merely shifted and left At the end of the 1980s, the Labour to pass harmlessly by. First came Toiler’s Government floated the “Dread Bills” which “Missah Anancy” which played so often on would have crippled the Trade Union Government radio station that the record Movement in the Essential Services Bill and became warped and the tune and lyrics bludgeon the populace into a mechanical stale, before the carnival. Then followed an obedience with the imposition of a sort of assortment of short-pitched deliveries that big-brother-type thought control. would have struck if not felled many a lesser Luckily for this country, the normally batsman. Mitchell survived them all retiring progressive groups were strengthened by an to the pavilion, as he boasts, bat held emergent NDP, and enabled to force the proudly aloft.

Government to back down and recall the “Bear yo Grind” by Ebou that earned a bills. But the one radio station still new lease of life in these times; “Vincentian continued to speak almost exclusively on Love Sun (Son)” by Valley Dove. “I Man I” by behalf of the Government of the day, at the Gao; the beautiful double-entendre of Lexi’s expense of all others. So when the NDP took “Ease Up Fisherman”; “Son Boots dey over in 1984, it was sheer delight to a people Licking” by De Dan; “Eye-Water” by Poorsa; involving itself for the first time a call-in the vicious pieces in “Eradication” and radio programme “Searchlight” which “Gambler” by Man CP and the biting regrettably enjoyed a short life. sarcastic “De Brain” which clinched the Another distinct gain was the spreading monarchy for De Man Age, in this year of of religious radio broadcast to all and sundry our Lord 2000. among the denominations. This policy was Such competition results are indeed a twinned to a changed approach by the NDP back-handed compliment to Mitchell. It in going beyond the established churches for cannot be true that the Government pokes celebrants at official functions. In the end, finger into every pie if calypso judges feel the NDP came better with a great leap free routinely to select as winners the forward that opened the skies and freed up singers of calypso directed at the the air which became flooded with about Government “with no hold barred”. eight FM radio stations, totally uncontrolled.

(Written in 2000) Final Part

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02, 2019. 9.

Letters

What happen to hard labour?

WEEK IN WEEK out I read the newspapers and find out that persons are sentenced for one crime or the other. The thing though, is that I read about men and women getting so many years, so many months, a fine of this and that amount, but I no longer read about a sentence with hard labour.

Long ago you would hear about, for example, “You are sentenced to five years with hard labour.”

Some fellows even get life with hard labour.

Luckily that some of them got released on good behavior otherwise they might have died under the hard labour.

You could bet in my time that the fellows with the shorter sentence were the once who will definitely have to do hard labour.

So, what happen? We no longer make these people who commit crimes work for the state? We used to see those prisoners cleaning the cemeteries, and other public places, now like is only police barracks they cleaning.

These fellows are now sitting on their behinds getting fat off my money and all this talk about rehabilitation is making the system soft and the criminals harder.

Time we put those who have committed crimes against society to work for the society. All this thing about sentencing guidelines only making the criminals laugh.

So, let’s get back to the days of “You are sentenced to such and such years with HARD LABOUR.” A former Hard Labourer

Don’t like Carnival I WOULD BE a liar if I said I like what our Carnival has become and the culture that it has generated.

I certainly have no objection with anyone enjoying themselves in the manner they are accustomed to, once they observe the law and behave with at least a minimum standard of decency and acceptable behaviour.

If what I see on the stage and on the streets during our Carnival, is

Not a Fan

Supporting Jomo I SUPPORT Jomo Thomas with the assessment of Calypso for 2019.

The judges are the ones that messing up the system, and due to the wrong set of persons entering the finals, it keeps away the people from the Park. Patches, Sulle, De Man Age and few others had good calypsos but yet were omitted from the final.

One man won the crown four times, but the songs died after he won; you

Thugs and bureaucrats IN ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES, we see so many thugs and bureaucratic persons who only talk and do little to develop this nation. All they do is try to put a blight on this country with their petty politic conspiracies intending to keep the people powerless.

People in poverty who live in neglected communities often resent those who have left them behind and oppressed them. When we promise them a new way of life, and they do not see it come into existence, resentment boils over into hostility and violence.

Promises are a comfort to a fool.

Without cooperation it is impossible for people to come together to accomplish a meaningful task. What one person does, affects everyone else.

what the festival has degenerated to, then I have a serious objection to Government or any State Corporation putting large amounts of money into supporting this type of behaviour, which we package as our Carnival Festival.

We have got to take a look at what we are encouraging.

We should make each person accountable for his or her performance, whether it be the church, politicians, businesses, ambassadors, etc. We must not wait until some of these people embarrass the team, and then we still give them a ‘big job’ because their mother or brother supports us.

There are too many thugs and bureaucrats who do not make any contribution to develop this nation.

They have more controversy than constructiveness.

We must be a group of people working together towards common ends.

Bishop Ezekiel Creese Faith Word Ministries, Roseau

never heard them played on the airwaves.

If we are to attract persons to the Park, we are to ensure the judges pick the right people.

My observation: we need to drift from this politics thing here in our

Island. When would we stop the nonsense of this politics issue?

Not often I will get the opportunity to vet comment from JOMO, but truly what he wrote this week calculated to sense. We need to have

Where are we going?

IF I MET A villager going along a village road and questioned him/her about if he/she had any idea as to where the road started, or how we got to that particular part of the road, or where the road leads to or ends; and that person is at a loss then, in my judgement, that person is a very peculiar person and one that badly needs help.

What I am getting at is: you need to know where you came from, where you are, how you got here and where you are going, even if you may not understand how to get there.

The whole story on this road’s journey is about change, and there is nothing more important than change. Old things disappear, new things come into being. Leaders rise and fall. A country does not stand still; it is either marching forward or stepping backward.

Most of the time, whether we go forward or backward depends on the judgement of the people and their leaders. The people of England made a judgement to leave the EU. Some of their leaders tried to call a halt to the march to change. (In Daniel 2, we find the fulfilling of iron and clay.)

Boris Johnson will do well for England if he introduces religious education (the formation of all religions and their functions) in all schools of learning.

One good change we have to expect, is that it might be that members of Commonwealth nations would no longer need visa to enter and permits to work in other Commonwealth countries.

This writer has already informed the Commonwealth head office about this move, via facebook. Their response was that they are concerned. All that is needed now is for our leaders to push fire under the pot, and we shall become an army of world peace.

At home, the time has come for a change in our political, religious, social and spiritual lives. The same proposed for England shall be for all Commonwealth States. At the end of our journey, we must be able to teach our children where our journey began, where it is, and where they are going.

Newton George Christian Democrat

better calypsos. This year was the worst. All we got this year is about rum and women.

Another observation: most of the songs are not for the ear of the youth.

Beef Patty Website Comment

Thanks to those who serve in the public arena ON SATURDAY, July 20, 2019, Dr. the Hon. Ralph E. Gonsalves announced that H.E. Sir Frederick Ballantyne will demit office as the Governor General of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on July 31, 2019, due to health reasons, and that H .E. Susan Dougan will become the first female Governor General of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, on August 1, 2019.

I would like to extend best wishes to H.E. Sir Frederick Ballantyne, and thank him for his sterling service to St. Vincent and the Grenadines in different capacities over the years.

Congratulations to H.E. Susan Dougan, and I wish her all the best.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who serve in the public arena.

It is a noble undertaking.

Cheryl Phills King

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10. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Some thoughts on SVG’s Economic Development

Introduction IN ANOTHER MONTH or so, the ULP administration will begin the final preparations for the 2020 Budget exercise, with a series of meetings between the Ministry of Finance, the lead ministry for the Estimates, and officials from all the other ministries and statutory corporations.

While this exercise is normal for the government at this time of the year, the manner in which it is done is completely different. The public servants are guided by a number of critical policy statements which set the stage for the intense discussions that will take place.

During his budget presentation this year, the Minister of Finance outlined ten key points to be considered in relation to the estimates. We reproduce these for our readers, so that you can get an appreciation for the way the ULP administration conducts its business, and the serious approach that is taken.

The economy “First, that the 17 internationallyagreed Sustainable Development Goals are the bedrock of our modern agenda for growth and development.

These Goals and targets, mainstreamed and adapted to the Vincentian context, are the broad conceptual lights that guide our developmental efforts.

Second, that an economy based on multiple, strong sectors is more resilient, more stable, and less vulnerable to exogenous shocks. In refusing to place all of our economic eggs in a single sectoral basket, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has managed to avoid the wild cyclical swings and social upheaval that have typified the post-crisis era. A recently released credit analysis by Moody’s noted that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is less volatile than similarly-rated countries. This is by design. Even as we emphasize other sectors for growth and development, we will not abandon existing segments. Within the confines of typical small-state limitations, we rely on economic diversity to maintain our climate of confidence and stability.

Third, that economic transformation requires investment in productive, climate resilient infrastructure. The construction of public infrastructure — in and of itself — stimulates growth. But the completed projects, if well-designed and well-targeted, provide the foundation for long-term development.

Budget 2019 is focused on multiple major infrastructure initiatives with transformative potential.

Social factors Fourth, that ambitious goals and targets must be leavened by an obligation for fiscal, social and environmental sustainability. This Budget reflects moderate growth and a small surplus on the current account. However, economic indicators are only part of the story; Budget 2019 commits to prudent fiscal reform and measured adoption of the more far-reaching adjustments to our way of life and production.

Fifth, that the greatest form of social protection is a decent job, and the best guarantors of a good job are education, experience and training.

Budget 2019 will support job creation, and deepen the scope and reach of the Education Revolution, through a marked expansion in skills training and technical and vocational education.

Sixth, that in the context of small island states, social inequality is a massively inefficient and debilitating drag on national development. Budget

The CDB diplomatically calls it Misprocurement: we call it misappropriation - The usual fraud and corruption perpetrated by the ULP Regime (Excerpts of Dr. Friday’s Press Statement) (Pt.1)

2019 advances multiple policies to reduce inequality, increase opportunity, and foster inclusiveness, particularly among the youth.

Further, the biblical admonition to feed, clothe, tend to and accept “the least of these my brethren,” is also sound developmental policy. Budget 2019 focuses on the elderly, the infirm and the nutritionally vulnerable, with specific initiatives designed to support fulfilling lives, by reducing vulnerability and inequality.

Seventh, that crime retards development. As such, Budget 2019 targets crime and the causes of crime in new ways and with new tools, including an increased emphasis on community-based interventions and relationship-building.

Eighth, that while a healthy economy is dependent on a healthy and vibrant private sector, it does not preclude a catalysing role for an active and entrepreneurial State apparatus. As such, to complement timely private investments in critical areas, Budget 2019 will allocate public resources to accelerate sectoral growth and national development.

Ninth, that developmental transformation is impossible without concomitant enhancements to local healthcare architecture and service delivery. Accordingly, Budget 2019 reforms administrative structures, while substantially widening and deepening the healthcare offerings available to the Vincentian public; and Tenth, that climate resilience, in the form of adaption, mitigation and advocacy, is the sine qua non of modern sustainable development in Small Island Developing States.

Budget 2019 therefore dedicates unprecedented resources to renewable energy, resilient infrastructure and citizen support in the face of the gathering climate threat.

Our quest to transform the Vincentian economy is best exemplified by the following specific projects and programmes, each of which is materially advanced in this 2019 Budget.

1. The Modern Cargo and Ferry Port in Western Kingstown 2. The 10MW Geothermal in North Windward 3. The State-owned Hotels of Mt. Wynne and Diamond 4. The New Medicinal Cannabis Industry 5. The Pedestrian Access for Village Enhancement (PAVE) Programme 6. The Construction and Rehabilitation of 48km of Secondary Roads 7. The Acute Referral Hospital at Arnos Vale 8. The Reconstruction of the Lewis Punnett Home 9. The Sports Against Crime Initiative 10. The Renewal @40 Programme Additionally, five significant private sector initiatives pose tremendous developmental promise, and are worthy of specific mention: 1. The Clear Harbor Call Centre in Kingstown 2. The Refurbishment and Reopening of the Buccament Bay Resort 3. The Black Sands Resort in Peter’s Hope 4. The Rainforest Seafoods Plant at Calliaqua 5. The Saint Vincent Cocoa Company Each of these projects and programmes will be specifically discussed over the course of 2019, and will occupy the attention of the state sector, into 2020 and beyond.”

Timeline WE ARE HERE to deal with a very serious matter that goes to the heart of the reputation of the Government of our country. More specifically, the matter concerns the declaration by the CDB of misprocurement of contract in the work titled Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Upgrade - River Defense Works at Yarabaqua done under the Natural Disaster Management - Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (December 2013 Trough Event) Project. The contract is valued at EC$ 1, 421, 567.00.

By letter dated 14th September 2018, Mr. Cameron Balcombe, Managing Director of Bally and Bally Investments Limited, wrote to the Chief Engineer in the Ministry of Transport and Works, Urban Development and Local Government, objecting to the award of the contract in question to a company called Reliable Construction Services Limited Bally and Bally was one of several tenderers for the work. The Letter of Objection was copied to Mr. Daniel Best, Director of Projects of the CDB. In the letter of objection, Mr. Balcombe wrote, in part: “I am confident from my own knowledge and inquiries, that Reliable Construction Limited has not done any Gabion basket or river training works of that magnitude or at all in this State or elsewhere to even qualify under the assessment as substantially responsive. Therefore, there has either been a false declaration made in their forms or unlawful and unfair intervention by someone of influence on their behalf.” (p. 1 of Objection Letter) By letter dated 8th March 2019, the Chief Engineer Mr. Alistair Campbell responded to Bally and Bally acknowledging their letter and saying, among other things:“…we engaged the consultant of record, IBI Group, to conduct a further review of the experience of the recommended Contractor, Reliable Construction Services Ltd. (RCSL), in the areas of gabion basket works and river training works. The result of this further investigation confirmed the previous conclusion of the consultant (embodied in the Tender Evaluation Report) and by extension, the MTW. The decision of the MTW to award a contract to Reliable Construction Services Ltd. therefore remains unchanged.”

Meanwhile the CDB, having received a copy of the Letter of Objection, was conducting its own investigation. And several weeks later, by letter dated May 23, 2019, the Vice-President of Operation of the CDB, Monica La Bennett responded to Bally and Bally saying: “We are writing to advise you that the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has conducted a thorough review of the procurement process to award the above-referenced contract. As a result of this review, CDB has declared misprocurement, in accordance with Paragraph 1.13 of CDB’s Guidelines for Procurement (January 2006), and will not be financing this contract.

All inquiries related to this matter should be referred to the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

That was pretty much all that was said in the letter. It was copied to Mr. Edmond Jackson, Director General of Finance and Planning and head of the Tenders Board.

On 27th June 2019, the Chief

Engineer in the Ministry of Transport and Works, wrote to all seven tenderers as follows: “As a result of a complaint received from an unsuccessful bidder on the Contract for the River Defense Works at Yarabaqua, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) conducted a review of the procurement for the Contract, and has declared misprocurement for the Contract for the River Defense Works at Yarabaqua under the captioned Project. The CDB financing allocated to this Contract will be cancelled and any amounts already withdrawn and paid in relation to the Contract will be repaid by the Recipient, the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines, with interest. CDB will therefore no longer finance this Contract.”

That letter was copied to several relevant people including two from the CBD. The letters were made public shortly thereafter and the matter became a major topic of public discussion, starting with the NDP’s New Times programme and taken up by other radio programs and the print and electronic media. Prime Minister Gonsalves and other government and ULP personnel spoke publicly in response. Then, On 22nd July 2019, the Government issued a written twopart statement on the matter. The first part of the Statement was prepared by the Director General of Finance and Planning, Mr. Edmond Jackson, and basically set out the process for awarding the tender and comments generally about the tendering process in SVG. It also sought to relieve the government of blame or any taint of corruption. Part two of the statement was signed by Prime Minister Gonsalves and spoke about “The Way Forward”. It stated that the project would go ahead unchanged with Reliable Construction Ltd continuing the work , only now to be funded by the government, not the CDB. Fraud Against the CDB It should be evident to all by now, that what we are talking about here is the most recent example of the corruption by the ULP regime, and I want to set out the basic proposition that is simple and clear. It is clear, despite all the protestations and long, drawn-out attempts at explanations

by Dr Gonsalves and his acolytes, that there was fraudulent misrepresentation in the tendering process for the project, resulting in what was essentially a fraud against the CDB. The CDB was made aware of the issue, the CDB investigated the issue, and the CDB acted to recover its money and preserve its good name.

So far, that is clear, and that is known. But there is some useful background information that everyone needs to know, to understand the nature of the corrupt intent of this ULP regime.

First, let me talk a bit about the Caribbean Development Bank. The CDB is a financing institution that was established in 1970 to act as a development bank for Caribbean countries. Its mission is to “reduce inequality and halve the incidence of extreme poverty by the end of 2025, through supporting inclusive and sustainable growth and promoting good governance.”

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02, 2019. 11.

Views

A Sense of Belonging

“A deep sense of love and belonging is an irreducible need of all people. We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love, to be loved, and to belong. When those needs are not met, we don’t function as we were meant to. We break. We fall apart. We numb. We ache. We hurt others. We get sick.” - Casandra Brené Brown, PhD LMSW- research professor at the University of Houston.

THERE MAY BE SOME AMONG us who incorrectly conclude that they can survive on their own; that they do not need anyone in their lives to provide a sense of completeness. However, we all do. As the introductory quotation from Dr. Casandra Brown highlights, we are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love and be loved. This is a human condition. Unfortunately, there may have been times when we were so physically and/or emotionally battered and bruised, that we may have concluded that we would be better off if we sought to live without any attachments. This is abnormal. This is unnatural. We all need to have a sense of belonging.

There have been numerous tests to confirm that bonding takes place early in life. Babies form strong ties with their mothers and/or mother substitutes effortlessly. These bonds, especially when reinforced by expressions of love and care, can provide a sense of security from an early age. Conversely, children who are deprived of the early bonding opportunities, can readily become emotionally and/or mentally unstable. It is therefore not surprising that if/when that sense of belonging is absent in the home, individuals could easily gravitate to seeking “substitute relationships” in gangs and cults. We all need to interact with others and to develop that feeling of acceptance; that sense of belonging.

The family is considered the foremost place where that sense of belonging originates and is nurtured.

Many adults discover that the need for belonging is often sustained by having and caring for children. This is relatively easy to understand and accept when we observe how readily children offer unconditional love and acceptance. Regardless of the social or physical conditions in the home, the relationships in the home often help to meet our needs for feeling loved, cared for — that sense of belonging.

The need to belong goes beyond the mere desire for connections or intimate/caring attachments. We all need to know that others care for/about our well-being and love us for who we are. We must therefore consider ourselves most fortunate (and not take it for granted) if we were born and raised into a family where members regularly demonstrate that we are loved and cared for. A feeling of abandonment or rejection may result if/when such positive emotional reinforcements are missing.

Dr. Matthew D. Lieberman, a renowned psychiatrist and behavioural scientist, has done extensive research on the sense of belonging. He is an accomplished Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Department of Psychology.

He is also the Director at UCLA’s

Social Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory. Dr. Lieberman provides us with some useful insights in relation to how the absence of this sense of belonging can create and sustain what he describes as “social pain”. He believes that the drive to alleviate our social pain surpasses that of the basic needs for food and shelter. He believes that individuals who feel abandoned during childhood may not develop a sense of what “love” is. He notes that such individuals may crave for that feeling of acceptance (belonging) in teachers, other relatives, and peers. Sometimes these relationships can add value and result in positive outcomes as long as they are deemed to be healthy and free of abuse. However, he cautions that sometimes individuals can obtain comfort, acceptance, and connection through unhealthy relationships (e.g. gangs, and cults). Additionally, research shows that people who lack belongingness are more prone to behavioral problems such as criminality and suicide. Some also suffer from increasing mental and physical illness. Such statements emphasise the significance of this sense of belonging.

Abraham Harold Maslow (19081970), the famous American psychologist who was best known for creating Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, suggested that the need to belong is a major source of human motivation. He viewed the sense of belonging as one of the five (5) human needs in his hierarchy of needs. The four others being physiological needs, safety, selfesteem, and self-actualization. He advanced the view that these needs are arranged on a hierarchy and must be satisfied in order. He noted that after physiological and safety needs are met, the individual can then focus on meeting the need to belong and be loved. He theorized that if the first two needs are not met, then an individual cannot completely love someone else.

Influenced by the foregoing, we are challenged to look for those opportunities to create and nurture positive relationships within our homes, neighbourhoods, schools, and churches. It is essential that we look within and outside ourselves to seek those opportunities where relationships can improve. We need to look beyond the differences that so often divide us. We need to forge bonds that bring us closer together.

We need to look beyond the differences in gender, nationality, skin pigmentation, sexual preferences, religion, political allegiance, and so on. Relationships matter. The sense of acceptance and belonging can so very easily ignite the desire for us to see the best in ourselves and others. We are social beings. We all need to feel accepted and understood. We all need to love and be loved. We all need a sense of belonging.

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

Half steppin’ to emancipation THE AMERICAN FUTURIST ALVIN Tofler said the ‘illiterates of the 21 century will not be those who cannot read. It will be those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.’ With this focus in mind and with emancipation month limping to an end, this is a good time to revisit ‘half steppin’ to emancipation,’ a column written one year ago this August.

“Be careful not to celebrate a lie”, Oscar Allen warned listeners to the Voices programme last August.

“Emancipation was a contrivance to halt a true advance of the people.

Emancipation never came.

Emancipation is yet to come.” Oscar Allen is profoundly original in thought and action. When he speaks, pay attention or you may miss the opportunity for a learning experience.

Brother Allen’s words are like a spectre. They should haunt every Vincentian concerned about the future direction of our nation. Where are we now? Where are we going? How will we get there? Allen was saying if we view August 1 as freedom day, we may lose sight of the task at hand and the battles still undone.

Chatoyer is our only national hero.

Last year we dubbed the Rabacca Chatoyer Park without actually building the park. Montgomery Daniels, in making the announcement, said the government will press the British to offer about $18 million dollars in reparations so that a proper park, befitting the prestige and honour of the paramount chief, can be constructed on the site. One year on, apart from a few wooden tables, Rabacca in no way, shape or form, resembled a park.

There is no real effort to build the conscious of the people on matters of state or politics. Africa is still treated with benign neglect. Eurocentric ideas predominate among our leaders, teachers and opinion makers. Only a few among us give serious though to and internalize the wise works of historian John Henri Clarke that ‘only a fool gives up a continent for an island.’

In SVG and across the region, a significant section of the population proudly declares, ‘I am not African, I am Jamaican, Lucian, Haitian or Trini.’

There is no consistent attempt to educate the citizens, the vast majority of whom are of African stock, that our history did not begin with slavery.

Many among us still harbour the mistaken belief that Africa contributed little or nothing to world history. Too often, those of us with knowledge of Africa’s glorious past and its contribution to world civilization, are laughed at.

Many people have no idea that the heavyweights of Western civilization such as Socrates and Plato proudly and honestly declared that they spent 15 and 18 years respectively learning at the feet of African master teachers.

But here’s the 1787 account of the Frenchman Count Constantine de Volney on visiting Egypt for the first time.

‘Just think that this race of Black men, today our slave and the object of our scorn, is the very race to which we owe our arts, sciences, and even the use of speech! Just imagine, finally, that it is in the midst of people, who call themselves the greatest friends of liberty and humanity that one has approved the most barbarous slavery, and questioned whether Black men have the same kind of intelligence as whites.’

Or we can take the recorded history of Aristotle, who captures the words of an Egyptian master teacher addressing

a Greek official, ‘You Greeks are infants to us. Egyptian civilization is hoary with age.’ Sadly, none of this is thaught in schools. As a result our people show disbelief when told that African people invented philosophy, mathematics and engineering.

Nothing is connected to the other. So here in SVG, Labour Day and Emancipation Day were given their rightful place on the calendar, but no serious effort at mobilization and education places Labour Day and Emancipation Day in their proper historical perspective.

Heritage Square is declared with much fanfare, but nothing of heritage is displayed there. An anti piracy law is passed, but the onus is on the local artistes to police the pirates. Piracy continues apace as it relates to the stealing of regional and international property. We passed a seat belt/ helmet law to protect us in the event we crash, but allow drivers to use cell phones while driving. Cell phone usage distracts drivers and triggers more accidents than any other cause.

We acknowledge that the West Minister system offers too much power to the prime minister, but does nothing to wean ourselves of the excesses. We are a government of all the people, but tell ministers of government to look out for those who vote for them. We say we are for freedom and justice, yet refuse to condemn aggression against the sovereignty of our innocent sister people of Venezuela and Palestine . We profess our love for Cuba, but maintain a parasitic, one-sided relationship with our socialist cousins.

There is no doubt that we are more focused than ever before on development, but our development will be easily derailed because of lack of cadre, training and education. We won the government and lost the party. We boast of the number of party members, while party structures crumble in a state of disrepair. We embrace new friends and distance ourselves from reliable fighters for emancipation. We are for the people, but fear the critical consciousness necessary to build and sustain a real people. We make one step forward and two steps back. We are ‘half steppin’ our way towards emancipation.

Martin Luther King, in his famous letter from the Birmingham jail, called on change agents to become nonconforming conformists when the conditions demand it. In this very spirit, we must and can be supportive of reforms without becoming reformists. It was Dr King who also warned that if we stand for nothing, we will fall for anything.

Oscar Allen was right: emancipation never came…emancipation is yet to come. If we are serious about the liberation of the people, we must work harder at connecting with the people beyond election time.

Be warned! This emancipation business is not easy. Those who cannot or refuse to learn, unlearn and relearn, will not make it.

(Parts of this column was first published in August 2007.)

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

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12. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

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Abolish the Mustique Act No 48 of 2002

It discriminates against Vincentians ON FRIDAY 26 April 2019, as reported by THE VINCENTIAN newspaper, PM Gonsalves made a public statement in the presence of former Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell, that the Mustique Agreement is a unique one.

Retired British Royal Air Force Engineer Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal, BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, very strongly contends that there is absolutely no net benefit to the black, poor and powerless indigenous people of SVG, nor to the SVG Treasury, from the Mustique Act NO 48 OF 2002.

Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal believes that the Mustique Agreement is unconstitutional, as it discriminates against Vincentians.

On 24 July 2019, Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal went to The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, in the High Court of Justice, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, for judicial review of the Mustique Act No. 48 of 2002. The matter will have to go back to the High Court of Saint Vincent and The Grenadines.

There is no financial or economic developmental reason for the Mustique Act No 48 of 2002 to be in existence.

Vincentians and the SVG Treasury are quite clearly paying for the luxury and high-quality lifestyle of the white, super-rich of Mustique (and Canouan).

We are subsidising them, whilst

The Mustique Act NO 48 of 2002 must be abolished immediately. they receive tax and customs duty Vincentians access to high-quality A Green government would make exemptions of hundreds of millions of university education. the changes the people are calling for. dollars annually. This situation is There is absolutely no financial or We would end the tax exemptions obscene and disrespectful to the people economic justification for the Mustique given to the super-rich migrants of of SVG. Act NO 48 of 2002. It is a very serious Mustique(and Canouan), and tell them The Mustique Agreement is and substantial threat to the longthat they must pay tax and customs unconstitutional and in breach of term ownership of SVG by the future duties - as Vincentians do - or else Section 13 of the Supreme Law of generation of Vincentians, our children pack their bags and go back to where Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, and grandchildren. they come from.

Section 13, which states: ‘No Law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect’.

As the Mustique investors get richer, the laws and rules for indigenous Vincentians get harsher.

YAHUSHA (Jesus) upon His give a realistic biblically-based There seems to be a vindictive agenda resurrection, spent forty (40) days perspective. in the Mustique Act No 48 of 2002 discussing matters pertaining to His Yahuah, the Creator, had given against Vincentians, in order so that Kingdom, with His Apostles (Acts 1:3). complete Authority of the Earth the super-rich, white migrants for of The Apostles, knowing that the Realm to Adam, who lost it by default Mustique (and Canouan) can maximise Kingdom was connected to Israel, and to Shatan, due to disobedience, giving their financial gain.

Shatan the authority over Earth This Mustique Act No. 48 of 2002 is hoping that Yahusha meant that He was going to overthrow the Roman Realm. racist. The Mustique Act No. 48 of Empire and return it to their rule, When Yahusha came on the scene, 2002 is ungodly too. It grants the asked (Acts 1:6): “Adonai, will you at Shatan had the world already in an super-rich of Mustique special rights this time restore the Kingdom (again) iron grip. and privileges, over and above the to Yahsha’al(Israel)?”

Folks were sick with all kinds of rights granted to ordinary They had forgotten that He had sickness and diseases; possessed by Vincentians. the demonic entities that were cast Both the NDP and the ULP regimes made it plain in Jn 18:35, when he stated, “My Kingdom is not of this out of the Heavenly Realm by have sold-out Vincentians to the Yahuah. super-rich of Mustique (and Canouan). world.”

This Kingdom was to be unlike any Yahusha the Messiah confirms in They have provided decades of tax earthly Kingdom.

Luke 10:18 that he witnessed Shatan exemptions to them whilst heartlessly In Matt 6 :10, He had taught his “fall like a streak of lightning to the denying generations of poor Apostles to pray for his “Kingdom to Earth.” come, upon the Earth… .”

Yahusha had compassion on the You see, the world was under the people who were sick, tormented, and control of Shatan (Satan), who even possessed by demons, and set about tried to broker a deal to return it back healing and delivering them. to Yahusha, if He (Yahusha/Jesus) However, Shatan was still in would bow down and worship him (Lk control, because Yahuah could not go 4:6). “… for it was delivered to me,’ back on the agreement he made with Shatan told him, “and to whomsoever Adam.

I will, I can give it”.

In Ps 89:34, he declares, “My That was a very bold claim indeed. covenant (agreement) will I not break, Who had the authority to deliver nor alter the thing that is gone out of the world to Shatan? my lips.”

To understand this, we have to That’s why when Shatan causes backtrack all the way to Bere’shiyth tragedy in the Earth Realm many (Genesis), at the beginning; to Gen people shake their fists at the sky and 1:26-28 where Yahuah (God) said, scream, “Yah (God), where are you?”

“Let us make man in our image, after He is where He always is, right our likeness, and let “THEM..HAVE there.

DOMINION, OVER..ALL THE For him to interfere in Earth’s EARTH.. .”

Affairs, we have to give him He gave man absolute dominion permission. over all the Earth; he did not share I can just hear someone shout the dominion with man, but entrusted WHAT! Are you crazy? He is Yahuah everything to him. the Creator, we don’t need to give him When Adam (man) fell, through permission! disobedience to Yahuah (Gen 3:1-6) Yes we do! He is constrained by and obeying Shantan, he actually the words of His mouth, and he chose whom he wanted to rule over WON’T break his agreements, nor him. alter any word that comes from his He also forfeited the authority lips (Ps 89:34). (dominion) that was given to him, and So how do we give Him permission passed it to Shatan. to intervene in our lives, and in the So that if we fast forward to Jn Earth Realm?

14:30), we hear Yahusha Himself By the medium He invented… it is saying, “The prince (ruler) of this called PRAYER! world cometh, but he is nothing like Prayer is giving YAH the me.” permission to act on our behalf!

He confirmed that Shatan was the Now back to the Kingdom, and its ruler of this world. critical importance.

As a matter of fact, in (2 Cor 4:4) Yahuah plans to re-establish his Sha’ul (Paul), in reference to Satan divine rule in the earth realm, that’s said,”.. the god of THIS WORLD, hath why He (Emmanuel-Yah in man — the blinded the minds of them that believe Word made flesh), entered the Earth not.. .”

Realm to redeem, restore, and And Sha’ul in (Eph 2:2) refers to reconcile the two (2) Realms again.

Shatan as the prince (ruler) of the I can hear someone again saying, power of the air.. but YAH is NOT the Word, It is certainly not this writer’s Yahusha(Jesus) is.. intention to make Shatan seem more Cont’d on page 27 powerful than he is, but instead to

Colonization and YahÊs plan for building His Kingdom

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02, 2019. 13.

News

YAF staying with the children Photo Credit: YAF THE YOULOU ART FOUNDATION’S (YAF) 2019 Art Programme for Children began on Monday, July 22nd at three (3) locations; Youlou Art Centre Indian Bay, Spring Village and Georgetown.

The theme for this year’s programme was ‘From the Sea Part’ with a primary focus on coral.

The young participants had much fun learning about this topic and why it is important to the environment.

They also learned poems and songs about coral.

In the art aspect, they made their own book, puppets and a large coral reef.

The Youlou Art Centre at Indian Bay also offered a textile workshop in which teens learned the art of One of the programme’s creation showing the art of decorating with fabric. decorating with fabric. They learned basic sewing and embroidery stitches, how to applique and tie-dyeing. morning art programme entitled A showcase of the participants’ work was scheduled for ‘Hello Art for Children’, in September. yesterday, August 2, at the Girl Guides Headquarters, Classes are expected to be held Kingstown. from 10am-12pm, and persons Orgqanisers of the Programme expressed satisfaction with interested in joining the programme both programmes, and are looking forward for next year’s can contact the Centre at 457-4493. programme and the continued support from the public.

(Submitted) Meanwhile, the Youlou Art Centre will introduce a Saturday

The happy faces of participants in the Youlou Arts Foundation’s Art Programme for Children, tell it all about their enthusiasm.

Jeidon Arthur, eight years old, proudly displays his creation.

KDN/Pre-school holds 2019 Graduation Photo Credit: KDN/PreSchool

THE KINGSTOWN DAY Nursery/Pre-School Class of 2019 had a great send off with their Graduation Ceremony on Thursday 25th July.

Parents, teachers and well-wishers were fully entertained by the little ones who performed several recitations, a dance, a poem

by Vanessa Baptiste and Mya Richards, and a Memory Verse by Kelvin Graduation Class 2019.

Burgin, Leonardo Edwards November and Charles Vanloo.

Guest Speaker Ms Ellica Matthews, 1954, to Psychologist, encouraged the children accommodate 21 babies to remember that they could be only. It has anything they wanted to be, as the expanded “Sky is the Limit”! over the Building on this year’s theme, the years to graduates entertained their guests accommodate with a lovely presentation named pre-schoolers “Community Workers”, where they as well. showcased the professions that they The wanted to be when they grow up.

The Kingstown Day Nursery is one children are managed in of the oldest such services on the three groups, island, having opened its doors in with a cadre of trained and dedicated staff.

The Nursery was Dancers Mya Richards rebuilt in & Vanessa Baptiste 2010 with funding from the Basic Needs Trust Fund, and is a modern, spacious and well-equipped educational institution that continues to play an invaluable role in caring for and educating our nation’s children.

(Submitted) Community Workers!!

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14. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Commander ChávezÊs birthday commemorated ON MONDAY, JULY 29TH, the Venezuelan Diplomatic mission in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines held a heartfelt tribute in commemoration of the anniversary of the 65th birthday of the Eternal Commander of the Bolivarian Revolution, Hugo Chávez Frías; with the aim

Section of the gathering - MPs on the right, Cuban Ambassador H.E. Vilma Reyes Valdespino on the left, at last Monday’s event.

of remembering his commitment to the peoples of the world. documentary The head of the Venezuelan mission, Francisco Pérez Santana presented the Documentary “Chavez: based on making Hugo The Life of the Venezuelan Hugo Chávez”, a Chavez known as leader and at the same time portraying La Gracia Dancers and Resistance the human Heart Beat Drummers combined for side of a a cultural presentation. president who broke from the Traditional form of government.

“Chávez was a loyal man, a good friend, a religious man, a teacher, a loving person, a lover of Venezuelan culture, a singer of our music, passionate about baseball, a great communicator which was one of his greatest characteristics, that’s Chavez,” said Pérez Santana.

Minister of Education, Ecclesiastical Affairs and National Reconciliation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, St.Clair Prince was the featured speaker at this activity. He shared his experience when he met Commander Chávez, and commented on the importance of Hugo Chavez’s legacy in Latin America and the Caribbean, with integration projects such as the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America “I had the opportunity to meet with President Chávez on many occasions; and every time I saw this man we could tell how he cared for people, because people were safe.”

Signs of affection of Vincentian children were exhibited at the Venezuelan Embassy in SVG as a tribute to the Commander and leader of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The Vincentian Dance Company “La Gracia” directed by Maxine Browne, did a colorful presentation to the rhythm of drums.

In addition, a group of students of the Music Workshop of the Venezuelan Institute for Culture and Cooperation performed the song “Linda Barinas” as a symbol of the musical expression of the city of Barinas, the Venezuelan state where Commander Chávez was born, which was one of the preferred songs of the Commander which he performed several times.

Professor Andreína Bermúdez, coordinator of the IVCC, said “Chavez marked the history of Venezuela by his love for the people, his political and social vision, opening the way for the transformation of the country by tracing the Bolivarian socialist route.”

As part of the cultural gala in commemoration of the birth of Commander Chávez, Cuban musician Zahily Laidlow, who worked on the socio-cultural project “El Callejón de la Ceiba”, bringing music to the communities as she considers that art “is essential for development of our peoples ” performed a Venezuelan potpourri that included the songs: Venezuela “,” Caballo Viejo “,” Alma Llanera “. In turn, Cuban singer Arianna Tylor sang “El Necio” by Silvio Rodríguez, as a tribute to those who dedicated their lives to work for the people.

The culture of the Vincentian people was also present in this tribute with the musical presentation of the cultural group “Resistant Heartbeat Drummers”. In addition, those present tasted Venezuelan cuisine which included arepas, tequeños, chismosa and quesillo. (Story/Photos: Embassy of Republic of Venezuela)

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02 , 2019. 15.

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16. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Commander of the SVG Coast Guard Brenton Cain (left) welcomes Commander Yasuhiro Okamoto of the Japan Coast Guard, to the Coast Guard Headquarters at Calliaqua.

SVG Coast Guard welcomes Japanese counterparts LAST TUESDAY, July 30, was a

There was time for the Japanese delegation to visit with and interact with the participants of the Coast Guard’s Annual (Youth) Summer Programme.

special day for the SVG Coast Guard.

On that day, Commander of the Coast Guard

Brenton Cain and Lieutenants Ralphie Ragguette and Enos Hamlette welcomed Commander Yasuhiro Okamoto and Lieutenant Commander Akihiro Okoshi of the Japan Coast Guard, on an exchange of information visit.

The visit to St. Vincent and the Grenadines was part of a regional tour being undertaken by the Japanese officials.

In his welcoming remarks, Commander Cain explained that the visit was intended to strengthen cooperation and to foster a closer working relationship between the SVG Coast GuaSd and the Japan Coast Guard.

Commander Cain said that he and his staff were pleased not only to familiarize themselves with Coast Guard personnel from Japan, but also with aspects of their operational procedures.

He described the visit as a friendly exchange as both agencies learn about each other, and formulate ways in which they can work together on matters of mutual interest.

In reciprocating, Commander Okamoto expressed delight with the warm reception that his delegation had received.

He hailed the visit as historic, as it was the first official visit by a Japanese Coast Guard delegation to St. Vincent and the Grenadines., and used the occasion to formally invite Commander Cain and other members of the SVG Coast Guard to attend the second (2nd) Coast Guard Global Summit, to be convened in Tokyo, Japan from 19-22 November, 2019.

Following his meeting with SVG Coast Guard officials, Commander Okamoto stated: “The meeting was very fruitful. I have learnt many things about St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard. I also explained the purpose of the global summit, and the Commander has responded positively. So we are looking forward very much to meeting him again in November in Tokyo and I hope that our agencies’ relationship will blossom in the future.”

As part of their visit, Commander Okamoto and his delegation were given a tour of the newly commissioned vessel ‘Hugh Mulzac’, and they also visited and interacted with the participants of the Coast Guard Annual Summer Programme which is currently being held at the Calliaqua Town Hall.

The visiting delegation departed St. Vincent and the Grenadines at 2:00 pm for St. Kitts and Nevis (Source: RSVGPF PR and Complaints Dept.)

Commander Yasuhiro Okamoto and Lieutenant Commander Akihiro Okoshi on tour of the Hugh Mulzac.

V ECGC takes a Proactive Approach to Food Safety

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02 , 2019. 17.

News

speaks to the quality of the team that you have at ECGC & ECBI.” Photo Credit: ECGC He highlighted that ECGC will benefit significantly as well as St. THE EAST CARIBBEAN GROUP of Companies (ECGC), in its efforts to raise Vincent and the Grenadines, the latter case being borne out by the the bar in food safety and regulatory compliance, hosted a training workshop participation of local Public Health officials who, Dr. Gordon said, “have in the development and application of been at the forefront of ensuring that risk-based preventive controls, from 24not only can you produce and export 26 July, 2019.

As the manufacturer of choice in the good quality safe food, but more importantly, making sure that all of OECS, a robust food safety management system is pivotal for compliance in exports regionally and internationally.

In 2016, the Food Safety Photo Credit: CIBC Modernization Act (FSMA) made it law that all exporting countries must have a food safety plan designed and THOUSANDS OF PRIMARY and implemented by a Preventive Control secondary school children in six Eastern Caribbean countries are Qualified Individual (PCQI), i.e. a getting a greater chance of improving professional who can oversee or their reading skills, through a touch perform the preparation of a Food from Hands Across the Sea. Safety Plan, validate the preventive Hands Across the Sea is a non-profit controls, review records, reanalyze the organisation focused on advancing Food Safety Plan, and any other literacy levels of children in the region. activities needed to ensure the safe Recently, CIBC FirstCaribbean delivery of the food to the consumer.

International Bank strengthened Last week’s workshop was geared support for that effort with a towards meeting the requirements US$25,000 donation from the bank’s through the “standardized social responsibility arm, the curriculum,” developed by the Food FirstCaribbean International Safety Preventive Controls Alliance ComTrust Foundation.

(FSPCA), which is recognized by the Chairperson of the ComTrust Food and Drug Administration as Foundation and the bank’s Chief adequate for PCQI training.

A total of 14 participants, including Executive Officer, Ms. Colette Delaney, said ComTrust’s trustees were quite representatives from the Public taken with the organisation’s Health Department, attended the training course delivered by Dr. Andre programme, especially its reach into Gordon, an expert in the field of food Organisation of Eastern Caribbean safety and quality systems attached to States (OECS).

She said that the bank was very Technological Solutions Limited, interested in promoting education and, Jamaica, Dr. Gordon lauded ECGC for taking given the importance of reading and the initiative in training its employees the scarcity of books in the area, the bank was very happy to assist the on preventive controls, noting that, Hands Across the Sea programme. while training of this nature is Executive Director of Hands Across essential, it is not common in the the Sea, Mrs. Harriet Linskey, thanked Eastern Caribbean.

“It’s the first time I have done this the bank and explained that the United States’ NGO was attacking the training, that the persons have so literacy challenge using a three-step quickly grasped the concepts and displayed such a deep understanding programme that included creating or rejuvenating school libraries and of it,” Dr. Gordon stated, and added, providing training for librarians and “It’s quite impressive because it Workshop Facilitator Dr. Andre Gordon

Participants at the PCQI Training Workshop held at ECGC the operations domestically and Chain. food coming in, meet the Verification and Validation requirements… they now have Procedures and Recall Planning were additional information and tools to also part of the syllabus. help them do their jobs more Upon completion, ECGC will have effectively.”

The training covered topics such as over 10 certified PCQI on staff as the company works steadily towards Current Good Manufacturing achieving HACCP and GFSI-SQF code Practices, Food Safety Hazards, Food certifications for the groups’ flour Safety Plans, Hazard Analysis and milling and bottling operations.

Preventive Controls for: Processes, Food Allergens, Sanitation and Supply (Source: ECGC)

CIBC joins hands across the sea

teachers.

Mrs. Linskey and her husband Tom started the NGO about 11 years ago following their visits to the OECS, during which they recognised that many schools in those countries had few new, pleasure reading books for their students, and that interest in reading was low.

She pointed out that remedial reading was also Executive Director and co-founder of Hands of concern, given that many secondary school students were Across the Sea, Mrs. Harriet Linskey (2nd from left) receiving the donation cheque from reading way below their age Ms. Colette Delaney Chief Executive Officer of group level, and she added that, previously, helping some CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank. Also teens catch up on reading skills pictured is Mrs. Debra King, the bank’s Director of Corporate Communications and meant resorting to books well Director of ComTrust Foundation. below their school level.

To combat these issues, Programme, which has trained over Hands Across the Sea has been 1,200 student librarians in the OECS. sourcing age-appropriate and culturally To ensure that books and teaching relevant new reading books that would supplies are being fully used, Hands ignite the interest of all in its target Across the Sea visits recipient schools groups. This is being done in and projects and its local programme collaboration with the region’s school officers to work directly with each principals, teachers and librarians, as Hands Wish Lists project. well as United States Peace Corps Since 2008, when Hands Across the Volunteers.

Sea reached out to Antigua, Grenada, Hands Across the Sea had been St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, St. providing teaching manuals and had Lucia and St. Vincent and the implemented a series of training Grenadines, the NGO has shipped programmes for teachers in the region.

464,000 new children’s reading books, Grenada, Dominica and St. Vincent created or rejuvenated libraries at 400 were next on the agenda. In addition, schools, and provided reading the NGOs on-island teams of Literacy programme for 103,000 children.

Links also runs a Student Librarian (Source; CIBC)

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18. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Marriaqua Health Centres get donation THE SIX (6) HEALTH CENTRES - Calder, Evesham, Mesopotamia, Grieggs, Lowmans (Wd.) and Richland Park – which comprise the Marriaqua Health District, were recent recipients of donations of medical equipment and supplies.

The donation was made possible

through the Marriaqua Secondary School/St. Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua Alumni Association of North America, whose activities in North Amercia raise funds to purchase items for distribution to worthy causes in the Marriaqua district.

Shipment of the medical equipment

and materials to SVG was made possible through the kindness of Island-wide Medical Transportation Services Inc. USA, a company owned and operated by two brothers - Cosmas and Andre Bailey — both past students of the St. Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua.

The Marriaqua District Health Team facilitated the distribution of the equipment/supplies after a needs assessment exercise spearheaded by Sis Arlene James, the Area Coordinator for the six (6) Health Centres.

The items were distributed as one of the several activities done to commemorate the first anniversary of the Marriaqua District Health Team.

Among the items distributed were: a wheelchair, commodes, bath chairs, raised toilet seats, walkers (with wheels), arm and leg prostheses, advance pressure wound therapy, HP scales and disposable diapers.

Mr. Joseph Mapp, President of the Health Team, (2nd from right) handed over a share of the donation to Elfreda Joseph-Leonty, a health official at the Levi Latham Health Complex.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02 , 2019. 19.

20. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) You can find out interesting information if you get a chance to talk to people you respect. Take a second look; another person’s philosophy may be extremely different from yours. Keep important information to yourself.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Don’t hesitate to enlist the aid of friends or family if you have a big project to finish in your domestic environment. You need to focus on yourself, not on others.

Your talent will be recognized. Be careful of disclosing personal information.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Although up setting, changes in your domestic situation will be favorable. Try not to allow superiors or those in a higher position to take advantage of you.

Disappointments regarding partners will be subject to the way you react to their personal comments.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Take time to reevaluate your motives regarding friendships. Get some sound advice and help setting up a workable budget. Secret affairs may be brought out in the open. Avoid letting family get involved in your personal life.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) You may make someone else look bad.

Self-improvement projects should be your key concern. Channel your energy into projects that will enhance your home.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Arguments with relatives may lead to a split in the family. Your partner could also use some time alone with you. You may as well work on projects that will allow you to make progress.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) You must use discretion when talking to others. Gambling should not be an option. Changes in your residence may be financially favorable.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Concentrate on work. You may want to look into warm vacation spots. You need activity. Be discreet about your personal life or whereabouts. Be mysterious.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Depression may put a damper on your day. Look into some personal changes.

Stress may cause minor health ailments.

You can discuss your intentions and ideas with your colleagues or friends this week.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) Business and emotional partnerships will run smoothly. You will get along well in social situations. You can make profitable investments if you purchase an art object for your home.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) You can help them with difficult projects. Your ability to organize and get everyone together will enhance your popularity and bring interest from potential mates.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) One of your female friends may try to disrupt your day. Stand up for your rights.

You can offer your help to others but back off if they appear to be offended by your persistence. Empty promises will cause confusion.

ACROSS 1. Western star Rogers 4. Dramatic Alan 8. Underwater coral structure 12. Lupino of the big screen 13. Sassy 14. Uttered 15. Piglet’s mama 16. Look gloomy 17. Bike roller 18. Bert’s Muppet buddy 20. Wondrous event 22. Inexperienced, as recent recruits 24. Mow (grass) 25. Garb 29. Decoration of honor 33. Stag’s partner 34. Soap cake 36. Cold cubes 37. One of Snow White’s pals 40. Longed (for) 43. Cooking grease 45. Winter illness 46. Grows older 50. Beauty’s love 54. Tehran’s land 55. Opera set in Egypt 57. Comic Costello 58. Dispatch (a messenger) 59. Map out in advance 60. Café bill 61. Hangs down 62. Broadway award 63. Mined rock DOWN 1. Get up 2. Aroma 3. Expression of boredom 4. Materialize 5. Zodiac feline 6. Percussion Instrument 7. Room below a roof

8. Spin on a spit 9. Guitarist Clapton 10. British peer 11. Run away 19. Lyricist Gershwin 21. Tropical liquor 23. Spider’s creation 25. Find sums 26. “Boom!”

27. Small, green veggie 28. Produce, as an egg 30. Noisy confusion 31. Combat pilot 32. Directed (an expedition) 35. Grid official 38. Bout divisions 39. Pine cousin 41. Capital of New York State

42. Deeply regret 49. Farm tower 44. Jumped high 51. Voice range 46. Skip over 52. Glide on air 47. Word before currents “code” or “rug” 53. Hollow cylinder 48. Strong, 56. Funny Aykroyd penetrating taste

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02, 2019. 21.

22. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02, 2019. 23.

Pan Am Games action for SVG next week with fireworks.

Bailey and Williams, neither one new to such ceremonies, expressed delight with the thunderous applause they received.

SVG’s flagbearer- Zefal Bailey, during last Friday’s Opening Ceremony.

Chief- De -Mission of SVG- Wayne Williams (centre) presents a token to the Games Village Mayor- Giorgio Mautino at SVG’s flag raising ceremony, last Thursday at the Games Village. The Games’ MascotMilco, is at left.

ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES’ fourmember team to this year’s Pan American Games taking place in Lima, Peru, will go into action from next week.

The team comprises swimmers Mya De Freitas and Cruz Halbich, track athlete Brandon Parris and cyclist Zefal Bailey.

De Freitas and Halbich will contest the 50M, 100M and 200M Freestyle, Parris the Men’s 400M and Bailey the Cycling Road Race.

Swimming commences Tuesday 6th August, while Parris is scheduled to run on Thursday 8th August.

Bailey’s event is carded for Saturday 10th August.

The officials of the SVG delegation are: Wayne Williams - Chief- De — Mission; Neisha Alexander Swimming Coach/ Chaperone; and Emmerson Holder — Cycling Mechanic/ Coach.

St Vincent and the Grenadines is among 41 countries participating in this the 18th Pan American Games, which conclude 11th August.

Opening Ceremony With De Freitas, Halbich and Alexander set to arrive in Peru on 31st July, and Parris on August 3, St Vincent and the Grenadines had the smallest contingent - Bailey and Williams - at the glitzy Opening Ceremony that took place at the Lima

National Stadium, last Friday.

Some 1700 performers ignited the venue with their dance routines and reenactments of some of the Peruvian history and culture, all against a backdrop of special tapestry, lighting and sound effects, completed

One of the scintillating dance routines performed at last Friday’s Opening Ceremony.

Republic 2003; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2007; Guadalajara, Mexico 2011 and Toronto, Canada in 2015.

This country, as single entrant, gained its first Pan American Games medal in the 1995 edition, when SVG’s Pan Am Games Eswort Coombs took the bronze in the history/success Men’s 400M. There was a drought until the 2015 The Pan American Games were first edition when Kineke Alexander copped held in Buenos Aires, Argentina in the bronze medal in the Women’s 1951.

St Vincent and the Grenadines first 400M. However, Vincentian Maurice King, participated in the Games in Havana, participating as a member of the West Cuba in 1991, and continued at every Indies Federation team, won a bronze edition since: Mar Del Parta, Argentina in 1995; Winnipeg, Canada in Weightlifting at the 1959 Games held in Chicago, USA. 999; Santo Domingo, Dominican

Playz Summer Camp shoots off Windward Islands School games. I am expecting great things from him,” Ferguson said.

As far as participation is concerned, the head coach spoke of efforts to get more females involved “to continue the legacy of Sancho Participants being put through a drill under the Lyttle and Sophia watchful eye of coach Bernard Billy.

Young who played in the WNBA.” Rohan Providence, newly elected president of the SVG Head Coach Orlando Ferguson is Basketball always on site and on hand to lend Federation, had high his experience to the programme. praise for the camp, THE SECOND ANNUAL PLAYZ remarking, “I am Youth Academy Summer Basketball Participants and coaches of the 2019 Playz Youth swelling with pride Camp got underway last Monday, at Academy Summer Basketball Camp. with the work Playz the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex.

Youth Academy has a talk on savings by a banker, a And Head Coach and main been doing. Youth development is the prisoner will talk to them about organizer Orlando Ferguson is ultimate focus, and that’s where our mistakes they have made, and of delighted to follow up on last year’s country’s development lies.” course, there will be competition camp.

Ferguson was very grateful to all games to select the best.”

“I am happy to see this large the sponsors and individuals, home After one year, Ferguson takes turnout ..,. happy for me, the kids and and abroad, who have come on board pride in what he is doing. the parents who get them involved,” this year.

“I am very proud with the progress he said.

The camp concludes on August of the kids from last year where He pointed out, “During the camp 10th. the kids will be exposed to the steps of Michael Prescott, the MVP from last year’s camp, got selected for the SVG basketball. In addition, there will be I.B.A.ALLEN sessions on AIDS, STDs and nutrition, team to play in Dominica in the

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24. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Rain takes early toll on CWI U19

EACH OF THE TEAMS in the CWI Under19 50 Overs Championships went into the second round of matches, last Tuesday, on 2 points.

This after rain put a premature end to the Guyana-Windwards match played at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, and did not allow one ball to be bowled in the other two: Leewards versus Jamaica at Cumberland, and Barbados against Trinidad and Tobago at Park Hill.

In the truncated match at Arnos Vale, Guyana won the toss and asked the Windward Islands to take first

Action in the Windward-Leeward match at the Cumberland Playing Field. strike.

Anderson Amurdan 30, Simeon Gerson Christopher Green 2 for 14; Jamaica In all of 10.1. overs that the rain 134 for 9 from 23 overs - Kirk permitted, the Windwards managed to 3 for 24.

McKenzie 41, Daniel Beckford 36, At Arnos Vale, Barbados beat get to 48 for 2, skipper Kimani Melius Guyana by 3 wickets. Scores: Guyana Zavier Burton 36, Jayden Seals 4 for managing 25 before being bowled by 124 from 30 over - Seon Glasgow 33, 30.

Leon Swamey.

Sachin Singh 28, Mathew Forde 5 for The tournament was expected to In Tuesday’s round of matches, continue on Thursday with the 24; Barbados 124 for 7 from 29 overs Windward Islands beat Leeward Rivaldo Clarke 50, Antonio Morris 28, Windward Islands facing Trinidad at Islands by 49 runs in a low scoring Kelvin Umroa 3 for 38, Leon Swamey Park Hill, Guyana taking on the match at Cumberland. Scores: 2 for 20.

Leeward Islands at Cumberland, and Windwards 148 for 8 from 24 overs Barbados opposing Jamaica at Arnos At Park Hill, Trinidad and Tobago Teddy Bishop with 41, Seandell Regis Vale. beat Jamaica by 1 run. Scores: 32, Ackeem Auguste 28, Jadem Trinidad and Tobago 135 for 7 from 23 Carmichael 3 wickets for 11 runs; overs - Leonarndo Julian 56, I.B.A.ALLEN Leewards 99 from 21.4 overs -

Tough for SVG at NACAC Championships THIS COUNTRY’s contingent of Diara Bascombe, Riah Henson, Cody Bartley and Keanu Child, to last weekend’s

North America, Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) Age Group Championships held in San Salvador, El

Salvador, found the going tough.

Together, the four managed a 16th overall place for St Vincent and the Grenadines, among the 21 countries that participated in the twoday, multi-event Championships, staged at the Estadio Jorge “ Magico” Gonzalez.

Female Pentathlon

Division, finished 21st in the Female Pentathlon.

She accumulated 2152 points in her five events, having placed second in the High Jump, sixth in the Ball Throw, and seventh in both the 60 M and Long Jump. She did not complete the 800M. Her 21st position earned St Vincent and the Grenadines a 15th place among 18 teams in the Female Pentathlon.

Bascombe, SVG’s lone entrant in the Under-13

Female Heptathlon

SVG’s NACAC Age Group team (from left): Keanu Child, Riah Henson, Diara Bascombe, Cody Bartley.

Meanwhile, Henson’s 2805 points saw her coming in 27th of the 31 competitors.

She finished eighth in the Ball Throw, ninth in

the High Jump, eleventh in the Shot Putt, twentyseventh in the 80M, twenty-eighth in the 60M Hurdles and thirteenth and fifteenth in the Long Jump and 1000M, respectively.

Her performance saw St Vincent and the Grenadines finishing 18th of 19 in the Female Heptathlon.

from a fifth place in the Ball Throw, sixth in the Shot Putt, seventh in the 1200M, tenth in both the 80M and the High Jump, fourteenth in the Long Jump and twenty- ninth in the 80M Hurdles. His points tally was 4026.

Child finished 25th on account of finishing ninth in the Ball Throw, eleventh in both the Shot Putt and High Jump, Male Heptathlon thirteenth Long Jump, twenty- third in the 80M St Vincent and the and twenty- seventh in Grenadines’ best showing the 80M Hurdles. He was 10th of 18 countries totalled 3895 points in the Male Heptathlon, The team’s Coach was Rawlson Morgan, with with Bartley and Child the two entrants.

Larissa John- the Bartley’s 22nd among Manager/ Chaperone.

31 competitors came

Senior pleased with IT-DAT Camp “THEY NEED to believe in themselves, have a strong willpower to work and achieve.”

Such was the sentiment expressed by Kanhai Senior, IAAF Level 5 Jump Coach, at the end of his one-week attachment to

IT-DAT Academy Annual Summer Camp.

During his short attachment, Senior concentrated on imparting fundamentals as far as track and field is concerned.

“The summer camp,” he noted, “allowed kids in all different age group to learn the basics which is very important.

The way it is organized lends itself to improvement technically in various areas.”

Senior believes that in the absence of a synthetic track, “You have a lot of nature’s resourses here that can be used to develop the athletes … just need the private sector firms, government officials to buy into the idea.”

The coach was in high praise of Michael Ollivierre, founder, coach of the Academy. “My relationship with Michael is ongoing. He has been a mentor to me over the years…. he believes in building because he just wants to see the talent emerge (and) he will nurture it over a period of time.

If he gets the support here, it will work for the athletes and the island.”

Michael Ollivierre (left) and Kanhai Senior during a break in sessions at the I.B.A.ALLEN Arnos Vale Playing Field.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02, 2019. 25.

Sports

Youngsters looking to break out REGIONAL Under-19 cricketers will endeavour to make use of the next two rounds of matches so as to notch up performances that will see them in consideration for possible West Indies call. Three more games were scheduled yesterday Thursday, August 1. The tournament winds up Tuesday 6 with the final salvo.

Sunday’s fixtures put Windwards in a showdown with Barbados at Park Hill. Leewards and Trinidad and Tobago will be locked in battle at Arnos Vale, while Guyana and Jamaica fight it out at Cumberland.

Fans in North Leeward will witness Windwards taking on Jamaica in Tuesday’s last round game at Cumberland. Barbados and Leewards meet at Park Hill, while Trinidad and Tobago play Guyana at Arnos Vale.

The competition got off to a delayed start last Tuesday, following abandoned games in the first round. Tuesday saw a restoration of sunshine, sufficient to spark some drama at Park Hill.

Trinidad and Tobago pulled off a stunning one run victory over Jamaica in an incredible turn of events. Chasing 136 to win, Jamaica were 129 for 4 with seven balls remaining. A combination of panic by the Jamaicans and clinical application by Jayden Seales 4 for 30, secured the Trinidad and Tobago win.

The match was reduced to 23 overs, and Trinidad and Tobago knocked up 135 for 7 in their allotment. Leonardo Julien 56 was the top batsman. He shared a 73-run opening stand with Mbeki Joseph 17. Christopher Green 2 for 14 had the best figures for Jamaica.

Daniel Beckford and Zavier Burton, both with 36, followed a trend set by Kirk McKenzie who blazed 41 with two 4’s and three 6’s. Jamaica will ponder how they missed this target.

Barbados attempted a similar meltdown against Guyana at the Arnos Vale Playing Field. But by the time the Guyanese were ready to make a match, the damage was already done. Guyana was dismissed for 124 from 30.1 overs. They were guided by Seon Glasgow 33 unbeaten, supported

by Sachin Singh 28, undermined by Matthew Forde 5 for 25.

Barbados recovered from 70 for 4 and were comfortable at 118 before the fifth wicket fell.

Rivaldo Clarke 50 and Antonio Morris 29 shared that partnership, but they were in a wreckage before Barbados reached 124 for 7 off 29. 3 overs.

Kelvin Umroa 3 for 38, was the strike bowler for Guyana, with Leon Swamey 2 for 20 and Ashmead Nedd 2 for 33 sharing wickets.

The Windwards got the better of Leewards at Cumberland. Having reached 146 for 8 from their 24 overs, shortened owing to weather conditions, Windwards restricted their counterparts to 99 from 21.4 overs.

Teddy Bishop 41, Seandell Regis 32 and Ackeen Auguste 28 contributed to the Windwards’ total.

Jaden Carmichael 3 for 11 had the best figures for the Leewards.

Anderson Amurdan 30 tried to stir up his team’s batting, but with inadequate support and accurate left arm spin bowling from Simeon Gerson, the Windwards sealed their victory.

Vincentian Tijourn Pope 2 for 23 and Grenadian fast bowler Jamie Buddy 2 for 25 were also among the wickets.

Another National Football Team to receive honour FOLLOWING on the heels of the honouring of the 1979 Senior Men’s National Football team, the 1996 team that represented this country at the CONCACAF Gold Cup Final in the USA, will receive similar acknowledgement.

This was announced by the President of the SVGFF Marvin Fraser, as he spoke at the Opening Ceremony of the Breakaway Masters Organisation’s 2019 Firms Tournament, at the Grammar School Playing Field, recently.

The honouring of the 1979 team was a collaborative effort between the SVGFF and the Breakaway Masters Organisation “The next thing the Football Federation is trying to get on the go is (to) also honour the 1996 Gold Cup team,” Fraser declared.

He, however, did not give a date or format for the proposed honouring.

Fraser though, underscored the fact that the 1996 team, was the first and only national team to date, to have

gone to the prestigious Gold Cup. Among the players who made up that team were: Fitz- Gerald Bramble, Urtis Blackette, Verbin Sutherland, Dexter Walker, Keith Ollivierre, Ezra Hendrickson, Orande Ash, Andre Hinds, Kenlyn Gonsalves, Rohan Keizer, Kendal Velox, Everad Sam, Marlon James, Dexter Browne, Rodney Jack, Cornelius Huggins, Burton Forde, Wesley John, Tyrone Prince and Earl Alexander.

The management team comprised Lenny TaylorHead Coach, Verrol Henry- Assistant Coach, Arnold Dalrymple- Manager, and Gideon Labban- Trainer.

At the Gold Cup final, St Vincent and the Grenadines was beaten 5-0 and 3-0 by Mexico and Guatemala, respectively.

Road to the Gold Cup

St. Vincent and the Greandines progressed to the Gold Cup finals by virtue of placing second to Trinidad and Tobago in the Final of the Shell Caribbean Cup in 1995.

The Vincentians had to first ward off Dominica and Montserrat on their ways to the Shell Cup finals in the Cayman Islands, where they President of the SVGFFwere placed in Group A, Marvin Fraser. and in which they played inbeaten They beat French Guiana 3-1, recorded a 51 win over Antigua and Barbuda and drew 2-2 with the Cayman Islands.

St Vincent and the Grenadines upstaged Cuba 3-2 in the semifinals, but was beaten 5A 16-MEMBER 0 by Trinidad and National U14 Girls Tobago in the Final.

Football squad was scheduled to leave the state today for St. Kitts, SVG’s starting XI versus where they will compete Mexico in 1996. in the CFU Challenge Series which runs from August 3-10.

The squad comprises: Shanez De Roche, SOLOMON BASCOMBE, Vincentian the Barmy Army Areeka Hoopper, Leona Under-15 fast bowler, leaves the state sponsored series.

Barrow, Nasheeka tomorrow,Saturday, to join up with his The squad will play Prescod, Kailani Shoy, teammates on the West Indies Under- a series of matches Samaaya Connell, 15 team, for their tour to England. against local Denisha Woods, Bascombe represented the SVG opposition, Shakeyra Kydd, Under-19 in the Windward Islands culminating in a Vinesha Johnson, and spearheaded the fast bowling match against Kelisha Bowens, attack for the Windward Islands in England’s Barmy Akeelah James, the West Indies Under-17 tournament. Army Under-15 Colts Kyshauna Richards, Speaking with this publication on the 18th August.

Nickwannah Malcome, recently, the young man said: Left-arm spinners Deonce Coombs, “Feeling strong …. looked at the Andrew Rambarran Ettrisha Jeffery and schedule it is packed but I feel strong and Nathan Sealy are Solomon Auriel Stephens. and fit as ever. All I have to do is stay appointed co-captains Bascombe is Officials consistent and continue to work on my for the tour, with the not wanting accompanying the team variation.” rest of the squad for confidence include Keith Ollivierre, As for his call up to West Indies being: Mavendra Wayne Grant, Tonicsia as he makes duty, Bascombe said, “I feel good Dinyal, Rampertab Baptiste, Shevon Smith his first WI representing SVG, Windwards and the Ramnauth, Isai and PetraAnne Davis. overseas tour.

West Indies at this level, and will Thorne, Jordan SVG will see represent myself well, and admitted, Johnson, Stephen Wedderburn, competition against “I also seeing myself working toward Nathan Sealy, Joshua Norris, Rashad Antigua and Barbuda, playing for the senior team which has Worrell, Andrew Rambaran, Justin Dominica and St. Kitts always been my goal.”

Jagessar, Solomon Bascombe, Devin & Nevis.

It’s the fourth straight year that Tyson and Divonie Joseph.

CWI has invested in sending an I.B.A.ALLEN Under-15 side to England to play in I.B.A.ALLEN

Bascombe off on CWI U15 Tour

National U14 Female team off to CFU

26. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02, 2019. THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, AUGUST 02, 2019. 27.

Classifieds

FOR RENT

One Apt. at Ottley Hall 432-5071

Colonization and Yah’s plan for building His Kingdom From page 12 Check Jn 1:1… “and the Word was with Yah, and THE WORD WAS YAHUAH!” Yah wants to re-establish His Kingdom here on Earth, but first He has to get us ready for it.

Are you ready to repent and receive the Besorah (Good News)?

This Earth Realm will have to be purified, before His Kingdom can be re-instated.

However, He has begun the process of reestablishing it, and it begins within each one of us, who receives the Besorah (Good News), repents, is Baptised (Acts2:38), and receives His Ruach Ha Quodesh (Holy Spirit). “…. Then behold, the Kingdom is within you (Lk 17:20-21).

This is how it begins, but not how it remains. ..... to be continued Negus Bynoe

F O R

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

S A L E

FRIDAY,

AUGUST 02, 2019

VOLUME 113, No.27

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RECORDS TO BE CLEANED: PM APOLOGISES In further reference to cannabis-related issues, Dr. Gonsalves told the parliament that possession of PERSONS, especially cannabis seeds was not an offence, under the young persons and oneprevious and so too, under the ‘new’ legislation. time offenders, arrested, “A lot of people believe, and I have had some charged and convicted for police men and women, who thought that you were possession of small able to lock up people for seeds,” the PM and quantities of marijuana, Minister of Legal Affairs said. will have their records “But an individual cannot get arrested and wiped clean. charged for being in the possession of marijuana Prime Minister Dr seeds,” he reiterated.

Ralph Gonsalves, in “The law specifically says so in definition,” Dr. presenting the Drug Gonsalves said.

(Misuse Prevention) He referenced the first cannabis prohibition laws Amendment Bill 2019 that were introduced across the world in 1937, as last week Thursday in having addressed the possession and use of Dr. Ralph Gonsalves Parliament, said that he, cannabis, but nothing to do with seeds. apologised for this in his capacity as the country’s failure to act Minister of Legal Affairs, earlier on the issue of will be empowered so to the amount of cannabis do. in a person’s possession And while he that constituted a addressed the cleaning of criminal offence. the records, the Prime Minister noted that there were many persons who paid money, endured the hardship of serving jailtime for having in their possession small quantities of cannabis, or for “getting caught smoking it behind their grandmother’s house.”

For that, the Prime Minister declared, “All of us have to say to those who suffered in this regard, we owe them an apology, and I issue that apology,” the Prime Minister declared.

It was the consequence Gonsalves said, of not addressing and acting earlier on the issue of the Regular cannabis seeds possession of which amount of cannabis for which persons were many would have been charged. prosecuted.

by DALE DASILVA

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

EC$1.50

OOOPS!!!!!

THE LUCK of the draw didn’t quite go our way last week — edition of Friday 26th July, 2019.

We committed three ‘cardinal sins’ in the process.

The first was in reference to the article captioned ‘Understanding the 2019 Queen of the Bands’ carried on page 18, in which we sought to share the background/meaning to the costume that won this year’s Band of the Year title.

We did a reasonably good job, save and except that we omitted reference to a pivotal figure in the scheme of things, i.e. the one who conceptualised and designed the costume.

That person is Lennox ‘Scully’ Hunte — one of this country’s best, some say the best, carnival costume designers and Carnival artists in general.

We apologise to ‘Scully’ and to our many readers for the omission and promise that all things being even, we will, in future editions, re-present this iconic cultural artiste/artist and his work to the Vincentian public.

The second ‘cardinal sin’ was in reference to the article captioned ‘Cornwall: Church, atheism, jail, redemption’, Lennox ‘Scully’ carried on page 16.

Hunte The article reported inter alia, ‘Cornwall was one of fourteen sentenced to hang in 2006… .’ That should have read, ‘Cornwall was one of fourteen sentenced to hang in 1986.’

We apologise to the writer, readers and to Mr. Leon Cornwall for the misrepresentation. There was never any intention to distort the truth.

Leon Cornwall The third ‘sin’ had to do with the renaming of a young man.

A caption to a photograph of the Director of NQDSSDA attached to the story ‘Technical/Vocational programmes showcased’ carried on page 7, named the person as Kenneth Questelles.

The Director is in fact Kenroy Questelles, and we apologise sincerely for naming him incorrectly.

Kenroy Questelles

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