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The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

FRIDAY,

FEBRUARY 03, 2017

VOLUME 111, No.05

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

by DAYLE DASILVA ESTIMATES OF REVENUE and Expenditure for 2017, as laid before the House of Assembly last Monday by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, show a projected increase in government expenditure over 2016.

The figure of EC$976,943,437 estimated for 2017, as against EC$912,897,311 in 2016, represents a 7% increase.

This figure is inclusive of the recurrent expenditure which amounts to EC$747,376,387 — inclusive of amortization and sinking fund contributions - and capital expenditure which amounts to EC$229,567,050.

Financing for the 2017 Budget will be provided by the EC$590,740,680 expected to be generated on the current revenue side, and capital receipts expected to account for EC$368,202,757.

As such, therefore, another deficit is anticipated for 2017, as the current expenditure, exclusive of sinking funds and amortization, is projected to amount to EC$601.74 million.

“As a consequence, there is a budgeted current account deficit of EC$11,007,291,” Gonsalves said.

Increased tax take expected

Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, delivered Estimates of Income and Expenditure that projected another deficit year for government’s options.

According to the Prime Minister, revenue from tax sources was expected to yield EC$505.6 million while non-tax sources was expected to generate EC$85.1 million — a total of EC$590.7 million..

“The improvement in the revenue estimates for 2017 is reflective of the continued real economic growth for this year,” Gonsalves told members of the House.

Continued on Page 3.

Dr. Godwin Friday was responding to the Estimates as Leader of the Opposition for the first time.

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2. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

News

SVGCC Environmental

Club installs Solar PV System Some students of the SVGCC Environmental Club (2016-17) and the Geography Lecturer take a photo opportunity amidst the installed solar panels.

THE ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES Community College (SVGCC) Environmental Club has installed a 22 kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system at the institution’s Villa Campus.

The project coordinator,

Mr. Allanson Cruickshank, who is also the lecturer in charge of the Club, stated that the project was conceptualised since 2014. Local solar PV contractor, Alternative Energy & Engineering Solutions, designed the system and procured and installed the 88 solar panels and other components. The contractor also provided training in the basics of solar PV to members of the SVGCC Environmental Club and hands-on system installation training to three students of the college.

The PV system was commissioned last August and became operational in September 2016. It is currently one of the largest of its kind on a public building on mainland St. Vincent.

The system features an online monitoring component, which, Mr. Cruickshank says, will be very useful as a teaching and research tool, since it allows students to access data on the performance of the PV system over the internet.

According to Mr. Cruickshank, as of January 30th, 2017, the PV system had already averted 9.8 tonnes of atmospheric carbon dioxide, and had produced 14.068 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy since

September 2016.

This helps in reducing the harmful carbon emissions which occur due to the combustion of fossil fuels to generate electricity. Solar energy produces no such emissions and is an effective means of climate change mitigation in tropical and sub-tropical countries. Furthermore, during these first five months of its operation, the PV system has realised approximately $6,330 in electricity savings for the SVGCC. The project was made possible through grant funding from the Global Environmental Facility’s Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Mr. Cruickshank thanked the SVGCC Environmental Club members, past and present, who took part in various stages of the project’s development since 2014. He also expressed his gratitude to the leadership of the SVGCC and the National Steering Committee of GEF-SGP for being supportive of the project.

Additionally, he thanked the St. Vincent Electricity Services (VINLEC) for facilitating the connection of the system to the national electrical grid.

(Contributed)

Lewis Punnett facility to be refurbished PLANS ARE IN THE MAKING for the refurbishment of the Lewis Punnett Home located at Glen.

According to Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, some EC$1.1 million was allocated in the budget this year to go towards care for geriatrics.

However, before any refurbishment could be undertaken, the residents will have to be moved to a temporary facility, Dr. Gonsalves explained.

The Ministry of Health was in the process of deciding on this requirement and, according to Dr. Gonsalves, there were two areas being considered: the temporary facility at Orange Hill where the Mental Health Centre patients were housed during rehabilitation of that institution; and the former Nurse’s Hostel at Montrose..

“We have to build a new Lewis Punnett Home, so we do the temporary relocation and then I go in search of the money,” Gonsalves said.

The Home was established at its present site back in the early 1950s, first having been housed at Fort Charlotte in the 1940s, and catered to the indigent elderly.

Over the years, however, it has grown to accept residents with mental and physical challenges, and some paraplegic individuals who have been abandoned by relatives. (DD)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. 3.

News 3 SVG: A billion dollars in debt AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2016, this country’s total public debt amounted to EC$1,683,712,229, i.e. one billion, six hundred and eighty-three million, seven hundred and twelve thousand, two hundred and twenty-nine dollars.

This figure is 11.9 percent higher than the figure for the comparable period in 2015, Minister of Finance and Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves told the House of Assembly last Monday.

According to Dr. Gonsalves, there was a decrease of 8.4 percent or EC$585.3 million in the domestic debt for the comparative period in

2015; but there was an increase of EC$231.9 million in the external debt, when compared to the corresponding period in 2015. The external debt now stood at EC$1.1 billion.

The change in the domestic debt was accounted for by the net disbursement of EC$24.4 million in government development bonds and treasury notes over the period, leading to an 8.3 percent increase in this category of domestic borrowing.

But, Gonsalves also noted that domestic loans recorded a decline of EC$74.4 million due to

Meeting Government’s pension obligations could become a real problem.

Pension payments increase: A problem THE RATE at which Government’s pension payments increase remains a critical issue and one that Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said he does not intend to hand down to the next generation of leaders.

According to the prime minister, the rate exceeds the 4.3 percent growth in the budgeted Current Expenditure for 2017 by 340 base points.

In 2016, the actual pensions paid amounted to $54.6 million, or 11.4 percent higher than the figure in 2015.

And based on the 2017 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure figures which were presented in Parliament on Monday, provision for pension payments amounted to EC$56 million, representing 7.7 percent increase over the 2016 Estimates.

“It is clear that the rate in growth in pensions has consistently outpaced the rate of growth in total current expenditure,” Gonsalves said.

He went on to describe the issue as not being a “sustainable situation,” adding that he intended to correct the problem.

“To put all the options which are on the table…in any event, this is one that I do not intend to leave to the next generation of leaders — this is an unfinished task which I must address,” said the Prime Minister.

the reallocation of the EC$67.5 million PetroCaribe loan to the external loans, bank overdrafts experienced an EC$1.2 million decrease, and as a result of the reduction in government’s account payables, other domestic debt fell by EC$10.3 million.

The external debt increase was due in part to the EC$185.2 million owed to PDVSA ( the Venezuelan state-owned

oil and natural gas company), “which is now accounted for as part of the public debt,” Dr. Gonsalves explained.

Other contributing factors included upward pressures on the external debt principally by other external loans; a new loan amounting to EC$40.5 million contracted from a UK based agency to finance the completion of the international airport; additional drawdowns

The Government debt Meter is showing movement upwards. amounting to EC$31.2 million from the Alba Bank.

Debt servicing in 2017 is estimated at EC$203.4 million, with interest

payments amounting to EC$57.8 million, amortization EC$121.6 million, and sinking fund contributions EC$24 million. (Stories by DD)

Surplus recorded in 2016 ECONOMIC GROWTH and the collection of tax arrears by the Inland Revenue Department accounted for the government recording a surplus of EC$59.2 million, for the fiscal year 2016.

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr Ralph Gonsalves made the disclosure on Monday in the House of Parliament, in response to a question posed by Parliamentary Representative for Central Kingstown, St Clair Leacock, who asked the Prime Minister to state the figures for the fiscal year 2016.

“The preliminary figures for the fiscal outturn of Central Government for the period ending December 31, 2016, the summary shows that the performance in respect of the outturn regarding the Current Balance was better than budgeted for,” Gonsalves said.

He explained that government had budgeted for an EC$11.9 million deficit, but instead saw a surplus amounting to EC$59.2

million.

Government generated revenue amounting to EC$589.37 million, he said, however, it was estimated that the amount to be collected on the Current Revenue side would have been EC$564.6 million.

And while the recurrent revenue in 2016 increased by 5 percent, Gonsalves said current expenditure decreased by 8 Government’s mathematics percent. showed that a surplus was The anticipated amount recorded for the 2016 fiscal year. stated in the 2016 Estimates was put at EC$576.6 million, however, according to the PM and any loans, cuts in goods and services and any special warrants, Minister of Finance, the Gonsalves responded that local government was able to “keep borrowings amounted to EC$81.9 spending” at EC$530.2 million. million and external EC$31.6 The current account surplus million. was used to contribute to the There was a decrease in the amortization and sinking fund expenditure on goods and services contributions payments amounting to EC$67 in 2016 amounting to EC$117.5 million.

In relation to the other parts of compared to EC$73.26 million in 2015, and EC$32.6 million was the question put forward by Leacock — that was for the prime approved in special warrants. minister to indicate if there were

Increased gov’t spending in 2017 included flows from goods and services and customs service In 2016, revenue collections charges. amounted to EC$589.4 million, or But some 78 percent of the registered a 4.4 percent increase total revenue estimated to be over the 2015 figure. According to collected in 2017 is expected to the Prime Minister, tax revenues come from three main sources — were expected to grow by 4.8 taxes on goods and services percent with growth in the (EC$165.3 million), international revenue anticipated from all trade and transactions (EC$149.7 major taxes. million) and taxes on incomes and Taxes on incomes and profit are profits (EC$145 million). estimated to increase by 4.7 In relation to the recurrent percent, and taxes on property are expenditure category, Gonsalves expected to increase by 9 percent; explained that there was an taxes on international trade and increase in all three components, transactions and on goods and and he attributed the increase to: services were also expected to compensation of employees, which increase by 5.1 percent and 3.5 is up this year by EC$3.9 million; percent respectively. other transfers — which is up by In the area of non-tax revenue, EC$10.6 million; and payments on Gonsalves said that of the loan charges expected to go up by EC$85.1 million expected to be EC$5.08 million. generated in this category A contributor to the increase in Continued from Front page.

the salary and wages bill is the additional 83 new positions created in the public sector, which Gonsalves said was done to “enhance service delivery” to the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The new allocations include, among others: 52 new posts in the Ministry of Health; 7 new posts under the Ministry of Economic Planning, mainly to enhance the capacity of the labour and safety inspectorate at the Labour Department, in preparation for the impending Occupational Health and Safety Reforms; 6 new posts in the Ministry of Finance; 8 new posts in the areas of meteorological and aeronautical services, to support the operations at the international airport at Argyle.

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4. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Fake number plates hampering homicide probes FRANKIE JOSEPH, Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of crime, has identified the issue of fake (vehicle) registration number plates as one of the factors hampering some homicide investigations in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Joseph told THE VINCENTIAN on Wednesday that investigations have shown that the majority of the 40 homicides recorded in 2016, were drug-related, and Frankie Joseph, added that the police faced two major problems in their Assistant Commissioner of investigations.

Police in charge of He noted that in most of crime, spoke of the cases, the perpetrators challenges would have been masked, investigators face and that during in their quest to investigations, it was solve certain revealed that the crimes here. registration number plates allegedly used on vehicles in some of these crimes, did not belong to the vehicles which were described to the police as being involved in the incidents.

“Our investigations reveal that the perpetrators are using fake registration number plates on the vehicles used in committing some of these homicides, hence the reason why the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force is seeking to have the manufacturing of registration number plates regularized,” the Assistant Commissioner disclosed.

He explained that manufacturers should have the authority to print these plates, and that persons requesting them should have valid documentation from the Licensing Office or the Traffic Department.

However, according to Joseph, this move would have to be legislated.

He assured that “all this” would be looked at in the constabulary’s proposed Traffic Act. Joseph also indicated that investigations have revealed that some of the groups which were involved in the majority of homicides in 2014 when 38 were recorded, were also involved in the majority of homicides in 2016, twenty-nine (29) still under investigations at the end of that year.

The Assistant Commissioner explained that, “even though investigations would have pointed in that direction, the evidence was not strong enough to lay charges in many of the homicides”.

He however noted that, while there were a record number of homicides in 2016, there has been a steady decline in reported crimes overall since 2011.

Joseph added that statistics from the Criminal Records Offices of the Police Force show that reported crimes generally were reduced by 180 in 2016 when compared to 2015, and that between 2011 and 2016, there has been a 3,606 reduction in reported crimes.

He pointed out that the statistics show that there were 9,342 reported crimes in 2011, 7,540 in 2012; 6,734 in 2013; 5,988 in 2014; 5,916 in 2015; and 5,736 in 2016.

The top brass officer stressed that the reduction in reported crimes overall, is an indication that the police are working diligently in fighting crime, and that the strategies put in place over the years have reaped success, though he admitted that there is still plenty room for improvement.

Dishonest employee

ordered to repay money Paul Scrubb (right), pictured with his lawyer Israel Bruce, faced a period of uncertainty that is said to have affected his job situation in the USA.

Prosecutor explains adjournments in ‘I Madd’s’ matter Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS SENIOR PROSECUTOR Adolphus Delpleche has made it clear that his first request for an adjournment in the matter involving Paul ‘I Madd’ Scrubb, was based on instructions from the investigator, while the second was when the files were being perused by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The New York based Vincentian calypsonian, originally of Barrouallie, who was charged with sedition and uttering threats to kill Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and his family, was cleared of those charges at the Serious Offence Court on Thursday, January 26.

Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne discharged the defendant after Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche told the Court that the prosecution was not proceeding with the matter.

Delpleche told THE VINCENTIAN on Wednesday, February 1, that when the matter was first brought to Court on July 25, 2016, he requested a three-month adjournment after the investigator told him that he needed more time to “tie up some ends”, in the investigations.

“As a prosecutor, I understood the nature of those investigations was very complex, so I acceded to his request. I made the application for the adjournment and it was granted by the Court.”

But he pointed that when he requested the second adjournment on October 31, 2016, the files were at time being perused by the DPP’s Office. The Chief Magistrate had also granted that adjournment.

“It was during that period of perusal that the decision was taken to discontinue the matter, because the evidence we had could not sustain the charge,” Delpleche explained, adding, “The DPP’s Office played its role when

the files were submitted and perused, not before. That’s how it is done in all criminal matters.”

In furthering his explanation, the Senior Prosecutor said, “The police are the investigative agent, while the DPP’s Office is the prosecutorial agent. The DPP’s Office offers advice during investigations, but they don’t investigate.”

Delpleche, however, had no knowledge as to whether or not the DPP’s Office offered any advice during the investigations of this matter.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner of Police Colin John’s only comment was, “The police collects the evidence and takes it to the DPP’s Office which decides whether the evidence is sufficient or not.”

Scrubb, 52, who was employed as an equipment operator in the United States, was charged with, between December 9 and 31, 2015, maliciously sent or uttered threats to kill, to wit, “Ralph Gonsalves should be assassinated, also his whole damn family period; blessed love”.

This matter was laid indictably and carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison.

Scrubb was also charged with, between December 9 and 31, 2015, uttering seditious words to wit, “Ralph Gonsalves should be assassinated, also his whole damn family period, blessed love”.

This was not laid indictably, but because both charges had reportedly arise, from the same facts and circumstances, they were to be heard together at a Preliminary Inquiry (PI).

This offence carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Both charges were laid under the Criminal Code and stemmed from postings made on the social media site ‘Facebook’.

Scrubb was out on $25,000 bail with one surety. He was represented by attorney Israel Bruce.

FORMER CARIB CABLE employee Fransilma Durrant has been ordered to repay over EC$52,000 which she had dishonestly obtained from Kelectric Ltd, of which Carib Cable was a part.

Justice Kathy Ann Latchoo made the order at the High Court Criminal Assizes on Wednesday.

Durrant was ordered to repay the company within two years in monthly installments of not less than $2,000.

The former office attendant was also sentenced to three years in prison, but was given a six-month reduction in sentence for her guilty plea which brought it down to two and a half years, but that sentence was suspended for three years.

Durrant, 28, of Diamond was charged on nine counts of forgery and nine counts of using a false instrument.

The facts revealed that she issued and cashed a quantity of cheques from the company on different occasions between July 8 and August 6, 2010.

The monies amounted to EC$63,364.66, but Durrant had already repaid some of the money.

In handing down the penalties, Justice Latchoo told Durrant that if she had pleaded not guilty and was found guilty at a trial, the court would have imposed a custodial sentence.

“It was an abuse of a position of trust”, the Judge lamented, adding that the offences were very serious.

Durrant was represented by attorney Patina Knights.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. 5.

Regional

lawyer ÂSkerrit not under Grenada calls for investigation,Ê says legalisation of marijuana Dominica govÊt part of its strategy “to seize political control of this country”, according to news reports from that country.

“Let me reassure the people of Dominica that I spoke with the Prime Minister this morning; he is well, a little tired from all the discussions and meetings he has been having in the economic advancement of the people of Dominica; and these mischievous and malicious statement should be Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime totally disregarded,” Minister of Dominica, was said Acting Prime reported to be under Minister Reginald investigation in relation to Austrie. the issuing of a Dominica Claims that Skerrit passport to an Iranian was under charged with embezzlement investigation was broken by Kenneth of state funds. (Credit: Rijock’s Financial alchetron.com) Crime Blog Fri 27th jan. 2017.

THE DOMINICA In his posting, Rijock GOVERNMENT, on Saturday stated that, “Reliable 28th January, denied that sources have confirmed Prime Minister Roosevelt that the Prime Minister of Skerrit was under the Commonwealth of investigation by United Dominica, Roosevelt States law enforcement Skerrit, is currently under authorities. investigation, being The government went conducted by an agency of further in its denial and the United States, for his blamed the main opposition United Workers role in the sale of a Dominican diplomatic Party (UWP) for passport to Alireza engineering the report as

Zabahalat Monfared, an Iranian national who was recently returned to Iran, where he faces criminal prosecution for the embezzlement of billions of dollars in state funds’.

According to Rijock, the investigation is said to be into Skerrit’s actions, in facilitating the delivery of a diplomatic passport to a known international sanctions violator, Monfared, who was a part of a massive $400m Iran oil-for-gold sanctions evasion operation, involving his alleged partners, Babak Zanjani, and Reza Zarrab; Zarrab is awaiting trial in US District Court in New York.

But, in Saturday’s statement aired on DBS radio, Austrie said that it is strange that the report surfaced one day after the UWP staged a public meeting in the capital and called “for the economic and social destruction” of the country.

He said operatives of the UWP were also engaged in “negative and dishonest” acts against the country and the controversial Citizenship

by Investment Programme (CBI) through which foreign investors are granted citizenship for

Alireza Zabahalat Monfared, an Iranian national, was reportedly living in Dominica until September 2016 (Credit: DNO) making a significant contribution to the socioeconomic development of the island.

Dominica is one of several countries with a CBI programme. The others are Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts-Nevis, Grenada, and St. Lucia.

“Let me reassure the people of Dominica and the international community that the article is untrue and should be treated as part of the ongoing conspiracy by their opposition and their international … partners and associates to tarnish the beautiful name of our country and our beloved prime minister,” said Austrie.

Prime Minister Skerrit, who was out of the state on official business when the news broke, was expected to return home during this week. (Source: Barbados Today)

CARIFESTA X111 to be different CARIFESTA XIII, to be held in Barbados from August 17 to 27, 2017, will be like no other.

This is the boast made by that country’s Culture Minister — Stephen Lashley when he addressed members of the media, last week, on plans for the hosting of the largest single cross-cultural event in the CARICOM region.

Lashley told media personnel that CARIFESTA was “no longer a festival where artistes meet and just have a show or display a few cultural performances”.

That being the case, the Minister assessed that it (CARIFESTA) must now connect with the vision of Caribbean governments, to use their cultural industries sectors to “propel us to new vistas of economic growth and development”.

Barbados, he hinted, was ready to take the lead in this regard.

“Our hosting of CARIFESTA at this time is certainly key to our strategic platforming for economic growth, and using creativity is a

key plank of that…. We expect that CARIFESTA will attract a significant number of visitors; this will also translate into heightened economic activity. Barbados has a great opportunity in terms of the impact that CARIFESTA can have on the economy,” he said.

The culture minister promised that an expanded Grand Market to include a Buyers’ Shopping Mall, will be added to the traditional CARIFESTA events such as the opening and closing ceremonies, signal events, super concerts and country nights.

Already, Lashley assured, that a number of international buyers have been invited to take advantage of the opportunity to visit an exhibition of cultural goods and services in a market place environment, which exclusively features Caribbean creative products.

It is expected that all CARICOM territories will be represented at CARIFESTA XIII,

Minister of Culture, Stephen Lashley (centre), receives the baton at the close of CARIFESTA XII in Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 2015. (Credit: J. Weekes/BGIS) themed, : Asserting Our Culture, Celebrating Ourselves.

CARIFESTA XIII marks the second occasion on which Barbados is hosting the event.

That country hosted the event in 1981. (Source: Jamal Weeks as carried on Caribbean news Now)

WHILE CARIBBEAN LEADERS continue to twiddle their thumbs on the issue of the legalisation/ decriminalisation of marijuana, more and more legal luminaries are calling for this matter to be given serious and immediate attention.

The latest to make a public statement on the issue was noted Grenadian defence lawyer Anselm Clouden who, Anselm Clouden, it is reported, made a prominent renewed call for the Grenada defence legalization of marijuana. lawyer, has added Clouden, the Grenada Informer reported some three his voice, not for weeks or so ago, wants the first time, legislators to pass laws that voice to thecall to would make the use of have marijuana marijuana legal for medicinal legalised for purposes. medicinal And Clouden, to purposes. (Internet demonstrate his seriousness, photo) has made it clear that he intends to make this an election issue, during General Elections which are constitutionally due in Grenada by 2018.

Addressing members of the media during a press conference on Monday, January 9, Clouden, a former advisor to the Government of Grenada, said the time has come for the Grenadian authorities to act in the interest of social justice and follow the Tobias Clement, trend across the globe.

Member of The outspoken lawyer noted Parliament for that it is internationally the ruling New accepted that marijuana has National Party in been used successfully in the Grenada, fight against a number of supports ailments, including cancer, Clouden’s call. diabetes, hypertension, (Internet photo) glaucoma and HIV/AIDS. Given that many Grenadians and other Caribbean nationals suffer from these illnesses, Clouden said ‘it is fair that persons so affected should have access to the treatment’ He also noted that there is established scientific evidence, which speaks to the economic, social, and health benefits to be derived from the effective use of marijuana and for government it is imperative to get in touch with the scientific trends.

And in preparation for making marijuana an elections issue, Clouden has teamed up with a teamed up with what he described as ‘a group of conscious, professional Grenadians’, and that they have started a movement that would take the fight to the electorate.

The group is expected to canvas the constituencies to find persons who share similar views, and who are likely to benefit from the medical use of marijuana, and to mobilise the people of Grenada to see the wisdom in having those who put themselves forward as constituency representatives, declare their position with respect to the use of marijuana.

At least one Member of Parliament in Grenada, Tobias Clement of the Government side, has come out in support of Clouden’s call.

Marijuana remains a banned drug in the law books of Grenada and the majority of Caribbean countries. Persons convicted for using, possession or trafficking can be sentenced to lengthy prison sentences and/or hefty fines. (Source: Grenada Informer)

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6. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Diaspora

UN envoy reflects on tenure

Story and photos by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net; kingnaking210@yahoo.c om US CORRESPONDENT

SOME DIPLOMATS are, clearly, more vocal. Others are taciturn, preferring to let their work reflect in their accomplishments. I. Rhonda King, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador to the United Nations, is, seemingly, the latter, with strong proclivity for not being in the limelight, despite her position.

In her first major, wide-ranging interview with THE VINCENTIAN, since presenting her credentials to former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, on Sept. 13, 2013, King discussed, among other things, her role, accomplishments and challenges to date.

Since her arrival at the UN, the former Diamond Village resident said she has played a central role on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Caucus of Permanent Representatives in the Implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent, which began on Jan. 1, 2015, and its accompanying Program of Activities, during which she was the lead negotiator for CARICOM. “We successfully negotiated for the

inclusion of language that allows for discussions on the issue of reparatory justice to take place during this decade,” said King, who succeeded Camillo Gonsalves, now Minister of Government in the incumbent Unity Labor Party (ULP) administration.

King is currently the chair of the UN’s Fifth Committee, which is tasked with overseeing the Administrative and Budgetary Affairs of the entire United Nations.

She said St. Vincent and the Grenadines was the GRULAC- [Spanish synonym for the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean] endorsed candidate and elected to serve as chair for one year, beginning September 2016.

The UN envoy is also the only second woman ever elected to chair the Fifth Committee in the history of the United Nations.

King — who has lived and worked in several Caribbean countries, including Trinidad and Tobago — said she is “ably assisted” on the Committee by Counsellor Marsena Ballantyne, of Sandy Bay, a former King aide at the St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Mission in midtown Manhattan, “who has applied her supreme organizational skills to this task.”

Additionally, King is

Amb. Rhonda King with President of the UN General Assembly.

the chair of Island Women Open Network (IWON), an initiative that promotes gender mainstreaming in the renewable energy sector of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), by building capacity at the community and grassroots level. King was appointed for a three-year term last September, during the Second SIDS Dock Assembly of State Parties.

SIDS DOCK is an initiative among AOSIS member-countries, providing SIDS with a collective institutional mechanism to assist them in transforming their national energy sectors. Its secretariat connects the energy sector in SIDS with global markets for finance, sustainable energy technologies.

Before her official appointment, she served as interim chair, for about two years, having been first nominated in Apia, Samoa in September 2014.

In this nexus, King said a number of projects for St. Vincent and the Grenadines are already in the pipeline, which she said will become operational this year.

In November 2016, King said she became the spokesperson for the largest and most diverse reform group of 42 member-states focused on United Nations Security Council Reform, L69.

“As a small nation, with no standing army, it is our duty to ensure that we have a properly functioning and fully representative Security Council,” she said, noting that Camillo Gonsalves also held that position during his tenure.

King said St. Vincent and the Grenadines was elected unopposed last June to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for 2017-2019, stating that the country was elected with the highest number of votes in GRULAC and the fourth highest number of votes

among the 18 members elected during that period.

“This good showing was due in no small measure to the efforts of our election officer and Deputy Permanent Representative, Nedra Miguel, who headed the campaign and played the essential Rhonda King, St. Vincent and the Grenadines role in securing our Ambassador to the United Nations. place on ECOSOC,” she said. for consideration this the next year or two on During the main year.

“The Role of Creativity session of the 71st During her tenure, and Innovation in General Assembly, King said the Mission Shaping the Future We Minister Counsellor has also continued to Want.”

Sehon Marshall, a former assist in establishing She said the goal of Deputy New York Consul diplomatic ties with this resolution, which General, was other nations, stating has already garnered coordinator, on behalf of that it is responsible for wide support, aims at the Group of 77 (G77) strengthening existing promoting awareness, and China, of the bilateral relations inspiring ownership and resolution, “Protection of between St. Vincent and mobilizing the Global Climate for the Grenadines and implementation of the Present and Future other countries, “which sustainable development Generations.” have been fruitful for our goals.

King said that country through grants, King, the author of illustrates that “We are partnerships on projects three books, said it was fully engaged across our and other assistance in important to note that Mission”, and proffered kind.” the administration’s Zero that, “As a Small Island For example, she said Hunger Initiative has Developing State, strong the nation’s relationship already received “much engagement in the with Italy at the United commendation” from the United Nations is Nations has recently international community. critical.”

(November 2016) King — who holds a The diplomat said the resulted in the approval Bachelor of Science in nation’s small capacity of a grant toward the mathematics and has been and continues construction of a chemistry, is the to be a challenge “that US$1.25m desalination immediate past chair of does mean we must work project in Bequia. the Investment doubly hard.”

“We are, of course, Promotions Agency of St. One initiative King fully engaged in the Vincent and the said she is excited about, ensuring that St. Vincent Grenadines (Invest SVG) and one that she and the Grenadines and a former Honorary anticipates will assist receives the requisite Consul for Portugal to St. greatly in overcoming assistance to facilitate Vincent and the this challenge, is a the implementation of Grenadines. training program for the the [UN’s] Sustainable She said she serves at staff of the Ministry of Development Goals,” she the pleasure of the prime Foreign Affairs, that said. minister and his Cabinet, would enable selected Additionally, King adding that she was staff members to work at said the Mission will “happy to do so for as the Mission to the UN table a resolution within long as they see fit.” for short periods “to give them a better understanding of the work of the UN and enable them to assist us even better.”

King hopes that this initiative will begin later this year.

She said the Mission also tries to “seize capacity-building opportunities for Vincentians,” such as the Climate Change Fellowship from the Alliance of Small Island States, under which the Mission had a fellow for the past year and has submitted another name

V Student recalls the Barbados tragedy

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. 7.

News

JANUARY 29, 2017 will be forever etched in the memory of Rolisha Roberts.

It was the day three of her colleagues died in a tragic vehicular accident in Barbados.

Roberts and six of her colleagues from her Division of Technical and Vocational Education of the SVG Community College were expected to return home from Barbados last Sunday, after completing attachments at the Crane Resort. That was not to be, as five of them were involved in a fatal vehicular accident in the wee hours of that Sunday morning, with three dying on the spot.

The young lady recalled that she and her six colleagues attended a staff party at the Crane Resort the night before the accident. Five of them left the party in the wee hours of Sunday morning, before the party was over.

Roberts and her roommate - Jyan Cato decided they were staying back to take some photos with their co-workers from the Crane Resort. “I stayed back to take pictures with other coworkers as memories to keep, because I don’t know if I will ever return to BIM (Barbados) again,” said Roberts in an interview with THE VINCENTIAN.

Encountering the tragedy “On my way home, we took that highway (the ABC Highway) as everyone did, but noticed that the traffic had developed so we wondered what caused that traffic. We saw people start getting out their vehicles, but we didn’t, so we decide to pass them. On our way pass them, we saw the accident, so I looked out the vehicle window and I saw one of my friend’s body half way out of the vehicle. I said that is not Danee (Danee Deverey Horne) and the lady who was in the vehicle with me said no, but I said yes that is her, you need to stop the car,” Roberts recalled.

The driver stopped the car and they all got out.

It was indeed her friends in the car. “I started screaming and crying,”

Roberts said in reaction to what she saw.

She also observed that Aziza Dennie was still breathing. She was fighting for her life. It was then that she began calling for help, but no one came to her assistance. “So I ran to try to help her and people start pulling me back saying that she (Dennie)have to wait until doctor reach,” the grieving college student told THE VINCENTIAN. But by the time the doctor/s arrived on the scene, 19-year-old Dennie was already dead, along with 17-year-old Danee Deverey Horne and 18year-old Carianne LeeNew Padmore.

The other Vincentian students - 18-year-old Darren Renaldo Daniel and 21-year-old Kemelius Boyea narrowly escaped death. They were transported by ambulance to the state-run Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

“I didn’t want another day to meet me in Barbados. I just wanted to get home because I knew no one can comfort me like my parents, especially my Mom. I am not recovered as yet, personally I don’t believe that I will forget about it and I don’t think that I will ever fully recover from it, but I am trying my best,” she confessed.

Barbados and the aftermath Roberts admitted that their time in Barbados was an enjoyable and informative one.

“Our six weeks were divided into two departments. My first three weeks were in the dining room, where I was dealing with hosting, serving food and setting up tables and other things. My last three weeks were spent in Housekeeping, which was divided into two sections, Laundry and Residence Managers. We all had a great time and from hearing my other teammates speaking before the accident, they all love their job,” said the Hospitality student.

Robert expressed her sympathies to all the families who were affected. “Well, to Danee’s family members, I know

Rolisha Roberts said she will live with the memory of how her colleagues lost their lives.

Left: (Front L-R): Rolisha Roberts, Carianne Lee-New Padmore, Aziza Dennie and Jyan Cato with Danee Horne (foreground) on a ‘free day’ during their attachment in Barbados.

that she loved her parents a lot, and I want to say to them that I am here for them anytime. I also want to say the same to Aziz’s mom and

especially her nephew Shackron. She really loved him and would always speak of him. I don’t know much about Carii (Carianne Lee-New

Roberts also wanted to dispel rumors that she and her colleagues were drunk. “We didn’t go to any random party, it was a staff party that we were invited to, and it was our last night there, so we went to enjoy ourselves.

None of us was drunk, so I will love you all to stop saying those stuff and try your best to know the Padmore), but I know she truth before spreading rumours,” she pleaded. was very respectful to For now, Roberts just everyone and I will wants to relax and find always stay by her solace with her family, family’s side,” said after a very heartRoberts. breaking experience.(KH)

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8. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. 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 Airport in “The Red”- A repeat COME FEBRUARY 14, 2017, the site of the airport at Argyle will, once again, be awash in red.

Yes, it’s Valentine’s Day, a day when traditionally, the western world turns red.

But the red that we expect to prevail at Argyle on that day has nothing to do with marking Valentine’s Day. Rather, the red will signify a day when the Unity Labour Party imprints itself in its colour — red — to remind this country and the world that it has accomplished a feat that some felt was unattainable.

In so doing, the ULP will, by its very politicisation of the event, fail to engender a pride among a significant percentage of Vincentians who live here, and who should be immersing themselves, along with the rest of the population, in a celebration of a remarkable undertaking.

We here re-print a portion of the Editorial of our issue of July 18, 2008, which we feel still has some relevance.

“Red was the colour of the day when the sod was turned, when the explosions effecting the first blast of raised land to make way for things new and modern, thundered up and down the Windward coast; when the crumbling noise of cement and bricks under the weight of a backhoe was heard from afar — all in a carefully orchestrated string of events to signal that the construction of the Argyle International Airport was no longer an ‘if’, but had become, in the face of doubting whatever-the-names, a ‘when’.

There has been no reason for this column to apologise for its support of the ‘coming’ of an international airport to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It has already set in the records its position that Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has turned what was an agenda (paper) item, what was for so long an elusive dream, into a movement to concretise a plan, once and for all.

That there will be adjustments to be made to costing, is an expected eventuality, given the rising costs of materials, etc. That must and, to put one’s neck closer to the guillotine, will come. Dr. Gonsalves knows that he has to come ‘true’ on this.

And now that the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ seems to be unfolding apace, no one would want to deny the Prime Minister a few more points on his way to an A Grade, we hope.

Yet, within all the celebration, it is sad that the ‘making’ of the International Airport has not

galvanized Vincentians into a single, harmonious chorus.

Somewhere along the route, the Government lost sight of the opportunity to use this unprecedented project (as per our history) to unite this country. Once a reality, it is but a downright foolish Vincentian who would not make use of the facility.

And it is too big to turn around once commenced.

That accepted, why the red? The colour red represents in our current political landscape, an irrefutable politically partisan expression.

To have staged what people are calling a ‘truck fete’ with a clear politically partisan colouration, was to make what would have been an otherwise historic day into another flag bearing, unadulterated show of partisanship.

The airport construction will continue. Dr. Gonsalves possesses an uncanny ability to win support for this project (and others) with a certain degree of ease. Patrick Manning, after some initial, obvious outward indications of hesitation given his own political situation, was swayed not only to give from his own overladen treasury, but to ensure that the first bite of the Caribbean Development Fund’s cherry, will be ours. Give the man Gonsalves credit!!

But also say to him that independent thinkers, NDPites, Greens and to come, PMCites, all want to feel part of this landmark development. However, they find it difficult to be a ‘wholesome part’, given the partisan characteristic that it has assumed, and all the chest thumping that surrounds every step achieved. History will be kind to visionaries and doers alike; no need to hasten this by self-imposed accolades.

A comment is made elsewhere in this issue by commentator V.S. Reid about the size(?) of the ‘crowd’ at Argyle, last Sunday.

Was it that Vincentians were legweary after another Carnival, or was it the beginning of an indication to the sitting political leadership, that we must cease putting a colour to this project?

That is a question on which the ULP should reflect as it continues unabated, allowed so to do by majority electorate support, on the road to realizing a dream so many share.

Correct the error sooner than later.”

A grand occasion threatened by petty politics NOT IN MY WILDEST DREAMS did I ever figure that this poverty-stricken two-by-four island could have deteriorated to a state of siege as that which now threatens to envelop us over something as simple, basic and straightforward as the decision to build an airport to accommodate international flights.

The fact is that we need such an airport, as everybody knows, but owing to many factors, jugglery over the timing and costs of such a worthy venture.

It so happens that the ULP held the floor simply because they reported that they were in a position as Government to accomplish such a feat “with the cooperation of the willing” which they identified, and as Julian Francis stressed, no cost to the taxpayer of this nation would be involved.

So the ULP administration went gaily ahead in the beginning, with not much bother from the NDP Opposition.

Then things went sour; the “willing” seemed unwilling; social upheaval in Venezuela; terribly bad physical weather intervened, so that our Government had to dip its hand in the national purse, borrow money, enter into all sorts of financial schemes, and keep changing dates for the opening of the project several times, from a delivery date to the present date of 14th February 2017.

During all this time, the Government treated operations of the Airport as a deeply kept secret, playing with cards clasped closely to chest, and only letting the nation and opposition know, for the first time, the actual costs of the airport, which now face a debt of a billion dollars plus, as an NDP accountant had anticipated about 2 years ago!

Now the opening of the airport has been scheduled for February 14, Valentine’s Day, when the colour red is traditionally worn, incidentally the colour of the ULP. The pattern is set. The first ULP Administration was established on April 1st 2001, All Fools Day, most appropriately. And when the ground was broken to begin actual work at Argyle, all the equipment and heavy machinery were transported to that point, smartly covered in RED! Next

February, 14 will indeed be a RED LETTER DAY. In truth, the opening will be virtually a dress rehearsal of the 40th anniversary of our carnival in July, five months away. Everything is being precisely planned and choreographed to derive maximum political mileage from this masquerade of old, in February! With plane-loads of supporters expected to touch down at Argyle from Canada and England, full of cheering ULP supporters who can be expected to buoy up and inspire the man of the moment in his 50th year of politics. A lively Castro-like threehour speech will be most welcome.

What is significant is that the Prime Minister says that no member of the NDP elected members who are invited to the opening will be asked to speak. What is the point? We boast a two party system as an essential ingredient in a democracy. The airport opening is a national event, neither a government nor a party affair.

Throngs of Vincentians plus a few statesmen of friendly nations would be in attendance. But only the voice of the Government would be heard locally. Almost a replica which takes place at times in the House.

The excuse or rationalisation is that the NDP is opposed to the building of the Airport, which is far from the truth. At least one of their members is of the view that it should be called after Ralph who devoted so much time, effort and work to see it through to completion.

Some people have said that NDPites have wished, among other things, that it be washed away by a tsunami. Does anyone recall Glen Jackson, radio set in hand, expressing the wish that the tall swells of the weather destroy the Cruise Ship Berth erected by the Mitchell Government?

Sometimes supporters are apt to lose their heads and I warned of the dangerous folly of the lunatic fringe operating on their own, in both parties.

In this regard, I recalled being almost hounded out of the Botanical Gardens where I attended the public

Continued on Page 12.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. 9.

Letters

Mixed feelings about AIA WITH THE Argyle International Airport (AIA) to be officially opened on Tuesday 14th February, it would be natural for this country to be in an expectant mood, as it awaits this auspicious occasion.

Ironically, this is not the case of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. While a portion of Vincentians are wishing doom, the majority remain sanguine and confident that this will be a new chapter in the history of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. A youthful section of the population especially awaits this historic occasion with bated anxiety.

The construction of the Argyle International Airport (AIA) was conceived as a national project that would provide a viable airline service for present and future generations of Vincentians, an initiative that deserves commendation from the entire Vincentian community.

Political disaffection, however, is apparently overshadowing the national importance of the Argyle International Airport. Some of our politicians do not have the statesman-like maturity to put the partisan politics aside and welcome this capital project, the largest ever in our political history, with open arms.

While we reserve the right to be critical about any aspect of our new “pride and joy”, we must not resort to aspersion and ill wish. Critical acclamation would be the best approach here.

In vogue is a view expressed by a sector of our population, that the impending arrival of planes at the Argyle International Airport will be a farce; but this is nothing short of pessimism.

Geographically, we are a small nation, one hundred and thirty-three square miles on the mainland and seventeen square miles in the Grenadines; but that should not limit us to thinking small. With the right attitude and a unified approach, we will not view the Argyle International Airport project with any kind of skepticism, but regard it as a newborn kid for which all of us as Vincentians are responsible.

Red, yellow, green, blue, it does not matter our political hue; we all have claim to this national landmark.

The occasion of February 14th is not about scoring political points. The discourse should be about national progress and development.

Patmos Richards

The same old thing Mr. Editor, You ever notice how the more things change, the more they remain the same?

Take the NDP and the ULP. We cry shame on Mitchell and the NDP when they lease/sell/giveaway Canouan to some Italians developers. The ULP jump in the whole opposition to this sale.

Now look what happen!

The ULP turn round and give away more of Canouan, hand a crooked Englisdman Buccament to do as he please, and now literally give way nearly 30 acres of land in Mount Wynne/Peter’s Hope.

Now tell me, is this development? We selling we birthright in the name of development.

NDP, ULP? Same old khaki pants, as far as I concern.

The roads!! They were

we can’t have real prosperity without safety, and this country definitely ain’t safe anymore. Check the number of guns floating around the place. And I must also say that the worst thing we could do is make crime a political football. NDP should stop saying or implying that they could make the country safer.

We can’t talk about prosperity without safety; and by all indications the country is definitely not safe. It have some Vincies in the Diaspora who tell me that they ain’t coming back home to live because it ain’t safe.

Time to stop playing politics with the country’s affairs and playing politics with people’s lives. We are not stupid. We know we have the power; it’s just

National Security Minister should resign

that we ain’t learn yet how to use it, because too many of us allow ourselves to be kept in ignorance by our politicians.

But, all in all, I believe that one day we will realize how powerful we are and demand better. Better days must be coming.

M Noel

the last sixteen years.

They have had enough time to curb if not turn increased across the land this situation (crime) THIS MIGHT be, resign. according to some, an You might want to say — including violent crime. around. Can we afford There must be some outlandish call, but I that those who live by to wait for another underpinning reason(s) must make it. the sword should die by sixteen years? God why this is so; but it In the face of the sword. Applied to forbid. spiralling crime in our our situation, that means seems we are wont to I repeat, the Minister ignore this. All to the country, SVG, the that if those who are of National Security detriment of the majority should resign, now!

Minister of National involved in illegal Security should resign. I activities (drug running) of the population.

We have had the same Paul, Kingstown am aware that this here want to ‘kill’ one administration here for portfolio rests with the another, then so be it.

Prime Minister so, by Pity that only those extension, my call also who sit at the bottom of means that he should the food chain of illegal activity are the ones who suffer at the wrong end of the sword.

But this attitude, i.e. around him - some old racists included let them kill one another, — are the greatest men on earth? The and it seems it is the devil will call every sinner a ‘good’ prevailing one here, only person, I am certain. serves to cast a blanket Further, the man attacks the media of fear over the lives of every chance he gets, then claims they innocent, law-abiding are his best friends. The man has got citizens, many of whom to be crazy. have become prisoners in It seems to me that Mr. Trump their own homes — wanted to be president, but now that protected, they think, by he is, he doesn’t have the lightest clue burglar bars and, for what to do. So he does the easiest those who can afford it, things - unto all that Barack Obama home security systems. did! He must undo everything a black All of this while we president did, not realizing that that await the fulfilment of a black president had to clean up the big promise to be ‘tough on mess left by a white president. crime and the causes of I have to live through Mr. Trump’s crime’, which, by the presidency, don’t get me wrong, and I way, is an adage will, since I don’t think Mr. Trump can borrowed from the touch me. America has already former Prime Minister of welcomed me, and he can’t do a the UK Tony Blair. darned thing to undo that.

The reality is that, In the meantime, I hope that since this boast about Caribbean leaders treat this man with being tough on crime and a long pole. the causes of crime was uttered here, crime has Garnet, N.Y.

Something is wrong with Mr. Trump DON’T MISUNDERSTAND ME. I am grateful for the opportunities that the USA has offered me since it accepted me as an immigrant some three decades and more ago. I am certain that there are a lot of Vincentians who would like to say the same thing, but some of them are so darned proud that they will keep this admission locked in their stomach; especially those who once spouted how bad American capitalism was, but who also reaped the benefits of this country.

But recently, especially since the election of Donald Trump as President, I am beginning to think that America would no longer be the home of the brave and a land of opportunity for all.

I can’t help but think that something is wrong with Mr. Trump.

The man is such a big liar that he doesn’t even realize when he is lying.

He says something and then when he gets in public, he denies ever saying that thing.

How can Mr. Trump tell me that some of those men whom he has

bad under Mitchell, now they worse under Ralph.

And is the same old trickery. No ongoing repairs or maintenance of our roads — main roads, feeder roads, village roads. We wait until they get worse than bad, then we borrow some money from some agency to do some major road work, making it look as though the government doing us a favour, when in fact they only doing what they supposed to do, only that it costing us more. And then they will be some big ceremony to open the road so that we could say, ‘Thank you Papa’.

Then there is the crime situation. It was bad, now it gone out of proportion. People ‘fraid to leave they homes.

Forty murders last year.

Now from my lil’ corner where I sitting, I believe

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10. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

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Love is in the Air

Introduction

IN THE NEXT TEN DAYS, the International Airport at Argyle will be officially opened, and all incoming and outgoing air traffic, into, and out of the mainland, will use this spanking new facility. All is set for two days of celebration at Argyle, first the Monday, February 13th, 2017, for the opening exercise, and then the following day, February 14th, Valentine’s Day, for the celebration rally. It will be a big event, a day of love, and many Vincentians will gather at Argyle to celebrate a dream come through.

Over the last two weeks, Vincentians have been flocking to the airport site to participate in guided tours. It is estimated that some 25,000 persons flocked to the Argyle airport to get a firsthand look at the facilities, and there has been an outpouring of love and patriotism.

Love for this new facility, because they as Vincentians, are proud to be the owners of a facility that is on par with the best airports in the Caribbean. Patriotism, because as Vincentians, they want to be identified with this dream, this achievement, and this heralding of a new economic development era.

Indeed, love is in the air, as Vincentians demonstrate their love for the ULP administration, and its leader, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, who provided the visionary leadership for the construction of the airport. Despite the obstacles, the dirty attacks and lies from the opposition NDP, and the problems created by the global economic and financial crisis, the ULP administration was able to deliver a state of the art international airport to the people of this country.

ULP in love with Vincentians The people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines trusted the ULP administration to deliver on this all important project. They returned the ULP to office in 2005 when Prime Minister Gonsalves announced his plans for the construction of the airport. This was followed by election victories in 2010 and 2015, a clear indication of the confidence placed in the ULP. The ULP has responded with an amazing outpouring of love. No sector of the economy suffered from this project, and the ULP did not withdraw its financial support of critical sectors like education, agriculture and health. If anything, the budgetary allocations for these sectoral areas increased over time.

The construction of the international airport is an existential dream come true. The largest capital project ever in the history of St.Vincent and the Grenadines was conceptualized, fashioned and constructed in a most extraordinary and creative way. This has moved the member of Parliament for Central Kingstown, St. Clair Leacock, to declare that the work is “a miracle”.

What all others thought was impossible, the ULP made it happen.

Only the ULP government possessed the capacity to make this work for the people of St. Vincent and the

Grenadines.

This project has attracted the personal attention of Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves. Back in 2005, when he addressed the nation about the airport project, he said, “Personally, I have been tireless in my efforts on the International Airport Project. I have spent countless manhours on this Project at home and abroad, and in diverse lands. I am fully satisfied that the government’s decisions on this matter are correct…”

The NDP’s response The opposition NDP is truly an amazingly unpatriotic party. With the airport on the verge of its official opening, they are caught between a rock and a hard place, trying to determine how to respond to this situation. Their party’s spokespersons on radio continue to badmouth the project, to the dismay of many of their supporters. They are trying all sorts of strategies to stop the opening from coming off. The News newspaper of January 20th 2017, even quotes the leader of the NDP, Lorraine Friday, “as appealing to the tower to have the flights aborted, as there is no justification for such form of opening”.

This, of course, is an incredible statement from a man who wants to take his party into government. Here is a project, beloved by Vincentians, at home and abroad, for the future development of the country, and Lorraine Friday has nothing good to say about it. And he goes as far as to call on the tower to turn away charter flights on February 14th 2017. Simply incredible and unbelievable!

One the other hand, St. Clair Leacock, the member for Central Kingstown, speaking in Parliament on January 30th, 2017, said “Mr. Speaker, I just rise to offer an unconditional congratulation to the government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on the pending opening of the Argyle International Airport. We on this side have had much to say, Mr. Speaker, but I conclude by saying that a generation unborn would ask, what were we quarrelling about?”

What were we quarrelling about?

That is a question that the NDP must now answer in relation to a project which is central to the future development of the country. As Leacock tries to imply, our young people will reflect on the attitude of the NDP to this project, and wonder how that political party could oppose something that is good for the country. History, and the electoral process will judge the NDP harshly in the future.

Conclusion Without a shadow of a doubt, February 13th and 14th will go down as very important days when the history of the country is written.

Vincentians will flock to Argyle on those days, to celebrate the opening of their beloved international airport.

Excerpts from Dr. the Hon. Godwin Friday’s Presentation on the 2017 Estimates MR. SPEAKER, the Estimates basically give the authority to the government, once it passes this House, to raise and spend money in accordance with the items that are set out therein.

When projections are made for the spending into 2017, it is expected, Mr. Speaker, that the various ministries would have looked at the programmes that they were undertaking over the past year or previous years, and frame new programmes that they wish to implement in the upcoming year or maybe even beyond.

It is not intended, Mr. Speaker, to be puffery or simply to advertise certain ambitions or positions within the various ministries. They are intended to be based on very thorough analysis of what is required in the economy and so that when the figures are put forward, when the result indicators are put forward, there is an idea that they will be able to meet them.

In the past, I have said based on the performance over the years, that the Estimates have become almost like guess, ‘guesstimate’ as to what the government intends to do, rather than being thoroughly grounded in what is possible and what is real, and ought to be able to guide not just the public servants but the private sector in what the economy will do, and what the government will do in order to assist them.

Over years, Mr. Speaker, we have paid particular attention to the ability of the government to finance its activities. And one of things we have paid attention to has been the creeping increase in the current account deficit that has occurred over the years. Sometimes, it may get technical for the ordinary person listening, but it is not really that difficult to understand if you break it down.

What it means essentially, when we talk about the deficit, the current account deficit of the government is where the spending on the ordinary operations of government exceeds its revenue. Everybody who runs a household knows that if your salary is a certain amount then you have to keep your light bill within a certain limit. You have to keep your food bill within a certain limit because you have to eat. These are regular things you have to do every day and if you buy a car, you will have regular payments; you will have to keep them within a certain limit. Your children to educate, all your expenditure has to be kept within the limit of your revenue which in our personal situation would be our salaries, our income, and for government it’s not different except they can borrow more money than probably the ordinary person.

But, the responsibility to ensure that the public finances are managed in a responsible way, in a fiscally responsible way, is no different. In the sense, that the Minister of Finance and the various heads of ministries, the ministers in the various ministries and the senior civil servants ought to seek to ensure that the spending of the various ministries are kept within the limit as to what is possible for us to pay; while at the same time seeking to maximize the return for the people of this country.

When this doesn’t happen, Mr. Speaker, it creates real consequences.

Sometimes you find that there are

certain ministers or persons within government or even policy makers or writers (who) will suggest to you that priorities ought to be given to taking care of people’s needs wherever that leads you with respect to public financing.

You have seen this in some countries around the world and what has happened is, that while seeking to protect and to advance the welfare of the general population, what seems to be good policy may in turn result in harm in the long run, in the sense that it is not sustainable in terms of the financing of the government Venezuela is a classic case. If it’s not sustainable, then we run the risk of doing more harm to the very same people we intend to benefit.

Mr. Speaker, during the years of the New Democratic Party in government, I wasn’t here but I have seen the record and I have heard from others who have been part of the New Democratic Party government from 1984 to 2001, the government adopted an approach whereby they always maintained a certain amount of rigor in the spending and the designing of programmes, so that there was always a surplus on the current account. I am told that the figure was somewhere around five per cent per annum, and the reason for this is that when there are capital projects that we wish to invest in, there is something we can put in the pot. To access many international programmes, you have to have what is called counterpart funding.

But it also does more than that, Mr. Speaker. It sends a message to the international community, whether it’s private banks or institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank, that a country who manages its affairs in that way and still maintains a growth rate approaching five percent an average per annum is a country that is well managed. That it is achieving its objective of promoting growth while at the same time not incurring excessive debt. This is the record the New Democratic Party had while in office.

Why is it important again, Mr. Speaker, is that it affects the ability of government in the long run to borrow, because where the deficit increases ultimately that increases the debt of the country. Accumulating deficit is debt and that creates a problem whereby the financing cost or the risks to finance government operation becomes higher for lenders, and then we have to increase the rate that we offer for bonds or borrow money at higher rates of interest, which becomes a problem for us as well as a developing country.

Mr. Speaker, the capital projects that I mentioned where we have to ensure that we can access international funding and engage our own contribution in counterpart funding which may arise from having a surplus on the current account, these involve things that affect people in their daily lives - construction of schools, of roads, of bridges, things in the infrastructure of the country that help to promote growth but also help to benefit people.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. 11.

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Caring from up close

“We must not just be recipients but givers! We must not just be keepers but donors! Giving brings relief, and sharing enlightens the heart. Caring joins and showing love is life. It is never enough to acquire all acquisition. It is never enough to have all our ambitions. We must endeavor to give, for giving out of a true heart is a true love, and a true love is life.” ? Ernest Agyemang Yeboah It is relatively easy to express care and concern from a distance. This is done, for example, when we engage in activities that do not result in our being physically or emotionally close to the recipients. Donors can provide the funds and/or material things that can assist individuals and communities in very faraway places; sometimes not even being aware of the minute details of how their philanthropic efforts help others. In many cases, their efforts bear lots of good fruit and may, for example, provide communities with potable water, access to health facilities, educational supplies, and so on. In so many instances it is easy to show love and concern from a distance – not having personal attachments.

It must be understood here that this writer is not discrediting those responsible individuals, companies, and organisations that provide the finances to support such worthwhile activities. Many are unable to have a physical presence, but care enough to make sure that they “encourage the hands and feet of volunteers” through their philanthropy. The corporate social responsibility initiatives of many firms now champion causes that focus on preserving healthy bodies, protecting fragile eco systems, encouraging reading and other academic pursuits, enhancing community activities, combating the impact of global warming, and so on.

We can be assured that it takes a lot of courage to show love and appreciation from up close. As previously explained, many businesses, service clubs, and individuals can readily contribute finances and/or materials to assist those in need. They may finance a much needed and appreciated activity, but never get physically close to the recipient. It takes much more effort, and a willingness to be vulnerable, to provide humanitarian service that involves personal interaction with the beneficiary of our acts of kindness and expressions of love. Our communities need more individuals who are ready and willing to show that they care from up close — to reveal their feelings of warmth and concern for the recipients of their acts of kindness. This explains the earlier comment about being willing to be vulnerable. Being willing to expose deep feelings for someone else, knowing that they may not necessarily appreciate the gesture and, as happens in so many cases, not even bother to express gratitude.

Many of this column’s readers have benefited from numerous acts of kindness from individuals, corporations, governments, and other concerned groups. Some have received loans, grants, and scholarships to continue their educational pursuits. Others have received monetary gifts that assisted with the payment for medical services

or provided seed money that enabled them to begin a business. Some have had travel grants that have allowed them to visit distant lands; to meet new friends and associates; to broaden their horizons. The list goes on and on in relation to the many forms of “gifts” that we have received.

As we reflect on these acts of kindness, it behoves us to consider whether we have articulated appropriate expressions of gratitude to those who were so kind to extend a helping hand. In addition, we are invited to consider how we can give back to society as a show of thankfulness and appreciation. Each of us can be better donors — not to be recognised or praised, but because it is the right thing to do. Each of us can find unique ways of being a blessing to others, even as we have been blessed. We all have the potential to care from up close.

Over the years, media houses, commercial banks, service clubs, and non-government organisations have sought to recognize individuals and groups that have exerted effort and energy to enhance the lives of others.

This is most commendable. Many of these individuals have shown that they care from up close. They have engaged in activities that relieved the pain and suffering of the sick and disabled, provided support to the efforts to improve communities and schools, and so on. Unfortunately, within recent times, several service clubs have been complaining that the number of willing volunteers appear to be shrinking. This is most unfortunate. There is so much more that can be done to improve living and working conditions for many around us. There are so many “fruits of goodwill” ready to be picked, but so few pickers.

We are encouraged by the many community groups that appear to be increasingly involved in cleaning/improving the environment.

It is especially refreshing to observe the youth (male and female) who participate in these environment enhancement efforts; cleaning gutters, rivers and beaches, planting trees, reading to the elderly and shut in, and so on. Our communities are in good hands as we encourage this generation to “get their hands dirty” and clean their surroundings. It can be quite rewarding to join forces with others to engage in activities that alleviate the plight and sufferings of others, and to engage in efforts that will preserve or enhance the environment. Persons at risk and fragile eco systems benefit from those individuals who make an effort and exert the energy to care from up close.

Such individuals feel a sense of achievement as they accept the challenge to get their hands dirty and to break out in a healthy sweat as they make this world a more beautiful place one community at a time.

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

Change Agents must strive for moderation ‘The damage leaders do when they get things wrong is greater than the benefit they create when they get things right…Caution, therefore is the proper attitude because the limits to wisdom are infinite.’ Amos Wilson, African American psychologist and believe there are policy solutions that thinker. are right for all times.

The moderate can only hope to be ‘ONLY A PERSON who feels his disciplined enough to combine in one preference to be a matter of course, not mind both a warm passion and a cool someone out of the ordinary, and who sense of proportion. ‘The damage has no thoughts of heroism, but only of leaders do when they get things a duty undertaken with sober wrong is greater than the benefit, enthusiasm, is capable of being the sort they create when they get things of change agent the world needs.’ right, to quote Max Weber. He aims to Amilchar Cabral, Cape Verdan be passionate about his ends but revolutionary thinker. deliberate about the proper means to Moderation is not finding the realize them. The best moderate is midpoint between two opposing poles sceptical about zealotry because he is and opportunistically planting sceptical of himself. He distrusts yourself there. It is more than having passionate intensity and bold a temperate disposition that does not simplicity because he knows that in harbour rival passions and competing politics the lows are lower than the ideas. On the contrary, moderation is highs are high. based on the awareness of the The moderate warns against inevitability of conflict. hubris. He is constantly in search of If you think the world can fit neatly balance between the cost and the together, then you do not need hoped for advantages; between the moderation. If you think all of your clearly necessary and the comfortably moral values point in the same desirable; between our essential direction, or all of your political goals requirements as a nation and the can be realized all at once by a duties imposed by the nation on the straightforward march along one individuals; between the actions of the course, then you do not need to be moment and the national welfare of moderate either. You can just head in the future. the direction of ‘truth.’

The moderate is always wary of Moderation is based on the idea quick fixes. He knows that good that things do not fit neatly together. judgment ushers in sustainable Politics is likely to be a competition progress, while lack of it brings on between legitimate opposing interests. frustration if not disaster. She frowns Philosophy comprises a tension on the notion that some costly or between two competing half-truths, spectacular action will deliver while personality is a battleground of miraculous solutions to all of our valuable but incompatible traits. problems. The moderate always Many of us are fuelled by passion reminds herself of human frailties, and policed by self-control. Neither especially the temptation to be shortimpulse is entirely useless nor sighted and selfish. entirely benign. The moderate person The moderate who emerges as has with her the capacity for leader or opinion maker calls on extremes. A moderate person can citizens to avoid the impulse of living start out hot on both ends, fervent in only for today. Moderates warn a capacity for rage, and fervent in a citizens against mindless thoughts capacity for order. But to live a and actions. Citizens are begged not coherent life, the moderate must find to mortgage the material assets of a series of balances and proportions. those yet unborn. Moderates most The moderate is forever seeking a often look in the mirror and become series of temporary arrangements, awe struck about the tremendous embedded in the specific situation of responsibility thrust on them. They the moment that will help her balance are humbled by the trust bestowed on the desire for security with the desire them. They look unkindly on the for risk, the call of liberty with the undue concentration of power and the need for restraint. The moderate many ways in which unchecked power knows there is no ultimate resolution could ruin individuals, the citizenry to these tensions. Great matters and the nation. cannot be settled by taking into Moderates must build their politics account just one principle or one around the distrust of what people viewpoint. might do if they have unchecked The moderate knows that she power. This may not appear to be cannot have it all. There are tensions common sense, but moderates believe between rival good. One will never get that most often, leaders have more to to live a pure and perfect life. The gain by being stewards of what they moderate has limited aspirations in have inherited than by being what can be achieved in public life. destroyers of what is there and There are no clean and ultimate creators of something new. resolutions. You expand liberty at the In the final analysis, the moderate cost of encouraging license. You crack is absolutely convinced that man has down on license at the cost of limiting always been or has become a problem liberty. to himself. The moderate therefore The moderate can only hope knows that if mistakes are to be to have a regulated character, made, the mistakes must be made stepping back to understand opposing slowly because it is better to proceed perspectives and appreciating the to a decision gradually than to rush merits of each. The moderate into anything before its time and understands that political cultures are bring on dislocation and destruction. traditions of conflict. The moderate can only hope to achieve a balance Send comments, criticisms & that is consistent with the needs of suggestions to jomosanga@gmail.com the moment. The moderate does not

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12. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Argyle Airport - EC$1.4 billion foolÊs paradise ACCORDING to retired British Royal Air Force Safety Engineer, Warrant Officer Ivan O’Neal BSc (Hons) MSc, MBA, Argyle airport is a EC$1.4 billion fool’s paradise.

Policy makers say that the Argyle airport will be opened on 14 February 2017. This will not be a historic occasion. According to the Argyle Airport Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the original idea for Argyle airport was to cater for B747400 jumbo jets. However, it will simply be a transferring of the workload from E.T. Joshua airport to Argyle airport.

There will be no boost to the SVG economy.

To date, we do not know the official orientation of the runway, and we have not seen the five-year continuous wind study. We do not know if the runway has passed any tests to cater

for B747-400 jumbo jets.

If the 14 February 2017 is to be an historic occasion, policy makers should land and take-off a fully loaded B747400 jumbo jet.

We are not aware that Argyle Airport has a 95% usability factor, so Vincentians should prepare themselves to catch a boat to Bequia or Canouan, when gusty winds prevent landings and take-offs from the white elephant known as Argyle airport.

We are very deeply concerned that the width of the runway is only half the required width for an instruments runway, which is needed for landings in bad weather.

We are deeply concerned that, having landings and take-offs at the Southern Stubbs Bay end, will have a fatal impact on the birds at Milligan

Cay. These birds are legally protected migratory and resident species under the Wildlife Protection Act CAP 72.

Milligan Cay lies in the direct approach corridor of aircrafts.

According to the EIA, the St. Vincent Coastal Zone Management Report (CZMR 2006) indicates that beach erosion rates appear to have accelerated over the last 8 to 10 years.

Between 1997 and 2000, the mean erosion rate along the windward coast of St. Vincent is estimated to have been around 1.6 metres per year. How long will the Argyle airport last?

We are concerned that the runway is already exposed to flood water and exposed to very strong and gusty crosswinds. With climate change and rising sea levels, it is only a matter of time before the sea water will

submerge the runway, leaving the people of St. Vincent stranded without an airport.

Argyle airport has been a substantial opportunity cost of EC$1.4 billion to the SVG economy. It is a big economic mistake and is choking our economy.

The money could have been put to good use: to build factories to produce new agro-products for export; to create new jobs, build a science and technology university; to build a fish factory for fish processing and canning; to set up a fresh water export industry for exporting drinking water in tanker loads; to build a secondary school in Canouan or build new hospitals in St. Vincent and Union Island.

SVG Green Party www.svggreenparty.com Find us on Facebook and Twitter

February 4th: World Cancer Day impact of cancer plans in all countries; reduce exposure to cancer risk factors; IN ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES, during provide universal coverage of HPV and the month of October, there is an active buzz that HBV vaccination; reduce stigma and fosters awareness of breast cancer. In 2016, the dispel myths about cancer; provide SVG Medical Association chose to also concentrate universal access to screening and early on prostate cancer as it makes up a great majority detection for cancer; improve access to of male cancer cases here. The thing is, there are services across the cancer care other cancers that are rampant, and unfortunately, continuum; provide universal St. Vincent and the Grenadines is not left out in accessibility to pain control and distress their destructive wake. It is for this reason that management, and; improve education World Cancer Day came into being. and training of health care professionals.

World Cancer Day is an international day Uniquely, there is the popular belief that as marked on February 4th, to promote awareness of cancer affects everyone in different ways, everyone all cancers and to inspire prevention, detection, and therefore, has the power to take action to cut down treatment. This day was founded by the Union for on its impact on the individual, his family and his International Cancer Control (UICC) which community. Like many other chronic, nonsupports the goals of the 2008 World Cancer communicable diseases, cancer brings with it, its Declaration. This Declaration earnestly beseeches signs, and symptoms; but there are also risk factors government leaders and health policy-makers to aid that give the individual somewhat of an idea of in meaningfully reducing the global burden of where his susceptibility to this deadly disease may cancer; in promoting greater equity, and integrating lie. World Cancer Day, therefore, provides the cancer control into the world health and opportunity for all persons to reflect on what they development agenda. can do, and to make a pledge to take action. Hence GOAL AND TARGETS the reason for the powerful tagline with which the The overarching goal of the World Cancer Day has come for 2016-2018: “We can. I can.”

Declaration is, “There will be major reductions in Beginning with the individual, all are encouraged to premature deaths from cancer, and improvements in make a difference in this fight. quality of life and cancer survival rates. The nine By the same token, Heather Bryant, Vice targets are, to: strengthen health systems for President of Cancer Control for Canadian effective cancer control; measure cancer burden and Partnership Against Cancer, puts it this way, “On

by Gloriah…

A grand occasion threatened by petty politics Continued from Page 8. reception held by Milton Cato to celebrate our accession to Independence on 27th October 1979. I was then a member of the satanic, communistic “Three Headed Monster” led by Ralph, Parnel and Renwick, according to the gospel of the SVLP. So it goes around. If I were in good health, I would have been present at the opening of the Airport, cost it what it may. After all, I am a Vincey patriot to my marrow.

From morning, the British had set up our two-party system of

warring groups, and it is shocking to observe that Ralph has maintained this system with sharpened edges. In the 1950s, there was Sam Slater associating himself with Joshua on a progressive bill, and Joshua boisterously telling the House “No, he is not with me”.

Similarly, with the AIA today, the crux of the matter is that the ULP claims that the NDP objects to the Airport, with the NDP holding forth that the project could be pursued in principle, but certain well-known conditions and provisions must apply.

Lastly, it is a dangerous lie for

the ULP to hold that Godwin Friday has asked that the Tower refuse landing rights to flights on the appointed day, without more.

Firstly the statement was made BEFORE it was publicly known that the AIA had obtained certification.

Secondly, Friday was indirectly asking that they seek out an alternative nearby-site, not crashland as the lunatics suggested.

Next week, I am inclined to follow up on Rolin Stapleton’s firm belief: the possibility that a snap election in March-April 2017 will be called by the ULP drunk with success.

World Cancer Day, we have an opportunity to collectively examine cancer control strategies to identify winning formulas that will accelerate progress. The goal for all of us is to ensure fewer people develop cancer, more people are successfully treated and that there is a better quality of life for people during treatment and beyond.” How does this translate to St. Vincent and the Grenadines?

Currently, there are many deaths from cancer across a wide cross-section of our population, contributing a percentage of the 8.2 million people who die from this disease worldwide every year. In our situation, should we use the opportunity the Day affords us to spread the word and raise the profile of cancer in the minds of our citizens and in the media, with the intention that it is pushed so far on the front burner that strategies and formulas; both from the authorities, other groups and individuals become so urgent and effective that progress is, in fact, fast-tracked and incidence begins to drastically lessen? As a matter of fact, it may just do us all well if we adopt World Cancer Day and vigorously go about to achieve its goals.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. 13.

Tribute

The Mighty Leader – Calypsonian Extraordinaire Maxford Symore Burke, known more fondly as Selwyn ‘The Mighty Leader’ Burke, died on January 14, 2017, in his

The Mighty Leader gave up calypso composition and singing to concentrate on the gospel genre.

adopted homeland, Trinidad and Tobago. He was born on May 17, 1935.

He passed away peacefully at the Port of Spain General Hospital after prolonged illness.

Leader had made that twin island Republic his home from 1982. He had identified that Caribbean country as (perhaps) offering greater opportunity for him to care for his family.

He had fathered eleven children and before migrating, supported himself and his children with what he earned as a Male Attendant at the Kingstown General Hospital, since renamed the Milton Carto Memorial Hospital, and

First time

by Selwyn ‘Mighty Leader’ Burke (1973) 1 During the last general election Friends it was really a jam session Once now again we gone down in history The eyes of the world looking down on we Thousands of people still studying How a country so small and have so much thing A tiny dot on the map indeed So it is a small garden with bitter weed Chorus: It was the first election after Statehood First time an election as hard as wood Our first thirteen constituencies So it was experience for you and me First time our name ever went so high First time that we had an election tie First in the world we ever had these things That two parties run but none didn’t win 2 It look as if the people was so confused And they didn’t know which party to choose Everybody had the confidence They were going to form the new government But when the only independent get on top Over ninety thousand people head get hot Is to hear how some ah them start to bawl Wondering on which side Mitchell going to fall 3 The Governor and all he get frightened too And make a broadcast what he going to do He put back the old government in power But that couldn’t last as Miss Janey fire Next day when he hear the Alliance form All ah them get so quiet and calm From there I believe Mitchell is the boss Up to now the Governor stop riding the horse 4 First time in life friends we ever see One man confusing a whole country Days after days pass people cant eat Some ah dem left they house sleeping in the street Some ah dem who had out their bet and thing But the two parties tie so they couldn’t win Prisoners and all start to play ole mas First time we see the police using tear gas.

what he could muster as a part time mason.

And while most who knew him would recognise and remember him as a ‘Green Hill man’ Leader was, in fact, born in Troumaca and claimed a lineage that included the well-known Anthony, Akers, and London families. He settled in Green Hill in the early 1960s with his grandmother.

While little is recorded about whether he had his beginnings in the calypso art form during his early years in Troumaca, it is as a ‘Green Hill man’ that he would launch on to the cultural/calypso landscape of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Information reveals that he was a ‘member’ of that group of calypsonians who developed under the guidance of the late Walton ‘Tanny’ Peters, a prolific composer at the time.

Leader, however, did most of his own compositions, with ‘Tanny’ assisting with refinement.

would say that he could have easily been the winner on more than one of those occasions. But that is another story.

His one hold on the coveted Calypso King title came in 1966. He did, as the competition allowed at the time, one song entitled ‘Old Time Story’, a witty, tongue-incheek piece inspired by a programme of the same name that was broadcast on the Windward Islands Broadcasting Service (WIBS), the lone local radio service of the day, and co-hosted by Frank Rojas and Bob Connell.

He became, in the process, the first North Leeward native to win the coveted title.

His band of work

Whatever the records of competitive calypso here might indicate otherwise, Leader provided calypso enthusiasts with some of the most entertaining, thought-provoking and crafty calypsos in the decade 1965 — 1975.

Who could forget: ‘First Time’ - the perennial favourite and The competition capsule of a significant juncture in our political He entered the charged calypso arena at history? ‘De Ghost’ - the a time when the likes of hilarious commentary on the Mighty Sheller, Lord a Vincentian superstition? , ‘Price Hawke and The Mighty Control’ — a lamentation Toiler, to name a few, swam with consummate laced with humour?

‘Questions.. No Answers’ ease as the big fish in a — a politically charged developing pond. but crafty commentary He struck a chord that was not aired on the immediately when he entered the fray in 1964, live radio broadcast from singing his way into that Victoria Park on the year’s finals of what was night of the competition in 1974? ‘Motherless Me’ then referred to as the - the deeply personal Calypso King Competition, now dubbed exhortation that related to so many in society? the Calypso Monarch Competition. Those who ‘Heart Transplant — a hilarious recount and witnessed that commentary on a historic competition were achievement in medical convinced that Leader procedures? And the was one to watch. He would make the finals of patriotic ‘St. Vincent is Me Home’ — capturing that competition on another ten occasions up patriotism in words and until 1975 — a formidable songs that touched the deepest chambers of our 11 times out of 12 tries. senses?

During that period, That Leader would 1964 — 1975, Leader have been undone as per created a National Calypso Monarch Record the number of times he of sorts when he claimed was ignored for the calypso crown, does not second place on five take way from the occasions — 1965, 1967, strength of his band of 1968, 1969 and 1970. work, the impact it had There are many who

Maxford ‘The Mighty Leader’ Burke – one of the most consistently entertaining and impacting calypsonians in the modern period of the art form. then, and what it means for today’s St. Vincent.

And that contribution and impact germinated in the Green Hilland bore fruit with him forming the Blue Light Combo — a musical outfit that offered an opportunity to young men especially, to hone their musical skills and their calypso craft, and become upright citizens in the process. Leader, unbeknown to many, was an accomplished guitarist.

Calypso enthusiasts are convinced that today’s bards need to acquaint themselves with the outstanding literary genius of men like the Leader, whose formal schooling might not have exposed him to the rudiments of ‘good literature’, but whose life experiences, his reading and his listening to others, informed him in ways and work, to a measure that would impress a host of literary luminaries.

The man and his legacy And there is more to the man. Daughter Doris Phillips recalls that her father was a stern man, a disciplinary; one who never lost contact with his children and grandchildren.

Even before he left for Trinidad and Tobago, he had become a selfprofessed born again Christian. He continued to express this new found faith in music, composing and delivering gospel numbers for his church.

Ad there was a time when his legacy as a calypsonian transcended the generations of his clan, when his granddaughter, Andrea Phillips, became active in the Junior Calypso competitions here, competing first for the Kingstown Government School and then the St. Joseph’s Convent Kingstown.

She might not be active anymore, but there is every chance that she or one of her clan will resume the work of the unmistakeable, incomparable Leader.

Leader craved his place in our cultural landscape through hard work and consistency, not to mention a world of skill. His contribution we can learn from, not least that cultural expression that finds its genesis in real experience and honesty, and will last through the generations.

Thanks, Leader, for your time with us. May you rest in eternal peace.

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. 15.

14. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

NLSCO NLS SCO O hol holds lds Awa A Awards ardss Ce Ceremony: erem mony Greater Gre reate ter rec ter recognition ecognnnition ition t on pr promised rromi omiiised sed d Kemrick Westfield tournament’s s leading Westfield (right) was the tournament’ wicket-taker. wicket-taker. He received his prize from Ronella Lampkin – Miss North Leeward.

Murray, President of Rayon Murray, the NLSCO, promised even greater recognition of outstanding North Leeward ued sponsorship.

Sports, he said, residents. offer “future and stability.”

Male Awardees

final.

Desron Maloney was also fitted out with rewards including a cricket bat from St. Vincent Automotive Cooperative Society.

Maloney was the highest run getter in the tournament. He received an extra $100 for his century 145, which was also the best individual score. Two other batsmen knocked three figures - Darren Greaves 134 and 101, and Nigel Small 101. They were also rewarded for their efforts.

Peto Stars’ Kemrick Westfield earned himself a trophy and a box of cricket balls for being the tournament’s leading wicket –taker.

The MVP of the Tournament accolade was reserved for Allison Samuel. His cameo, 22, in the final, to add to his series of critical half centuries and wickets at crucial times, earned him a trophy and a cricket bat, compliments North Leeward native Harvey Caine.

The Awards Ceremony was held at the Beach Front Restaurant in Fitz Hughes.

The NLSCO is also guaranteed support from perennial sponsors VINLEC. They VP of the Male T/20 final Ronique LaBorde receives his prize have been spear spear-from Sylvanus Morgan/VINLEC. Shamon Hooper of Peto Stars (right) (rightt) receives the th heading cricket in Challenge trophy from VINLEC’s Foster..

VINLEC’s rep. Sylvanus Foster North Leeward for Competi-the Organising There were also awards for the Competi about 20 years. tion’s: Most Valuable Player (MVP) Manager of VIBN VIBN-Committee for the volunteer work they Shanel McKie of Golden Girls; Highest LEC’s Cumberland Director of Sports\Ministry of were doing, and noted that “volunteering is Wicket Taker - Yolande Granderson; and Power Station Tourism, Sports and Culture, an unthankful process.”

Peto Stars – Champions of the NLSCO/VINLEC T/20 0 Cricket T Tournament. ournament. o Highest Run-getter - Sherry Ann Williams Nelson Hillock, Director of Sylvanus Foster apologised to the gathering for The Sports Director appealed to the who knocked up the most runs. pledged his Minister Cecil Mc Kie’s absence. sports men and women of the area to work Sports, urged the sports AND O THER outs tanding per sonaliStory ‘KOJAH’ ATHLETES ATHLETES TTH OTHER outstanding personaliStory by: by: WILLIAM ‘K OJAH’ ANTHONY Dyer expressed pride in being associated persons of North Leeward company’s Hillocks congratulated those who hard in keeping with the dedication and North Leeward Leeward constituency constituency are in Photos by: ties in the North by: JULES ANTHONY contin-with the competition, and pledged contin commitment to received prizes, and encouraged those who discipline that sports require. He reminded to work hard. greater recognition from the Nor th for greater for North the NLSCO. didn’t, to strive to be on the rostrum next them that there was a West Indies Leeward Sports Sports and Leeward The members of the team Peto T/20 player from the area - Kesrick time around. He praised the members of OrganisaCultural OrganisaStars were all smiles as they Williams whose skills were honed tion (NLSCO). copped most of the awards up for in the area of Spring Village President of grabs in the VINLEC T/20 Hard where he originates. Williams the NLSCO Ball tournament. They beat Ajuba turned out for his home team Rayon Murray in the final staged at Petit Bordel Ajuba in the VINLEC North expressed the Playing Field November last year, Leeward T/20 Competition. hope of providing to capture the title for the first a greater form of time.

Female Awardees appreciation to Their captain - Ronique Laborde individuals, A number of persons and took the MVP of the Final Award when he business entities received certifi for his innings of 89 which certifi-addressed his cates as tokens of their contribu propelled his team to 204. He contribu-organization’s tion to the district. Murray also earned a trophy and cricket bat Cricket Awards praised DMG Furniture, a North from the Kingstown Cooperative Ceremony, Leeward-based manufacturing Credit Union.

Saturday 21st entity, which was singled out for Arben Neverson, also of Peto January, 2017. special mention, that entity Stars, was rewarded with a trophy Murray having sponsored the Female and wicket keeping gloves, he anticipates Cricket Competition. having been adjudged the tourna tourna-monetary awards Montgomery Dyer, ownownment’s best wicket-keeper. His and trophies as er/manager of DMG Fu rniture, rewards came compliments of Furniture, becoming the was on hand to present the former West Indies wicket keeper norm as tangible championship trophy to Golden Michael Findlay. expressions of Girls of Fitz Hughes.

Peto Stars’ Jeffron White s, top wicket-keeper, wicket-keeperr, poses received the Phernel Charles Arben Neverson, of Peto Stars, this recognition.

Also recognised was second Award for Jeffron White receives the Phernel Charles Award with Ronella Lampkin – Miss North Leeward - after rophy Trophy Tournament, receives his reward Allison Samuel, MVP of the Tournament, Nelson Hillocks, Michael Joseph (right) accepts the 2nd Place T placed Attack Girls of Spring. award for the best catch in the the best catch in the finals from Miss Charles herself. receiving his trophy and gloves. on behalf of his team Ajuba. from Harvey Caine.

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16. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

News

BBO marks 2nd Anniversary

cancer by Mr Harvey Farrell, of Health Word fame, on Tuesday 7th February, 2017, beginning at 7:00pm, at the Layou Roman Catholic Centre; an evening of Sports and Games, at the Layou Hard Court, beginning at 7:00pm on Friday 10th February, at 7pm.

Mr Farrell’s lecture will be divided into two segments and will allow for interaction by the audience. The Sports and Games evening is expected to feature a wide range of sports, including soft-ball cricket, netball, volleyball, dominoes, cards and checkers.

The BBO has extended an invitation to all residents of Layou and the surrounding areas to attend these events.

The Becket Benefit The BBO was Organization presented an award (a founded by tablet) to the most outstanding calypso/cultural icon student at the Layou Government Alston Becket Cyrus as THE BECKET BENEFIT ORGANIZATION (BBO) will mark its second anniversary with a week of activities.

Included in the anniversary activities are: a lecture on

School’s Graduation, June 2016.

an instrument through which he could return some goodwill to the community — Layou which nurtured him, and to involve other Layou resdients in that mission.

Since its inception, the organization has extended assistance The Executive Committee of the Becket Benefit Organization, for tertiary level including founder Alston Becket Cyrus (seated left). medical care to at least one resident of THE VINCENTIAN extends milestone, and wishes it Layou; offered bursaries and congratulations to the BBO on continued success in pursuit of other awards to students of the its achievement of another its noble cause.

Layou Government school; and held Christmas parties and gift offerings for the children of Layou and surrounding communities.

The BBO is committed to assisting with the education and health needs and general well-being of the residents of Layou and its environs.

Funds to support the work of the BBO come through events organized by members, among such events being the now annual post A scene from another successful Christmas Party, 2016, hosted Vincy Mas Soca Masters

by The Becket Benefit Organization.

Concert.

V High profile murder PI winding down News

matter was further adjourned to Monday WHEN THE PRELIMINARY 6th February due to Inquiry (PI) into the death the Prosecutor’s of 36-year-old real estate absence. agent Sharlene Greaves, However, Delpleche of Dorsetshire Hill, confirmed to THE resumes on Monday 6th VINCENTIAN on February, Senior Wednesday of this Prosecutor Adolphus week, that the Delpleche is expected to application would be make an application under made on February 6.

Vernon Primus – murder the Witness Protection Veron Primus, 39, accused is conducting his Special Measures Act, in of Vermont, is own defence at his PI. relation to a certain charged with the witness. murder of Greaves, Serious Offences Court At the end of the whose body was found at on January 4 this year. hearing at the Serious her Bijou Real Estate So far, 12 witnesses have Offenses Court on office, Arnios Vale, on testified for the January 23, Delpleche November 13, 2015. She prosecution, and another had disclosed that he had sustained multiple four or five may be would have made the stab wounds. called. application on Tuesday The PI started before Primus is conducting 31st January, but this Chief Magistrate his own defence. was not done, as the Rechanne Browne at the

by HAYDN HUGGINS

SVG dips slightly in Corruption rankings ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES dropped slightly in the 2016 Corruption Perception Index rankings, moving from 29th in 2014 to 35th among the 176 countries assessed last year.

Neighboring St Lucia was also ranked 35th to be overall ranked 3rd among CARICOM member states.

According to the statistics which were published January 25, SVG amassed 60 points.

The Bahamas had the best ranking for the region, placing 24th with a score of 66 points, and Barbados was second ranking 31st with a score of 61.

Regarding the performance of the other countries in the region that were assessed last year: Dominica was ranked 38th, Grenada 46th, Cuba — 60th; Suriname — 64th; Jamaica — 83rd; Trinidad and Tobago — 101st, Guyana — 108th and Haiti — 159th.

The list is published by Transparency International, an international non-governmental organization which, since 1995, has ranked countries annually by their perceived levels of corruption, determined through expert assessments and surveys.

Countries are rated on a scale beginning at ‘100’ for being very clean, to ‘0’ which is an indication that the country is highly corrupt.

New Zealand and Denmark are both tied for 1st in the overall list with Somalia ranking last among the countries assessed in 2016. (DD)

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. 17.

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18. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Arts

YAF programming heightens Youlou Art Centre, at Villa Beach, is on a roll!! We are making it happen.

Our 3 workshops in February mark the inauguration of the Youlou Art Centre. The first workshop starts Thursday, Feb. 9th. This workshop is a painting class for children age 6 to 10. It is for children who would like to spend a few hours each Thursday afternoon at the centre painting.

The instructor for the

month of February is Ms. Cecile Comblen. The time for this workshop is from 3:30 to 5:45 pm. To register, call Theo Saunders Shop 457 1914.

CXC Art 101 will start on Saturday, Feb. 11th. This workshop is for all CXC students who are interested in obtaining successful results in their CXC art exam. The instructor is Ms. Sherika Sayers. The time for this workshop is from 10 am to 12 noon,

The YAF’s Jewellery Workshop will be conducted by a renowned British designer.

Saturday mornings.

To register, call Theo Saunders Shop 457 1914; for more info, call 454 9527.

Feb. 20th through Feb. 23rd, Jewelry making workshop.

Youlou Art Centre will be offering 4 jewellery making workshops. The focus of the workshop is to offer anyone who is keen on learning and developing their skills in jewellery-making, the opportunity to create new and exciting products for a new business.

All participants must be age 15 and older.

Each workshop is limited to 8 people.

These workshops are being taught by Ms Hilary Auty, a British designer who has been coming to SVG for many years. She is interested in working with people who have been making jewelry or thinking of doing so.

She will teach basic techniques through demonstrations. She will

offer hints on presentation of products and packaging. She will talk about design, and encourage participants to use their imagination and seek ways of reflecting on the feel of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The focus of this workshop will be to learn the language of jewellery-making, learning the names and uses of the various components involved in jewellery-making. The time for this workshop is from 9 am to 1 pm.

To register, call Theo Saunders Shop 457 1914.

March 4th is the 3rd annual Arts Show and Sale, and the public launch of the Art Centre and Gallery. It is a fundraiser for the Art Centre and Gallery. There will be a cocktail reception with entertainment with

wine and cheese and wonderful “grab bags” on sale.

It promises to be an enchanting evening. The public is invited; tickets

are now on sale at the Theo Saunders Shop/ call 457 1914.

(Submitted by Camille Saunders Musser)

Designers’ workshop to be held here VINCENTIANS are being offered the opportunity to learn Computer-Aided Design (CAD) for Fashion, in the areas of Pattern Making and Pattern Grading.

A one-week workshop in this regard begins next Monday, February 6.

According to local co-ordinator of the workshop, Kimya Glasgow Inc., the workshop will be facilitated by Mr Shurnel Oliviere of Trinidad and Tobago, who has over 25 years of experience working with CAD and as a Production Management Consultant in the Garment Manufacturing Industry.

He is the current regional trainer for CADCAM Solutions, an Australian software company.

CAD Pattern Making is the computerized process of developing 2dimensional patterns that can be printed to cut out the fabric for Garment Construction. Grading is the process of quickly and accurately resizing a pattern into a range of other sizes.

Pattern Making is a crucial part of the design and garment manufacturing process, and CAD takes the process to the next level, making it more efficient and cost productive for small companies and big factories alike.

The overarching goal is making the SVG garment production and fashion industry more competitive on a regional and international scale, with the main goals of the CAD workshop being:- to better prepare aspiring and existing Vincentian Designers for the Export Market; and to create employment and entrepreneurial

Shurnel Oliviere of Trinidad and Tobago,the regional trainer for CADCAM Solutions, will be the workshop’s facilitator. opportunities for the Tech Sector.

Training in this area will allow for entry into the garment industry at the middle tier, due to the technical skill being offered, and is among the highest technical skill levels, with one of the highest rate of pay within the fashion and garment industry.

The workshop is suitable for fashion designers, seamstresses and tailors, AutoCAD, IT, and Technical Drawing students and graduates, who wish to expand their capabilities.

Garment Construction is an asset, but not necessary.

The initiative is partially supported

by OECS Export Development Unit/Competitive Business Unit through a grant, with assistance from Invest SVG.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. 19.

News

Kemelius Boyea recovering well KEMELIUS BOYEA celebrated his birthday last Saturday 28th January. The following day, he was involved in a fatal vehicular accident in which three of his colleagues from the Division of Technical and Vocational Education of the Community College perished.

Now, he is currently at the Queen Elizabeth hospital (QEH) in Bridgetown, Barbados, on the road to recovery.

Last Sunday, Vincentians awoke to the

terrible news that three Vincentian students who were part of a sevenmember group on attachment at the Crane Resort, St Philip, Barbados since last December, had died in a vehicular accident in that country. The accident, involving a white Mitsubishi Lancer and a champagne coloured Toyota Noah taxi, claimed the lives of 23-year-old Andre Jabarry Gittens of River Land, St Philip, who was the driver of the

Lancer, and Vincentian female students 17-yearold Danee Deverey Horne, 18-year-old Carianne LeeNew Padmore and 19year-old Aziza Awanna Dennie . Two Vincentian males - 18-year-old Darren Renaldo Daniel and 21year-old Kemelius Boyea narrowly escaped death.

When THE VINCENTIAN visited Boyea’s home in Chateaubelair on Monday, his mother was already in Kingstown making preparations to fly to

Sad day for Dennie family RELATIVES OF Noel.

VINCENTIAN student - 19Aziza attended the year-old Aziza Awanna Kingstown Dennie of Redemption Government School, Sharpes, who along with two Stoney Grounds, and other students of the Division later the J.P Eustace of Technical and Vocational Memorial Secondary Education of the SVG School before enrolling Community College lost their at the Division of lives in a vehicular accident Technical and in Barbados, said they are Vocational Studies at devastated by her death. the Community Dennie was part of a College. She was an Aziza Dennie was seven-member group on avid football player described as a young attachment at the Crane and fan.

Resort in Barbados since last lady who took her Cynthia Dennie, December. She was expected education seriously.

Aziza’s grandmother, back soon, but in the wee said she and her hours of the Sunday, after leaving from granddaughter shared a very close a social event, tragedy struck, resulting relationship. in the deaths of the three students.

The grandmother said they were in Noel Dennie, uncle of the deceased, regular contact by text (telephone). “If I said that his niece was a disciplined girl don’t see she online, I would leave a text who took her education very seriously. and when she see it, she would text “Since Aziza dead, I still hearing her back,” Cynthia said. saying “Uncle Rasta Man’ in my head.

“Saturday morning I text her and say, She was one of the most discipline youth ‘Yo alright?’ she say, ‘Yes’. I said ‘Be in Redemption Sharpes. Everybody love safe,’ she said, ‘I am safe, don’t worry her, and everybody said they were about me, I am good. happy the way she keep up herself,” said “That is the last time I hear from she.

Noel about the good image of his niece.

Sunday morning I put a text again, I see He said it was very difficult for him to no response,” recalled the grandmother. come to terms with Aziza’s death. “It She told THE VINCENTIAN that she really shock me; up to now I can’t really was in the kitchen, when another believe the thing happen because we granddaughter brought the tragic news. both close, she will be missed,” declared She burst into tears.

Later that day, when she had collected herself somewhat, she spoke by telephone to Aziza’s mother and father (her son) in the US. According to the grandmother, Aziza’s father, Yahman Dennie, was in the process of filing for Aziza so she could join them in the USA. “I just can’t accept it that she dead until I see her. She respectable, she hear what I say ………. and she is the only grandchild I have who look like me most,” quipped the grandmother.

Cynthia Dennie is appealing to all the parents who have lost a child in the accident: “We have to be strong Aziza’s uncle Paul Dennie , her for one another. We have to be grandmother Cynthia Dennie and another uncle Noel Dennie have admitted strong and we have to trust God for everything, it could have been how difficult it is trying to come to grips worse,” she said. (KH)

with her death.

Barbados to see her son.

However, we were able to speak with his grandmother - Silita Stapleton who was still in a sad mood, yet optimistic about Boyea’s recovery.

Stapleton said when she received the news on Sunday she almost fainted. “Because me get pressure and me sit down for the whole time and me cry,” said the grieving grandmother. She offered condolences to the relatives of the students who died. “Dem children that died, dem mother get that sad news to hear that dem leave here (St. Vincent) and now they coming in caskets. I say, Lord have mercy,” She said that Boyea is recovering well in the hospital, but the doctors are monitoring his recovery, which means that he won’t be able to travel back home until a

Kemelius Boyea (right) was one of six persons (including the diver) in the car involved in the fatal accident.

Silita ‘Etty’ Stapleton – Kemelius’ grandmother – is confident that he will make a full recovery. few more weeks. “Last night he call his mother and she asked, ‘Yo alright?’ And he say, ‘Yes’,” Stapleton explained. She further noted that Boyea told his mother that he did an Xray and, based on the result, all seemed “OK.”

Stapleton disclosed that during Boyea’s stay in Barbados, he would call home and she would speak to him, even encouraging him to take care of himself. “He is a good boy … One time he dress me up so nice them girls(her friends) asked, ‘Etty ( Stapleton’s nickname) who dress you up so nice?’

When me say is Ken, dem start to laugh,” Stapleton recounted. “He could bake, he could cook. You know how much I miss him when he go away in December?”

With a note of optimism, Stapleton declared, “He will get through, because he ah walk and everything, and he ah talk and he ah eat.

With all dem thing, me know God will help him.

He will get through.” (KH)

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20. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Not ready for marriage into bed with him. I told him I am not about that. It seems that sex is MY PARENTS are forcing me to get married to this the only thing on his man I have been going out mind. He does not want with for the past 6 months, to discuss children, but I am afraid of getting money matters and such married. I am single and I like. Please tell me what want to take my time to to do as I am getting find out as much about it really frustrated. as possible. Besides, I am not ready to have sex as Not ready yet.

The man I am seeing Dear Not ready, is also forcing me to get

Dear George,

Take as much time as you need to understand what the whole marriage is all about. No one can tell you that you are ready for marriage. It is you who have to live the life after the vows have been exchanged.

Tell your parents to quit forcing you into something for which you are not ready. Their

pushing you leaves one to wonder whose interest they are serving.

Your fiance too, may need more time to figure himself out. You need to be sure that he is in the relationship for the right reasons. Time will tell in your case, and as such, let time be your friend. You will know when you are ready.

George

Sex, sex and more sex Dear George, WHAT I LOVE more than sex is sex itself. I find myself wanting to have sex with anyone who is willing to have sex with me, and I am wondering if I am normal. I just have this sensational sexual appetite. I do not have a

steady girl as yet, because I do not want to be bugged down to one person. I just want to go on doing what I love to do best, which is to have sexual relations with the opposite sex.

Loving it.

Dear Loving it,

There is nothing wrong with having a big sexual appetite. You just have to be careful to settle with one partner, and a partner who understands your sexual needs.

I must warn you, though, that you have to exercise caution when you go around having

sexual relations with anyone who would raise their hands. That kind of behaviour can backfire in more ways than one, and leave you holding the hot end of the stick. Calm yourself and think about settling with just one individual.

George

Tell her itÊs over Dear George,

PLEASE TELL MY girlfriend that I am not a fool. She has been seeing this guy from way back, and has been telling me that he is only a friend. What kind of a friend would be kissing you on the mouth and putting you on his Facebook profile as his fiancée? I asked her about that, and her response was he was just joking around when he did that.

I have made up my mind to leave her, but she does not know it as yet. Let her go on thinking that I am a fool.

Disgusted and heart broken Dear Disgusted, If you intend to leave her, then you need to tell her. Do not play the game of letting her think she is in a relationship with you, when it is not so.

You have caught on to her and her cheating ways, just do not entertain another game by letting her think everything is nice and dandy. Tell her you are done, so that both of you can move on and be with the person you deserve to be with.

George

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21‐ April 20) Group endeavors will provide you with entertainment. Your temper may get the better of you if a colleague has tried to ruin your reputation. Focus on your domestic scene. Get together with friends or relatives. You must steer clear of overindulgent individuals.

TAURUS (Apr. 21‐ May 21) There are ways of making extra cash if you put your mind to it. Things will be emotional with your mate. You need time to put your house in order and sort out what you are going to do about your personal direction. Accommodate others but not before you do your own thing.

Do the proper safety checks before you go out.

GEMINI (May 22‐June 21) You will have original ideas for ways to make extra money. Be honest in your communication and don't lose your cool.

You may have difficulties with in‐laws or family members. Rewards for past good deeds will highlight your day.

CANCER (June 22‐July 22) Socializing will be more than just entertaining. You will feel the limitations if you have been overdoing it.

Opportunities to make advancements through good business sense are evident. Think twice before you say something you might regret later.

LEO (July 23‐Aug 22) Don't let yourself get rundown. Don't let individuals with wild schemes talk you into a financial deal that is not likely to be successful. Be aware of any deception on the part of those you deal with.

Authority figures may be less than accommodating if you have done something deceitful.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 ‐Sept. 23) Don't let others bait you into arguments.

You may feel a need to make changes to your legal documents. Older relatives may be a burden. If you've been really busy, try to schedule some time to spend with loved ones.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 ‐Oct. 23) Your partner could make you angry if they steal your thunder or embarrass you in front of others. Channel your energy into passionate interludes with your lover.

Don't let others make you feel guilty or insecure. Try to keep any mood swings under control; they may result in alienation.

Scorpio (Oct. 24 ‐ Nov. 22) Get together with friends and catch up on reading and letter writing. You have worked hard and the payback is now.

Don't get involved in secret affairs or underhanded involvements. You should be able to get a lot done.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 ‐Dec. 21) Your ability to see other people's points of view will allow you to come to reasonable agreements. You can get ahead if you play your cards right. Your doubt could lead to insecurity.

Partnerships will be favorable and contracts can be signed.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.‐ Jan. 20) You can enjoy entertainment if you join in and follow the crowd for a change. Dead end projects could plague you. Hard work will payoff if you refrain from expressing your opinion to superiors. You need to spend some time reflecting on past experiences and involvements.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.‐ Feb. 19) It's time to reconnect with some of the people you used to know. Opportunities to get together with people in powerful positions could help you get ahead. You will be entertained and intrigued by the logic foreigners possess. Your ability to be a self starter will help get things done and motivate others.

PISCES (Feb. 20‐Mar. 20) Be honest if you wish to solve the problem. You can make personal changes that will enhance your appearance and bring you greater popularity. Take time to listen to the problems of family members.

Relatives will not agree with the way you are dealing with your personal problems.

ACROSS 1.Top soccer scorer Hamm 4. “__ Ballou” 7. “Dancing Queen” singers 11. Actress Gershon 13. Volcanic sprinkling 14. Burglar’s booty 15. Pay heed 16. Life’s story, for short 17. Stare in amazement 18. “…a man __ mouse?”

(2 wds.)

20. Flying saucer (abbr.)

22. Evanston, to Chicago, e.g.

25. Loaf’s outer part 29. Whole number 30. Small change 31. Whether or __ 32. Edison’s initials 34. Strike gently 35. Seasonal songs 38. Damages 41. Thong 42. Baby’s first apparel 43. Surgeons, e.g. (abbr.)

45. Three (Ital.)

46. E‐__

49. New York time (abbr.)

51. C&W singer McEntire 55. Depraved 56. Potato blemish 57. Slip 58. Implored 59. Like Lucy’s hair 60. Compass pt.

DOWN 1.Film studio inits.

2. Roman 3 3. “Raggedy” doll 4. Joel Grey‐Liza Minnelli musical 5. “__ was saying …”

(2 wds.)

6. Olden “you” 7. Clinton’s vice President (2 wds.)

8. Long scarf 9. Strike with one’s fist 10. Broke a fast 12. Pueblo material 19. Oriental __ 21. Broadcast watchdog agcy.

22. Nose, slangily 23. Speak 24. Intertwine the hair 26. Undo

sneakers 27. “Brenda __” 28. Recipe amts.

29. Strike with one’s fist 10. Broke a fast 12. Pueblo material 19. Oriental __ 21. Broadcast watchdog agcy.

22. Nose, slangily 23. Speak 24. Intertwine the hair 26. Undo sneakers 27. “Brenda __” 28. Recipe amts.

29. Overnight lodgings 33. Released, as energy

36. Served soup 37. Flowery season (abbr.)

39. __ for the course 40. Imitators 44. Fortuneteller 46. Best on a

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. 21.

team (abbr.)

47. Become sick 48. __ de France 50. Change the color 52. Make do 53. Vegetable drawer 54. Citrus drink

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22. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

News

VINLEC overhauls unit at Union Island plant A COMPLETE overhaul of a generating has been ongoing for the past week, Unit at the Union Island Power Station in keeping with the mandate of St.

Vincent Electricity Services Limited to ensure customers receive safe and reliable electricity supply.

Overhauls at the various Power Stations are part of VINLEC’s routine programme to maintain the generators used to produce electricity.

They are an important component of the Company’s maintenance operations, as the process results in improved efficiency and reliability.

Work on the Unit # 5 is being done to yield optimal performance, to increase an engine’s power output, economy, and durability.

During this process, the engine is disassembled, cleaned, inspected, repaired as necessary, and tested using factory service manual approved procedures.

The work at the Union Island Station is being executed by a team from the Generation Department.

VINLEC’s Generation Department is responsible for producing a continuous supply of electricity to satisfy the energy needs of consumers in the most cost effective and efficient manner. Following completion of the overhaul, a number of checks will be carried out on the engine to ensure it was functional, before being reintegrated into the generating system. Work on this project is scheduled to be completed within the next five weeks.

The Union Island Power Station was officially commissioned in 1974.

Presently, the station provides electricity to one thousand one hundred and ninety-seven (1197) customers. There are fifteen persons on staff, three in the Transmission and Distribution Department, and twelve in the Generation Department.

Careful attention is paid to each component of the generating unit.

Team work is essential in ensuring a smooth overhauling process.

National Council of Women deeply saddened THE NATIONAL COUNCIL of Women (NCW) is deeply saddened to learn of the tragic accident which claimed the lives of three (3) of our young loved ones.

To the parents, relatives, friends and the family of the Division of Technical and Vocational Education of the SVG Community College, we express our sincere condolences.

You did not even have an opportunity to say a

final goodbye, and this must add to your pains.

We at the NCW extend our arms of comfort and friendship to you, and assure you that we will stand with you in your bereavement.

We share with you these words of comfort: 2 Cor. 1: 3-4: Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort

those with the comfort we ourselves received from God. Matt 5: 4: Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.

Let your prayer today be, “Lord, plant my feet on higher grounds”.

We pray that the souls of the departed will rest in God’s eternal peace.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. 23.

Inter-Community Football League titles shared Under-18 title holders- North Windward

Layou- Senior Division champions

West Kingstown, new female champions.

NO ONE COMMUNITY was able to cop able to bring home the UnderSubstitute Jaleel Miller rose above more than one title when the 2016/2017 everyone else to head the ball in the 18, and I am happy that the National Inter- Community Football hard work paid off”, Baptiste North Windward’s goal in the League concluded last Saturday said.

81st minute, to seal Layou’s take of and Sunday, at the Victoria Park.

“Reaching the finals, will the $10 000 at stake for the winners.

Five titles were decided, resulting in also help to boost the players, For the man behind the North titles for South Leeward, East as they can see themselves as Windward teams, Dwight Baptiste, East Kingstown, winners of the Under-14 Kingstown, West Kingstown, North winners”, Baptiste added. appearing in three finals was a good Windward and Layou.

Baptiste noted that gaining division. fillip for sports, more so football in the South Leeward took the Under-10 whatever success was not due area.

Awards and prizes won in the category on Saturday, beating Layou to the players and management alone, competitions will be distributed at a “It is a great achievement for the 3-1, their goals coming from Yaniff community as we had trained hard to but the North Windward community, prize—giving ceremony, venue and date Williams (7th and 23rd minute) and reach the finals...Even though we lost which gave them “lots of support, for to be announced by the St Vincent and Essien Baptiste (31st minute). the Under-14 and the Seniors, we were which I say thanks.” the Grenadines Football Federation.

Layou’s lone goal was scored by Larzaro Lynch in the 42nd.

Then, East Kingstown outplayed North Windward 4-0 nil in the Under- 14. A brace each from Shayne Lynch in the 15th and 37th minutes and Malik Ferdinand in the 24th and 29th minutes, did it for East Kingstown. meeting never got going On Sunday, three more accolades until 4pm. were determined.

And, when it did, there First up was the Female finals, in were just enough persons which West Kingstown edged the present to get the defending champions — South proceedings in motion.

Leeward, one goal to nil. Shelly Representation from three Browne was the lone goal scorer.

(3) teams - Gremlins, Unique Next, it was the turn of North Touch and Police — with five, Windward to come to the party and three and one vote please the many supporters who had respectively, paved the way journeyed from that locale. for the meeting to take place, However, they had to wait some as they accounted for nine of time for the joy in the Under 18 final, the sixteen eligible votes. as Layou forged ahead in the Dickson and Alliance were 27th minute when Leon Wickham the absentee teams, based on Jr. netted from close range.

A show of the poor turnout at last Saturday’s meeting of the last unfinished national Jadan Jacobs restored parity with the SVG Volleyball Association. tournament staged in 2011. a penalty in the 30th minute, and The meeting, though, after THE CURRENT STATE of Ollivierre and company returned in the second half to outrun hearing the interim local Volleyball was revealed were elected as interim body the Layou defence and power a left chairperson’s report and the last Saturday afternoon at last July, following a vote of foot shot in the 75th minute to hand financial overview of the last the Girls’ High School, when no confidence that was North Windward its first ever six months, engaged in the the elections of a new carried against the former national community league football election of a new executive. executive of the SVG executive led by Alana Mc title.

The voting exercise Volleyball Association had to Master.

Layou, though, took revenge in the stopped at the presidency, as shelved.

There was simply The interim committee Seniors title decider, turning the Ollivierre beat Gary not enough persons present was given a six-month screws on North Windward, Matthias 5-4. and willing to be elected to tenure, hence the need for slamming them 3-0.

But Matthias, when serve. last Saturday’s meeting and Teron Miller put Layou ahead in offered the vice president’s The process will be the holding of elections. the 34th minute. It took Layou, post, declined, and with no replayed within a month But the warning signs another forty minutes of match time other nominations forthfrom last Saturday, with the were clear, as at 3pm, the to extend their lead, thanks to Myron Suzanna-Marie Ollivierre coming for this post and exact date, venue and time of scheduled start of the extra Samuel , whose right foot shot in the will continue to head the others, the elections were commencement to be ordinary general meeting, interim committee until 74th minutes could not have been stalled and finally aborted, determined by the Suzanna- when there was no quorum fresh elections are held handled by the North Windward and the interim committee Marie Ollivierre led interim that would have allowed a within one month’s time. custodian. given another month’s life. (executive) committee. commencement. The

Volleyball elections stalled …

Interim committee gets extension

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24. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Football TD optimistic KEITH OLLIVIERRE, Technical Director (TD) for the SVG Football Federation (SVGFF), believes the plans the Federation has in place for the New Year and beyond, will serve the allround development of the sport here.

“We have done our evaluation work.. looked back at all the tournaments we participated in… analyzed our weaknesses and the areas we need to work on… and identified we must empower the persons who will be giving Keith Ollivierre the tactics to the coaches,” Ollivierre said, adding, “With Technical that in mind, we have decided Director of the SVGFF. to roll out the Elite Programme as early as possible.”

The Director also disclosed that the move to have clubs licensed will intensify. This will entail, among other requirements, that each club must have a certified coach.

In response to this requirement, the Federation will be keen on increasing the number of D-Licence certified coaches here, Ollivierre explained.

Given the anticipated success with increasing D-Licence certified coaches, the next move would be to run a C-Licence lecturn.

In addition to improving the quantity and quality of the coaches’ pool, attention will also be paid to enhancing the level of officiating.

Towards this end, a course for referees will be held this month, February.

As far as the chronological development of players is concerned, Ollivierre identified the staging of an Under 10 category of national competition, as being extremely useful, in that it provided an opportunity for assessing the ongoing grassroot programme.

Looking ahead to the various regional and international tournaments, Ollivierre said that the federation will roll out the National Under 20 squad, as this country sets its focus on qualifying for the next U20 World Cup. He expressed confidence that this country would be more competitive, given “the preparatory work that we have done and the corrective measures put in place.”

I.B.A. ALLEN

SVGFF holds Futsal course for coaches THE SVG FOOTBALL FEDERATION (SVGFF) continues on a course to ensure that this country keeps up with football trends.

Towards this end, it hosted the first ever Fustal Course here last week, at the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex.

Fustal is described as a variant of regular football played on a hard-court and involving teams of five players, including a goal-keeper.

The course targeted coaches here and in speaking with THE VINCENTIAN, Keith Participants in the Fustal course in an Ollivierre, Technical Director of the SVGFF, outdoor session. said that the benefits of consultation with CONCAF the course will not be seen and FIFA, we were able to immediately, but in time it should host the second Futsal impact all levels and football here. Course in the Caribbean.”

The course, Ollivierre said, is Participants are expected designed to expose the coaches… to work with other coaches giving them the knowledge of how towards the staging of a it is played and how they can go ‘pilot’ Fustal tournament here about coaching children in in April. particular.

Twenty participants took Futsal and beach soccer have part in the course, including (L): Stephen Constantine - Course been on the international football three females. The course Facilitator. agenda for some time now, ran from January 26th to Ollivierre said, adding, “ but with 29th and was conducted by I.B.A.ALLEN the effort of Venold Coombs, the FIFA Coaching Instructor President of the SVGFF, in Stephen Constantine.

SVG to compete again in the USA GYMNASTICS events is not a new sport. It has been contested at every Summer Olympic Games since the birth of the modern Olympics in the 1896 Summer Games in Athens Greece. The sport was male dominated until women were allowed to compete in ArAymnastics at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam.

Next week, on February 10th, 15 members of SVG’s LaPrise-Harris Dolphin Gymnastics and Williams – founder Health Academy team, and coach of the under the direction of St. SVG’s Dolphin Vincent resident LaPriseGymnastics and Harris Williams, will return Health Academy Saskia Truchot on the Balance Beam. to Houston, Texas, where team. last year they earned a offers an children in the Caribbean; and Bronze medal, placing third impressive artistic gymnastics she is the founder and against nine other qualifying programme, using Olympic Owner/Director of Dolphin teams in the prestigious gymnastics apparatus for children Gymnastics- St Vincent and the International Artistic Gymnastic from three to 15 years of age..

Grenadines.

Competition.

We wish them well: As St. LaPrise Harris-Williams is a THE VINCENTIAN, along with Vincent and the Grenadines will Registered Nurse, and was an enthusiastic group of be attracting world-wide attention educated at Baylor University and supportive parents, was invited to with the opening of the Argyle The University of Texas in San watch the team fine-tuning their International Airport, we hope on Antonio.

She is a freelance skills in a work-out/rehearsal for the same day that The St. Vincent choreographer; the main event in Houston. and the Grenadines Artistic assistant/representative for the The Dolphin Gymnastics and Gymnastics Dolphins will attract World Pediatric Projecta bit of positive international Health Academy Limited which comprised of monthly surgical attention with a Gold Medal for was founded less than two years team missions from St Vincent, outstanding gymnastic ago by LaPrise Harris-Williams, achievement. providing medical services for

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. 25.

Sports

Small island…. big plan THE MULTI-ISLAND state of St. Vincent and the Grenadines had distinguished itself in the top bracket of regional football in 1979, when that year’s senior national team placed second in the Caribbean Football Union competition.

Even though the country languishes down the current rankings, a rather small component of today’s chain is attempting something tantamount to ‘Mission Impossible’. That component is the Bequia United FC, formed four years ago, with the lofty aim of breaking through on the regional club circuit.

One of the forces behind the outfit is former Under 20 National coach Kendale Mercury, and the idea for its formation came after he witnessed the struggles of three Bequia outfits at the national club championship.

Mercury it was, who as coach, had brought a squad close to the Under 20 final in Egypt, in 2009. That SVG squad was eclipsed by Honduras in a shootout, staged as a last opportunity in Trinidad.

Mercury held the position of senior national coach for three months in what has turned out to be a fleeting trial.

From the northern Grenadine Island of Bequia, he is more than a quicksilver. He may be the silver lining behind the dark clouds.

Mercury is at it again, this time as coach of Bequia United as they face off against teams from Antigua/ Barbuda, Haiti and Suriname in Group A of the Caribbean Football Union Club Championship. Those group matches are scheduled for Antigua.

He confesses that the pressure is not on his team. He is taking the showdown as a “benchmark to know where we stand in the Caribbean.”

Mercury knows what is expected. While he might not have any high profile, he has proven his ability.

His team takes on local team Green Bay Hoppers at the Antigua Recreation Grounds, February 22.

The going gets tougher two days later when they take on Racing FC of Haiti, and they wind up their campaign against Suriname’s Inter Moengo Tapoe, February 26.

Mercury is under no illusions about the enormity of his task. But he is a tactical and pragmatic operator who has shown some resilience. He is drilling longevity into the Bequia United FC. This participation in the regional Club Championship is a first step in the journey that Mercury envisages will redound to the nation’s overall benefit. He laments the lack of conviction to put this country’s football to its maximum use.

Bequai United FC peaks its preparation with weekend camps on mainland St. Vincent. Mercury is hoping to instil that degree of fitness and focus so as to enable the contingent to represent themselves adequately. He admitted that the Club could do with some administrative support.

And even with the signs of solidarity shown by Action Bequia and the Yacht Club, Bequia United FC is void of a brand support so as to defray costs incurred. They prop up their survival with contributions and fund raisers.

The elimination goes on at the Stade Sylvio Cator, Port au Prince, March 1 to 5, and Montego Bay Sports Complex, Jamaica at the same time.

Action ends at the Ato Bolden Stadium, Trinidad and Tobago, and Victoria Park, St. Vincent and the Grenadines March 12.

The other Vincentian team is System 3 Sport Academy, fuelled by Ian Sardine.

They play Club Sportif Moulien March 8, Flames United SC, 10, and San Juan Jabloteh two days later.

The five winners assemble with defending champions Central FC of Trinidad and Tobago.

This is set for May 13 to 21.

Shallow, Walters slam T20 centuries TEAM RIVALS notched up another convincing win in the National NLA/Neil Williams T20 Competition, with Hyron Shallow and Cosman Walters hitting centuries to set up a 154 run win over Smashers at the Sion Hill playing field, on Sunday.

This was Team Rivals’ second weekend victory, having, the day before, dispensed with Radcliffe Two, with Walters turning match winner with the ball, claining 5 for 21 to keep Radcliffe Two to 95 for 9 from 18 overs. Unbeaten knocks

by Shallow, 46, and Harley Skerritm, 44, ensured that Rivals reached the victory target of 96 without losing a wicket.

Belfongo was also in good form, snatching two victories on the weekend.

First, they beat Carl

Shem Browne smashed 97 for Owia Stars.

Joseph Law Chambers ASCO by 2 wickets.

Scores: ASCO 112 from 19.5 overs - Deron Greaves leading with 40 and Kentish Phillips taking 4 for 14; Belfongo 113 for 8 from 16.4 overs - Travis Cumberbatch hitting 52 not out batting at number ten, and Kenson Dalzell taking 4 for 17.

Belfongo’s second victory came when they beat Bequia Cricket Association by 7 wickets.

Bequia made 93 from 16.2 overs - Kentish Phillips 4 for 24.

Belfongo replied with 95 for 3 from 9.5 overs.

Oswald Soleyn hit 43.

Half centuries from Parnel Brown and captain Kenneth Dember propelled Police Two to a 9-run win over Radcliffe Two. Scores: Police Two 179 for 8 from 20 Kenneth Dember 54 and Parnel Browne 53.

Canute Lewis took 3 for 42; Radcliffe Two 87 in 15.5 overs - Kensley Joseph made 36, Mickron McDowell 22. Salvan Browne took 2 for 21 and Parnel Browne 2 for 17.

Victors Two beat R.W. Sporting World SVG Community College by 12 runs on Saturday.

Scores: Victors Two 104 for 8 from 20 overs - .

Hector Cordice made 38, Tayshorn John 5 for 16; SVGCC 92 from 18 overs - Anfernce Joseph made 35.

The other College

Hyron Shallow hit 102 not out for Team Rivals.

Cosman Walters stroked 102 not out for Team Rivals.

Guardian General Saints beat Carl Joseph Law Chambers ASCO by 6 wickets. ASCO 121 from 17.5 overs - Oheyon Toby 27, Teron Simon took 3 for 28, Romel Currency 3 for 12; Saints 123 for 4 from 17.1 overs - Seon Sween 41, Anthonio Barker took 3 for 13.

Flow Radcliffe beat Owia Stars by 37 runs.

Flow Radcliffe 151 for 3 from 18 overs - Romanio Pierre 86, Shem Browne 2 for 36; Owia Stars 114 from 16.4 overs - Dean Browne 25, Emron Lorraine 25, Andy Harper took 2 for 20 and Lindon James 2 for 20.

Strike Eagles beat Triumph United by 40 runs. Strike Eagles 177 from 20 overs - Darren John 32, Rohan Ash 3 for 28; Triumph United 137 from 17.1 overs - Ahmed Baptiste 47, Javid Wilson 5 for 17.

team, French Verandah SVG Community College, also lost on the weekend, going under to Providence Electronic Solutions North Leeward by 10 runs. Scores: North Leeward 120 from 9 from 20 overs Amansford Richards and Shamon Hooper 21 each, Jeremy Layne 2 for 15; SVGCC 110 for 9 from 20 overs - Jeremy Layne 24.

Allison Samuel and Lemrick Westfield 2 for 13.

Owia Stars beat Strike Eagles by 54 runs.

Scores: Owia Stars 184 for 5 from 20 overs Shem Browne 97 with seven 6s and six 4s; Strike Eagles 130 from 18.1 overs - Rolland McKie 32, Shem Browne 3 for 12.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Active year for table tennis players PRESIDENT of the SVG Table Tennis Association (SVGTTA) is anticipating an exciting and productive year for the sport, as his Executive intensifies its efforts aimed at keeping players active, and encouraging more persons to become involved in the sport.

“We will begin the calendar of events with a Big Six Tournament in Bequia…. involving the top six ranked Tyrone Jack, President of the SVGTTA, looks forward to an active year for players of the sport.

male national players competing against each other in a one-day show down on February 11th , at the Bequia Community High School….. We hope this one day tournament will not only expose the top players, but also enhance the ongoing development project in Bequia.”

The six players expected to compete in this Tournament are Robert Ballantyne, Sean Stanley, Damian Dublin, Joseph Carrington, Romano Spencer, Carlton Daniel. Javier Deshong is the standby player.

An Inter-Zonal Tournament is also earmarked for Bequia, Jack said.

He added that four opening ranking and junior ranking tournaments will be on the cards, with the months of February and March being the likely periods for staging these (tournaments).

“The national tournament is scheduled for May 3, 4 and 5,” Jack said with a tone of excitement, adding, “All these are geared towards selecting a team to represent SVG in the various tournaments in the Caribbean, including the Cadet and Junior Championships slated for Guyana in April 13th to 20th; the Caribbean Senior Championship scheduled for Trinidad in July; Caribbean Pre Cadet and Mini Cadet Championship Under-11 and under 13 scheduled for Jamaica.”

Jack also reminded that elections for a new executive for the Association will take center stage in the first half of the year.

The executive of the SVGTTA serves for a period of four years.

I.B.A.ALLEN

26. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2017. 27.

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F O R

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

S A L E

FRIDAY,

FEBRUARY 03, 2017

VOLUME 111, No.05

THE FAMILIES of three Vincentian female students of the Division of Technical and Vocational Education of the SVGCC, who perished in a vehicular accident in Barbados around 3am on Sunday, are trying to come to terms with their deaths, even as they make preparation to have their bodies returned to SVG. Dead are 17-year-old Danee Deverey Horne of Questelles; 18-year-old Carianne Lee-New Padmore of New Prospect, and 19-year-old Aziza Awanna Dennie of Redemption Sharpes.

Andre Jabarry Gittens of River Land, St Philip, who was the driver of the vehicle in which the girls were travelling, also perished in the accident.

Two other male occupants of the vehicle Vincentian students 18-

year-old Darren Renaldo Daniel and 21-year-old Kemelius Boyea escaped death, and were said to be recovering well at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in Barbados.

The students were part of a seven-member group who were in Barbados since last December, on an internship programme at the Crane Resort in St. Philip.

The Barbados Nation newspaper of January 29 reported that the students were scheduled to return home that Sunday.

Other reports from Barbados said that the fatal accident occurred at the Graeme Hall section of the ABC Highway in Barbados, involving a white Mitsubishi Lancer and a champagnecoloured Toyota Noah taxi.

The parents and other family members of the deceased students, as well as those of the injured two, travelled to Barbados between Sunday and Tuesday to provide support and get some sort of closure. Vice Dean of the Division of Technical and Vocational Education of the SVGCC - Janel Allen also travelled to Barbados last Sunday.

The two other students of the group of seven, returned home on Sunday around 11:30 am. They were met at the ET Joshua airport by their relatives, a number of high ranking officials from the SVGCC, members of the clergy, and counsellors from the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment.

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www.thevincentian.com

DEAD: THREE VINCENTIAN STUDENTS

by KENVILLE HORNE

A.I. REAL ESTATE

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves told the Barbados media on Sunday that the students’ death “is a period of real sadness. It is terrible when anyone dies in an accident, but it is absolutely devastating when it is a young person,” he said.

He admitted that he had been personally “thrown off” by the accident in which the son of one of his constituents was also involved.

Gonsalves said that a process had already been set in motion at a very senior level of his government, to ensure that all the necessary arrangements were put in place to facilitate the victims’ families at this difficult time.

Minister of Education St. Clair Jimmy Prince in a Facebook post wrote: “The Nation woke up this morning to the

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

Danee Deverey Horne distressing news of a tragedy in Barbados that claimed the lives of three of our precious young people. These students of the SVGCC had just ended an internship at the Crane Hotel. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, teachers and friends at this time. The Government, Ministry of Education and related institutions certainly mourn this loss, and pray for strength and guidance at this most difficult time.”

Barbados Governor General Sir Elliott Belgrave expressed “sadness and regret” over the deaths of four young people. Speaking to the media on Tuesday morning following a visit to centenarian Rosalie Bailey, the head of state said he was “deeply saddened” by the accident.

“I would like to extend my condolences to the people of St Vincent and in Barbados, especially my friend Sir Frederick Ballantyne, Governor General of St Vincent, and Prime Minister

EC$1.50

Aziza Awanna Dennie

Carianne Lee-New Padmore (Ralph) Gonsalves. I am deeply saddened by the loss of life. It’s always sad when someone loses their life, it distresses me. But when it affects young people who have not yet started, it’s very distressing,” Sir Elliott said.

Members of parliament here also paid tributes to the victims.

(See related stories on Pages 7&19.)

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