Vin pages 03 11 17 e reader for web

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

FRIDAY,

NOVEMBER 03, 2017

VOLUME 111, No.44

by DAYLE DA SILVA IT IS STILL UNCERTAIN the consequences, if any, that this country , in light of the news that recently surfaced about St Vincent and the Grenadines being implicated in a financial scheme, operated by former aides to United States President Donald Trump.

www.thevincentian.com

Last weekend, news broke that Paul Manafort, a former campaign r of the Trump presidential campaign, and Richard Gates, a Trump campaign advisor, were wanted by the US authorities.

The men were eventually charged with a number of offences including money laundering and tax evasion.

They were exposed as a result of the investigation by the Special Counsel set up in the US, to investigate Russia’s role in the 2016 presidential campaign.

The indictment – SVG implicated Based on the indictment order, both men acted as Rick Gates, a former advisor to Donald Trump’s campaign, said that criticism of him and Paul Manafort was based on flawed news media reports and documents. Sounds like Trump, doesn’t he?

EC$1.50

Paul Manafort, President Trump’s former campaign chairman, has been charged with tax fraud and money laundering. This isn’t Mr. Manafort’s first public scandal. unregistered agents of the Government of the Ukraine, under then President Victor Yanukovych, and generated “tens of millions” of dollars in income as a result of their work.

However, the allegation is that they hid these payments from US authorities during the period 2006 through to 2016, by laundering the money they earned through a number of US based and foreign corporations, partnerships and banks — including at least two entities registered in SVG. The order stated that the men funneled millions of dollars in payments into foreign nominee companies and bank accounts, opened by them and their accomplices in nominee names and in foreign countries, including Cyprus, SVG and Seychelles.

They further hid the existence of these foreign companies and bank accounts, and falsely reported to their tax preparers and to the US, that they had no foreign bank accounts.

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2. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Rose is chairperson of WBF Board THE WORLD BANANA Forum (WBF) has announced the appointment of a new

is credited with initiating Fair Trade banana exports from the Windward Islands in 2000.

Rose is also a highly respected journalist/columnist and social and political commentator here in SVG. The WBF is described as ‘a permanent space of assembly for participants

chairperson of its continuity and linkages in Caribbean.

Executive Board. farming and rural He is a founding Taking that office is communities across the member of the WBF, and Vincentian born Renwick Ellsworth Adrian Rose.

The WBF, in a release earlier this week, congratulated Rose on his election, and described Mrs. Kozel Peters-Fraser, him as unquestionably Coordinator of the committed to ‘promoting Windward Islands Farmers’ TWO VINCENTIAN and farmers’ the conditions of banana Association (WINFA), will representatives, Mrs. Kozel organisations from farmers and workers in join Renwick Rose as SVG Peters-Fraser, Coordinator of the Latin America, the the industry’. representatives at the third Windward Islands Farmers’ Caribbean and Africa, Rose, in addition to his Global Conference of the Association (WINFA), and Mr. European development new role, will continue as Renwick Rose, are expected to be and consumer bodies, as World Banana Forum. a member of the WBA’s among approximately 300 well as governments Steering Committee and participants in the third Global and international institutions Organising Committee of such as the ILO, the IUF and the Mr. Rose will deliver the opening the third WBF Conference, Conference of the World Banana address at the Conference, and Forum (WBF) to be held in Food and Agricultural scheduled for 8 - 9 Geneva, Switzerland, November Organisation (FAO) of the United will be followed by representatives November, 2017, in of the host country, Switzerland, 7-10, 2017. Mr. Rose was recently Nations.

Geneva, Switzerland. (See elected as the first Chairman of The World Banana Forum was the ILO and the United Nations.

The Conference will focus on related article on this the Executive Committee of the launched in 2009, on the initiative critical areas of the banana page.)

WBF, and is a founder-member of of several European, Latin industry such as gender equity, A former CEO of the the organisation.

American and Caribbean living wages for workers and Windward Islands The Conference is being organisations, and with support sustainable incomes for small Farmers Association organized by the World Banana from the FAO, which has hosted (WINFA) for more than 15 Forum, a global grouping of the the Secretariat of the organisation farmers, environmental and social years (1996 — 2012), Rose major players in the global since then. It provides a forum for issues. Special attention will be paid to the grave threat posed by has been at the forefront banana industry. These include seeking dialogue and practical the dreaded TR4 disease which of addressing a variety of major exporters, giant solutions to the problems in the threatens to wipe out the global supermarket chains, trade union issues, including food global banana industry. industry. security, gender equity,

Global banana representatives to seek solutions

Renwick Rose has won another accolade for himself and the region.

representing the global banana supplychain to promote an open dialogue on the challenges faced by the banana industry’.

The Secretariat of the WBF is provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

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

News 3

TrumpÊs aides charged as launderers: SVG cries foul Continued from Frontpage.

The names of the entities created in SVG were Global Endeavour Inc and Jeunet Ltd. It was further noted that Manafort and Gates concealed their work as agents, and the payments they received from their Ukranian counterparts.

Funneling cash – Living well The indictment order cites that Manafort used his hidden wealth to enjoy a “lavish lifestyle in the United States without paying taxes on that income.”

Manafort is said to have then spent millions of dollars on luxury goods and services for himself and members of his extended family, through wired payments from offshore nominee accounts to US vendors.

He also used these accounts to purchase multi-million-dollar properties in the US, and used these properties as collateral to obtain cash in the United States, without reporting and repaying taxes on the income.

Like Manafort, Gates also obtained money from these offshore accounts, using it also on personal luxurious expenses.

The order states that in all, some US$75 million flowed through these offshore banks.

They avoided paying taxes on the money coming from the offshore banks; they wired the money from the offshore accounts to be made for goods, services and real estate without reporting the transfers as income.

Based on the order, 13 transactions originated from Global Endeavour between 2013 and 2014 amounting to US$1.4 million. (See Table) The international news coverage of the Manafort-Gates financial operations obviously triggered focus on the international and local financial offshore sectors.

The story made headlines in several major US media outlets, with one reporting that SVG is ‘notorious’ for money laundering and is a ‘prime money laundering destination’.

In a joint statement, dated October 30, the National Anti-Money Laundering Committee (NAMLC), the

Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) responded quickly, issuing a joint statement that denounced the comments, and stating that they considered such descriptions as being uninformed, outdated, erroneous and inaccurate.

The release further stated that the descriptions in the international media were damaging to the reputation of the country, and that reliance may have been placed on historical information about the country being blacklisted status back in 2000.

The local authorities further stated that there was no basis for such descriptions, refuting that the country is a moneylaundering jurisdiction.

“St Vincent and the Grenadines is an active member of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force, the Caribbean arm of the international antimoney laundering standard setter,” the release cited.

It further indicated that significant legislative work had been done commencing in 2001 and 2002, to bring about administrative changes and implement a sound compliance regime.

“This country’s regulatory laws are up to date, modern and effective, as is its regulatory framework which has been put in place to supervise the various regulated sectors,” the release said.

Due diligence and customer verification procedures are taken at all times, the release indicated, and the relevant procedures were taken in relation to the formation of the company mentioned.

The release confirmed that since

2013 through to the present, the relevant local authorities and agencies have been cooperating with the US authorities in the investigation that is ongoing.

The release, however, did not speak directly to the listing in the charge

order for Manafort and Gates, of the transactions made through companies registered here in SVG. THE VINCENTIAN attempted to contact the head of the FIU for further comment, but was instead directed to the release issued.

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4. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Two indicted for baby’s murder was killed and his parents injured. Hillocks, who was reportedly on the scene, was said to have escaped unhurt.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had applied to a Judge in Chambers for what is known in law as a ‘Voluntary Bill of Indictment’, for the men to stand trial on the four charges, and the Judge granted the application after concluding that there is sufficient evidence.

Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne had discharged the men at the P.I, April 25 this year, after upholding no case submissions from Attorneys Grant Connell and Israel Bruce, representing James and McFee respectively, on charges of murdering the baby and attempting to murder his parents.

At the hearing on April 19, following the

testimonies of nine prosecution witnesses, Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche requested, and was granted an adjournment, so that notice could be given to Monty Hillocks that he was needed to testify at the P.I. However, when the matter resumed on April 25, the Senior Prosecutor told the Court that Hillocks was located, but that he had raised certain concerns. As a result, Delpleche requested another adjournment, this time for the prosecution to make an application under the Witness Special Measures Act to have Hillocks’ evidence provided through video link. The Chief Magistrate did not grant that adjournment.

When contacted on Wednesday, DPP Colin Williams told THE VINCENTIAN, “The Magistrate committed a

grave error in not allowing the prosecution’s application under the Witness Special Measures Act to be heard.

“What she did by not granting us the time to bring the application, was to defeat the intent, spirit and purpose of the Witness Special Measures Act.” The DPP added, “What we did, was to go before the Judge with all the evidence we had to support our application for the ‘Voluntary Bill of Indictment’.”

After the application was granted, Martin was brought in on an arrest warrant while a production order was issued for McFee, who was on remand on an attempted murder charge. They appeared at the Calliaqua Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, to be remanded on the indictment.

This latest

down by Justice Brian Cottle, are to run JARIEL BELLE, a 26concurrently. year-old Paul’s Avenue Belle, who was on man, who used a gun to remand for just over rob St. Hill Insurance three years, is to have Company Ltd employee that time deducted from Raymond Durrant of the his sentence. business’s cash takings A nine-member jury almost four years ago, found Belle guilty of was sentenced to 14 robbing Durrant, on years imprisonment last January 30, 2014, of a week Thursday at the bag valued EC$18.35 High Court Criminal containing one blue Assizes.

RBTT deposit bag valued Belle also received a 5- EC$250, with year sentence for EC$5,350.25 in cash and possession of a firearm to EC$13,907 in cheques, endanger life. belonging to St. Hill The sentences, handed Insurance Company Ltd;

and one black 9.mm glock pistol valued EC$2,600, and 4 rounds of ammunition, the property of Durrant.

The jury also found Belle guilty of possession of a firearm to endanger life, on the same date.

Belle was unrepresented at the trial which commenced October 23.

He was initially charged along with Kwasie Ryan of Paul’s Avenue, but Ryan subsequently died.

The Prosecution’s case revealed that around

3:45 p.m. on the date in question, Durrant, who was responsible for depositing the daily cash takings for the company, was on his way to make a deposit at a Commercial Bank in Kingstown, when he was attacked by a masked gunman and relieved of the items. The assailant is said to have fired two shots when he grabbed the bag.

Five witnesses testified for the prosecution, including Durrant and the Investigator Sheffique Joseph. Crown Counsel Carl Williams prosecuted.

In a written statement to the police, which was admitted in evidence, Belle admitted to the offences, but said that Ryan gave him a gun and told him to rob Durrant. He added, in the statement, “because is he (Ryan) who have me alive, because dem man does want to kill me, and is he who does save me, so I have to do whey he say, because he could call a shot pon me, so dat is why I went and do what I do, so dat I could live a little longer.”

Belle maintained this version of events during his defence to the Court.

by HAYDN HUGGINS SIX MONTHS after Martin ‘Jahson’ James, 45, and Ricardo ‘Shrek’ McFee, 28, both of Villa, were discharged at the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) at the Serious Offences Court on the charge of murdering nine-month-old Mozarie Lee, a High Court Judge has found that there is sufficient evidence for the men to stand trial in the High Court for the baby’s murder.

The Judge also found that there is sufficient evidence for the men to stand trial in the High Court for unlawfully and maliciously wounding the baby’s father Mozart Lee and mother Shelly Ann Durham with intent, and the attempted murder of Monty Hillocks of Belmont.

The four charges reportedly stem from a shooting incident at Glen October 7 last year, during which the baby

Ricardo ‘Shrek’ McFee (hiding face) and Martin ‘Jahson’ James (foreground) being led away to remand. development occurred just about one week after McFee appeared at the Serious Offences Court, along with Colin ‘Coco’ David, charged with the October 15 attempted murder of Paul’s Avenue

resident Jawanza ‘Sanga’ Frazer, possession of a firearm to endanger Frazer’s life, and using a firearem with intent to commit the offence of murder on Frazer.

ÂShadowÊ in Robber jailed for 14 years the shade

by HAYDN HUGGINS

ANTHONY ‘Black Shadow’ Edwards is an entrepreneur operating in the area of Walliabou on the Central Leeward coast. What happened sometime on Monday is still being verified.

Edwards was warded at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital last Tuesday, nursing a wound the result, it is reported, of a gunshot.

He did not speak of the circumstances leading up to his being shot at; instead he took issue with the media when contacted, and launched a similar rant about distrust of the Police.

His operation brings him into regular contact with visitors, especially from yachts which moor in the tranquil waters of the Walliabou Bay, where segments of the movie ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ (Part One) were shot in 2003.

Edwards has been a livewire in the area, and has distinguished himself as a citizen not afraid to air his views. He is a frequent caller to radio stations.

What has caused him to be so nonchalant about his recent experience, is a matter of conjecture.

(WKA)

Anthony ‘Black Shadow’ Edwards at the MCMH.

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

Regional

Allegations of sonic attacks Âtotally falseÊ, says Cuba

Bruno Rodriguez Cuba’s Foreign Minister – addressing Cubans in USA, during which he deemed the allegations of sonic attacks against US embassy staff as ‘totally false’.

US SAYS NEARLY TWO DOZEN staff were affected by the alleged attacks Cuba, once again, has vehemently denied that there have been sonic attacks against US embassy staff in its capital, Havana.

This latest denial came from Cuba’s Foreign Minister — Bruno Rodriguez, as he addressed the 4th conference with Cuban residents in the US, at Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC. According to a BBC report of October 29, 2017, Minister Rodriguez told his countrymen and women that the

allegations levelled against his government have caused a “serious deterioration in the relationship between both governments and both countries”, and rubbished the claims as “political manipulation” aimed at damaging bilateral relations.

He dismissed allegations of any kind of attack as “totally false”.

US authorities first began raising concerns about a possible sonic attack in 2016, when US embassy staff in Havana and at least one Canadian, began to notice symptoms.

Later in 2016, US embassy staff in Havana reported that nearly two dozen personnel had developed health problems.

The US embassy in Havana has suspended all visa processing indefinitely.

The reported health problems ranged from mild brain trauma and deafness to dizziness and nausea.

Suggestions continued to come from the Americans that sonic attacks were to blame, even though joint investigations by them and Cuban personnel could offer no proof to support the claim.

And even though Washington appears to level no direct blame on Havana for the alleged attacks, President Donald Trump said last week Havana was responsible, but the Cuban government remained steadfast in denying that it had targeted US embassy staff.

In a reprisal, seemingly related to the ‘impasse’, the US, in May 2017, expelled two Cuban diplomats, for what it said was the Cubans’ failure “to protect its diplomats”, and suspended visa processing in Cuba indefinitely.

By August 2017, the US authorities were saying that 16 employees had been treated but attacks seem to have stopped.

But by September, the US had made an about turn, and declared that attacks were continuing and 19 staff members were hurt.

By September 29, even in the face of mounting evidence that did not support the US claim of sonic attacks, the US

EC$50.00 Banknote to bear Sir Dwight’s image the authorised printer of its circulation banknotes, to prepare design concepts for a new $50 note AT ITS 89TH MEETING, bearing the image of Sir Dwight, convened on 20 October, the in addition to the standard Eastern Caribbean Central Bank security features of the existing (ECCB) Monetary Council banknotes. approved the $50 as the circulation The $50 banknote is the second banknote, on which The highest denomination of the EC Honourable Sir K Dwight Venner’s Currency in circulation, which image will be displayed as a makes it a fitting mark of respect permanent tribute to his legacy. to Sir Dwight.

The late Honourable Sir K The process of final design Dwight Venner, former Governor approvals and production means of the ECCB, served the ECCB that it will still be some time member countries and the wider before the new note bearing Sir. K. Caribbean with distinction, over a Dwight Venner’s image comes into 26-year period. circulation. The ECCB will advise As a lasting tribute to his the general public when the sterling contribution, the ECCB process is completed and the new engaged the services of De La Rue, note is ready for circulation.

Editor’s Note: The following is an official statement by the ECCB.

Sir Dwight Venner served as Governor of the ECCB from December 1989 to November 2015. (Photo Credit: montserratreporter.com)

pulled out diplomatic staff from Havana and warned citizens not to visit.

This was followed by the expulsion of Cuban diplomats from Washington on October 3, 2017.

The USA and Cuba reopened diplomatic relations in July, 2015 after relations were severed in 1961. This followed the USA’s 1960 imposition of the first trade embargo on Cuba.

Dr. Douglas still under investigation diplomatic passport on several of his foreign trips in the Caribbean and beyond.

Dr. Harris referred to the matter as one that “raises a serious legal question as to whether or not the Leader of the Opposition is qualified to be a Representative in the National Assembly.”

In view of the evidence and in the pursuit of the public interest, Dr Harris disclosed that his government has sought a legal opinion on the results of the investigation, and Dr. Timothy Harris, Prime acting on same, is in Minister of St. Kitts and the process of Nevis, very much at ease, finalizing an during his press application to the High Court, “seeking conference of October 25, declarations that the 2017. (Photo Credit: Leader of the SKN.gov) Opposition is no longer eligible to ACCORDING TO A continue sitting as a RELEASE (October 25, Representative in the 2017) from the Office of National Assembly, and the Prime Minister of St. that he should be Kitts and Nevis, further required to vacate his investigations into the seat.”

Dr. Denzil Douglas During his tenure as passport matter by the prime minister, Dr. Team Unity-led Douglas strongly opposed Administration, have the notion of elected found that the former parliamentary prime minister, now representatives holding Leader of Her Majesty’s dual citizenship, and in Loyal Opposition, is 2009, played an indeed a holder of a instrumental role in diplomatic passport bringing several pieces of issued by the legislation to Parliament Commonwealth of that amended the Dominica on July 30th, National Assembly 2015, bearing the number Elections Act. DP0000462.

Dr. Harris himself, That diplomatic was the focus of a similar passport also lists Dr. allegation to one levelled Douglas’ nationality as against Dr. Douglas, i.e.

Dominican, or so the that he was also the release said. holder of a Dominican At a press conference diplomatic passport. Dr. that preceded the release, Harris moved swiftly to St. Kitts and Nevis’ rubbish the allegation, Prime Minister, Dr. the but seemed to have Honourable Timothy intensified investigations Harris stated into the one that made categorically that Dr. Dr. Douglas its target.

Douglas had used this (Source: SKN.gov)

V Two receive Independence Honours in NY 6. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Diaspora

“The award was bigger than me,” she said, and recalled that her grandmother had taught her “to do the right thing, to be loyal to God.” Soon after migrating to New THE BROOKLYN, New York-based York, her father guided her into Council of St. Vincent and the becoming a member of St. Paul’s Grenadines Organizations, U.S.A. Episcopal (Anglican) Church, Inc. (COSAGO), the umbrella Flatbush, Brooklyn.

Vincentian group in the United She is the current president States, on Sunday 29th October, of the Episcopal Church Women bestowed its Independence (ECW), an executive member of Honours on community worker the Brooklyn ECW Ancilla Friday and soccer coach Archdeaconry Board, Church and sports writer Patrick Horne.

School teacher, member of the Friday and Horne received hospitality committee, head of the honour at a gala the Girl Scouts, and founding Independence Luncheon, at member and chairperson of the Grand Prospect Hall in St. Paul’s Church, Flatbush Brooklyn, commemorating the Windward Islands Committee. nation’s 38th anniversary of Friday has been a member of political independence, for their Club St. Vincent, Inc., for over “committed efforts and 25 years. Under her leadership, community services over the the group began collecting and years,” said Laverne McDowald- sending gifts annually to the Thompson, the ChateaubelairNine Mornings Committee in St. born president of COSAGO. Vincent and the Grenadines The honorees also received during the Christmas season. citations from US She is “the driving force” Congresswoman Yvette D. behind the organization’s Clarke and Brooklyn Borough annual walkathon, to raise President Eric Adams. Horne funds for the Vincentian also received an award from athletes competing in the Penn Hairoun Sports Club.

Relays.

As a member of COSAGO, Ancilla Friday Friday said she represents the Vincentian community at Friday was born in Calliaqua Brooklyn Borough Hall as a but grew up at Ratho Mill. She member of the Caribbean is the current vice president of American Heritage Committee, the Brooklyn-based group, Club which sponsors the Caribbean St. Vincent, Inc., of which she is American Heritage Day a past president. celebration in June each year.

Stories and photos by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net; kingnaking210@yahoo.com US CORRESPONDENT

In 1999, Friday received the “Dynamic Woman Award” from New York State Assemblyman Nick Perry. In 2012, she received the “Women Celebrating Women” award as a community leader from former New York City Council Member, Jamaican-born Dr. Una S. T. Clarke.

Friday has a Bachelor’s degree in Community Health and a Master’s degree in Health Administration, and has worked in the health care industry for 30 years.

Friday has been married for 35 years to “the love of her life,” Crispin Friday. They have two daughters, Krisann and Christine.

Patrick Horne Layou-born Horne, an occasional sports writer for Caribbean Life newspaper in New York, said, “For me, it started with my parents — Elise and Everard Horne, both were public servants — my mother was a nurse and my father a policeman.”

Horne, a former professional footballer [soccer player] in the United States — the first from St. Vincent and the Grenadines — is currently a high school English teacher and college soccer coach. He is a United States Soccer Federation licensed coach.

For 14 years, he wrote a Sunday sports column in

Ancilla Friday – Honoree – has given yeoman service to Club St. Vincent which continues to contribute to worthy causes in SVG.

Patrick Horne – Honoree – the first Vincentian to play professional football (soccer) in the USA.

Newsday, a mainstream American publication in Long Island, New York, and contributed to a number of Caribbean print publications, including Caribbean Life.

In the 1990s, he owned and produced the now defunct Caribbean American Athlete, which reported primarily on sports played by Caribbean nationals in the US Diaspora.

He also ventured into broadcasting, and served as a sportscaster for WLIB Radio in New York on its Caribbean programming, and produced his own sports hour, Time Out, on WNWK Radio in New York in the early 1990s.

As a sports administrator, Horne was a member of the popular Central Brooklyn Soccer League (CBSL) and played a significant role in the formation of Alafia, the first Vincentian soccer club in New York.

In the early 1990s, Horne started the Skills Soccer Club, and 10 years later, initiated the Vincy Cup tournament in Brooklyn.

As a four-year studentathlete, Horne was inducted into his college’s Sports Hall of Fame at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE), which he had helped reach the 1975 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 National Final game, before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication. He went on to earn a Master’s in Education from Alfred University in Alfred, New York.

Horne said he is still mentoring young adults as the coach of the women’s soccer team at Brooklyn College, a programme he started in 2012.

Since that time, the women’s team has won two City University of New York (CUNY) titles.

New York Consul General Howie Prince congratulated the honorees for their “exemplary community and humanitarian service.”

The ceremony was also graced by the presence of LouAnn Gilchrist, SVG Ambassador to the United States .

Vincy ex-police group hosts ‘Evening of Entertainment’

Oscar James belts out “Argyle International Airport.”

PAMELLA FERRARIEASTER, chairperson of the Entertainment Committee of the Brooklyn, New York-based St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ex-Police Association, USA, Inc., says that her group is on “a new high” after its inaugural “Evening of

Ellsworth “Life Boy” Quammie says he “Got God in my Life,” and urges patrons to “Hold On” and “Don’t go to Hell.”

Entertainment” at the Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center in Brooklyn.

Ferrari-Easter, a Canouan, St. Vincent Grenadines-born former sergeant in the Royal St.

Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, told THE VINCENTIAN that the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ex-Police Association, U.S.A., Inc., which has been in existence for 37 years, has had “many highs and lows” and is “now on a new high after putting on an Evening of Entertainment” recently.

Ferrari-Easter — the first woman from the St. Vincent Grenadines to join the local constabulary and who, in May, received the President’s Special Award during the group’s Annual Banquet at Glen Terrace in Brooklyn — said many performers “kept the audience entertained” throughout the recent “Evening of Entertainment.”

The wide array of entertainers comprised:

Clementina Bailey, Angus ‘Brigo’ Lynch, Oscar James, Ellsworth ‘Lifeboy’ Quammie, Olson Thomas, El Bethel Restoration Ministries Band, and the United Vincie Cultural Group of Brooklyn.

New York Consul General Howie Prince also sang an “ole time” calypso, and Master of Ceremonies, Hailes Castello, a disc jockey, song writer and singer, sang the impromptu “They will rise Up,” as a tribute to Caribbean islands ravaged by recent hurricanes.

“In keeping with our organization’s motto, ‘Staying together to Serve,’ and also in keeping a part of who we are and where we came from alive, some police flavor was added,” Ferrari-Easter said, stating that some members performed a skit,

featuring “A Court Scene,” in which the accused, “John Bull,” was charged with stealing “James Blugh’s” cell phone.

Actors were: President Arden Tannis as defense attorney; vice president Beresford Latham as magistrate; Phillip Richards as arresting officer; St. Elmo Ollivierre as the victim/complainant; Lemrey Jack as the accused; and Jack’s twin brother, Emery Jack, as the director of public prosecutions.

“It’s the first one [Evening of Entertainment] we’ve had, and it took some planning,” said Emery Jack, a former sergeant in the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, who serves as chaplain and sergeant-at-

arms in the Brooklyn group. “Generally, it was good in my opinion. We’re hoping that, in the new year, we will start the planning earlier. Our intention is to make it an annual event.”

Ardon Tannis, the group’s president, said he was very pleased with the “Evening of Entertainment.”

“It went well,” he told THE VINCENTIAN. “I think we achieved the objectives. It was planned to bring the supporters of the organization together.

We’re trying to reach exofficers through family and friends.

“It’s another effort to stay visible in the community’s eyes,” he added. “The response was really overwhelming. So, it is something we appreciate very much.”

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

Education

Shannique Alleyne - National Scholarship awardee

Scholarship awardee

Kayenna Bullock – National Scholarship awardee

Alexcia Burgin - National Scholarship awardee

Kadeem De Shong - National Scholarship awardee

Milieko Edwards - National Scholarship awardee

Daree Myers - National Scholarship awardee

Chrislon Fraser - National Scholarship awardee

Che Grant - National Scholarship awardee

Michaela Miguel - National Scholarship awardee

Jeremaih Augustus - National

Scholars rewarded

TWENTY-NINE STUDENTS were given tangible rewards last week Wednesday, October 25, for their outstanding academic performances in the 2017 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

The awards were handed out at Victoria Park where the School’s Independence Rally was held.

Kairel Edwards, Thandi Myers and Abigail Scott were deemed the most outstanding, each having gained passes in six subject areas, and received the Prime Minister’s Awards.

While Edwards and Scott were on hand to receive their recognition, Myers had already taken up studies abroad, and was represented by her mother, Mrs. Deirdre Myers.

The other National Scholarships recipients were: Kayenna Bullock, Lashontae Shepherd, Jerimiah Augustus, Milieko Edwards, Che Grant, Shannique Alleyne, Christian Friday, Alexcia Burgin, Chrislon Fraser, Michailia Matthias, and Michaela Miguel.

Each recipient of a National Scholarship will

receive funding for a five-year period of study, Seven students received Exhibitions, i.e. three years full funding. They were: Kamla David, Arielle Roberts, Tahleze Marksman, Akeem Muhammed, Tomi Pompey, Donley Stapleton, and Rhaine Williams.

Six bursaries worth $20,000 each year for three years were awarded to Abigail Scott – Prime Minister’s Justene Farrell, Award recipient Shania Leslie, Ariel Lewis, Dorien Antrobus, Gonsalves said.

Darron Farrell, and And while he Terron Pope. considered the 2107 CAPE results to be quite A disappointed PM good, he urged students to “strive for better,” and Addressing the promised that if students Awards Ceremony, Prime did well, he will “find the Minister Dr. Ralph resources for you to go Gonsalves expressed further.” disappointment at the Students doing number of students at Associate Degrees may the function. He be in for recognition. considered it “entirely But the information has unacceptable,” and called to come to the Prime for something to be done Minister. “They must not to improve attendance. be seen as second “We can’t continue to cousins. I need to have do the same thing for the the information to act sake of formality,” Dr. on.”

Kairel Edwards – Prime Minister’s Award recipient Since this indication, the Prime Minister, in his address delivered at the Annual Independence Military Parade on Independence Day. October 27, announced six special awards, in order of merit, will be made to the 2017 associate degree graduates from the Community College.

Three of these will be exhibition university scholarships and three will be bursaries.

The Prime Minister issued a challenge to males to occupy the

Thandi Myers – Prime Minister’s Award recipient

spaces at the top.

A number of cultural performances marked the day’s proceedings. Those making presentations included: Bishop’s College Kingstown, Intermediate High School, C.W. Prescod Primary School, Thomas Saunders Secondary School, Girls’ High School, Spring Village Methodist Preschool, and Elizabeth Browne Childcare Development Centre.

Lashontae Shepherd National Scholarship awardee

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8. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 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 Why do people launder money?

CRIMINALS, many sociologists say, commit three basic types of crime - crimes of passion or honour, crimes of violence or vandalism, and economic crimes.

We are all too familiar with the first two types, but the third may be still be ‘virgin’ territory to most.

Generations of old could relate in vivid detail, the circumstances surrounding and the nature of crimes of passion especially, for they were far and wide apart in frequency. But they lingered in the psyche down through generations.

Today, violence decorates the once tranquil landscape of our Caribbean isles, to the extent that they have all but created a whole new tapestry (of life). Young people wage violent wars of reprisals against one another, more often through the use of illegally acquired modern, sophisticated firearms. Cartels of gangsters take deadly aim at others who would dare encroach on their turf, and sour their influence on the political, social and economic fabric of the expansive network that characterises their operation.

The last — economic crimes, if the truth be told, is virgin territory to most. Its sophistication lends itself to an almost non-existence among ordinary folk. It is, it appears, aligned with those who are in opportune positions or who have already amassed large amounts of worth.

But if we took economic crimes to mean crimes that are committed to make money, economic crimes may far outnumber the other two types of crime.

Persons who commit economic crimes do so, it appears, for two reasons: to prove they can do it and get away with it; because they think they can make more money from the crime than they can make from a legitimate endeavour.

And when these criminals make their money, they use it for a myriad of purposes, not least, according to those who have studied the trend, to invest in another crime, hide it, use it now, use it to set up ‘legitimate’ enterprises through which they can funnel (launder) cash for operating expenses that far exceed the requirements of the nature of business, and, as is becoming more and more to the fore, to wield influence, not excluding over the political landscape of a given country.

That is why, those who investigate these crimes do so by following the money, or trying so to do. Sometimes, investigators who think that someone may have been involved in a crime, may start with that person’s known finances and work backwards. This has resulted in changes in the laws in many jurisdictions which, for example, allow for the confiscation of holdings of known, convicted criminals, unless that ‘criminal’ can prove the origin of his wealth is gotten by legitimate means.

But that is why, having grown to understand this trailing method, those involved in today’s economic crime, take to moving their money further and faster than investigators can follow it - and from time to time they want to put it into what one writer dubs ‘black holes’ — tax havens, offshore companies, charities, you name it - so as to escape the investigators’ grasp.

Therein lies the challenge of those markets that offer themselves up as offshore (financial) havens. Unfortunately, some offshore havens are more open and fluid than others, making for instability in the global offshore financial industry.

In our own jurisdiction, and we are not unique in this respect, one way in which suspicion is raised about ‘laundering money’ is when someone spends more money than their known income can afford or their business can support. So that, a street vendor who never has any customers but drives a new convertible would raise suspicions.

Those who choose to hide money in bank accounts, do so in the names of theirs or others’ children, elderly relatives, even friends and associates. They think the revenue authorities would overlook this but, as referenced earlier, changes in the laws make targeting these suspicious accounts easier.

Yet, ‘economic criminals’ find creative ways and means to funnel their money, like operating outside that part of the economy that demands that records be kept. How often have you been offered a discount for cash, provided you don’t want a receipt?

Nuff said.

Better late than never I UNDERSTAND that there is a new move afoot to bring experts, old and young alike in North Leeward this , under the auspices of NEMO, to see what can be gleaned about the history of the two volcanic eruptions, 1902 and 1979, with a view to putting a credible story together that could form a basis for a true history of SVG. I, too, have a story to tell. I am 79 years old, the last of 10 children of a mother who had been born in 1893 at Fancy of Garifuna ancestry. As a young teenager, I was told a story of the 1902 eruption by my mother Arabella and aunt Ellean, who were 9 and 11 years old respectively and living at Fancy at the time of the eruption.

The people of Fancy had earlier warnings for two weeks that there was something brewing at La Soufriere. Most significantly, there was grumbling and slight earth tremors continually, until the fateful day approached.

Unsure as to what to do, they sought out the assistance of “Narna”, a woman gnarled with age and shriven by illnesses who, it was understood, had experienced an earlier eruption in 1812. Daily for about four consecutive days, she was brought out in a tray and placed in the open where she gave her advice as to how to protect themselves against the ravages of the eruption.

She warned the villagers to select the Arrowroot-House as a central place of refuge at the approach of the eruption. And to collect as much water and food as possible to sit out the eruption, and pray.

The manager of the Estate, Mr. Beache, opted to stay with his wife, in his house, which apparently was built of sturdier material than the villagers’ huts round-about.

Then the Soufriere “blew,” accompanied by tremendous earthquakes, several eruptions and constant thunder and lightning which penetrated the enveloping darkness.

Then the causality list began to emerge.

Several people who had opted to be on their own, came to the “place of rescue” bleeding.

Most were given a little alcohol and draughts of water to drink, and perished soon after.

My mother and aunt related a particular incident of two family members who had refused to come to the “place of rescue”, saying that they felt more secure in a cave not distant from the shore. But, according to them, the cave heated up during the eruption, so they threw themselves in the sea to swim the short journey to the shore, not realising that the water was boiling. They made it to the “rescue house”; both were unrecognisable but by their voices, with their skin peeled down to the ankle. They too were given a drink of water and some rum, then they succumbed. And so the story went.

As to the manager’s residence where Mr and Mrs Beache stayed, it was completely liquidated with its d occupants.

The death toll was heavy. When I did

research for my thesis in 1971, I visited the British Museum where I collected all the names of the Cruickshanks and the Williamses that perished in the 1902 eruption.

As I later recounted them to my mother and aunt, they recognised each of them as “Cousin this and Cousin that”.

The ravages of 1902 made a serious dent on the estate system. There was a virtual war between the colonial office who beseeched the plantation owners to sell them cheaply, lands on the fringes of the estates to resettle those displaced by the eruption, but the planters demanded excessively high prices.

At one time, the colonial office even thought of sending the “refugees” to Jamaica, but a solution was found in land at Clare Valley, Questelles and Chauncey where my own mother settled. These lands were distributed in 4-acre blocks.

This solution came after their eking out a perilous two-year existence in barracks at Arnos Vale.

The 1979 eruption occurred when we had our two-party system nearing independence, who fought with the usual difficulties of fratricidal conflict.

As to the male victims, our grandparents took the opportunity of a liberal emigration policy to allow our three teen-aged uncles to migrate “South”. The story is interesting. One uncle settled in Trinidad and had a daughter who married a Dutch man from Paramaribo, De Vlught, who produced the famous Duchy Brother dance band of the 1960s.

My own family kept in touch with our roots in Fancy, proud of our Garifuna lineage. Esther Stay, daughter of Reggie Stay of “Fancy Star” fame, was the first “Carib” descendant to attend secondary school in Kingstown, courtesies the Garifuna connection. Yet, in 1974, it was broadcast by Labour Party chieftains that I was manufacturing my kinship background only for political purposes.

As to the 1979 eruption, the less , the better.

Occurring as it did in the throes of a season approaching our grant of Independence, our reaction to the disaster had politics written all over it. It had begun with an intoxicated public address by Milton Cato.

I could salvage little good from the miasma, excepting two of the evacuation centres properly run respectively by St. Clair Leacock and Yvonne Francis Gibson. Otherwise, the period was marked by the hustle to Paper Independence fuelled by the help of bowdow!

In any event, my good wishes attend the conclave of this weekend. In particular, I hold in high regard the contributions now being made by Dr. Robertson, the son of my dear friend Ormond Robertson, of whom I happened to be Chairman of the PSC who waved him on to heights that he in turn has used for the benefit of SVG, among others.

V

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

Letters

Congrats, Mike

JUST HEARD that Michael Findlay is among those named as Sports Ambassadors.

Through this medium, I extend congratulations to Mike. If anyone is deserving of national recognition, it is this gentleman. I am well aware that Alfie Roberts preceded him as a West Indies Test player, but, in my humble opinion, it was Mike Findlay who brought recognition to St. Vincent and the Grenadines as a country with a wealth of outstanding cricket talent. He caused the rest of the world to stop and take stock of us.

He led not only St. Vincent’s national team, but he was also a skillful and successful leader of the Windward Islands and the formidable Combined Islands.

He would bring, in later years, his experience and knowledge of the game to the administration and management of West Indies cricket.

My only regret is that we did not see it fit before this year, to single him out for recognition.

I want to suggest that when we introduce our own National Honours System, that Michael Findlay would be among the first to receive the highest honour.

Congrats, Mike, and thank you for your contribution.

Nick Sandy, UK.

National heroes IT WAS ENCOURAGING to hear the Honourable Prime Minister say in his 2017 Independence Address, that, come March 2018, we should have at least another National Hero being named.

This matter — one of adding to the sole National Hero that we currently have — has been on the agenda for some time now, and seemed to have been so because of some strong political positions.

That being the case, I thought I would get this matter going again, so I asked my thriteen-yearold son whom he considered to be his hero, just as an exercise to see how the younger generation was thinking.

I was shocked when I got his reply, to wit, “Bob Marley, Messi and Skinny Fabulous”.

No one would fault me when I say that we have a lot of work to do on this National Hero issue.

My question: How much have we been doing among the generrations who would not have even been born when some of those we are advancing for National hero status lived and worked?

If I am to judge from my thriteen-year-old, I would have to conclude that we, and that includes me, have done little to teach those

(younger) generations about George Mc Intosh and Ebenezer Joshua, just to name two.

Heroes are all about motivating others; they are supposed to be the embodiment of patriotism. It is important, therefore, that whom we so decide to confer this honour on, should be presented in true form so that their lives and works are example for others, esepcially the youth, to follow. But, we cannot expect our youth to emulate the lives and works of National Heroes if they are not aware about what those Heroes contributed.

If my thirteen-yearold is representative of his age group, we have a lot of work to do.

Dixon, SVG

A crazy thought FOLLOWING ON what the prime minister said about the wave of gun-related crimes. i.e. that those responsible are ‘associational groupings’, I think there is a simple way to reduce if not get rid of the problem.

These young people who belong to these ‘associational groupings’ must belong to families.

It must be that these families are aware that some of their family

members are part of these ‘associational groupings’.

It would be a start in the right direction if these family members rise up and protest against all the crime that members of their families are involved in.

What shame this would bring to those members of these ‘associational groupings’ when they see their own family members rising up

against them!

I know it might be a difficult thing to ask, but persons who know that members of their families are involved in crime, should report them to the police.

I think that it is important that we do whatever we could to ‘save’ these members of these ‘associational groupings’ and, in the process, save the lives of innocent bystanders.

James Gordon

Colonisation and GodÊs plan for building His Kingdom - Part 16 SATAN WAS FURIOUS that Yah(God) had put the Humans in charge of the planet (Gen 1:26).

‘Can you believe this’, he thought. These creatures that were made lower than him (Heb 2:7), were given glory and honour. This was crazy!

He was kicked out of the Celestial Kingdom just because he was a little ambitious (Isa 14:13), but here was Yah(God) giving these humans exclusive control of the planet. Well …, not if he could do something about it.. and he did (Gen 3:5). Look what a little lie can accomplish( Jn 8:44).

Now he was in charge (lk 4:7),and these puny humans were now contaminated by sin.

Yah had threatened that He was going to raise up a seed from the offspring of the same woman, that would come into the Earth realm and crush his (Satan’s) authority (Gen 3:15), but he will annihilate that threat; he would destroy that seed before it could pose a viable threat (Matt 2:16).

But he had failed!

Somehow the child and it’s parents slipped through the dragnet…

King Herod was a bungling fool, nonetheless the child will die, he will see to it.

Earth was his and he was not about to hand it back to these humans, not even to Yeshua (Jesus), be He man, or God (Matt 28:18).

Killing Yeshua (Jesus) proved to be more difficult than he had first anticipated, but he, Satan, would see to it.

These Pharisees, and Sadducees were too inept (Matt 12:14), but he will get Him sooner or later.

Meanwhile, Yeshua (Jesus) was travelling near and far, preaching and teaching about the Kingdom of Yahweh (God), healing many, and even ordering his disciples to do likewise (Lk 18:9).

This frustrated the Pharisees and Sadducees no end, because the people began ignoring the Torah and started following the disciples around, listening to their incredible sounding teachings (Matt 5:22).

Yeshua, however, wasted no time. He

‘Patience with FLOW wearing thin’.

We would like to first apologise to Mr Titus for Dear Mr. Editor: The following letter I RECENTLY published in the Jamaica his experience. We appreciate our customers complained to a friend of press (as shared by my and welcome every mine studying in friend) is something opportunity to serve Jamaica, about the from which FLOW St. them. Accordingly, it is service from FLOW St. Vincent ought to take a our aim to resolve Vincent. He was quick cue. service disruptions to tell me that within the shortest Jamaicans have also The letter follows: possible time. been experiencing rather With regard to the indifferent service and FLOW Responds To specific concern raised, response to complaints Customer’s Appeal we wish to advise that from FLOW Jamaica; THE EDITOR, Sir: the customer’s service but he also shared We note a recent was restored on October something with me that letter to the editor in 22. Mr Titus was I thought was your newspaper dated engaged and his account commendable.

October 21, 2017, titled

Sharing a response

continued to preach, teach, and deliver people from all manner of sickness and diseases, and from demonic possession and oppression (Mk 1:25).

He showed the Kingdom of Yah (God) in action each day… in word and in deed.

His disciples were amazed by his supernatural powers, but Yeshua told them (Jn 14:12) ‘Truly, whoever believes in me, will be able to do what you see me do, and even greater works than these’.

What folks gawked at here in the Earth realm, and deemed miraculous, was just everyday occurrences in the Celestial Kingdom; they just needed to have the requisite faith (Mk 5:34).

That’s why He came.

Because of sin they were cut off from the divine connection with the Kingdom, but after He had repaired their estrangement, and redeemed, restored and reconciled them, He will leave, and the Holy Spirit (Ruach Hakodesh) will come, and the

rebated for the period that he was without service.

Our focus remains on transforming our customers’ experience as our teams continue to enhance our systems and processes to provide improved services.

SOPHIA MORGAN Director, Customer Experience FLOW Jamaica Need we say more?

Paul Roberts, SVG

connection will be restored permanently.

In the meantime..

‘Come,’ he told his disciples, ‘let us leave this place (Jn 14:31).

There is much work still left to be done.

To be continued...

Negus Bynoe

* Does Mr. Manafort — the man fingered by the US for money laundering — have a legal representative here? * Were Sanitation workers paid on time for their last fortnight? * How come is only lately that we deport a Trinidadian, saying that he had other motives for coming here, when the PM as much as say we know ‘dey does come here to do all kinda wrong things’? * Why people asking me what’s really going on at the head of the Police Force? Who is really the Chief? * How come a certain Minister move quick, quick to distance the government from the Manafort affair, but try to smooth things over when the ‘bolley bus’ with Ames and Buccament?

V

10. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

The 38th Anniversary of Independence address

Introduction IT IS THE CONSIDERED OPINION of a number of Vincentians, that the display at the parade to mark the 38th anniversary of independence last Friday at Victoria Park was the best in recent memory. We must take off our hats to the uniformed men and women of the parade, and especially to the Seventh Day Adventist Pathfinders movement. Their performance was extraordinary and it brought a new dimension to military parades in the country.

It is a further indication of what our young people can accomplish, once they are given the opportunity. It takes us back to a statement made by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, that our young people must “soar like eagles with their wings unclipped”. That’s a clear indication that the ULP as a modern day political party, has complete faith in our young people. The ULP does not see the youths of our nation as “problems”, but as real flesh and blood human beings who are possessed with immense strengths and possibilities. That is what was on display at Victoria Park last Friday from the Pathfinders.

As usual, many of the persons who attended the parade, wanted to hear what Prime Minister Gonsalves had to say, particularly his announcements.

And this year, he did not disappoint, announcing several important policy decisions taken by his ULP administration, which will affect Vincentians in a positive way.

The Graduate Teachers He addressed the issue of the nonappointment of scores of graduate teachers in the education system. This is a problem caused by the success of the Education Revolution, which resulted in more teachers being trained at the university level than available posts in the establishment. The government has decided that from January 1st 2018, all teachers who graduated from university up to and including 2012, and who have not been appointed, will be so appointed from that date. Some 100 teachers will be appointed in this manner.

Those from the graduating years 2013 and onwards, who have not yet been appointed, will be appointed in batches over the next three years, until all have been accorded their rightful appointment. Teachers who are graduates will naturally be happy with this announcement.

Rabacca Farmers Prime Minister Gonsalves also announced that several farmers who occupy government land, will now get an opportunity to obtain full title for these lands. This is of particular importance for those farmers who are leaseholders on the former Rabacca estate, but it applies to other areas where farmers are leasing government lands. In a sense, this is a continuation of the process of “turning dead capital into live capital”. This is a process that has benefited many families in the State.

Graduates Associate Degree This year, the government awarded 29 scholarships, exhibitions and bursaries to students who sat the 2017 CAPE examinations. Now the ULP administration is going further. The Prime Minister announced that there will be six special awards, in order of merit, for the 2017 associate degree graduates from the Community College.

Three of these will be exhibition university scholarships and three will be bursaries.

At any rate, with this new development, another avenue is being created for our deserving students to further their academics, under the education revolution.

National Heroes The issue of national heroes, much discussed in several quarters here, and in the media, will move to another level.

Prime Minister Gonsalves announced that the Honorable René Baptiste, the Chairperson of the National Heroes Advisory Committee, has been requested to submit the final report from that body.

That report will go to Cabinet so that the necessary legal processes can be finalized for the appointment of other national heroes, to join Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer. He further said that this exercise should be completed before March 14th, 2018.

Cultural and Sporting Ambassadors Cabinet has agreed to name two outstanding Vincentians as Cultural Ambassadors. They are Lennox “Dinks” Johnson, singer and artist, and Kimone Baptiste-St. Rose, a fashion designer of note.

Three new Sporting Ambassadors have been appointed. They are Dellarice Duncan, a former captain of the national netball team for many years; Terrance Davis, a beloved special Olympian, and Michael Findlay, the former West Indies test cricketer and selector.

History of St. Vincent and the Grenadines The Prime Minister announced that shortly the government intends to commission a small team of historians to write a single text, “History of St. Vincent and the Grenadines”. This text will be published for use in schools.

Currently, no such text exists, and the history of the country is in bits and pieces, here and there. The government intends to place the history of the country in one volume.

Duty-Free Concession And finally, Prime Minister Gonsalves announced that the date for the commencement of the duty-free concession on Christmas barrels, is November 15th, 2017. The concession will run until December 31st 2017, but the government will have no problem extending the period if there are extenuating circumstances which prevent the barrels from arriving here during this period.

Last year, over twenty thousand persons benefited from this concession, and this is a measure that is eagerly awaited by all Vincentians at home and in the Diaspora.

Conclusion These announcements have been greeted with much appreciation by persons who attended the parade, and by those who followed the proceedings live on radio and television. A grateful nation will thank the Prime Minister and the ULP administration for these announcements which will touch the lives of many Vincentians in a positive way.

The elections were fraudulent: Inspect all the ballots THE APPLICATION for the inspection of the ballots that were used in Central Leeward was adjourned, when it came up for hearing in the High Court on Tuesday 23rd October, because the lawyers for the Respondents did not agree for all of the ballots to be inspected. Lawyers representing the petitioners made it absolutely clear that they wanted to inspect all of the ballots.

The application to inspect the ballot boxes forms part of the court procedure in the elections petition matter, filed by Ben Exeter and Lauron Baptiste, New Democratic Party’s candidates for the constituencies of Central Leeward and North Windward respectively. The questions most Vincentians are asking: What is the Unity Labour Party hiding? Why are they reluctant to have the ballots inspected?

We recall, following the general elections held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on the 9th December 2015, two of the candidates for the New Democratic Party, Mr. Exeter and Mr. Baptiste, filed petitions challenging the election results in Central Leeward and North Windward constituencies, respectively. As required by the legislation governing elections petitions, recognizances were signed by persons intending to be sureties, to provide security for costs on behalf of the petitioners so that the petitions could proceed.

The Respondents in the matters, (i.e. the relevant Returning Officer, Presiding Officer, the Supervisor of Elections, Sir Louis Straker, Mr. Montgomery Daniel and the Attorney General of St. Vincent and the Grenadines) filed applications in the Court to have the petitions struck out, on the basis that they had not met the requirements of section 58(1)(b) and (c) of The Representation of the People Act, and Rule 9 of the House of Assembly (Election Petition Rules) 2014, which set out the procedure and conditions for providing security for costs.

The application to strike out the petitions was heard before Justice Brian Cottle on the 4th March, 2016.

At that hearing, the Petitioners’ lawyers made a preliminary objection to the application on the basis that the Court lacked jurisdiction to hear it at that stage of the petitions proceedings. Despite the objections of the lawyers for our candidates, the Judge proceeded to hear the application to strike out the petitions.

In a written decision delivered on the 4th day of April, 2016, Justice Cottle ultimately agreed with our candidates’ lawyers and ruled that the petitions could not be struck at that stage of the proceedings. However, unusually, he went on further to state that if the application to strike out the petitions were raised again, later, during the hearing of the petitions on their merits, it was bound to succeed.

When the petitions came before Justice Cottle for hearing on the 16th June 2016, the motion to strike out the petitions was again brought by the Respondents. The motion was granted (as Justice Cottle had previously said would happen) and the petitions were struck out. Mr. Exeter and Mr. Baptiste appealed

against that decision. After much delay, and despite the efforts of the lawyers for Mr. Exeter and Mr. Baptiste to have the appeal, heard earlier, the appeal was finally heard on March 7, 2017, in St. Lucia. Mr. Exeter and Mr. Baptiste won the appeal which paved the way for the hearing of the petitions.

Furthermore, it must be noted that elections observers from the Organizational of American States (OAS) who witnessed the final count in Central Leeward, made the following observations in their final report: A. Incorrect application of seals: On several ballot boxes, while tie-locks had been placed in the required locations around the perimeter of the box and through the flap covering the slot, the seal was not placed across the slot itself. In some cases, the seal was placed on the flat part of the box cover, in a fashion similar to a sticker.

In one case (CL-D) the seal was not on the box at all, but was wrapped around one of the locks. The NDP agents noted that in these cases they could not be certain that tampering had not taken place, and requested that the Returning Officer note their concerns.

B. Absence of Presiding Officer stamp and initials on some ballots: In two ballot boxes, which were both incorrectly sealed, a number of ballots had neither the stamp nor initial of the Presiding Officer. As this applied to the ballots for both the ULP and the NDP, and as the relevant ballots had been cut in such a way (on the slant) so that a small portion of the ballot had been removed along with the counterfoil, it appeared that the Presiding Officer had simply removed the counterfoil in such a way that his/her stamp and initial remained on the counterfoil itself. The NDP agents requested permission to view the counterfoils to confirm that the stamp and initials were present. This request was refused by the Returning Officer. Repeated appeals and objections by the NDP agents were ignored by the Returning Officer.

C. Partiality of the Returning Officer: The bias of the Returning Officer towards the ULP candidate and agents was clear. During the period witnessed by the OAS Observers, the RO routinely ignored attempts by the NDP agents to gain his attention, responded to their concerns or objections in a dismissive or exasperated fashion, or complained that they were wasting his time. On the other hand, concerns voiced by ULP agents were immediately addressed and in one particular instance converted by the Returning Officer into a new instruction for the counting process. It was notable that the instruction was revoked only after a lead ULP agent agreed that it should be.”

We contend that the general elections were fraudulent, and we await the date for the continuation of the matter in the High Court.

V

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

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Children of the Survivors

“You must speak, you children of the survivors, for the millions who perished in the middle passage, justice would never be done in the courthouse of humanity.” - Charles R. Johnson (born 1948), an AfricanAmerican scholar and the author of novels, short stories, screen-andteleplays, and essays, most often with a philosophical orientation.

REGARDLESS OF HOW HARD we may try, we cannot return to the past to make any changes. Life demands that we demonstrate prudence and seek, as best we can, to chart a course that will enable us to be the best that we can be … moving forward from where we are.

The scourges of slavery continue to have a negative impact on many societies around the world. This is quite evident in the United States of America where there appears to be the re-emergence of bitter colour prejudice. During the last decade, we have seen the emergence of a new breed of Nazi sympathisers and an emboldened Ku Klux Klan. These advocates of white supremacy appear to have infiltrated and contaminated the fabric of American society. But America is not the only country where we appear to be hearing the rattles of colour prejudice. We can find pockets of discrimination and colour prejudice on every continent. Many proponents of colour prejudice, influenced by politicians and community leaders who encourage “freedom of speech” and the right to demonstrate, now boldly spew their venomous prejudices across the Internet and other public media.

We, the children of the survivors, must not cower nor cringe, even as we see and hear of the atrocities that are directed at those individuals who are “differently coloured”. We must understand and appreciate that the God who made each of us, reminds us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made; every last one of us. There is beauty in diversity. These differences among us, when skilfully woven together, add to the fabric and fragrance of our world. We, the children of the survivors, must never devalue ourselves or our past. We must hold our heads high and appreciate from whence we came.

There were many positive thoughts that surfaced when I recently spent hours in the sun extracting weeds from the front lawn. The activity involved my sitting on a small child’s chair that was made from woven grass and crude pieces of wood. This small child’s chair was purchased in the market in Castries, St. Lucia, some three decades ago. All of our children have outgrown this crude furniture, but it still has value (as described above). It is quite comfortable for me to sit on and considered convenient for gardening as it takes my arms close to the ground for weed-extraction and avoids me having to experience the discomfort of bending.

It was during this exercise that the thought occurred to me that our foreparents would not have had the luxury of sitting while they worked in the hot sun. As a teenager, I recalled reading a book entitled “The Black Sun”. The novel provided vivid descriptions of the horrors of slavery in Jamaica. It dawned on me that the

dark pigmentation of my skin allowed me to remain in the sun for long hours … enjoying the sunlight as it licked and caressed my exposed legs and feet. It was a good feeling. We, the children of the survivors, have so much to be thankful for. Our foreparents relayed some strong genes to this generation. We are grateful.

It is a privilege and great honour to work and “relax” in the sunshine. As we view from whence we came, let us not be so focused on the negatives of our past, that we lose sight of the blessings of today. We have come a long way as a people. We have fought and won many physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional battles. We have survived against great odds. We are here. And we stand proud as a people. We are overcomers. We are winners. So, let us share those good stories of our foreparents with the next generation. Let us remind them that it is more important to focus on where we are yet to go, than where we have come from. Let us encourage them to dream pure and big dreams, and to not limit themselves in any way to small-minded pity and regret.

Like the Phoenix, we will continue to rise to accomplish great things. We will continue to defeat great foes within and outside ourselves. We are children of the survivors.

We are the proud and grateful children of the survivors. We will forever appreciate the many visionary parents, teachers, church leaders, politicians, and other concerned citizens who, for decades, reminded the population that education provides multiple opportunities for upward mobility in society. We are encouraged and inspired by the opportunities afforded these children of the survivors to excel at a variety of professions. The children of the survivors are now doctors, lawyers, architects, engineers, business executives, teachers, nurses, and so on. They now advocate the truism that it really does not matter where we are born or who our parents or foreparents are/were. With a strong desire, and the determination to pursue our noble dream, the children of the survivors can continue to play a major role in making societies stronger, more beautiful, and more fruitful.

Our foreparents survived the middle passage. They survived the scourges of slavery and indentured servanthood. Their life stories remind us that, even as we go through great difficulties, we have the DNA of the survivors. We are winners. We are overcomers. So, we press onward and upward and, with God’s help, we will demonstrate great resilience and prudence — encouraging this and subsequent generations that we do have the seeds of greatness within us.

We will excel at all that is noble because we are children of the survivors.

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

Global Warming as crime against humanity WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY, the Caribbean has been experiencing heavy rainfall, devastating floods, monster hurricanes, very hot days and nights, as well as prolonged periods of drought. So far this year, the region has witnessed two category 5 hurricanes that wreaked havoc in Dominica, Tortola, St Croix, BVI, Turks and Caicos, St Martin, and Cuba.

In responding to this absolutely lifechanging, indeed existential threat, Professor Anthony Chen, speaking at a climate change forum hosted by the Caribbean Policy Research Institute, suggested that Jamaica should seek economic restitution from global polluters at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). It is a cause all Caribbean nations should embrace.

Dr Chen noted that the dangers and threat of global warning have been well established since the 1990s, but the countries responsible have not taken any significant steps to reduce greenhouse gases. The Trump administration has withdrawn from the Paris Climate Accord and the Head of the Environmental Protection Agency, USA, is a global warming/climate change denier.

No serious planner in the region can fail to factor the deadly issue in yearly, if not daily or monthly brain storms.

Towards the end of 2013, Dominica, St Lucia and St Vincent experienced devastating storms. The Christmas Eve storm took 13 lives and caused more than $300 million in damage, about 17 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

People who live in the Caribbean know from their own experience, that climate change is real. They know it from days and nights that are hotter than in the past; from more frequent and more intense hurricanes or freak years like the last one when there were none; from long periods of dry weather followed by unseasonal heavy rainfall and flooding; and from the recognisable erosion of coastal areas and reefs.

Sceptics like Frank Da Silva, ULP chief propagandist, continue to deny that these phenomena are in any way related to climate change. But, increasingly, scientific evidence points to human-induced effects of climate change.

Over the last two decades, the Caribbean has been the victim of climate change, even though it contributes the least to the problem.

Trinidad and Tobago is the region’s biggest polluter at a paltry 0.17 per cent of the world’s total CO2 emissions.

Each of the other 13 independent CARICOM countries emits 0.01 per cent or less. The United States, Japan, China, India and the European Union (EU) countries, are the major polluters.

A 2014 study by the Inter-American Development Bank fears that the tourism industry in the Caribbean – the mainstay of many of the islands – could lose upwards of US$900 million a year by 2050. It also says that flat islands like The Bahamas are particularly vulnerable, and it estimates that, by 2053, climate change will cumulatively have cost the Caribbean up to US$2 billion. Also, the annual income from fishing may be affected by as much as US$140 million from 2015.

The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre in Belize has also posted an authoritative report, which shows that the Caribbean is particularly at risk for dramatic rises in temperature, with damaging effects on sensitive ecosystems that cannot

tolerate even small changes in climate, if they occur at a rapid pace.

Studies indicate that if nothing is done to halt the current trend of global warming, Jamaica will be among the first places on Earth (2023) to see a significant increase in temperature from the historical average. It will be followed by Haiti (2025), Dominican Republic (2026), Bahamas and Guyana (2029), and Belize (2034). While these countries are specifically mentioned, all Caribbean countries will be similarly affected to some degree, with consequences for agriculture, water, tourism and production.

The problem posed by global warning and climate change are real, unprecedented and urgent. Regional governments are forced to contend with massive debt burden, high deficits and high unemployment caused by structural deficiencies in their economies. Compounding this situation is a report by the Inter-American Development Bank which says the “region needs to dramatically increase its investment in climate change adaptation and mitigation in the coming decades”.

Caribbean leaders are between a rock and a hard place - mounting problems and very little resources to effectively tackle them. There are few donors willing to assist the region to fund adaptation and developmental projects.

Therefore, Dr Chen’s idea of seeking economic restitution through legal action against the major polluters, holds merit. And it has been echoed before. Chris Huhne, a former British environment minister noted in 2013: ‘A group of small island states threatened by rising sea levels, led by Palau, came close to asking the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion, and the main reason they did not press ahead then was that the scientific case is strengthening by the month”.

The Caribbean can no longer merely endure the effects of global warming whose evidence is plain to see, and whose major offenders have been identified by no less an organisation than the United Nations. The scientific documentation is available and irrefutable.

The Caribbean has had to endure conquest, genocide, slavery and colonialism. The legacy of these crimes against humanity are still with us.

There was a time when the Caribbean was regarded in European capitals as the most cherished piece of real estate in the world. Then, as slavery became a break on capitalist development, these islands were abandoned.

On top of the colonial mess left by Europeans, our region is now forced to face an urgent existential threat, devastation due to climate change. The science is showing that we are close to, if not pass, the point of no return.

It may be very late, but we need a skilled team of technocrats and a committed political leadership to press the case for our very survival. There will be no future unless climate change, due to global warming, is given utmost priority.

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

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12. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Break the chain of endemic ruthless exploitation

China, and deport the white migrants of Mustique and Canouan if they do not pay tax.

A Green government would build ON FRIDAY 27 of October 2017, at the SVG are without mains water and mass employment and revenue on a factories to produce agro-products, tea, 38th Independence parade at Victoria electricity, and are unable to feed their large scale.

Park, Kingstown, Warrant Officer Ivan family adequately.

Taiwan and Mustique and Canouan fruit juice, baby food from breadfruit and canned callaloo for export.

O’Neal BSc (hons), MSc, MBA and Taiwan and the migrants of are obstacles to development in SVG, According to Warrant Officer Ivan Kadmiel McFee executed a peaceful Mustique and Canouan come to SVG and perpetuate poverty in our country. protest. with their proposals for development, The paltry donations from Taiwan and O’Neal, SVG urgently needs big investment in high-quality education It was a very strong demand and and are allowed by the ULP regime to the migrants of Mustique and from pre-school to university, clear message to Taiwan and Mustique abuse our country. Taiwan uses our Canouan are a slap in the face to our including urgent construction of a and Canouan: enough is enough! fish licence, and the migrants get to country, because they avoid paying science and technology university. A Taiwan and the migrants of Mustique buy large acres of land. hundreds of millions of dollars of tax university education will equip our and Canouan must pay tax and The government sells crown lands annually. young people to get high-paid jobs and customs duty or go home. to migrants, and SVG’s indigenous A future without poverty for our / or become entrepreneurs and start In SVG, we need to break the chain people are being pushed out of their children and grandchildren depends their own business. of endemic ruthless exploitation, as it country of birth. The migrants go on to upon a strong economy based on We must break the chain of endemic is choking SVG’s economy to death. build exclusive enclaves for foreigners. exported goods and services. We can ruthless exploitation, as it is choking The guilty ones need to pay up or go Over the decades, Taiwan and never achieve that if the Taiwan and SVG’s economy to death. Taiwan and home.

Mustique and Canouan have been the migrants of Mustique and the white migrants of Mustique and This chain of endemic ruthless allowed to get away with not paying Canouan stay in our country and do Canouan need to pay tax or go home. exploitation is causing high rates of billions of dollars in tax and customs not pay tax. unemployment and widespread exemptions. SVG is in financial crisis A Green government would cut ties SVG Green Party poverty and hunger. Many families in and must change direction to create with Taiwan and create ties with

Resolving the corresponding bank issue A CORRESPONDENT bank (CB) is a financial institution that provides services on behalf of another, equal or unequal, financial institution. It can facilitate wire transfers, conduct business transactions, accept deposits and gather documents on behalf of another financial institution. Correspondent banks are most likely to be used by domestic banks to service transactions that either originate or are completed in foreign countries, acting as a domestic bank’s agent abroad.

Over the last five (5) years, a number of international banks have restricted or ended their relationship with the region due to concerns about money laundering, fraud and terrorist financing and the concomitant existential threat of hefty fines. The Caribbean Association of Banks says that almost sixty (60) percent of member institutions that it has interviewed

report a loss of such relationships. These relationships are critical because most Caribbean economies are pivoted on tourism, remittances and trade.

The response of the Caribbean has been interalia -collaborating to set up the regulatory environment to efficiently supervise banking and money services and to identify and manage the money laundering and terrorism financing risks in the financial sector with the assistance of a number of multilateral institutions notably the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

To be fair to the CBs, the withdrawal of services is partly a reflection of cost-benefit tradeoffs growing out of increased regulation and enforcement affecting international banks.

Regulatory reforms have generated increased bank capital and liquidity requirements. This has contributed to reduced profitability of correspondent banking.

With many separate financial entities in the Caribbean, there ,are relatively few financial transactions per entity making it uneconomical for the CB. This has been a perennial complaint of the CBs over many years.

Also, compliance costs have increased because of the intensified efforts to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.

These risks have been amplified, given the significant inadequacies of regional customer due diligence policies and structures compared to those which exist in developed states.

In the quest for an appropriate response to these serious challenges, greater thrust should be expended to introduce mechanisms and structures that promote more self-reliance in achieving our development aspirations.

In that connection, tremendous support and guidance can be sought from the revised Treaty of Basseterre (2011) designed for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). This treaty provides the political, economic and administrative framework and architecture for executing the substantial adjustment required to achieve the socioeconomic development of the economies of the member states.

Interestingly, the region has been lobbying the developed states and their correspondent banks

to reconsider their decision to terminate their banking relationships with the region. While these lobbying efforts are a worthy diplomatic and public policy response, given the certain deleterious socio-economic impact in the region of the withdrawal of CB services, the optimal solution is - in keeping with the spirit of the revised Treaty of Basseterre - a structured approach which fosters more profound collaborative relationships among the islands in the Caribbean and critically modernizes our financial architecture.

Starting sequentially and logically, one can address the solution with the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU), given its common currency arrangements.

The solution begins with the creation a single financial entity comprising the indigenous banks and credit unions.

The raison d’etre of this aggregated entity is threefold: 1. Establishing a branch presence in the global financial centres.

By pooling resources among indigenous banks and credit unions in the ECCU, it becomes cost effective to create a combined financial entity that can establish a branch in the global financial centres.

Simultaneously, it immediately resolves the

problem of the handling of a relatively few number of financial transactions per entity. Moving from disparate financial units to one entity, aggregates the transactions under one umbrella, thus minimizing transactions costs.

In addition, the very high compliance costs imposed by much higher financial regulations, can be absorbed with substantially less difficulty by the combined entity compared to relatively small and separate financial entities.

In the circumstances, the combined entity can discreetly apply for a financial license which is not as onerous as a full banking license but would still allow the branch to offer a variety of financial services. A full banking institution in the United States attracts capital requirements of between USD 10 and 30 million.

Thus local banks can have a branch presence in these jurisdictions to allow a variety of financial transactions e.g. wire transfers, without having to rely on the foreign banks to provide these crucial services for the Caribbean;

sophisticated activity of intelligence gathering of the financial behavior of its clientele. This intelligence gathering includes but is not limited to regular data collection and monitoring.

If a branch of the aggregated entity exists in these global financial centres e.g. New York and London, it could share and access such information with/from the other banks in these jurisdictions. This information management significantly addresses the concern of money laundering and terrorismthe key angst of the developed countries.

3. Support of the Diaspora

Lastly but very meaningfully, the branch in the financial centre can benefit financially and otherwise from the support of the diaspora.

This would be a tremendous source of pride, as the diaspora can now identify with another major Caribbean presence in their lives in the metropolitan countries.

Although it may seem overwhelming, the correspondent banking issue presents a great opportunity for the region to demonstrate their collective resolve and 2. Collection of relevant ingenuity in meeting and intelligence. overcoming the global dynamics of our existence.

Apart of the usual The Region must move services of collecting passionately to grasp the deposits, advancing loans, opportunity. offering credit facilities etc. modern banking Kwame Venner engages in the Economist

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

Relief

Additional supplies for Dominica

Dr. Masada James (right) on the dock in Kingstown, helped to co-ordinate the shipment and the distribution of supplies in Dominica.

MORE SUPPLIES are pouring in to hurricaneravaged Dominica from the East Caribbean.

As recent as Monday, October 30, a quantity of medical supplies, food, drinking water and building materials from Grenada, SVG and St. Lucia arrived in Dominica, aboard the ‘MV Flying Buzzard’, a privately-owned cargo boat whose owners agreed to ship the supplies free of charge.

Dr. Masada James, who hails from the Wesley district in Dominica, accompanied the shipment which included generators, a

much-needed service, as most rural areas in Dominica will be out of power for a few months to come.

Dr. James requested his vacation leave to provide service to his fellow Dominicans, as well as coordinating a team of volunteer medical professionals, who are also on their second visit to the trauma-stricken country, devastated by Hurricane Maria in mid September.

The donations were coordinated by the Rainbow Radio League Inc — RRL, SVG First Responders — SVGFR and the Integrated

These and more headed for the families in Guiraudel community. (Credit: Vonnie Roudette)

A week supply for a small family in Dos d’an community. (Credit: Vonnie Roudette)

Medical Clinic, and are being sent to specific rural communities and individuals from all parts of Dominica.

On the ground, the distribution of the supplies is being handled by volunteers, Cobra Tours and Mr. Clifford Reefe, a retired fire tender driver.

Dr. James wishes to thank all the persons and agencies who made donations, including DASCO (medical supplies), the RRL (4000watt generator), and the owners of ‘M.V Flying Buzzard’, for their generosity.

Distribution – recommendations Indications are that. as far as the distribution of supplies is concerned, there is still much disparity in who gets what. Some communities just get bare bones or hardly anything at all, while others fare lavishly.

This is not an insurmountable challenge, and can be easily resolved if proper collection and distribution structures are put in place.

Disaster Management agencies across the region offer courses in SUMA (supplies management), but this is only for collecting and storing supplies received from foreign sources.

What needs to be included in that training is ‘supplies distribution’, to ensure that the assistance reaches the communities and people who NEED these supplies most.

A basic wireless communications structure is also absolutely necessary in this arrangement, as in most post disaster scenarios, cell phones and (telephone) landlines do not work. It becomes difficulty, in these circumstances, for personnel at warehouses to know where help is needed and in what quantities, and to respond in the quickest possible time.

This structure must include a fleet of vehicles to transport needed supplies, including truckers from rural communities, and the pre-positioning or setting

Supplies on the Kingstown wharf ready for loading on to the ‘M.V. Flying Buzzard’ (docked). up of zonal warehouses, especially in remote areas which historically have been easily cut off.

These warehouses must also be powered by renewable energy devices so that their operation can proceed unhindered in situations where the domestic supply of electricity is interrupted.

Teachers, community activists and members of sporting organisations can volunteer to be trained and to be involved with the distribution of vital supplies, thereby

ensuring that needy persons are served.

There are many lessons to be learned from the Maria experience, but are we learning? We have an active hurricane season every year and live on a subduction zone that is unstable, so we NEED to put these structures in place, now, or learn it the hard way.

There is no reason

Small family Trafalgar welcomed this weekly supply. why we should choose to learn it the hard way, when we can mitigate the effects of disasters by putting these vital structures in place.

Contributed by: Donald A. De Riggs

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

14. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Eve Ev Everything ve v ery ery ryt ytth thi thing Vi V Vin Vincy incy y Ex Expo xpo xp po g gets etts ts h high iig gh ma m mar marks arks rks Photos by DON DE RIGGS WELL OVER THIRTY-FOUR of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ leading entrepreneurs/manufacturers joined with organisers Invest SVG, to stage what, according to a cursory survey, was a most successful EXPOSITION of their wares.

Dubbed ‘Everything Vincy Expo 2017’, the event was mounted at the terminal building – outside and inside - of the now decommissioned E. T. Joshua Airport, Arnos Vale, and staged over the Independence weekend – October 26 – 29, as part of the Everything Vincy Independence Festival.

One visitor to the Expo commented, “We have found good use for the terminal.

Invest SVG must be complimented for taking the lead.

I look forward to more use of the building until such time….”

THE VINCENTIAN is pleased to provide this pictorial glimpse of some of the displays, and hope, as we believe, it speaks for itself.

The terminal building at the ‘old’ E.T. Joshua Airport was transformed into an Exhibition Centre.

Me-Shelli Unique’s cake and cookies offers a special Vincy flavor.

There was a steady flow of visitors to the Expo.

Rene’s s Ornamentals – ceramics and more.

ECGC – still carrying the mantle of SVG’s industrial base.

Grow In Time ime has revitalized and expanded the grass craftwork for which SVG was once well renowned.

Kendra Aluminum Products – a V incentian-owned manufacturing Vincentian-owned concern that is impacting the regional market.

The exquisite jewelry of Melissa’s Kreations.

The fine work of L.A. Unique Upholstery – work that matches anything in the world.

The unique banana art of craftsman extraordinary N’Zimbu.

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16. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

News

CED targets youth TWENTY-FIVE (25) students from the Barrouallie Technical Institute will be gaining first-hand knowledge and experience in business operations and entrepreneurship through a Youth Business and Entrepreneurship Training (YOUBET) workshop that will be conducted next month by the Centre for Enterprise Development Inc. (CED).

The YOUBET seminar will be held under the theme, “Unlocking the Entrepreneurial Potential of Youth”, November 13-16, at the Barrouallie Technical Institute from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily. It will be facilitated by business consultant Mrs. Marlyn Richards.

According to CED Training and Education Coordinator, Keisha Phillips, the seminar forms part of their efforts at empowering more young people to pursue

entrepreneurship as the alternative to unemployment.

“We have a particular focus on helping the youth to tap into their enterprising potential so that they can create jobs instead of being job seekers, by helping them to develop their ideas and passions into successful businesses.

Our youth are full of potential; they’re not a ‘lost generation’, as many people have labelled them already. At CED, we have seen that, with the right push and support through programmes like YOUBET and agencies like ours, the youths have come up with viable ideas and businesses.

“We believe that in the entrepreneurial ecosystem that we are building in St Vincent and the Grenadines, a huge component rests on the shoulders of the youth and their vision for

the future of the country’s business environment and economy.”

The students will be exposed to information that will help them to identify business opportunities, requirements for starting a business, and business planning, among others.

Among topics to be covered are Discovering the Entrepreneur in Me: Do I have what it takes?

Planning Your Small Business and Identifying Business Opportunities; Marketing Your Business; Record Keeping; Costing and Pricing; and Preparing a Business Plan.

Over the years, CED has been focusing on its thrust towards youth entrepreneurship development, and using programmes such as YOUBET to educate and sensitize young people about business.

V Application to inspect all boxes was made

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

News

THERE WAS ALWAYS A REQUEST for the inspection of all the ballot boxes in all the polling stations, used in the Central Leeward constituency during the 2015 General Elections.

So said Kay BacchusBaptiste, member of the legal team representing the petitioners, Lauron Baptiste and Benjamin Exeter, following the hearing which took place last week in local jurisdiction of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

During that hearing, October 25 and 26, both sides were at loggerheads after the legal team for the petitioners rejected a draft consent order for the inspection of the ballot boxes.

Stanley ‘Stalky’ John QC, who has been spearheading the legal team for the petitioners,

cited as the main reason for their rejection, that the draft consent order, as authored by the legal team for the respondents, made provisions for the inspection of ballot papers from only four of the polling stations: CLF, CLF1, CLE and CLE1.

“They have tried to restrict us to four, and in order to compromise or to let the things go forward to a certain point, we agreed provisionally — in other words, we agreed to the four which were the main ballot boxes that were void,” said Bacchus-Baptiste.

“So we agreed to that, with the reservation that we would make our application, since they were not agreeing to that part, then we will continue our application for all the other boxes.

That’s all that happened,” she

continued.

Focus on four polling stations According to BacchusBaptiste, the four mentioned polling stations were identified because during the recounting process, it was discovered that all the ballots contained in those boxes were ‘headless’ or void. Simply put, she explained, they did not contain the initials of the presiding officer or stamp.

“Those are clearly illegal ballots, they are void. So those are what we noted,” she said.

The lawyer further explained that the ballots in the four specified polling stations were defined as being void also because of their design.

“There was no space on the ballot for the

signature and seal, and that is illegal.”

And it was based on this, that a formal request was made, from the initial stages of the submission of the application for the inspection of the ballot boxes, for all the ballots used in all polling stations to be inspected.

Kay Bacchus-Baptiste, a member of the legal team representing the petitioners, made it clear that there was, from the ‘get go’, an application for the opening of all the ballot boxes.

boxes were received, and that was in keeping with Photographic evidence the law.

“That’s what I asked, Bacchus-Baptiste you know. And I responded to one other suggested photographic objection raised by the evidence be taken of the legal team representing conditions, and also with the respondents — that the ballots,” she said, was to her request for adding that if they had photographic evidence. nothing to hide, then she She explained that the did not see a reason why point that, she was the legal team on the making was simply that other side had anything when Justice Esco Henry to be concerned about. was deciding upon the “I am really amazed conditions to include in that in this day and age, the final order, that a that photographic clause be put in for the evidence would create Registrar to record the such a reaction,” manner in which the Bacchus-Baptiste said.

At the end of last week’s proceedings, legal counsel on both sides were instructed to decide on a date on which to go forward with the request submitted by the petitioners, for the inspection of the ballot boxes.

STOP PRESS: A reliable source has confirmed that December 12 and 13, 2017 are the dates agreed to by the parties involved and accented to by the court, as the dates when the ballot boxes will be opened.

(DD)

‘Much ado about nothing’

Anthony Astaphan SC, who has represented a number of Prime Ministers and Governments of the OECS, is of the opinion that the system to combat money laundering in SVG, is working.

THE FACT THAT SUSPICIOUS activities were red-flagged, is an indication that the system set up to deal with issues relating to money laundering works.

Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan, while a guest on Monday’s edition of the OMG talk Show and BOOM FM, said further that St Vincent and the

Grenadines, as well as other jurisdictions in the region, have put in place a set of stringent antimoney laundering laws that allow for the monitoring of the day to day operations of financial institutions.

In fact, he assured, there were some jurisdictions that amended their laws in order to give the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank authority to monitor offshore banks.

“The Americans will always refer to us as major laundering countries, but for many years, except in 2016, the United States State Department list of countries considered significant money launderers were the US, Canada, the United Kingdom and certain parts of Europe,” Astaphan said.

His comments came in reference to US media’s branding of SVG as being notorious for money laundering and labeling the country “ prime moneylaundering destination.”

All of this surfaced after the unveiling of financial transactions of

US President Donald Trump’s former aides - Paul Manafort and Rick Gates.

Astaphan referred to it as “editorial exaggeration,” adding that the US had a habit of accusing other jurisdictions, when it was guilty of having some of the highest rates of money-laundering and drug trafficking.

But it could have been the local authorities who issued the warning in the first place, Astaphan opined.

“If it turns out that the local authority had acted on it and passed on the relevant information to the authorities, whoever they are, it means that the system worked, and the integrity of the St Vincent system has been protected,” the Senior Counsel said.

Attorney Kay Bacchus-Baptiste, however, disagreed with the position taken by Astaphan, saying that she was alarmed by the news that had broken last weekend and which implicated SVG as a haven for money launderers.

“I am alarmed that there was a company masquerading as something else, and I think that more research ought to be done, and this is something that the government should probe,” Bacchus-

Baptiste said.

“If they have nothing to hide, then let us all treat it seriously, because it is not going to reflect well in the international community. We do not know the details of the deals,” she said. (DD)

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18. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Education

Pamla Warrick

Santa Gilbert Cruickshank

Angella Deroche

Attica Allen

Teachers Credit Union invests in education NINE VINCENTIANS can pay closer attention to

their studies without having to worry about

where to find money to complete their

Susan Charles

programmes.

They received help from the St. Carlon Bute (left) and Anna Lowman.

Vincent and the doing a B.Ed in Early Grenadines Teachers Childhood Development Cooperative Credit and Family Studies, at Union, last Tuesday.

Seven, all members of the local UWI Open the Credit Union, Campus. received assistance for Cruickshank has two advanced tertiary years to complete her studies. These were: B.Ed. (English Susan Charles, Attica Literature), at Cave Hill.

Allen, Nadia Black, Deroche, a QAT, is Juliana Alexander, Santa also attached to Cave Gilbert Cruickshank, Hill. She is engaged in a Angella Deroche, and B.Ed EducationPamla Warrick.

Mathematics (major) The other two course of study. bursaries went to Carlon Warrick is doing a Bute and Anna Lowman, B.Ed (English who are pursuing at the Literature) at the St. SVG Community College. Vincent and the Grenadines Community Profiles College.

Nadia Black

Juliana Alexander

Executive Officer of the SVGTCCU - Jasmine Huggins Daly, endorsed the importance of education and expressed happiness at being able to contribute to the youths.

The total value of the bursaries was put at $32,000.

The CEO advised the recipients to heed the words of Gerald ‘Rasum’ Shallow’s classic ‘Perseverance,’ and quoted the song almost to its entirety. She urged the students to do what they love best and avoid distraction.

That was a theme Charles, a Qualified Addresses latched on to by Assistant Teacher, has SVGTCCU’s 2015 two more years to Kay Martin Jack, Scholarship awardee complete a BSc (Social SVGTCCU’s president, Daree Myers. He Work) at the Open looked at support for admitted that it took him Campus of the education as “important a year to “appreciate the University of the West as oxygen is to life.” seriousness of the Indies here.

She noted that Caribbean Advanced Allen, an Audit education is for Proficiency Officer, is looking at development and a Examination”, which he professional qualification means to alleviate referred to as “a serious in her sphere, and the poverty. exam.” bursary will go a long Mrs Jack disclosed He thanked the way in reducing her that all the applications SVGTCCU for the financial concerns. were approved, and assistance given to him, Black is a Teacher 111 encouraged males to take which enabled him to and is pursuing a B.Ed up the offer. She complete his secondary (English Literature committed her education and beyond. major), at UWI, Cave organisation to The SVG Co-operative Hill Barbados. maintaining its social Credit Union will mark Alexander, a teacher and civic responsibility. its 4th Anniversary on of 23 years standing, is Newly installed Chief May17, 2018. (WKA)

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

News

CWPPS holds successful DadsÊ Day at School

The session culminated with a symposium in which the topic for discussion was ‘Responsible Fatherhood’.

Negus Bynoe was the main facilitator of the symposium.

Patsy Ann Garraway, the school’s Guidance Officer/ Counsellor was not short of superlatives for the session.

“The turnout was overwhelming … Well done fathers, we are so Fathers pay close attention during the proud of you …The Symposium. children would remember this for the FATHERS, UNCLES, elder session was aimed at rest of their lives”, she brothers of students of helping students to said with a sense of Kindergarten and Grade develop an appreciation achievement.

One of the CW Prescod for work at a young age, Garraway revealed Primary School, last week encourage fathers to be that, with the success of Tuesday, were engaged in more responsible and the first effort, early into a session at the institution play a father figure role the term, plans are called: “Dads’ Day at to the students of the already in place for a School: Linking School and school. similar undertaking, this Work”.

The session, which ran time catering for the Staged as a follow-up from 9am to 12 noon, to a Fathers’ Conference began with ‘Prayers with Grade 2 and 3s.

Meanwhile, Roger held in May of this year, Dad’ as part of the Gibson, was similarly ‘Dads’ Day’ sought to Morning Assembly at impressed with the continue the linkage which s were present. initiative. between the school and This was followed by He noted that the the home, as well as to Classroom time, in which session was timely as allow students the the fathers sat in with “Many fathers in society opportunity to appreciate the students in an today are backing down the work fathers are interactive forum. from their roles as doing and hopefully be During break, the parents …It is important motivated to focus on fathers took the time out to put on sessions like their school work. to have ice- cream with these so we can Additionally, the the students.

Fathers, uncles and elder brothers pay close attention during the Symposium.

A father leads a motivational session for the students.

Inset: Patsy Ann Garraway - Patsy Ann Garraway, the school’s Guidance Officer/ Counsellor – was overly satisfied with the exercise, and is already formulating plans for a similar activity for higher Grade students.’

not asked to be born…

We (fathers) are the ones encourage the children in who took it up on their daily lives.” ourselves to get the A father of two ladies pregnant, so we children, Gibson related, should now show the “Children are not there support every day in the on their own, they were children’s lives.”

The CW Prescod Primary School Fathers Support Group, which was born out of the Fathers Conference, spearheaded last Tuesday’s Dads’ Day.

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20. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Giving in and losing each time Dear George, I DATED THIS GUY 15 years ago. We almost made it to the altar, but a couple of weeks prior to our big day, he messed up and I called the entire thing off. We went our separate ways and I never saw him again until a year ago.

We started communicating again, and about two months in, decided to start dating again. He apologised for messing up the first time, and swore he was a changed man. He swore he was not going to make the same mistake twice. I cautiously decided to give him a second chance and warned him not to hurt me again.

Recently we got into an argument and he disappeared for a few weeks. During that time, he did not communicate

with me, and out of the blue shows up at my house one night with a bunch of flowers. I reminded him that 15 years ago he did the same disappearing act during which he had an affair with another girl.

I told him that I was not sure he did not do the same thing again.

He begged me not to turn my back on him and to give him a chance to prove that he was not unfaithful to me. I did.

Two weeks later, I got solid evidence of him being with another girl during the time I did not hear from him. I confronted him with this evidence, and he had the gall to deny it, until he came face to face to face with the girl he was with. She did not know he was involved with me and told me that she

could not do that to me because she was also a woman and would not like anyone to do it to her.

This loser of a man still started begging me to forgive him. I guess you can imagine the choice words I had for him. I am just mad at myself for allowing him to hurt me a second time.

the changes that might have taken place in his life. Even you would have changed over that time period, and what brought you together then may not work the second time around.

You did the right thing not to continue with this relationship; trust and commitment are two vital components for any relationship to be Too hurt to even cry fully functional. Usually it takes three strikes to Dear Too hurt, be given out but, in your case, two was definitely After a fifteen-year enough to send him layoff, it would have been packing. wise to give yourself more time to rediscover George this guy and to observe

Sex before the job Dear George,

Dear Fed Up,

I AM FED UP with these so called big shots in SVG who think that for a girl to be hired, she has to open her legs to them.

It is time that this stops and stop now.

There is one of them in particular, he thinks that he is Mr. Sex but I have news for him. The last girl he slept with will turn out to be his worst nightmare. I am only sorry for his wife. I just hope he is reading this.

When more women begin to speak out, we may see a decrease in the number of cases such as the one you cited.

Women ought to be hired, based on their ability and qualification.

The men who engage in the practice of sexually exploiting women just to feed their lustful desires, need to know that such disdainful actions will bring only hurt and lasting pain. The actions of these men have farreaching consequences, more than they even realise.

You can be that voice for those women who are afraid of standing up to these men. Kudos to you!

Fed Up

Wishing for a break-up Dear George, I AM IN LOVE with a

past school mate of mine. All through High School I loved and adored this guy. He is just an awesome guy. I was so disappointed when I heard he got married.

One day I called him up and asked him about us, and he said he never knew I had interest in him, and I should have told him. How could he not know I was in love with him?

I still love this guy, George. Is it wrong for me to wish that his marriage fails so I could have another shot at getting him?

Dear Wishful,

Wishful

George

You had your chance to declare your love and intentions to this guy, and you blew it. Maybe things would have turned out differently for you, had you spoken up; but that did not happen.

Whatever you feel for him today has to be tempered with the knowledge that he is now committed to someone else. You need to move on with your life and never wish for another what you won’t like for yourself. The pain from a broken marriage, should your wish come true, may blind him from seeing even you.

George

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21‐ April 20) You can meet potential new mates, but make sure that they aren't already committed to someone else. Sudden changes of heart may cause disruptions in your domestic scene.

Reevaluate your situation. You may find that your generosity has been taken for granted.

TAURUS (Apr. 21‐ May 21) Travel will be in your best interest. Your emotional part‐ ner will push all the right buttons this week. You will feel compelled to do some traveling. Your partner may make you feel jealous and unloved.

GEMINI (May 22‐June 21) Don't give in too quickly. Underhandedness will affect your reputation. Take a second look; another person's philosophy may be extremely different from yours. Don't be too quick to sign documents.

CANCER (June 22‐July 22) You should get out and meet new people this week.

Arguments with children or friends may leave you steaming. You can help them more than they can help you. Broaden your horizons and look into programs that will teach you awareness and relaxation.

LEO (July 23‐Aug 22) Stretch the truth, and you may get blamed for something you didn't do. Your accomplishments could exceed your expectations if you mix a little business with pleasure. You'll find you're detail oriented this week. Enjoy the com‐ pany of relatives this week.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 ‐Sept. 23) Be prepared to deal with groups and organizations of greater magnitude. Your lover may feel rejected. Your unique contribution to the organization will enhance your reputation.

You need more time to think this whole situation through.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 ‐Oct. 23) You can help them more than they can help you. Be

careful that you aren't saddled with the responsibilities of others. This will not be the day to start new business ventures or make drastic changes in your career. Don't let others make you feel guilty or insecure.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 ‐ Nov. 22) You should follow through on educational endeavors you have wanted to pursue for some time.

Control those desires to cast your fate to the wind. Disappointments regarding part‐ ners will be subject to the way you react to their personal comments. Make sure that you have all the pertinent facts before tak‐ ing action.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 ‐Dec. 21) This will not be the day to start new business ven‐ tures or make drastic changes in your career. Try to enlist the support of your coworkers first. Do not lend money or belongings to friends. It is time to clear your decks.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.‐ Jan. 20) It's time to reevaluate your motives. You can enjoy short trips. Catch up on overdue paper‐ work. Personal problems may be hanging over your head but don't confront the situ‐ ation.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.‐ Feb. 19) Don't allow personal problems to conflict with profes‐ sional duties. You can accomplish a lot if you direct your thoughts toward starting your own small business on the side. Make money using your ingenuity and creative talent. Most partner problems are a result of both people not living up to their prom‐ ises.

PISCES (Feb. 20‐Mar. 20) Be prepared to encounter new friendships that will provide you with valuable information. Your willing‐ ness to help others can and will lead to fatigue if you don't learn to say no. Be diplomatic but stem. Don't beat around the bush; state your case in plain and simple terms.

ACROSS 1. Seize 5. Glass ornament 9. Malt beverage 12. River in central Switzerland 13. Hindu music th 14. 13 letter of the Hebrew alphabet 15. Unit of computer memory 16. Greek god of love 17. Self‐esteem 18. It was 20. Acquired pattern of behavior 22. Ground in a mill 25. Composed 26. Overgrown with ivy 27. Irrational 28. Coloring material 29. Taxicab 30. Large flightless bird 33. Put down 35. Bundles 37. To affix 40. Equipment for fishing 41. Hood‐shaped anatomical part 42. Sovereign 43. Part of verb to be 44. Fresh‐water fish 46. Exclamations of Surprise 50. Highest mountain in Crete 51. Yellow cheese coated with red wax 52. Son of Isaac and Rebekah 53. Louse egg 54. Method 55. Church recess DOWN 1. Chatter 2. Narrow beam of light

3. Illustrative craft 4. Cockroach 5. Baked dough 6. Hearing organs 7. Gone by 8. Plunger for churning butter 9. One‐celled protozoa 10. Legitimate 11. Show emotion 19. Marry 21. Find the sum of 22. Being at the middle 23. Climbing vine 24. Falsehood 25. Prefix “beneath” 27. Sorrowful 29. Spanish hero 30. North American deer

31. Honey 32. Exploit 33. Shelter 34. Head garland 35. Bleat of a sheep 36. Ancient district in S Greece 37. Once more 38. Verily

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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

39. Fold 40. Topic 42. Great quantity 45. Fuss 47. Viper 48. Possesses 49. Bring civil action against

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22. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Sport Feature

‘Tennis for Hope’ adjusts focus

THE GRASSROOT TENNIS CLUB will stage its annual charity event ‘Tennis for Hope’ at the Grand View Hotel Tennis Court on Sunday 12th November 2017 from 4 pm.

This year, the Club will divert its attention from the usual Breast Cancer Awareness focus, towards raising funds for the awareness programme for Diabetes and Prostate Cancer.

Funds raised will, among

other things, provide the funds to facilitate the process of having 100 men do the requisite test.

Director of the Grassroot Tennis Club (GTC) - Grant Connell said that the Club has confirmed with the management of Sigma Laboratory, that they would provide the service at a special rate, and a special voucher would be provided to help cross the

The GTC’s ‘Tennis For Hope’ has, in the past, enjoyed the patronage of His Excellency Sir Frederick Ballantyne, Governor General.

financial hurdle in the quest to get more men tested.

“Hopefully, all the survivors of the aforementioned cancer and those living with

diabetes can all join in the occasion, share their experience and be able to relate and encourage men to deal with the two (2) NCDs (Noncommunicable diseases),

and this starts by men getting tested,” Connell implored.

The general public is invited to the occasion that would have Fun activities on Court, a

Fundraiser Barbeque and Cake Sale, while the feature match of the Finals of the Rock Hard Cement Men’s Doubles Tournament will also be played.

T-Shirts to mark the occasion will go on sale from Monday 6th November 2017, at the Club.

MenÊs Doubles Tennis Tournament is a ÂGOÊ THE GRASSROOT Tennis Club (GTC) Rock Hard Cement Men’s Doubles Tournament is set to serve off on Monday 6th November 2017, at the Grand View Hotel Tennis Court, at 4:30 pm.

The Tournament, sponsored by Rock Hard Cement, will see eight (8) of the top Men’s Doubles teams in St. Vincent and the Grenadines compete for cash prices.

Tournament Director and Director of the Grassroot Tennis Club - Grant Corey Huggins is among those down to compete in the Doubles Tournament.

Connell said, “Given the economic climate and the lack of Tournaments over the years, the kind sponsorship by Rock Hard Cement is greatly appreciated, and should rekindle the competitive spirit in the Tennis fraternity, which is sadly lacking.”

The tournament has attracted the participation of top tennis players like Corey Huggins, and Connell anticipates a high level of tennis.

The preliminary round of matches will be played during the week, and the finals are scheduled for Sunday 12th November 2017 at 4:00 p.m.

The finals would be the feature

Grant Connell, Director of GTC, is more than glad to receive a confirmed promise of sponsorship from Ryan Gonsalves, local representative of Rock Hard Cement. match at the GTC’s charity event ‘Tennis for Hope’ scheduled for that afternoon.

Registration Forms can be collected from the club or by contacting (784) 494 8225.

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

Howard, Lucas dominate Schools Table Tennis CALEB HOWARD and Ezer Lucas took top honors in the Secondary and Primary Schools Table Tennis Tournament, which concluded on last week Tuesday, at the Girls Guides Headquarters, Level Gardens.

Eleven-year-old Howard of the St. Vincent Grammar School, dethroned Andre Mitchell, also of the Grammar School, to take the Open Male Singles Secondary Schools title.

Mitchell was stopped, 9/11, 11/6, 3/11, 11/6, 14/12, from capturing a fourth title.

Howard added the Secondary Schools title to his two Primary Schools titles won in 2015 and 2016.

In the Open Girls Secondary Schools Singles, Julia Nichols, of the Bequia Community High School (BCHS), took top honours when she beat Alika Miller, also of the BCHS, 11/6 11/1 11/6.

In the Primary Schools Boys Singles finals, Ezer Lucas of the Bequia Anglican Primary School beat Kristian Christopher of the Layou Government School, 11/9 11/7 11/7, to claim the title.

Kiara Hazell of Lower Bay Primary beat Valencia Gordon of New Prospect Primary, 11/6 11/6 11/3, to claim top spot among the Primary School Girls.

In the Male Secondary Schools Team category, the St. Vincent Grammar School — represented by Howard, Mitchell and Michel Creese, got the better of the Adelphi Secondary School — represented by Jamai Williams, Jason Hunt and Elron Baptiste, 3-0.

In a testing final of the Male Primary Schools Team category, the Bequia Anglican Primary School eventually ran out winners, beating the Layou Government School 3 games to 2.

Caleb Howard Secondary Schools Open Singles Male champion and MVP.

Julia Nichols Secondary s Open Singles champion.

Kiara Hazell - Primary Schools Girls Champion.

Ezer Lucas - Primary Schools Open Male Singles Champion and MVP.

Lucas, Ken-Jay Phillips and Bradley Farell endured for Bequia Anglican Pprimary, while a game team of Christopher, Zedon Joseph and Shane Miller did not disgrace the Layou Government School.

In the Female Primary Schools Team finals, New Prospect Primary School defeated Layou

Government School 3 games to 2.

Valerncia Gordon, Cheyenne Peters and Donnelia Hinson did the honours for New Prospect,

with Tamaika Cupid, Halimah Simon and Shonelle Douglas doing likewise for Layou.

Caleb Howard of the

Rugby Independence 7s a success THE 2017 ANNUAL INDEPENDENCE 7s Tournament, held on Saturday 28th October 2017 at the Sion Hill Playing Field, has been deemed a success by officials of the SVG Rugby Union.

The Tournament saw participation from two (2) mixed (male and female) club teams from St. Lucia, the Rogues RFC and the Whiptail Warriors RFC, and a visiting Navy Ship.

They were joined by St. Vincent’s club teams Sharks, Pirates and Invaders.

The Rogues RFC emerged champions of the open tournament.

The highlight of the day was an encounter involving a representative St. Lucian team and a representative SVG team.

The first half of the game was dominated by St Lucia, with their players getting behind the SVG defence regularly, resulting in three tries for the visitors.

SVG picked up the pace in the second half and forced the St. Lucians into some mistakes. The St. Lucians, though, held out to win.

After the match, the new national team coach,

The SVG representative team that came uip against their St. Lucian counterparts.

Right: Max Cubitt, coach of the national rugby team said that the Vincentians played with pride.

Max Cubitt, said, “As my first national game and the ‘ first game under my guidance, I couldn’t have wished for much more.

The players played with fire and pride, trying to break down a - drilled opposition. Brian Alexander (team captain) and I are well aware of what is needed to improve and work on, in order to

beat them when we go to them in December.”

The SVG Rugby is grateful to the sponsors and persons who made donations for this occasion, and those who came to support friends, family and thewonderful sport of rugby.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Grammar School was named MVP of the Secondary Schools’ category, with Ezer Lucas claiming that accolade for the Primary Schools segment.

Cheyenne Peters of New Prospect Primary was adjudged the MVP among the girls.

I.B.A.ALLEN

“We need regular competitions”- Bailey PRESIDENT of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cycling Union- Trevor Bailey, has assessed, that in order for this country’s top cyclists to compete with their counterparts in the region, they have to be exposed to “regular” competitions.

Bailey was speaking against the recent participation of Zefal Bailey and Enroy Lewis in the Elite Caribbean Cycling Championships, held in Martinique.

“What we need is more competitions for our cyclists… They need to compete more at a higher level with some regularity,” Bailey evaluated.

At the Martinique champions, Zefal Bailey finished eighth in the Under- 23 category and was nineteenth overall in the 70-mile road race.

His time was 3 hours 23 minutes 26.00 seconds, while Lewis did not complete the course.

But the SVG Cycling Union President believes that finishing 20 minutes behind the winner, is “not bad,” given the statuses of the top places.

The top four places were taken by cyclists from the Dominican Republic, with Juan Jose Montero first in a time of 3 hours 3 minutes 48 seconds, the same time as Junior Auguilera Marte.

The two were separated by a photo finish with Marte, taking the Under-23 first place.

Barbadian Gregory Vanderpool and Antiguan Jymes Bridges finished 13th and 14th respectively, and were

Zefal Bailey (left), Enroy Lewis, SVG’s representative at the Elite Caribbean Championships in Martinique.

Inset: President of the SVG Cycling Union – Trevor Bailey. the best finishers for the EnglishsSpeaking Caribbean cyclists.

“The top finishers are all professional cyclists, that is their job, as against our riders who have to work and find time to train,” Bailey noted.

This factor, he said, strengthened his call for more competition for the Vincentian cyclists.

His view was also shared by Emmerson Holder, who travelled to Martinique as manager/ mechanic of the two Vincentian cyclists.

The elder Bailey is hopeful that within the early part of 2018, that he can wooe cyclists from around the region to come here and compete against the local lot, and they in turn can reciprocate.

Local cyclists will, later this month, utilise the ET Joshua Airport runway for the next championships of the SVG Cycling Union.

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24. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Local swimmers made good of open water championships SEVERAL SWIMMERS made good of last Friday’s St Vincent and the Grenadines Swimming Federation’s Independence Open Water Swimming championships, that took place at Villa Beach.

The three-event championships involved the 1500m, 5000m and 750m races.

First to be out of the water in the 1500m race was Tyrell Ragguette of the Rising Stars Swim Team of Bequia, in 23 minutes 29.18 seconds, copping the Men’s 18 and Over category.

The other age group winners Krista Bynoe – were all from the Black Sand Special Olympian. Swim Squad (BSSS).

Dillon Gooding in the Men’s 16-17, clocked 23 minutes 42.64 seconds, while Aaron DeFreitas won the Men’s 1415 bracket in 25 minutes 14.32 seconds.

Tavonte Forde – Cruz Halbich Black Sand Swim Rising Stars Swim Team.

Squad.

SVG Masters T20 resumes

THE SVG Masters T20 Tournament resumes this weekend following a break for the International Independence Masters tournament.

Three matches are on the cards for this Saturday: Sion Hill face Pastures at Arnos Vale One; Stanley Browne’s Stubbs oppose Marriaqua at Sion Hill; Computec Belfongo clash with Rudy’s Electrical Barrouallie at Buccament.

Matches are set to begin at 2:00pm.

Going in to this weekend matches, newly crowned Internaational Independence Masters T20 Champions Teachers Credit Union North East Masters and RSVG Police head the two Zones of the preliminary rounds.

North East lead Zone A with 18 points from 5 matches, followed by Bequia Cricket Association on 16 points from 5 games; A R& G Trucking P’tani 12 points from 5 matches; Stanley Browne’s Stubbs on 10 points from 4 matches; Kirk DaSilva’s La Croix on 8 from 5 matches; and JG & Sons Glamorgan and Marriaqua without a point from 4 marches.

Police, with 24 points from 6 matches, head Zone B, ahead of Mustique Company on 18 points from 6 games; North Leeward with 10 points from 5 matches. Computec Belfongo 8 points from 4 games; Sion Hill 4 points from 5 matches; Pastures 4 points from 4 matches; and Rudy’s Electrical Barrouallie without a point from 4 matches.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Meanwhile, Kenale Alleyne champed the Boys’ 10-13 age group, in a winning time of 23 minutes 46.75 seconds.

Swimmers make their way into the water for the 750m race.

Also, Mya DeFreitas won the Girls’ 10-13, the Men’s 18-25, with a time of returning a time of 23 minutes 44.37 seconds, as she 12 minutes 07.73 seconds and bettered some of the older male participants.

Krista Bynoe , a Special Taking the top spot in the gruelling 5000m was Olympian, won the Women’s 18Cruz Halbich of the Black Sand Swim Squad.

25 category, timing 19 minutes Swimming seven laps of the course, Halbich 14.98 seconds. underwent 1 hour 20 minutes 56.67 seconds of Completing the divisional endurance. winners were Jaime Joachim, He was ahead of his lone opponent- Shaquille Mya DeFreitas, Kyle Dougan and Primus of the Rising Stars Swim Squad, whose time Sarah Smith. was 1 hour 29 minutes 35.37 seconds.

Joachim won the Girls’ 7-9, in But the final race of the championships, the 13 minutes 52.82 seconds; 750m, saw the largest participation, in which DeFreitas- the Girls’ 10 -13, in sixteen swimmers faced the starter’s orders.

12 minutes 57.11 seconds, with Tyrell Ragguette Registering the best time was Cruz Halbich’s 11 Dougan winning the Men’s 26 – Rising Stars minutes 44.08 seconds, as he took the 16-17 Men’s and over in 14 minutes 36.62 Swim Team. age group. seconds, as the BSSS won three Winning the Men’s 14-15, was Tyrese Lewis of more titles.

BSSS in 12 minutes 03.19 seconds and Tavonte And, Smith, representing the Blue Marlins Swim Forde of the Rising Stars Swim Team — 11 minutes Club, timed 16 minutes 33.61 seconds, to win the 54.73 seconds.

Other Rising Stars Swim Team members- Dennis Women’s 26 and Over age group.

Bequia will host the next Open Water Sutherland, was first in the Men’s 7-9, clocking 17 minutes 25.86 seconds, while Tyrell Ragguette won Championships, during the Easter weekend of 2018.

North East captures Independence T20 title A COMPLETE team effort by North East Masters of St. Vincent and the Grenadines earned the champions title of the Inaugural National Lotteries Authority International Masters T20 Cricket.

They beat East Masters Cricket Club of Trinidad and Tobago by 3 wickets in the finals at Arnos Vale last Sunday, to etch their name into the record book.

North East, who played unbeaten through the tournament, won the toss and inserted the visitors, and restricted them to 133 for 5 off 20 overs, James Dodds top scoring with 51 not out.

Off spinner Harvey Pope took 3 for 16 to be North East’s best bowler.

North East, after a first over setback, had Elton Williams with an aggressive 41, and captain Deighton Butler with 38 not out to thank for their eventual comfortable winning total of 136 for 7 off 18.5 overs.

Earlier on Sunday, North East advanced to the finals after defeating Central Trinidad Touring Team Masters by 11 runs in a semi-

North East Masters - 2017 Independence International Masters T20 Cricket champions. final at the same venue.

Scores: North East 114 for 8 off 20 overs, Winsbert Springer 30; Central Trinidad 103 for 7 off 20 overs, Hollister Pastotte 55, Harvey Pope 3 for 17.

Trinidad’s East Masters booked their spot in the finals with an 8-wicket victory over Mustique Company Masters in the other semi-final encounter, at Sion Hill Playing, on Sunday morning. Scores: Mustique 115 for 4 off 20 overs, Roy Baptiste 54 not out, Julian Lampkin 27 not out, John Pollard with 3 (hat trick) for 11; Trinidad East Masters

116 for 2 off 13.4 overs, Lincoln Roberts 52 not out, Halsey Natto 29, Clint York 22.

North East received US $3500 and a trophy for winning the festival, Trinidad East Masters took home US $2000 for placing second, while the losing semi-finalists Mustique and Central Trinidad — each received US $500.

The tournament was spearheaded by the National Sports Council and sponsored by National Lotteries Authority.

I.B.A.ALLEN

An elated Deighton Butler, Captain of North East, with the Championship trophy.

V

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

Sports

North East Masters cricket title FORMER West Indies medium fast bowler Deighton Butler put his experience to good effect last Sunday to steer his team North East Masters to a three-wicket victory over East Masters of Trinidad and Tobago in the inaugural Independence Masters Cricket Festival.

Butler scored a responsible 38 unbeaten which proved decisive in the run chase. He shared small partnerships with his middle order as East Masters chipped away with regular dismissals.

Elton Williams 41 and Cassius Welcome 19 gave North East Masters a foundation after the loss of an early wicket. That pair put on 61 for the second wicket. A steady procession up to 119 for 7 left the game open. It was then Butler’s instinct kicked in. He gathered singles as necessary and cleared the ropes when the asking rate threatened to go out of range.

The visitors were pushed to 134 for 5 off their 20 overs. Their approach was mixed. A flying start was followed by a period of restriction in the run flow. North East Masters kept a tight rein, with East Masters 79 for 5 heading towards the 15 over mark. James Dodds hit a belligerent 51 and, supported by Clint Yorke 26, the Trinidad and Tobago team scampered to 134 for 5. Harvey Pope 3 for 16 was the pick of the local bowling.

The wicket takers for the losing finalists were Emmerson Williams 2 for 16 and John Pollard 2 for 28. North East Masters collected US $3,500, while the second place took home US $2,000.

Two other teams: Mustique Company Masters, and Central Trinidad Touring Team earned US $500 each. Mustique went down to North East Masters at Sion Hill. They rallied to 115 for 4, following a dramatic collapse, with John Pollard achieving a hat trick to leave Mustique reeling at 27 for 4. Pollard ended with figures of 3 for 11.

The combination of Roy Baptiste 54 and Julian Lampkin 27, both unbeaten, ensured Mustique’s recovery. The total was insufficient, as Lincoln Roberts with a blistering 51 not out put paid to any hopes Mustique had of making it an all Vincy final.

North East masters disposed of Central Trinidad Touring Team, strangling their quest for a 115 winning target. Winsberth Springer 30 was the leading striker for the eventual champions.

Hollister Pajotte 51 led the charge for Central in an innings preyed upon by Harvey Pope with figures of 3 for 17.

Ten teams took part in the Festival played over four days at different venues. Tourism, Sports and Culture Minister Cecil McKie was in an ecstatic mood at the closing ceremony. He predicts that there will be more teams next year, and anticipates that the tournament will be a fixture on the Independence agenda.

The tournament saw the use of the Cumberland Playing Field, with that venue receiving rave reviews from those who played there and others who saw the facility.

The tournament saw the first century at Cumberland, with Parnell Browne slamming ten sixes and four fours against a hapless Barrouallie Masters attack. His onslaught was enough to power his team to a 153-run win.

The other teams in the competition were North Leeward Masters, New York Masters, Vincy Log Masters and Munroe Masters from Trinidad and Tobago.

The tournament aroused so much excitement that cricketers here in their late thirties are eagerly awaiting of the next few years so that they can register onto a Masters outfit.

NACAC Chatoyer International Endurance 10 K pushed back THE NORTH AMERICAN, Central American and Caribbean- NACAC Chatoyer International Endurance 10K Road Race, which was originally slated for 12th November, has been pushed back by two weeks.

A release from Team Athletics SVG states that the race is reset to 26th November, but remains as scheduled for the North Leeward area.

The race, dubbed the ‘World’s Most Challenging Road Race’, because of the hilly terrain of the course, starts at Gordon Yard at 3pm, ending at the Chateaubelair Playing Field.

This year’s race has received official sanction from the Association of National Olympic Committees of the OECS (ANOCES), and forms part of that organization’s support for sporting activities in the sub- region.

Increased Prize Monies This year’s event will see an increase in prize monies.

The winners of the international category (male and female) are in line for US $1300, up by $300 from the last two years’ pay outs.

The second and third places remain at $ 700 and $500, respectively.

However, the organisers have added prize monies for the fourth and fifth places — with fourth places in both the male and

female segments earning US$ 250, and the fifth $100.

Linda Mc Dowall – Junior Ashton Also up are the prize International Female International monies for the U-20 and winner 2016.

Male winner 20 and Over age 2016. complete the categories. race, and $100 Likewise, fourth and fifth for the first athlete to cross the places have been added to the half way mark, assured US $ under-20 and 20 and Over age groups, while a Veterans’ category 100..

To be part of the race, overseas is new. athletes competing in the The winner of the 20 and Over earns EC $700, second place, $400 international category pays a registration fee of US$75, while and third, $ 300. Each place is locals pay EC$75. increased by $100.

Registration for the U-20s is Added are rewards for the $25; 20 and over- $30 and $20 is fourth place, who gets $200, and for veterans. the fifth place, $100.

Overseas athletes can register The U-20 winner gets $500, the at vin@mf.iaaf.org, second- $ 300. Those two places or svg.olympic.committee@gmail.c are up by $ 100 each, from what om, while local athletes can obtained in 2015 and 2016. The register at Olympic House, which third place gets $ 200, up from has recently relocated for Villa, $150. from the Kingstown Park It remains though a US$100 residence. pay out for the athlete to first Winning last year’s cross the half way mark of the international male category was race.

Vincentian Junior Ashton, and Linda Mc Dowall, also Vincentian, New Categories the female category.

There was participation from Included in the 2017 edition athletes from Dominica and St are a veterans’ category and Lucia. incentives for schools.

The St Lucian pair of Michel The new veterans’ category Biscette and Winsbert Sylvester, (male and female) winner earns were second and third EC$300, second place, $200 and respectively in the international third place, $ 100. men’s category, while DominicanIn for the schools is a $1000 Nelecia Nelson, was third in the cash award for the institution females’ international category. with the most athletes who

Four teams advance in Greiggs Softball Cricket COUNTRY Meet Town Outa Trouble Family, Dr Thomas Injectors, Street Fighters and Sion Hill Tallawahs have advanced to the next phase of the Hairoun Brewery/ FLOW, Sea Operations Nar Fren Dem Greiggs T/20 Softball Cricket Competition.

This after they all had wins last weekend at the Greiggs Central Playing Field, as the round of 16 got going.

On Saturday, Outa Trouble Family ousted Shop For Less Clinchers Two, on a faster scoring rate, after rain affected the proceedings.

Clinchers Two were bundled out for 58 from 17.5 overs, as Wesrick Straugh had 3/4 and Deroy Straugh — 3/12, bowling for Outa Trouble Family. In response, Outa Trouble Family were 52/2 from 8 overs; Asif Hooper, topscored with 24.

Dr Thomas Injectors’ progress

came during Sunday’s first match, as they disposed of Shop For Less Clinchers Two by three wickets. A late start resulted in a 17- over per side encounter.

Batting first, Clinchers One posted 148/7 from their 17 overs; Okeiph Andrews- 65 not out.

Bowling for Dr Thomas Injectors, Javon Lavia picked up 2/30 and Desroy Lavia had 2/43.

Kezron Ashton then plundered 91 not out, to lead Dr Thomas Ashton to 149/7 in 14.1 overs. He made his match winning innings, despite Donaldson Harry taking 2/35 and Peter Richards’ 2/40.

Another 17 Over affair also followed, when Street Fighters and Caesar’s Defenders met.

Street Fighters scored 75 all out in 16.4 overs; Randy Hooper19.

Imron Samuel was Caesar’s Defenders’ most successful bowler, taking 3/21.

Caesar’s Defenders replied with

72/ 6 in their 17 overs, Othneil Lewis led with 21, while Antonio Barker took 2/8, bowling for Street Fighters. Kezron Ashton And, Sion laced 91 not Hill Tallawahs out to guide Dr Thomas pointed a Injectors to the former champion of the quarter–finals. competitionCGM Gallagher Novice — to the exit.

From their 20 overs, Novice’s batters mustered 88/9.Casmond Walters led with 26. Shamic Roberts took 3/23.

Sion Hill Tallawahs’ replied with 89/ 6 in 17.4 overs, Shamic Roberts — 34, with Zane Edwards snaring 2/8.

Sion Hill Tallawahs won by four wickets.

26. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

V

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

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F O R

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

S A L E

FRIDAY,

NOVEMBER 03, 2017

VOLUME 111, No.44

A.I. REAL ESTATE Diamond 3 bedrm Property on 3/4 acres. - $750,000.00 - H135 McCarthy 3 bedrm Property on 10,325 sq.ft.

- $408,000.00 - H149 Twenty Hill 5 bedrm Property on 13,464 sq.ft - $695,000.00 - H116 (784)- 457-2087 office (784)-533-0431 whatsapp (784)-493-9431 cell (718)-807-4376 office donp@vincysurf.com www.aisvg.com facebook.com/airealestatesvg

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THE BLIND SUFFERS HEAVY LOSS Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE SOCIETY of and for the Blind, located on the ground floor of the Lions Club building, Kingstown, suffered heavily at the hands of burglar(s) over the Independence weekend.

And Stanley Richards, responsible for the day to day running of the operations there, says he is getting fed up.

“I don’t know where we go from here, personally. I am getting fed up,” Richards, himself blind, told THE VINCENTIAN on Clear signs of forced entry to the headquarters of the Society of and for the Blind.

Tuesday.

The burglary, which netted EC$300, and food items amounting to an estimated cost of EC$1,394.90, was discovered by one of the employees when he turned up for work around 7:15 a.m. on Monday, after the place was closed around 5 p.m. last week Thursday for the Independence weekend.

The office stamp was also stolen.

The burglar(s) broke open two doors to gain entry.

Richards noted that, although it was the first burglary for the year, the institution has suffered from numerous break-ins for several years.

“It is heart-rending. We usually give persons who are blind a food package every month. The foodstuff which was stolen over the weekend was to make these packages. We have to struggle around so much to get these things. We have to ask persons in the community to help us, by making donations,” Richards explained, adding that the programme has been in existence for about 14 to 15 years.

Richards is one of four blind persons currently employed at a Mop Assembling and Furniture Caning Unit, housed at the headquarters.

The others are Tally Browne, Daniel Chambers

and Ezron Pope, all totally blind.

The Office Secretary - Flavia Richardson, told THE VINCENTIAN, “It is rather disgusting that people will target an institution like ours. We are not a business that makes profit.

We are here to assist persons who are visually impaired, and most of the items that were stolen were to go towards making food baskets for the visually impaired. Persons would donate these items.”

She is making an appeal to members of the public to contribute in whatever way they could, so that the visually impaired could still receive their food baskets. The office number is 457-2805.

Up to press time, Wednesday, investigations into the burglary were ongoing.

Stanley Richards spoke of being ‘fed up’ with the operation being a target for burglars.

BURGLAR(S) STRIKE AFTER CUSTOMERS FUN DAY AFTER HOURS of fun and togetherness with her customers on Independence Day (October 27), Evol Benn, popularly known as ‘Ate’, woke up Saturday morning to the painful news that her Bar and Snackette has burglarized.

The culprit(s) reportedly made the strike after Benn had closed the business place located on Upper Bay Street, next to the Geest Shed entrance, close to 9 pm on Independence Day. Benn told THE VINCENTIAN Monday, that a wide variety of alcoholic drinks, along with cigarettes and all the snacks, chewing gum and mints were stolen. The items amounted to an estimated value of $2,500.

It was the eighth time the businessplace had been burglarized since Benn

beganoperations there in 2002, in a building she rents from the Government.

She said the recent burglary, the third the establishment suffered for the year, was particularly hurtful because it occurred just after she held an event at the outlet to show appreciation for her customers.

“It hurt me whole body and soul because now I have to get money to stock back the place.

I didn’t know that this was going to happen to me after all the nice time we had on Friday. I just wanted to give back to the community. Food was free of cost, and everybody came and enjoyed themselves.

“Now, I am praying to God to send some money for me to stock back up”, Benn said, almost in tears.

She was informed of the

burglary early Saturday morning, through a cellular phone call by one of her daughters, who was contacted, also via cellular phone, by the daytime watchman for the compound, who had turned up for duty and discovered the forced entry.

“He did not have no (phone) number for me, so he called one of my daughters and told her. She then called me and told me,” Benn explained.

The culprit(s) had gained entry by breaking through a door, and, according to Benn, an attempt was made the Sunday night to steal the remaining items, as that door, having been damaged by the burglary, was not yet repaired.

However, her son who was then in the building heard the stir, but by the time he came outside to make a check, the

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

intruder(s) had already fled.

Benn is using this medium to commend and thank the police for the way they have been handling the matter. She said that when she went to the Central Police Station Saturday morning to report the burglary, a young female officer at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was very courteous and professional, in dealing with her, and the officers at the Department responded promptly to the report.

She indicated that, to date, she had been receiving the full cooperation of the police, with regard to the incident. “I want to commend and thank them”, she reiterated.

Up to press time Wednesday, investigations were ongoing.

Evol ‘Ate’ Benn, holds part of the frame of the door through which the burglar(s) made entry into her place of business.

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