THE VINCENTIAN PDF - 06-03-20

FRIDAY,

MARCH 06, 2020

VOLUME 114, No.10

Vincy girl missing in St. Lucia Page 3

www.thevincentian.com

Tackling COVID 19 Page7

Lotto workers take action Page 13

EC$1.50

UI Conch Festival Page 15

Big brother misbehaved Page 28

‘PETO’ CHARACTER KILLED Edward ‘Bully’ Lavia became this country’s third muder victim for 2020.

Reports are that there was an altercation between Lavia and another THE STABBING DEATH OF EDWARD man resulting in rum being thrown ‘BULLY’ LAVIA, 46, in the North Leeward into Lavia’s face. He pushed the other community of Petit Bordel, has left a man, to the ground. The man got up sense of sadness in that community and and pursued Lavia who had taken to surrounding areas. running away.

Lavia, who moved many years ago Eye witnesses said that Lavia with his family from their original sought refuge in a nearby house, but abode in Rose Hall to Petit Bordel, the man caught up with him on the was stabbed in the neck with a broken step of the front porch of the house, bottle on Friday, February 28, where he is said to have inflicted the sometime around 4:45 — 5:00 pm. He stab. was pronounced dead on arrival at the A video that surfaced on Social Chateaubelair Hospital.

Media showed a number of people .by KENVILLE HORNE

looking at the wounded man sitting in a pool of blood, but no one moved to offer him any assistance.

Reports are that Minelva ‘Min Min’ Pierre, an elderly female occupant of the house, had to be taken to the Chateaubelair Hospital where she was treated for shock.

Well liked and understood When THE VINCENTIAN visited the community on Monday, many persons expressed sadness on Lavia’s passing . “ He love to sing and play steel pan with the group round a Rose Bank,” one person told THE VINCENTIAN An elderly friend answering to the name ‘Darda’ Edwards said, “’Bully’ Continued on Page 3.

FARMER CHARGED WITH STABBING DEATH neck with a ‘piece of broken bottle’ following an altercation at Petit JUNE 8, 2020 is slated for the Borden around 4:45 p.m. on Friday, Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the February 28. stabbing death one week ago, of 46François was not required to plea to year-old Edward Lavia of Petit Bordel. the indictable charge and was The date was set at the Serious remanded.

Offences Court on Tuesday when The Prosecution is expected to call James François, 51-year-old farmer of about ten witnesses.

Petit Bordel, made an appearance Lavia’s death followed on the heels before Chief Magistrate Rechanne of the murder of Henry Parsons, 54Browne, charged with Lavia’s murder. year-old former employee of the François had made an appearance Diamond Wood Lumber business at at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court Diamond, and resident of Long Piece, the previous day, as the Serious North Union. He was chopped in the Offences Court was not sitting, but back of his right leg around 10:45 p.m.

Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett February 21, at Long Piece. He died on transferred the matter. the spot, and an autopsy revealed he Lavia was stabbed in the side of his succumbed to loss of blood.

by HAYDN HUGGINS

James François is charged with the murder of Edward Lavia.

Frankie Joseph, 42-year-old farmer of Long Piece, has been charged with the murder. His PI is slated for June 9, 2020.

Up to press time, three murders were recorded for the year, the first being the shooting death of 44-year-old Cuban nurse Arianna Taylor-Israel, who was gunned down shortly after 3 p.m. January 30, on the compound of the St. Martin’s Secondary School where she had gone to pick up her son, a student of that school.

Arianna’s husband Mitchell ‘Mitch’ Israel, a former public servant, has been charged with the murder. His PI is slated for May 18.

Joseph and Israel remain in custody awaiting their Preliminary Inquiries.

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2. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

News

WPP Dual Mission

WORLD PEDIATRIC PROJECT (WPP) recently hosted its first dual mission for 2020 with a ten member team of highly qualified specialists between Ophthalmology and Plastic Surgery. The Dual Mission was led and headed by a best-friend duo who have been coming to St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the last

20 years.

Dr. Donna Brown was the lead ophthalmologist, while Dr. Nadia Blanchet led the Plastic surgery team at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. A team of ten qualified specialists ranging from pediatric ophthalmologist, plastic surgeons, pediatric anesthesiologist,

registered nurse anesthetist operating room nurse, registered nurse and surgical technician were on island to facilitate the dual mission. This mission serviced a large number of children most of whom were scheduled for surgery during the course of the week.

In an interview with

the Ministry of Health Communication Team Dr. Brown said the team had a really successful week, she said they saw approximately 40 patients during clinic and were able to do a wide variety of cases for surgery. Some of the cases involved eye muscle problems, cornea transplant, cataract

surgery, issues with eye development etc. When asked what had been the most amazing part of working with WPP, she said “the fact that they connect needs with resources, and there is so much need around the world, but a place like St. Vincent and the other countries around this region they have a finite problem that we can as sub-specialty surgeons really supply. So WPP, the staff ,the resources they are able to gather, connect those children with the particular surgeon or physician that is needed or for the therapy, for example if we doing orthopedic surgery, those children need physical therapy so we try to connect that resource.” There was a total of 17 pediatric surgeries conducted by Dr. Brown and her team during the course of an intense and successful week.

Dr. Blanchet in a similar interview said “the amazing thing is how the program keeps getting better and better; it gets more and more organized. We have patients coming in from new islands every year, it continually improves and strives to improve, and I think that really hooks you. This week,

the most exciting thing is I operated with Dr Jasmine Ellis (consultant pediatric surgeon at MCMH) all week long and I really feel that she has launched and can do them (surgeries) without me, and that's a part of the mission of what we want to do”.

World Pediatric Project remains committed to their mission of building a better, brighter future for our children locally, regionally and internationally.

Approximately 38 children were seen at the plastic surgery clinic, 9 of those were regional patients from Antigua, Dominica, Grenada and St. Lucia, who benefit from assessments and surgery, while a total of 17 surgeries were conducted during the week, 8 of those whereby local children were able to access care. WPP continues to prioritize the medical needs of our children and research means of providing them with the requisite care.

The lives of families continue to be enhanced and given hope as WPP works with children with a range of medical challenges to ensure no child is left behind.

(Submitted by WPP) An estimated 38 children were seen at the plastic surgery clinic and 17 pediatric surgeries done on this mission.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020. 3.

News 3 Vincentian girl missing in St. Lucia

Jatilda Ambris has not been heard from since she left for St. Lucia in September last year.

media that the young lady left her country for Saint Lucia in September last year, to live with a lady, but no one has heard from her since.

“We have no form of contact for her.

The last contact we had for the people she is living with is coming up unavailable,” the relative told St. Lucia News online.

To compound the situation, Ambris is said to be very active on social media. but since she left St Vincent, her account has gone dormant.

The relative is now appealing for assistance from people in Saint Lucia. “I hope it gets some attention and the family gets to hear from her soon,” she said.

Tamara Cumberbatch, a close friend of the missing girl, expressed deep concern about Jatilda’s whereabouts because the young lady is challenged.

“Jatilda didn’t go to a normal school like most

A TEENAGE VINCENTIAN GIRL who moved to Saint Lucia last year has gone missing.

A relative of 19-year-old Jatilda Ambris of Stubbs, told St. Lucian

Tamara Cumberbatch gave details about Jatilda’s life, and expressed deep concern about her missing friend.

children; she went to the School for Children with Special Needs and her mom has mental issues,” Cumberbatch shared.

Cumberbatch said that Jatilda has had something akin to a roving life.

“She grew up with her grandmother before moving to live with an aunt in Diamonds. She also lived with her great aunt in Bottom Stubbs, but when her aunt went to St. Croix to stay for a while, she lived with me in Carapan. The aunt

RSVGPF Band Master dies BAND MASTER OF THE ROYAL SVG POLICE FORCE (RSVGPF) Band and established Calypso Judge Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Daniel Hall died at his home in Lower Questelles last Tuesday, March 3, 2020.

ASP Hall had been ailing for some time.

According to a release from Public Relations and Complaints Department, ASP Hall “had a long and distinguished career as a police officer. He was first enlisted as Band Cadet on April 1, 1982.

Having served in that capacity, he enlisted in the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force on January 10, 1986 and was assigned to the Police Band.”

The release added: “He served

the organization and the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for thirty-four (34) years, one (1) month and twenty (22) days; all of which were spent at the Police Band.”

At the time of his death, he was still officially the Police Band Master.

As expected, his passing leaves the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Colin John, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, the Assistant Commissioners of Police, gazetted officers and all other ranks of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force in mourning, and they are joined in this period of bereavement by the calypso fraternity.

ASP Daniel Hall

eventually returned and Jatilda moved back into her home,” she said.

Jatilda, according to Cumberbatch, turned 19 in December, and she was in regular telephone contact with her and her daughter until last August, when all communication ceased.

“My hope,” said Cumberbatch, “is that my friend is found alive and well.”

(KH - Partial Source: ANN)

‘Peto’ character killed

Continued from Front Page. bin good, he like to sing. A lot of people miss the man, all a Rose Bank.”

‘Darda’ said he last saw the deceased on the day he was killed. “Me see um in the morning and he said he was going down a bay (Beach),” ‘Darda said, adding that his friend would normally ‘hang’ outside his home.

The elderly man admitted that when Lavia drank (strong liquor), he could become a bit mischievous and “end up gehing in trouble.”

But, “besides the drinking he is a cool fella who likes to make up his own songs,” said ‘Darda’.

Indeed, Lavia found himself in a spot of trouble in August 2019 when he was charged with damaging a vehicle and a window of the home owned by the North Leeward Parliamentary Representative Roland Patel Matthews.

Matthews in a Facebook post, shared a video of Lavia singing outside his (Matthews’) shop with the caption, “Gone but not forgotten! Rest in peace Edwards.”

In a subsequent interview with THE VINCENTIAN, Matthews said that he was overseas when the incident (involving his vehicle) took place and it was more of a police matter rather than he pursuing the matter.

“I know ‘Bully’ didn’t really have anything to compensate me. It’s my wife who gave him clothes when he was going court,” said Matthews, who added that there was no animosity between he and Lavia.

The MP took the opportunity to express his disgust with the spurt of senseless killing in the country.

He said that the deceased and his alleged killer grew up together, and the killing could have been avoided if only someone had shown restrained.

James “Meddybang” Francois, 51 years, has been charged with Lavia’s killing.

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4. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

News

Ganja conversation changing, Magistrate admits

by HAYDN HUGGINS SENIOR MAGISTRATE Rickie Burnett recognizes the changes that are taking place with respect to the marijuana issue.

“Whether we like it or not, the whole conversation on marijuana is changing. While the law remains, the Court is listening. Parliament is also doing certain things,” Burnett commented at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Monday, after Kerwin Pierre pleaded guilty to possession of 471

Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett has recognized that the conversation on marijuana has taken on a whole new trend.

grams of marijuana with intent to supply.

He made it clear that he was speaking for himself.

After the facts were read earlier, the Senior Magistrate asked Pierre, “There is a debate going on right now about marijuana; do you know about it?”

Pierre replied, “I heard about it.”

When the Magistrate asked what he heard, he said he heard the views regarding the medicinal and recreational aspects of the herb, and that persons were applying for licences to cultivate medical marijuana. He added that

he also heard that persons who never planted marijuana before are now doing so.

Members of the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) had nabbed Pierre at Rose Place, Kingstown on February 28.

A search of a knapsack he was carrying revealed two brown taped packages which, when cut open, were found to contain marijuana.

When cautioned, Pierre replied, “Officer, is weed to sell.”

Pierre was fined $500 to be paid by April 30, or one month in prison.

Lawyer writes CoP on cell condition DEFENCE LAWYER Grant Connell has written to Commissioner of Police Colin John concerning the condition of the cell at the Calliaqua Police Station.

Connell had highlighted the issue, stating that the cell was not fit for human beings, when a female defendant appearing at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court last week, indicated that she spent the night in the cell at the Calliaqua Police Station.

Speaking with THE VINCENTIAN on Wednesday, Connell said he had a detailed look at the cell during a recent visit to the Calliaqua Police Station to communicate with one of his clients, and had written to the Commissioner of Police asking him to use his good office to draw the issue to the relevant authorities, so as to have it addressed.

According to Connell,

a prisoner who was in the cell at the time had difficulty breathing, and had to cling to the cell door where there was a small opening. He said the only other ventilation to that cell was a ‘fancy block’ arrangement to the southern end.

“In the middle of the day, that cell is dark and not properly ventilated.

These cells were designed back in the colonial days when the health and well-being of those placed there were the least concern of those in authority,” the lawyer explained.

“I told the Commissioner in the letter that if the resources to repair that cell are scarce, I will get someone to assist in financing the structural adjustments, that will be needed,” he assured.

“You never know who might end up in that cell, therefore, it should be fit for all. I pray that issue will be addressed soonest,” the lawyer

added.

Connell said there are cells at other police stations which are also in deplorable conditions, but he is using the one at the Calliaqua Police Station as a start, as he was able to have a detailed look at it.

Connell showed THE VINCENTIAN a copy of the letter he had written to the Commissioner of Police. (HH)

While Attorney Grant Connell focused on the cell at the Calliaqua Police Station, he also alluded to similar deplorable conditions at cells at other Police Stations.

The ‘fancy block’ arrangement at the southern end of the cell in question.

Interest in the ‘new ganja dispensation’ now turns to see how many ganja cultivators will be granted Certificates of Amnesty.

Cannabis amnesty period underway

THE AMNESTY period for persons engaged in the illegal production of marijuana got underway on Tuesday March 3 and will run until March 2, 2021.

This information was confirmed to THE VINCENTIAN by an official at the Medical Cannabis Authority (MCA).

The Cannabis Cultivation (Amnesty) Act, passed in Parliament in December 2018, allows those who are presently growing marijuana illegally to hand over their crop and not face prosecution.

The Act also makes provisions for the crop to be sold for medicinal use.

While presenting the Bill in Parliament, Agriculture Minister Saboto Caesar explained that the first draft specified a date for the commencement of the amnesty.

He explained, however, that this had been revised to have no specific date, and for it to be appointed by the Minister of Legal Affairs — Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

“The intention is that those persons who have cannabis currently cultivated and who have cannabis cultivated on the date that will be gazetted, that those persons will be allowed and the opportunity will be there for them, to bring their cannabis in and regulations will be drafted as to how that cannabis can be tested and possibly sold or disposed. That’s basically what is taking place here,” Caesar said then.

Under the Act, persons seeking amnesty are required to submit information including name, address, I.D number, location of the land being cultivated and/or the premises where the cannabis is being stored.

A statement indicating the quantity that is being cultivated or harvested and the quantity in storage is also required.

And the cannabis is subject to inspection with the Cannabis Authority being the agency responsible for making recommendations to the minister for the issuance of a Certificate of Amnesty.

A person granted an amnesty is not allowed to continue cultivating cannabis during the period unless they are harvesting the said crop and after except they are doing so under a licence. (DD)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020. 5.

Politics

NDP will pursue election petitions

representing North Windward and Central Leeward candidates, Lauron Baptiste and Benjamin Exeter, respectively, were filed after Justice Stanley John of Trinidad ruled against their petitions at the end of a trial early last year.

President of the New Democratic The candidates filed the petitions at Party gave the assurance that his the end of December, 2015, following party is prepared to see the election the December 9th, 2015, elections in petitions trial through to a final which they alleged irregularities. resolution.

Last week, former Attorney General and former NDP Chairman Parnel LEADER OF THE PARLIAMENTARY Campbell QC said that, based on his OPPOSITION and New Democratic Party enquiries, the Eastern Caribbean (NDP) President Dr Godwin Friday says Court of Appeal will not be sitting in his party remains committed to seeing St Vincent and the Grenadines again the two election petitions currently until September. He opined that if the before the Eastern Caribbean Court of matter is heard at that sitting, at Appeal, reach a final decision. earliest, the verdict will not be Dr Friday’s comment came during available until October, and that if the an interview on Wednesday, a week verdict were to be in the favour of the after the Court of Appeal ended its NDP candidates to the extent that the February sitting here.

There was an anticipated hearing of two elections results are overturned, the government will have 90 days to the appeal during the February hold a by-election. He noted that sittings of the court in one of the elections are due by December, this jurisdictions, but the matter was not year. listed.

Dr Friday’s comments on the way The appeals by lawyers

forward, however, gave a different perspective.

“We are working to get the appeal heard as soon as possible,” the Leader of the Opposition said.

Dr Friday said the matter was not listed for hearing at last week’s sitting of the Court here, “but as soon as the matter is ready and complete, we will seek the earliest possible date from the court.

“We are very serious about completing this matter because it is important for the electorate to understand that this matter will be pursued to its complete resolution.

“If we have to go to St Lucia or to some other location where the court is to hear the matter, then we’ll do so,” and he referenced that the appeal against the Justice Brian Cottle judgement in the initial stages of the petitions was heard in St Lucia in 2017.

Asked about the political aspect, Dr Friday said that during the petitions trial last year, “the illegalities and bad decisions” in the election process “were exposed and this opened a lot of

people’s eyes.

He noted that “in the court of public opinion had a verdict with respect to the petitions and it favoured the NDP’s position that the election was not conducted properly and in accordance with the law.”

The Unity Labour Party (ULP) was declared winner of the 2015 general election by a margin of 8-7, the same margin by which it won in 2010.

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6. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

Diaspora

Tributes flow for Gailene Windsor In exclusive interviews with THE kingnaking210@yahoo.com VINCENTIAN, US CORRESPONDENT nationals expressed Photos Courtesy (all consternation over her except single shot of Ms. sudden death.

Windsor) - Sherrill-Ann Mason-Haywood Stella Boyea-Ashby Sports Ambassador, VINCENTIANS in the United former captain of SVG States Diaspora have National Netball Team expressed shock over the 1970s and early ‘80s: sudden passing of Gailene “Words cannot Windsor, a Vincentian adequately express my sports ambassador, and feelings on the passing former community activist of our beloved sports and radio personality in and cultural Brooklyn, New York. ambassador.

Gailene Windsor (left) was the first treasurer of the Windsor, who lived in And I am sure that SVG-USA Sports Association which also included Brooklyn for a number of all the other Stella Boyea-Ashby (2nd from right front). years before returning organizations she was home permanently about blessed to be a part of said her last name. (simply) an audacious two years ago, was are also struggling to Windsor was a and loving individual.” reportedly found dead in process this loss ‘gladiator’ netballer, with We had many a good her Brooklyn home last I am saddened. … a ‘fierce’ defense and time with the game week Thursday. She Gailene was SVG (St. shooting prowess (and) (netball).” reportedly was in her Vincent and the possessed “an infectious mid-60s.

Grenadines) royalty — so laugh and smile…

Stanley ‘Luxie’ Morris Sports Ambassador, former national football captain: “Windsor’s sudden death really shook me up.

Over the years, Windsor and I developed a brother/sister relationship… intentional and deliberate in having each other’s back, irrespective of the circumstance.

Gailene was a consummate professional in her job, as well as in her associations with many NYC (New York City) officials and in the field of sports. I often referred to her as ‘the SVG Hillary Clinton’ (former US Secretary of State and Presidential candidate), because of her ability to get things done and unlock impasses.

She was expected to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at an event (in SVG) this year honoring local

by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net;

netballers. This honor will be bestowed posthumously.

Gailene was one of the best persons I will ever know.”

Gailene Windsor – Sports Ambassador of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. (Facebook Photo)

“COSAGO struggled to accept the news of our dear sister, friend and Sports Ambassador Sherrill-Ann MasonGailene Windsor.

Haywood - Chairperson The Vincentian of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Diaspora community has lost a Committee of New York, very selfless sister — a woman of honor. It would Inc.: appear as if she gave all of herself. She had “Windsor was a served her communities foundational member of in so many areas of the group, which development — sports, celebrates its 10th culture, education, anniversary this year. community service.

She worked on This demonstrated her fundraisers, and actively selfless attitude on participated in the organization’s numerous behalf of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and her symposiums, consultations and awards adopted home, the USA.” programmes.

Joanne Legair, close Gailene took her role friend of Windsor: as sports ambassador seriously and became “She was an icon. She involved in discussions to had served the improve the Vincentian Vincentian community sporting community in Brooklyn, and was on the exceptionally well… Her contributions went first executive of the beyond culture and Brooklyn-based SVGUSA Sports Association. sports.

We bonded over our She was a media love for our country and personality and worked our willingness to serve closely with the our Vincentian Brooklyn-based Dynamite Calypso Tent. community. I will miss her vibrant smile and We thank her for her service and commitment witty personality. to our people. We will always remember her fondly.”

Laverne McDowald Thompson, President of the Brooklyn-based Council of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Organizations, U.S.A., Inc. (COSAGO):

Presentation to Stanley ‘Luxie’ Morris on his recognition as a Sports Ambassador of SVG.

(Right to left): Gailene Windsor, Sherrill-Ann Mason-Haywood and Moreen King-Anthony (now deceased) at a meeting of the SVG Committee circa 2014.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020. 7.

News

SVG ramps up anti COVID 19 measures THE GENERAL PUBLIC is being encouraged to become more aware of their surroundings, in light of the confirmation the COVID-19, commonly referred to as coronavirus, is in the region.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Simone KeizerBeache, in an interview with THE VINCENTIAN, explained that there is now increased surveillance at the community level, which was among the new strategies adopted to deal with containing the virus, if any cases were to be confirmed here.

The measures follow the meeting chaired by Barbadian Prime Minister and CARICOM chair Mia Mottley on March 1 involving the region’s health ministers and other senior health officials, which was convened after three cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the Dominican Republic, two in St Maarten and one in St Barts.

“So, it’s basically as Prime Minister Mottley said… we are into detection, containment and management,” the CMO said.

“What we are moving into even more now is working on increasing the capacity to manage and to contain,” she continued.

This included the ramping up of surveillance at the community level.

“Because if you notice, a lot of the cases that turned up in the States, in the Dominican Republic, those are persons that had returned from Italy, they were already within the community. They were not picked up at any airport or seaport.”

Therefore, the focus is on community health services and the general

public, Keizer-Beache stressed.

Persons now have to be more aware of other persons within their immediate communities, who might have coughs and colds, Keize-Beache encouraged.

With regard to the issue as it relates to the designation of a site to treat potential infected persons, Keizer-Beache said that health officials were trying to identify possible areas where cases could be managed, i.e. persons who may be ill or quarantined.

On the ground About 80 percent of the cases of individuals who showed flu like symptoms were mild and, according to KeizerBeache, did not require hospitalization.

Those cases, she pointed out, would be the sort of cases that would be managed within the community, at the individual’s home.

She further noted that measures were being taken to protect health care workers and that supplies of protective wear and masks were being stored in abundant supply.

Up to March 4, 20 persons had been quarantined, with 17 already completing the 14-day period.

The remaining three were expected to complete the 14-day quarantine period between March 7 and 8, the CMO said.

Dr Simone KeizerBeache, Chief Medical Officer, emphasised that much of what this country has decided on as measures to deal with the coronavirus, is community-based focused.

It was noted by some CARICOM member states that there was a challenge in that the information did not arrive in the 12 to 24hour period as is required.

The CMO noted that that was not an issue here, but assured that the required time for information to get in will be enforced.

It is expected from here on, that cruise ships will include additional information about travel history for persons of interest.

“That will at least allow for greater prep,” the CMO said.

Caribbean countries were also given the all clear to implement any further measures and Cruise ships and COVID restrictions so, for 19 countries example, Keizer-Beache informed that St Vincent Keizer-Beache and the Grenadines has explained that ways of placed quarantine increasing the amount of requirements for information that individuals coming from countries get from cruise Italy, China, Singapore, ships was discussed at Macau, Hong Kong, the reference CARICOM Japan and South Korea. meeting.

(DD)

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8. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020. 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

Invest in Vincentian women and girls IN AN ATTEMPT to create some kind of panacea, International Women’s Day (IWD) – March 8 – was established to celebrate women’s contributions in the world, and break through the gender imbalance that slows down the progress of women in business, the political arena and society generally.

This does not escape the reality of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The objective of IWD is to prioritise a positive message about female contribution and equally important, to encourage collaboration between men and women in that message.

March 8 is an appropriate moment to reflect on the experiences of our women, and the challenges that continue to hinder the attainment of true gender equality and protection of women’s rights.

The truth remains that women and men are not treated the same.

Our women will attest to finding themselves in situations in which they have to contend with gender challenges, stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination, not to mention the sexual advances that men take for granted that women enjoy.

‘A woman’s place is the home’ and ‘women cannot be leaders’, were two discriminatory statements deeply entrenched in our traditional attitudes and perceptions of the role of women in society. Even though these attitudes have been challenged, to some degree of success, systemic inequality and unfair discrimination continue to undermine the rights of women guaranteed by international human rights law.

This country and many of its Caribbean partners have ratified and adapted international and regional human rights treaties that promote equal rights for women, e.g. the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

There is no doubt that in recent times we have come to recognise that gender equality is both a contributor to and indicator of development, a phenomenon not lost on international multi-lateral agencies like the World Bank.

In this vein, the global community agreed to a new set of development goals — 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Goal 5 focuses on

gender equality and women’s empowerment, including the elimination of all harmful practices such as child abuse, forced marriage and unpaid care.

But it is well worth noting that while significant progress has been made over the years in transforming Caribbean countries and institutions in order to enhance the status of women, Caribbean women and girls, by and large, still experience discrimination and inequality, not to mention physical abuse.

Women continue to be the face of poverty as their earning potential is limited, not least because of a lack of training, and they suffer the consequences of staggering high rates of violence, including rape, even murder, at the hands of their menfolk.

Moreover, many of our womenfolk seem unable or are prevented from even making decisions concerning their bodies.

Yet, women remain largely responsible for unpaid reproductive labour including child bearing, child rearing and housework, and are not valued as sources of agency and worth in their own right.

If the truth be told, at the heart of gender inequality lies unequal power relations between women and men in our societies; where men control and dominate over women’s lives and women continue to occupy the subordinate position.

Whether this is a legacy of slavery and other classist (caste) traditions could be debated, but it could well be the reality upon which much of the discordant behaviour of our men towards our women is founded.

Investing in women and girls’ empowerment is pivotal for reaching the goals of sustainable development. Consensus dictates that other goals cannot be fully realised without the empowerment of women and girls.

Achieving gender equality would have a direct effect on the achievement of good governance, human development and sustained peace.

The high visibility of gender equality on the agendas, guarantees that we can hold governments accountable and ensure greater women representation in decisionmaking.

Yvonne Francis-Gibson proclaimed a National hero (A reprint from August 2018) ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, when it seemed almost certain that Yvonne had been breathing her last breath, I told myself that if she should depart before me, who also has his boarding pass in hand, then I would surely recommend to the authorities that she be named a National Hero.

On the day that she was to be buried, at about 11am, I called Nice Radio’s New Times Programme and published my sacred thoughts via Bert Francois, the announcer at the time. I was thrilled when I heard the same call made by the SVUT past President Oswald Robinson, to rapturous applause. I congratulate the seconder of my motion which had been made publicly about five hours before.

I have made the business of seeking national heroes an urgent cause of my own. In March 2002, I sent the ULP Government through the Minister of Education and Culture, Mike Browne, a list of four persons who I thought merited the accolade of National Hero, in addition to our proclaimed Hero, Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer.

They were Captain Hugh Mulzac, George Mac Intosh, Ebenezer Joshua and I later added on further evidence and research, Parmenos Eustace.

I was under misapprehension that I stood alone pushing the claim of Hugh Mulzac, so I was most pleased to learn in August 2018 that the NYC had also plugged for Hugh Mulzac. My nose swelled with pride recalling that I was among three persons who helped to form the NYC of which I had been official patron.

For sixteen years plus, the ULP has foot-dragged and pussy-footed over the decision of a formal declaration on naming a slate of National Heroes, as they have already danced around the mulberry bush over electoral commitments with regard to say, Cross Country Road, Integrity Legislation, limitation of two terms to any PM, accountability, national stadium. More specifically, the Prime Minister has slept on the vexed question of national awards and symbols, taken back solemn pledge to reappoint dismissed teacher saying that his solemn word was not to be taken seriously, it was only “aspirational”.

The PM declared that it was under his leadership of the UPM that Yvonne cut her political teeth. Not true!! Yvonne

was indeed a member of the DFM which threw in its lot in the UPM, but the leadership nominated by me and seconded by her was Renwick Rose.

It was true that Yvonne had taken part in all preliminary talks leading to the formation of the UPM; in fact it could be said that the cradle of the movement was her house in Clare Valley, now owned by Nelcia Robinson.

I long ago suggested that the Resource Centre at Cane Hall be named in honour of Yvonne Francis.

Government named it in honour of Doris Mc Kie, the mother of the current ULP representative. The people’s reaction to Yvonne’s death in face of difficulties with the next election in sight has forced them to make an offer of an appropriate institution recommended by Yvonne’s friends. The truth is that the time of kindly gestures is past. We want the whole hog now.

The just demand is that she join the galaxy of National Heroes which must be effected and publicised (by whichever Party) on National Heroes Day 2019.

Time is running out.

This writer is aware of the pain it will cause the Government to so revere an ordinary Black woman whom they had dragged through the mud.

She had been publicly humiliated, jailed, thought of as the matron of “the house of infamy”. After she had left all political activity, the ULP pursued her by unceremoniously taking away the instruments and insignia of Justice of Peace! How low can one get!

The dam of pent-up feelings for the pain and hurt which Yvonne bore with stoic strength, and Christian fortitude, all broke at her funeral on the 27th July 2018. Her body will have ridden on this wave of cascading emotion to high heavens.

Yvonne has gone to join her deceased husband, Kelvile Gibson, General Secretary of the NDP, who was harried away by threats of libel hanging over his head like the sword of Damocles. May she rest in eternal peace. And may her son, Leroy, friends and acquaintances spare a moment, now and then, to reflect in the rays of hope that Yvonne left us.

I was devastated and needed a little time to settle my body and soul somewhat before daring to put in print my thoughts of a fallen comrade.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020. 9.

Letters

This ‘gun thing’ is frightening THIS MUST be my first ever letter to the Editor of a newspaper. And when I think about it, I tell myself it has got to be something very serious that would drive me to do this for the first time.

Yes, Mr. Editor, it was something very serious; it was that photo of that AR15 rifle that you carried on your front page of last week’s issue of THE VINCENTIAN. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not saying you did anything wrong by putting the rifle on the front page. In fact, I want to thank you for exposing for all to see, the kind of guns we have in this country.

Why would somebody have a rifle like this in his possession if he doesn’t intend to use it whether it is to defend himself and family or otherwise? As a matter of fact, why would anybody want to have a gun in the first place?

Yes. I know, someone is going to say that there are a lot of crooks out there, so I need to get one to protect myself and my family.

Sometime ago, Mr. Editor, you wrote in an editorial that the young men who we know have committed gun-related crimes and the number we know have guns,

generally can’t afford to buy the guns, so someone who can must be making them available to the young men.

I am worried that, from what I hear (and I hear a lot), that this country is overrun with guns — legal and moreso illegal. And the Ministry of National Security — which has control of the police — seems to be treating the gun situation as if it is just a puff of smoke that will blow away without any help.

Police Commissioners have come and gone, but none seemed to have the guts to make a genuine effort to ‘mash-up’ this gun trade. Is it because certain people who are involved in it belong to the protected class? I don’t know.

And don’t tell me about a gun amnesty!!

We tried that so many times and it backfired.

Anybody in their real sense would believe that a young man already in a life of crime, going to come forward and say, “Here is my gun, Mr. Commissioner,”?

Unless the National Security Ministry and Minister do something about ‘mashing-up this gun trade, crappaud smoke we pipe; we will continue to live in fear of

No dirty politics, please!

WHEN ARE we going to stop all this dirty politics?

As someone who has lived through more general elections than most, I am ashamed to think that we have not changed our approach to politics. It is never a case of beating a man on his party and his plans for development of the country and his constituency; it is about how much dirt we can throw up about those in opposition to us.

Some years ago, the leader of a party referred to some prominent persons in our society as “dirty dogs” and what have you. If my memory serves me correctly, some of those persons were not even involved in politics. But those dirty remarks were made, the leader’s supporters cheered. I should have known then that we had not come any way in changing our politics, but I held out hoping that that change would come. I must admit, it has not yet come.

As a female senior citizen, I can only appeal to all those involved in politics and the political campaign that will soon heat up, to keep their criticism of their opponents to their performance and forget about trying to be ‘nasty’ with references to sex, colour, even their race.

Perhaps I will live to see a meaningful change in our approach to our politics. I am still hopeful.

Retiree, Arnos Vale

the gunmen.

And before we get distracted, let me remind people that gun crime requires an equal

amount of attention like we give, rightfully so, to domestic violence.

And finally, Mr. Editor, which one of the

political parties is going to commit to deal with our gun trade?

I ADMIT that this is an era of technology. But while that should be a good thing all round, instead we have become dependent on our cellphones for the relay of information in a flash.

In essence, we have become slaves to the internet.

Only last week as I made my way along the sidewalk in front of The Music Centre, a young lady was coming in the opposite direction. She was obviously in conversation with someone, but there was no one accompanying her. To my great surprise, she was on her phone, with headphones, hands swinging, and talking away.

That was not all, as I

neared the Star Garage building, a young man passed me with his head down; he seemed to be typing away on his cellphone. I understand that that is texting.

I dare say, since we have become so dependent on our cellphones, we have no time for a ‘good morning’ or even a decent conversation. It seems that we prefer to talk to someone on our phones rather that engage in real life person to person conversation.

And I understand that the other pastime, texting, even has its own language. There will come a time when we will not know how to spell a full word correctly.

Young people, I appeal to you to decrease your dependence on phones.

Try having conversations with persons in person, not through some costly wireless device.

And talking about cost, I wonder how some of these young persons can afford these expensive phones. If it is that parents are funding them, then you parents need to control the use and demand there be real conversations at home.

Let us get back to being humans and not behave like some zombies hooked on cellphones.

Donald, A ‘Countryman’

Cellphone madness

corruption, and allegations of ministers of government profiting from the proceeds of this programme.

So, is the CBI really an economic saviour?

Should we really at this time embrace such a programme? Let us think nationally and not politically.

I AM NOT one to tell people how to do their jobs, but as far as the coronavirus threat is concerned, I have to recommend that a prevention programme be very quickly developed for implementation in our schools.

As far as we have been told, the virus can spread even in situations where no one is infected. That is scary, and our children are going to be easy prey for this dreadful disease if we don’t act quickly.

Also, it would be a good thing to stock up on masks at least for distribution to our schools.

As I say, I don’t want to tell anybody how to do their jobs, but in this case, I hope that our health officials are not ignoring our children, especially those in school.

Kennard King

Sybil John

Ben T. East St. George

Citizenship by Investment Programme I AM NO EXPERT on economics and politics but, as a citizen, let me add my two cents on the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme.

This programme is touted as being able to bring economic benefit to any country. There is no doubt that many countries have benefited economically from it, among them is St. Kitts and Nevis, which was the first Caribbean country to embark on such a programme.

Since then, many other Caribbean countries have introduced similar programmes, with Dominica offering the lowest rate at US$100,000 per person.

Maybe 20 years ago it would have been more economically viable; today it is far too competitive. To be competitive, we have to offer a rate less than Dominica.

Also, with the many investigations into the programmes, checks and balances have increased.

If there are (too) many checks and balances, then it would not be

attractive to those who want to obtain the Vincentian passport through this programme.

To make it more competitive for us, we not only have to offer a cheaper price but less checks and balances.

But to do so would mean opening ourselves to crooks and scams and the possibility of being black listed.

Many persons who apply for citizenship through this programme do so to avoid paying taxes in their country, and also to make it easier for them to obtain a visa and entry into countries such as America and Canada.

We need also to ask: Why do countries which have CBI programmes still have high national debts and still borrow money from other countries and International Monetary Fund (IMF)? When a country goes to the IMF for a bailout, it often means a reduction in the wage bill and retrenchment of workers.

Then there is the complaint of a lack of accountability and

Coronavirus and our children

V

10. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020. THE VINCENTIAN

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Keeping our commitments

Excerpt from the 2020 Budget Address Introduction Budget 2020 is unmistakably ambitious.

No Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has ever tabled a budget as large as this one, which projects $1.2 billion in expenditure for the year.

Specifically, we are proposing capital expenditure of $310 million, a number that has never been proposed at the beginning of any year in our history, or spent by year’s end. Successfully implementing such a capital programme will be challenging. But it can be done.

Of course, the jaded, the jaundiced, and the nattering naysayers will scoff at this ambition.

Those in perpetual political paralysis will scream “election budget” or assail our vision for the coming decade as unattainable. Our response to those elements — indeed our response to all Vincentians with eyes to see and ears to hear — is to view our accomplishments, and listen closely to how and why we believe that the ambition of Budget 2020 is not simply a wish, but a detailed and achievable plan of action.

Last year, in the wake of a crucial foundation-laying budget, some members of this Honourable House decried it as “old wine in new bottles,” claiming that it offered only empty words to the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is important, therefore, to recap a small sample of last year’s pledges and their fulfilment but as the basis upon which the Vincentian people should believe in our 2020 plans, and as the basis upon which the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines shares this faith, confidence and ambition.

Keeping our commitments We arrive at 2020 with an impressive record of 2019 commitments that we have kept, and promises that we are in the process of fulfilling.

Last year, we said that we would begin drilling wells to exploit our vast geothermal resources. We kept that commitment, drilling three wells and moving us that much closer to our renewable energy ambitions.

Last year, we said that we would find major hotel brands with whom to partner on our planned hotels in Diamond and Mount Wynne. Today, all of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines knows that we have secured deals with the Holiday Inn Express and Marriott International.

Last year, we committed to beginning a well-regulated, export-oriented medicinal cannabis industry. We kept that commitment, passing laws, licensing 70 entities and individuals and collecting millions of dollars in revenue.

Last year, we pledged to relocate the vulnerable elderly population of the Lewis Punnett home to a modern, upgraded facility. This year, those residents are safer, healthier and happier in a new home.

Last year, we committed to open state-of-the-art polyclinics in Buccament and Mesopotamia, and a Smart Hospital in Chateaubelair. As we speak right now, patients are in each of those facilities, receiving quality care close to home.

Last year, we promised modest wage increases to public servants. This year, with little fanfare, their pay cheques arrived on time and on target, with welcome additional resources.

Last year, we committed to spending an unprecedented $6 million to refurbish primary and secondary schools across Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. We topped that commitment, spending almost $7 million in record time to improve the comfort of our precious students and

teachers.

Last year, we promised the people of Union Island a modern solar electric facility. This year, solar energy has the capacity to power up some 33% of Union Island’s electricity use.

Last year, we told villagers to expect new footpaths from the Pedestrian Access for Village Enhancement (PAVE) programme. Today, contractors across this country are building PAVE access paths to improve the comfort and safety of Vincentians.

Last year, we set “a 2020 target date for the start of construction” of a new athletic track at Diamond. We bettered that commitment, commencing construction in 2019. Instead of starting in 2020, we will finish this phase of construction by year’s end.

Last year, we told you that the Clear Harbor Call Centre would begin hiring and Rainforest Seafoods would begin construction. Both private sector entities are proceeding as promised.

Last year, we said that ICT engineers would connect the islands of our archipelago using miles of high-tech undersea cables. This year, a state-ofthe-art network is in place, and will soon bring tangible benefits to all digitally-connected Vincentians.

Last year, we promised to hire 81 new Police Recruits. Today, those Policemen and Policewomen are on our streets and in our villages, working hard to make Vincentians and visitors safer.

Last year, we promised to begin the rollout of a programme of Closed Circuit Television Cameras to monitor our streets and enhance police surveillance.

This year, 200 CCTV cameras are being installed on poles and buildings, acting as both a crime deterrent and a crime fighting tool.

Last year, we promised to expand our diplomatic reach by establishing an Embassy in Taiwan. This year, the Embassy is open and staffed, serving our students, exploring business opportunities and drawing us closer to our Taiwanese allies.

Last year, we committed to taking the bold, audacious step of putting forward the name of our small country as a candidate for election to the United Nations Security Council. This year, with global endorsement overwhelmingly secured, we began our historic tenure as the smallest country ever to sit on this crucially important global body.

What a magnificent record of keeping our commitments!

Conclusion To claim that there was nothing new in last year’s Budget is to ignore the announcements of the Saint Vincent’s first major hotel brands, new solar plants in Union Island and Mayreau, connecting the islands of our country with fibre-optic cable, the largest school refurbishment programme in history, new clinics on the leeward coast, the dawning of a medicinal cannabis industry, a new home for our vulnerable elderly population, tangible progress to the country’s first geothermal electricity plant, the commencement of a new athletic track, and the historic, momentous election of SVG to the UN Security Council. To those impressed by the raft of new accomplishments and initiatives, we say: wait ‘til you see what’s coming in 2020. Look around you. Believe your eyes. We kept our commitments in 2019, and we will keep ourselves committed to the peoplecentred development of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

A lawless government THE MATTER of accountability is fundamental and critical, as it goes from the top to the bottom of the business of government. It crosses all sectors and it connects to everything else that Also, we saw in October 2019 in the happens in the business of ‘running the debate of the Supplementary country’. The lack of accountability erodes public confidence in government. Estimates and related Supplementary Appropriation Bill, how the special warrants were abused by being used ULP lacks accountability for things that it could seriously be said were “not foreseen”, as the law The Unity Labour Party required. For example, paying old government has demonstrated over the years that it lacks accountability. VINLEC bills. You did not know you Therefore, it has little or no regard for had those bills. Yet, they were bought and paid for via special warrants. our laws governing financial Further, the Director of Audit accountability and financial management. We recall the problems disapproved of the way the Special Warrants have been used and abused, associated with the Petro Caribe funds, where $112 million were left off in a Report: “the ease with which funds can be obtained and spent the books, according to the without the authorisation of the International Monetary Fund. So, House of Assembly, should be immediately following the 2015 reviewed to satisfy the purpose of general elections, the government section 70(1)&(2) of the 1979 brought legislation to parliament to constitution.” If the government would correct the problem. not listen to us on this side of the There was also the lack of accountability during the construction House, it should at least listen to the Director of Audit and change its of the Argyle International Airport. lawless ways. But the Director of During this year’s budget debate, Audit lacks resources. the Leader of the Opposition — Hon. Dr. Friday raised the issue of SVG, a lawless country government’s abuse of its Overdraft facility when they exceeded the limit St. Vincent and the Grenadines has set by Parliament.

Dr. Friday also addressed the issue become a lawless country. And it starts from the top. You have heard of the Special Warrants accusing the Minister of Finance of abusing the use us complain about the failure to meet the standards of financial of Special Warrants, by not bringing accountability. The Minister of them to parliament in a timely Finance continues to disregard the manner, bringing them when the laws and practice that have been put government sees fit sometime five in place to keep the government years late. In addition, Dr. Friday accountable to the people and hold referenced the use of Special them to account.

Warrants to pay for things for which The government has been behaving provision could have been made in the unlawfully in the way it manages the budget. finances of the country. It is a lawless The following is an excerpt of Dr. Friday’s budget presentation, in which government. It does not follow financial accountability laws in the he dealt with the fore-mentioned Constitution, Financial issue: Administration Act and the Audit Act. We have spoken about this for years, Excerpt and I have addressed in outside this chamber. The public now knows how It is generally agreed that the this government malfunctions. expected practice is that It has abused the use of special Supplementary Estimates are warrants by not bringing them to required to be brought to the House parliament when required by law to within six months after the date the special warrant was issued. Yet, this do so; by not limiting the use to genuinely unforeseen expenditures; government took up to five years in and by exceeding the limit of $25m set doing so (re 2014 special warrants).

by Resolution of this House. And, by That negligent practice violated the recklessly abusing the overdraft law. (Section.28 of Financial Administration Act, and Section. 70(3) facility provided for by the Financial Administration Act and Resolution of Constitution).

Secondly, the amount that could be the Parliament by exceeding again the limit, by not paying it off during the spent by special warrants in a given financial year and by converting a year was set by Resolution in this Honourable House most recently to be large part of it into an ongoing loan without prior approval of Parliament! $25m. Yet, in three of the five years If this is not a lawless government, for which the Supplementary I don’t know what is. The existing Estimates were finally brought in legal guardrails are clearly not a October last year, the government guide or deterrent to this government. exceeded that amount. For example, Maybe it is time that we do like 2014: $26.2M; 2017: $28.6M; 2018, Grenada and get a Fiscal $28.8M. So, the government also Responsibility Act or some similar violated the law here too. Here too, legislation to promote greater scant regard for the law was shown.

They came to Parliament and set the transparency and more responsible practice in management of limit at $25m, and then they turned government’s finances. The fiscal around and spent more than they responsibility framework at the end of were authorised to spend. On what the Budget Address cannot do it. It authority? What a lawless has no teeth; it must be law. government!

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020. 11.

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A feeling of accomplishment

“Accomplish but do not boast, accomplish without show, accomplish without arrogance, accomplish without grabbing, accomplish without forcing.”

- Lao Tzu - ancient Chinese philosopher and writer.

WE ALL NEED TO FEEL a sense of accomplishment. It is critical to our emotional wellbeing. This explains why persons appear to gravitate towards practising undesirable behaviours if/when their home, school, and/or work environments appear to lack opportunities for them to receive “healthy recognition”. In the same vein, we can understand how those individuals who achieve a sense of accomplishment appear to move through life embracing one success after another. That sense of accomplishment can generate and sustain the energy needed to make the impossible possible.

As we pursue and achieve our noble goals, it is so very important that we do not lose sight of the value of humility. The older ones among us would say, “Regardless of where you get to in life, never forget where you came from.” Others will remind us to, “Keep your feet on the ground even as you soar to new heights of success”.

And while this may seem to be a paradox (i.e. flying but having feet on the ground), the message came through loud and clear that we must never let our accomplishments so enlarge our egos that we are lured to the embrace of negative pride. We therefore imbibe the wisdom that is captured in the Lao Tzu quotation that was used to introduce this essay, “Accomplish but do not boast, accomplish without show, accomplish without arrogance, accomplish without grabbing, accomplish without forcing.”

Individuals who engage in boasting, showing, arrogance, grabbing, and forcing provide ample evidence that the sense of accomplishment pushed them over to the “dark side of life”.

These are they who glow and gloat in the thought that they are better than others. In their own way, their words and actions provide evidence of their own insecurities. Such individuals may seek to highlight or magnify the smallest achievement in an effort to boost the ego.

To accomplish great feats in life and retain a feeling of humility, is the hallmark of an individual who is comfortable with self. The greatest among us will not fall prey to such behaviours. For them, titles and accomplishments remain insignificant.

The intrinsic value of having performed the particular task, is considered enough satisfaction. To them, that is where the true value lies.

They can glow in their successes in relation to the activity done and not necessarily from the rewards or recognition that may emerge after performing the task.

Children, in particular, need to be provided with opportunities that generate a sense of accomplishment.

It is critical for their social and emotional growth. Parents, teachers, and responsible adults therefore need to create opportunities for this to occur. Having them engage in household chores must be considered especially important. They must be socialised in a manner that results in them appreciating the value of keeping their rooms and play areas clean, participating in domestic activities such as clearing the dining table after

Who will Own our Caribbean future?

‘We can make it if we try just a little harder If we just give one more try that would be much sweeter’ Black Stalin

meals, washing and drying dishes, packing them away, and so on.

Important lessons are taught when they (male and female) engage in such activities.

Backyard gardening can also create opportunities for that feeling of accomplishment to emerge. Our children must be made to appreciate the value of growing what they eat and eating what they grow. It is truly amazing how many children enjoy “playing in dirt and water”. This seemingly natural tendency could provide opportunities for them to learn about agriculture from a relatively early age. Growing vegetables and short crops allow them to experience early successes in this field. And even in cases where they may experience “crop failure” due to poor germination, destruction by insects, or fungal attacks, they can derive useful experiences related to persistence and problem solving in agriculture. These, too, can generate a feeling of accomplishment.

Employees also need to feel a sense of accomplishment in their workplaces.

This is critical if they are to remain focused and motivated. Many will experience that warm feeling of triumph when they observe that they have performed a particular task well.

However, that positive feeling can be further enhanced if/when their colleagues recognize them for having done so. It is natural/normal to feel good about self when others pause to acknowledge that they have recognised and praised for the specific accomplishment. We must always be on the alert to recognize the good in others. Such recognition via a comment, handwritten note, or e-mail message can go a long way towards energizing employees to excel. This, in turn, would have a positive impact on their department in particular and the firm in general. That feeling of accomplishment can do wonders.

We all derive great benefit when that feeling of accomplishment is evident. When we feel that sense of accomplishment we naturally become more engaged/focused on the particular activity. This is as true in our homes as it is in our churches and workplaces. That feeling of accomplishment, is considered foundational to our acceptance of self and the generation of confidence in our capabilities. Some would hasten to say that it “puts a pep in our step”; we become motivated to go the extra mile.

Research has shown that individuals who feel a sense of accomplishment tend to portray a joyful demeanour and are generally more productive than those persons who see themselves as merely “going through the motions” — not being sure if they are adding value to those around them or the groups with which they are associated. That feeling of accomplishment must therefore be considered critical to individual and team performance. We must therefore endeavour to generate that feeling of accomplishment in ourselves and in those around us.

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

SPEAKING TO AN APPRECIATIVE audience at the University of St Martin, Jomo Sanga Thomas, the former Speaker of the House of Assembly, in an attempt to answer the question ‘Who will own our Caribbean Future’ drew on the treasure chest of Caribbean intellectual and cultural talents.

Black Stalin remains an inspiration.

Thomas, keynote speaker at the event which brought to an end the month-long celebration to mark Black History Month 2020, told the audience (that) to gain an appreciation of the topic, ‘we must first analyze from whence we came, take stock of where we are now, and then see who is in the best position to chart and dominate the future.’

Thomas reminded the audience that the history of the people of the Caribbean did not begin with the arrival of the colonial enslavers from Europe.

The truth, he noted, European conquest and domination of our region interrupted our history. ‘There was a thriving civilization all across the Caribbean before the Europeans arrived. They committed genocide against the indigenous inhabitants, reducing that population from about 3,000,000 in the 1600s to about 30,000.’

‘This is genocide,’ Thomas told his listeners. ‘But the genocide did not stop there. Millions of Africans were brought in to fill the void following the mass killing of the indigenous people. By the time slavery was abolished, another genocide was committed.’

Thomas told the audience that the European enslavers and colonizers justified their inhumane treatment of the indigenous people and then Africans, claimed that the indigenous people committed two sins: They engaged in sodomy and were cannibals.

Africans they claimed were less than human and most fundamentally, had no souls.

This tactic of demonization is a tried and tested tool that has been perfected over the centuries. In modern times, it is used to destroy the good name and efforts Fidel and the Cuba Revolution, Manley and his democratic socialist experiment in Jamaica, Maurice Bishop and the Grenadian Revolution and more recently Presidents Chavez and Maduro and Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela.

Thomas reminded the audience that the decolonization project that began in 1962 with the independence of Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica and resulted in the formation of Caricom, a unit consisting of 14 independent countries, remains incomplete.

He pointed to the fact that currently there remain even more islands in our region that maintain a colonial status.

French: Guadeloupe, Martinique, Cayenne or French Guyana, St Martin English: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands - Virgin Gordo and Tortola, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands United States: Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands — St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. JohnSt Croix Thomas traced the efforts at decolonization beginning with the formation of the West Indies Federation in 1958, and noted that while many, particularly the former colonizers do not want to accept it, the Caribbean was illprepared for the burdens and responsibility of independence.

He noted that during the period of enslavement, the Caribbean was celebrated in Europe as the most prized piece of real estate in the world. This was because of the enormous riches which the free labour of our ancestors bestowed on the colonial enslavers. It is well known that the riches of Caribbean

slavery funded the industrial revolution in England and other European countries.

Thomas told his audience that on any indices of life - education, health, roads, hospitals and other infrastructural projects or wealth accumulation - the Caribbean was left in an awful state. The colonizers were primarily concerned with extracting wealth. They showed little or no concern for the welfare and well-being of the population. At independence our people were mostly illiterate, unemployed and in poor health.

Thomas traced the efforts at development and unity by analyzing the emergence of Carifta, Caricom and the attempts at the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME); looked at the ways the emergence of the World Trade Organization (WTO) destroyed Caribbean agriculture, particularly bananas, and the role played by the Clinton administration in the USA during the 1990s, and the multinational corporations Dole and Chiquita.

Thomas did not give Caribbean leaders a clean slate or a free ride. He told the audience much more progress could have been made towards regional unity and development, had it not been for the ego, insularity and myopia of all of the regional leaders. He likened them to feudal lords who did not want to sacrifice ownership of their estate for the betterment of the region. ‘United we stand, divide we fall’, he declared.

Looking at the regional landscape as it stood today, Thomas lamented the disunity and noted that much of what we see is stoked and sponsored from abroad - attempts to set one country against another and to break the unity of Caricom.

He claimed that after 300 years of enslavement, 100 years of colonial rule and 6 decades of independence, the region continues to struggle with underdevelopment, massive debt, high unemployment, drugs and gun violence.

Thomas told listeners that unless there is a complete realignment of the international economic, financial and trading architecture our region will remain underdeveloped and dependent.

Pointing to the way forward, Thomas said the Americans dominate now and the Chinese are emerging. He invoked the wise words of Fidel Castro: ‘The world belongs to those who struggle for it.’

Asked to address the role of the struggle for reparatory justice in the developmental efforts of the region, Thomas reminded the audience that the struggle for reparations is essentially a struggle for power. He noted that the struggle for reparations in the Caribbean has a long history.

As early as 1934, Sir Arthur Lewis, the Caribbean’s first Nobel Prize winner remarked that: ‘The issue of compensations for slavery has not been adequately addressed.’

Eric Williams in Capitalism and Slavery established the contributions of Caribbean slavery to the development of Britain and America. Nationalist, left radicals and Rastafarians spoke of Repatriation and Reparations for decades.

However, issue remained on the fringes of public discourse until July 2013 when CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Trinidad resolved to join the fight for reparations.

The battle for reparations became mainstream. The issue was further ignited during the democratic presidential debate in America when several contenders supported the issue of reparations for Africans.

More next week on Who will Own the Caribbean Future.

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

V SVG sinking even lower 12. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020. THE VINCENTIAN

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THE LEADER of SVG Green Party, Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal, BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, strongly believes that under the ULP regime, many parts of SVG have been reduced to slums, and that poverty leads to increased crime, including violent crime.

In 2017, murders reached a record high of 42. SVG had the fourth highest murder rate per capita in the world.

The murder rate is still very high in 2020.

The murder rate in SVG has risen sharply under the ULP regime, and violent crime appears to be escalating into a full-blown humanitarian crisis.

The virtual collapse of our economy and the widespread poverty and unemployment in SVG, are significant factors causing the high murder rate.

Nearly half of the people in SVG live in poverty, and more than one quarter of them are extremely poor.

The ULP regime’s incompetence has led to violent crime and gun-related crime increasing significantly.

Looking back to 2007, we can see that violence under the incompetent ULP regime has been an issue for over 15 years.

The Honourable Chief Justice of the OECS Supreme Court, having dealt with so many gun crime issues in the High Court of SVG, said on the 23rd May 2007 that ‘SVG is at war’. Few people would disagree with this intelligent observation about the state of SVG. In 2007, SVG Green Party wrote ‘There is a fast growing gun culture in SVG, and the ULP regime seems unable to control it. SVG has tipped very quickly from a peaceful, tranquil society to one that is ‘at war’. Violent crime has got worse.

At a conference held in late May

2007 in SVG about crime in schools, a high ranking police officer said there were 197 cases of crime in schools.

These included firearms, rape, indecent assault and offensive weapons. Crimes were being committed by children as young as 12 years old.

Things have not changed. In fact, things are worse.

Too many young people are going from school, to crime, to prison. They deserve better. The education provided by the incompetent ULP regime is not equipping SVG youth for life. It barely equips many young people to pass the

common entrance exam. This shows that the ULP regime’s education system is totally inadequate, and the ULP regime, since 2001, has failed miserably to provide our children with a world-class education system.

The long-term inability of the ULP regime to competently manage SVG’s public finances to create a strong economy and mass employment, has dragged our country down to this devastating situation.

According to the Leader of SVG Green Party, SVG will continue to decline and crime will continue to fester, if SVG does not have a change of government to one that has the ability to competently manage our country’s finances. SVG needs a Green government.

MESSAGE ON THE OCCASION OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY- MARCH 8, 2020

A time to gather our resources to cure the epidemic within

the region which needs urgent action. It has caused the loss of lives, maiming, insanity, poverty, an increase in the number of orphans and many others walking wounded. It is the Plague of Domestic Violence — one that needs a multi-faceted approach to curb it, including the support of State, Church and Judiciary, each acting with its separate tools, but in harmony with the objective of repairing the social fabric and the smallest unit of society — the Family.

alarmingly high, indicating an increase in the incidences of the scourge? Is it that people are not emboldened to come forward? For either reason, urgent action is necessary.

The situation is no better in the INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day is region, as shown by Newspaper celebrated around the world on 8th reports from Barbados, Jamaica and March. This year marks 109 years Trinidad and Tobago, to name a few. since the Day was first celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago is reeling from 1911. It is a day to celebrate women the shock of the murder of women by and the contributions they have made their spouses, in January of this year. and continue to make to society. It is This has led to the Commissioner of also a day to consider the challenges Police establishing a Domestic they face, one of which is the violence Violence Unit within the Police Force. that rages within the home.

In this regard, St. Vincent and the The plague of the Human No want of training Grenadines was ahead of the game, Coronavirus (COVID-19) has pushed when a former Commissioner of Police world governments to use their It was in 2000 that several agencies said that during his tenure, he was resources and communication going to place some focus on Domestic joined forces to deliver training in channels to avert a second ‘Black Violence Intervention/Prevention.

Domestic Violence Death”. And Rightly so!!

Yet the Scourge rages!! Our recent Intervention/Prevention to Police Every effort is made to close borders Officers and Social Workers — the Newspapers grimly report of the so that the deadly strangling virus front-line workers in the efforts shooting death of a Nurse at the hands would be kept out of the region. And of her spouse, against Domestic Violence. This rightly so!! This action shows that a It is not as easy as some say for training was delivered in all the unified approach can deliver solutions. member countries of the Association of “women to leave”. On the other hand, There is another Epidemic within men are mocked when they say that Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP) and CARICOM. Financial they too are victims of domestic violence. support came from the Caribbean Development Bank, the InterNeed to galvanise action American Development Bank and NGOs. A series of training manuals were produced for continued training.

There is a need to gather our Here in St. Vincent, the British resources and put the training Development Division approved a material to work. There is a need for Grant to the National Council of financial sponsorship to communicate Women to conduct similar training. effectively through community Again, a series of training manuals workshops, radio, TV and newspapers. and other materials were produced.

Social Media patrons must maintain As recently as 2018, a European this medium as a “Good Worker”, NGO completed a training programme sharing positive messages. Those who with the Caribbean Women’s have made it a “Bad Master” are encouraged to move beyond sharing Association and other agencies. The difference with this Course was that it dehumanizing material. placed great focus on the cultural Will UN Women, the CDB, the practices that fueled Domestic UNPF, and sleeping women’s NGO’s Violence. Again, training manuals, step up to the plate and galvanise videos, brochures and research action as against the Human findings were made available for Coronavirus? The United Nations continued use.

Population Fund (UNPF) is challenged to intervene. It can no longer have a Scourge rages on limited focus on population, because demographics will not only be These examples show that there is measured by age, race, gender, no shortage of trained personnel nor longevity of the people, or the number training material. Successive of the young, but by how many of Parliaments of St. Vincent & The them are walking wounded, in their Grenadines have passed legislation to graves, and how many are behind deal with Domestic Violence, and bars. institutions like the Church and the Teachers Union have produced Policy Nelcia Robinson - Coordinator Statements against Domestic Violence. Committee for the Development of Why then do the statistics on Women domestic violence remain so

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020. 13.

Workers

Industrial Action averted at the Lottery AT LEAST one social commentator has described the state of affairs at the National Lotteries Authority (NLA) as shameful and scandalous.

“It is absolutely shameful that — I mean I read in this article for example - that some people been working at the Lotteries for 2 decades and can’t get $2000 ah month; and yet you hear that the Lotteries raked in last year 70 million dollars?

There’s something very scandalous about that.. ,” Jerry George said when making contribution to BOOM 106.9’s OMG in the Morning.

George’s rejoinder came moments after National Workers Movement (NWM) General Secretary Noel Jackson ended his contribution to the same show, which had highlighted the threatened industrial action by NLA staff, as reported in an annsvg.com article.

At the crux of this issue is the NLA’s “tardiness,” as the NWM characterizes it.

Jackson reports his union as representing at least 80% of the NLA’s work force, including workers at Victoria Park, security personnel, janitors, collection officers/sales agents, general staff at its Kingstown headquarters, persons employed at local cable channel VC3, and those stationed at sundry sport venues currently supervised by the Authority.

The unionized staff authorized the NWM to negotiate with the NLA to correct the “anomalies where remuneration was concerned.”

Understanding not fulfilled When both parties left the table in an earlier time, among the proposals were to roll out a (workers’) reclassification exercise, and to implement the 19-year-old promised pension plan by July 2019. To date, neither has been forthcoming.

Jackson also advised the NLA Board to find a professional, someone versed in the science of human resource reclassification, but the Board opted to delegate the task to its accounting department.

Then, the NLA had to be warned by the NWM, in a letter dated January 9, 2020, of the danger of arbitrarily awarding increases to individual staff members.

“Instead of meeting with the Union,” the Union wrote, “the company has gone ahead and selected some workers for increases on criteria unknown to their colleagues and the Union.”

The Union was livid that there was no discussion with it prior to this action by the NLA. “We are very disappointed in the

Workers employed by the National Lotteries Authority (Headquarters pictured) were prepared to take industrial action to awake management to their complaints/grievances.

Noel Jackson, General Secretary of the National Workers Movement is optimistic that promised proposals will reach him by the end of March.

company’s approach to industrial (least week) at 10:00am. relations and the interest of its Noel Jackson told The Vincentian employees, especially since it is a Newspaper mid-Thursday afternoon, Quasi-Government institution. You “We had a fairly good meeting.” have brought us to the point where we Proposals for the pension plan and may be close to a public confrontation, that could have negative consequences for the company and its officials,” the Union’s letter to the NLA said, and went on to invite the NLA to meet with it before January 15, 2020.

The letter referenced, which was copied to the Labour Commissioner, the Minister of Labour, the National Labour Congress and the Prime Minister, was ignored.

Jackson confirmed that “they (top brass at the NLA) left and went overseas without even replying to the letter.”

In fact, while the silence ensued from the quarters of the NLA, two of the top brass reportedly found the time to visit Trinidad and Tobago for that country’s carnival.

Jackson confirmed “they left and went overseas without even replying to the letter.”

New threats Incensed with the blatant disregard, the NWM issued a final demand, indicating that a meeting of employees of the NLA on Thursday 20th February 2020, decided that if by the 24th February 2020, a meeting was not convened to settle the outstanding issues, the union would lead its members into Industrial Action.

No meeting was convened as requested, and the three union delegates on staff instigated a go slow at about 2:00 p.m. last week Tuesday.

By 2:30 p.m. a staff meeting was convened with union delegates at the NWM office in Paul’s Avenue. The meeting opted to start a sick-out until the NLA management could be brought to the table.

Staff was already committed to stay away from their jobs all day Wednesday and Thursday, when the top brass agreed to meet on Thursday

the reclassification are to reach Jackson by March 23 and the end of March respectively.

Industrial action was averted.

JP.Schwmon.vincy@gmail.com

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14. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

News

Government saved by the polls Major St. Clair Leacock repeated that he had raised concerns here similar to those that have since made the headlines in Belize.

HAD THE NDP TAKEN THE GONSALVES government to court for PetroCaribe spending, the verdict would be like Belize.

That is the view of New Democratic Party (NDP)Central Kingstown Member of Parliament (MP) Major St Clair Leacock.

And Major Leacock is calling on his party to keep on sharp focus the case of Belize, where Supreme Court Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin ruled as unconstitutional $1.5 billion of the PetroCaribe and other funds spent by the Dean Barrow administration.

Speaking on the NDP’s New Times Programme on NICE Radio on Wednesday, Major Leacock said the

matter is “very serious” and the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines have an obligation to pay attention to what is unfolding in Belize.

The case was brought

by Opposition Leader John Briceño in a claim filed on March 6th, 2019, against Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dean Barrow.

According to reports, the Finance and Audit Reform Act, Revised Edition 2011, expressly states that all revenues or other monies raised or received by Belize, not being revenues or other monies payable under the Belize Constitution or under any other law into some specific public fund established for that purpose, shall be paid

had failed to put monies from the PetroCaribe deal into the Consolidated Fund.

Major Leacock said he had spoken about the issue in parliament, on the political platform and at other fora, before and after the government brought legislation to correct the situation in 2016.

“And what I said then was that the government was acting unlawfully — those were my words, The case of SVG and I continue to use those words. And I was In St Vincent and the so firm in my conviction Grenadines, there were that I said, had the matters similar in nature government lost the where the Dr Ralph election, the New Gonsalves government Democratic Party would spent over one hundred have been in a position to million dollars without bring an action against parliament’s approval. the government for Further, the government misbehavior in public office.”

He then referenced the case in Belize as one of disobeying the constitution of the land.

“And, the constitution of the land is the highest into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

It was contended that the Petrocaribe funds from Venezuela should have been deposited into the Consolidated Revenue Fund, but that was not the case.

Further, it was contended that Dean Barrow government did not go before the National Assembly to seek approval prior to spending these monies.

law of the land… you cannot correct constitutional breaches by making subsidiary law…And, therefore, as happened in St Vincent after the elections (2015), the government came and passed law retroactively to make what was wrong now right. It’s unacceptable”, Leacock emphasized.

He explained, though, that “the Government can only correct that breach by going back and changing the constitution itself to give them permission to do what they did at that time… (but) they will not be able to do so because they have to get twothirds majority in the

parliament and they won’t get the support of the NDP.” The MP noted that government had chosen not to put the PetroCaribe money into the Consolidated Fund and to put it into other accounts — PDVSA and PetroCaribe SVG, which are two companies in this country.

He said that it was not until serious pressure was brought on the government that they gave an account of what happened, and they became very angry as a result.

“But, the truth be told, they had violated the law,” Major Leacock concluded.

SVGCC Debaters to compete in Dominica FOUR STUDENTS representing the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC) are scheduled to leave the state on Thursday 5th March, 2020 to compete in this year’s Windward Islands Debating Competition (WIDC).

Zachary Richards, Casey DeFreitas, Deaney Gellizeau, and Haronese Collins will compete in the weekend long competition in Roseau, Dominica where they will address topics surrounding youth involvement in climate change, medicinal marijuana, and the political climate within the Caribbean.

This year’s competition is hosted by the Dominica State College (DSC), and participation is expected from students representing the various state colleges of St. Lucia, Grenada, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, and Dominica.

Local WIDC Chairperson and Deputy Director of the SVGCC, Eula Adams, expressed that the competition aids in the development of the

SVGCC team to the 2020 WIDC (L-R): Deaney Gellizeau, Zachary Richards, Haronese Collins and Casey DeFreitas. students’ networking abilities, research capabilities, and oratory skills.

Mrs. Adams, as well as Assistant Registrar, Juno Laborde and Lecturer, Tedra Kirby will accompany the students.

The delegation is expected to return to SVG on Sunday 8th March, 2020.

The WIDC takes place in a different Windward Island each year.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020. 15.

Festival

Conch Fest a success!!

Later that first day, Satuday 29th February, patrons were invited to the Lime and Sip Bar situated at Junction for the ‘Conch in the Street Lime’. And on Sunday, the beach party styled ‘Conch on the Beach’ attracted patrons from far and wide.

But it was Saturday’s official Conch Festival festivities that were most anticipated.

“I was really intrigued as to the kind of respect… it was good to see them paying homage to the conch in that kind Marsha Matthews accepts her Award for the Best of way. … I like how they Conch Chowder. incorporated swimming in the whole festival He said, “…the ingredients were because to be able to harvest conch, just right, the dish was very tasty and you must be a good swimmer…. You the taste of the chowmein did not must note that these conch divers, overpower the flavor of the conch. The many ah time, they don’t use oxygen conch was soft, had good texture and tanks, it’s free diving,” Luta remarked cooked to perfection with seasoning with a boyish yet honest sense of that was just right to the taste buds.” experiencing something new and An ecstatic and overwhelmed different.

Dorette described the experience as Dorette Hooper of Of all the different ‘takes’ on conch being “remarkably, more than I Dorette’s that were presented over the two days, expected. I was surprised…. The Catering receives Luta — the ‘Food Police’- was aweher Award for the struck by the conch cake, the worker of amount of people that came … I could not even set up my stuff properly I had Specialty Conch mainland based baker Keith Williams. to start serving right away. The first Dish top prize “…They showed me what looked thing to finish was the conch water.” from Luta, the like a conch shell in a box and I was Nuff said!!!

‘Crowd wondering why do they have this in a Motivator’. box”? Is it a special conch? Is this like JP.Schwmon.gmail.com the biggest conch they ever caught Left: Dorette’s down here? To my surprise it Catering showing was a cake,” Luta said. off Keith Professional accountant Williams’ Conch and moonlighting caterer Cake.

Dorette Hooper now has two more reasons to give up her Conceptualized, day job, after bossing the produced and Best Conch Water and Best managed by the Specialty Conch dishes Union Island categories.

Tourist Board When we spoke to her a under the few days before competition leadership of day she was as yet unsure of Stanton Gomes, her specialty entry, but Luta the concept was had little trouble awarding IN THE WORDS OF SOCA ARTISTE LUTA, described as “part of a larger plan by her ‘Conch Chowmien’ top ‘the Crowd Motivator’, whose social Communal pot of conch. Patrons marks. media ‘food police’ persona prequalified the Tourist Board to promote Union were invited to share.

Island more than ever before,” with him as the sole adjudicator in the the hope that it could become an inaugural Union Island Conch Festival’s culinary competitions, “This is one of our international culinary attraction for most unique festivals here in St. Vincent St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Festival is a celebration of the and the Grenadines.” conch industry on Union Island — an industry that has a pivotal role in the island’s economy and that of SVG as a whole.

“Today, more than ever, persons on Union Island are earning a good living from conch, and local restaurants have made it part of the island’s culinary offerings,” Gomes said.

The Festival rounded out the month of February, kicking things off with a pre-Festival salute of prominently featured conch — a Union Island staple — on local Elliott Lewis (left) - Champion Conch Blower restaurants’ lunch menus.

Local drummers add traditional touch to the Festival. accepts his Award from Stanton Gomes.

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16. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

News

Open Campus Country Site set for re-opening

SVG to host UWI Open Campus Council Meeting

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES Open Campus 2020 Council Meeting will be hosted in St Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday, March 20, at the THE REFURBISHED ST. VINCENT AND give remarks.

Beachcombers Hotel in THE GRENADINES Open Campus Country The site was renovated with Villa.

Site will be re-opened on Thursday, funding provided by the Caribbean The Open Campus March 19, 2020 at 6:00 pm,at the Site’s Development Bank, The UWI, Global Council is the highest Murray’s Road location in Kingstown.

Affairs Canada and the Government of decision-making body of The refurbished Site will be St. Vincent and the Grenadines under the Campus and will be officially re-opened by Prime Minister the SDEC Project. presided over by of St Vincent and Ambassador Dr the Grenadines, Dr June Soomer, The Honourable Chairman of the Ralph Gonsalves Open Campus and ViceCouncil.

Chancellor of The Approximately 50 UWI, Professor Sir delegates Hilary Beckles. representing Dr Gonsalves ministries of will deliver the education, The main address, University of the while West Indies, UWI representatives of Alumni and Guild of The UWI, Sir Students will be in Hilary Beckles, Dr attendance at the Luz Longsworth, annual Council representatives meeting. from the Caribbean The first segment Development Bank, of the morning Architect’s rendering of the refurbished Open Campus Site and Global Affairs session will be open in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Canada will also

to invited guests and the media, and will also be broadcast live on UWItv channel on FlOW and also online on Open Campus Facebook page.

The public session will hear addresses from: Dr June Soomer, Chairman of Council; Dr Luz Longsworth, Pro ViceChancellor and Principal of the Open Campus; and Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of The UWI. Dr Longsworth will present the Principal’s Report, a key feature of the Council meeting.

Among the accomplishments Dr Longsworth will highlight are the institutional reaccreditation of the Open Campus for the maximum seven years by the Barbados Accreditation Council; the pending opening of new and refurbished Sites in St Vincent and the Grenadines and

Ambassador Dr June Soomer, Chairman of Open Campus Council.

Trinidad and Tobago; the number of partnerships the Campus has forged during the year under review, and the growth student numbers year on year.

The meeting will also review the Audited Financial Statements, the Audit Committee Report, and The UWI Open Campus Alumni Report.

V Four times for Robinson as SVGTU Head

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020. 17.

News

WHEN IT COMES to the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers Union (SVGTU), Oswald Robinson seems to have the ‘know how’ about how to become the Union’s president.

Robinson returned to the position following elections which took place February 25 and 26. He replaced Wendy Bynoe who was elected to the position when, in accordance with the Union’s Constitution, he could not stand for re-election at that point.

Bynoe will continue to serve on the Executive in a capacity as Immediate Past President.

Andrew John moved one notch up in the new executive, from second VicePresident to First Vice President, which was held by Kent Cain.

Vanrick Williams is the new Second Vice President. Both he and John are members of the Union’s South Windward Branch.

Ketty Kydd-Rhynd of the Southern Grenadines Branch, previously a Committee Member, replaced Sheri Edwards as the Union’s General Secretary, with her assistant being West Kingstown Branch member

Attika James, who replaced Sharon Doyle.

Long serving Treasurer, James Wilson, has made way for the election of North Leeward’s Meriah Samuel to that position.

Noelene Bacchus Young of the East Kingstown Branch is the new Public Relations Officer, taking over that role from Johnathan Roberts.

Samantha Browne-Cordice of the East Kingstown Branch and Abdon White of the Southern Grenadines are the new Committee members, replacing Kydd-Thynd and Edmira Walker.

The new executive, with a two-year tenure, will be installed at the Union’s 21st Biennial Convention slated for Frenches House, April 2.

Voting was conducted at schools throughout the state, and saw some 1200 members from primary, secondary and tertiary level institutions, drawn from ten branches, casting their vote.

Retired teachers and public servants who once worked in the classroom and are still members of the

Oswald Robinson was returned to the Presidency of the SVGTU after a hiatus of one term (two years).

Union, were also eligible to cast ballots.

Chairman of the Elections Committee Kenneth Burgin was satisfied that the event was conducted in the approved fashion. There have been no reports of irregularities, and he confirmed that Bynoe has committed her support to the new body.

The elections took place during ongoing negotiations between the Government and the SVGTU towards agreeing a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

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18. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

News

Vincy nurses get UK work

CENIO LEWIS, this country’s High Commissioner in London, regards the recruitment of local nurses for work in the UK as a “win-win situation.”

He expressed the sentiment at a Press Briefing last Friday, called to give an update on the most recent recruit of local nurses for work in the UK. Some 140 nurses are said to have applied, in this a second round of the recruitment process facilitated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for work in the United Kingdom, under the Health Education England (HEE) programme, as per an agreement between the

HEE and the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (GovSVG), signed in December 2018.

A team from the UK conducted interviews here last week Thursday. The team comprised: Thomas Hughes, Chief Policy Advisor; Michelle Thompson, Head of the Global Learners Programme; Ian Buczynski, Operations and Demand Manager; Linda Johnson, Matron and Brooke Ward, Sister, for Abdominal, and Medicine and Surgical Specialties; and Caroline Dunn, Deputy Head of Nursing for Emergency

Speciality Medicine.

And, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, arising out of those interviews, 29 nurses are expected to take up employment in England from October this year.

Those recruited will be offered work in the UK for a three-year period. They will have their flight to the UK paid for, three months paid for accommodation, a salary of up to £23,000 in the first year.

However, the 29 recruits are expected to ‘go throughvarious processes,

High Commissioner Cenio Lewis (left), Foreign Affairs Minister Sr Louis Straker (2nd from right) and two members of the British Recruitment Team at last Friday’s Press Briefing. inclusive of series of assessments to become qualified to work as a registered nurse in the UK’.

This is the second batch of nurses to be recruited under the HEE.- GovSVG Agreement. The first round of recruitment was conducted here between Jan, 22-25, 2019 from which 16 registered nurses were selected for deployment at various The School of Nursing here continues to graduate from its Registered Nursing Programme as testified by Batch 40 (pictured) who graduated in 2018. (Photo Credit: SVGCC Facebook Page)

hospitals in the UK. They are expected to leave for the UK by mid-March 2020.

Foreign Affairs Minister Sir Louis Straker, addressing the Press Briefing, highlighted his government’s drive towards securing employment, not only for nurses but the wider population. He noted that St. Vincent and the Grenadines was the only Caribbean island where the recruitment of nurses by the HEE was taking place.

Permanent Secretary in the Foreign Affairs Ministry Sandy Peters-Phillips as well as Beverly Liverpool, Dean at the School of Nursing, also attended the Press Briefing.

(WKA)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020. 19.

Regional

„LIAT continues to be stretched,‰ PM Gonsalves VINCENTIAN PRIME MINISTER Dr. Ralph Gonsalves in a recent press conference, told media audiences that regional air carrier LIAT is still in dire straits.

“LIAT continues to be stretched for money,” PM Gonsalves said adding, “We just sent some money to the kitty but it needs a lot more money.”

Dr. Gonsalves, Chairman of the Government Shareholders of LiAT, when asked about an alternative, responded, “Well I don’t see an alternative. Some people may see an alternative.

The reason why I soldier with LIAT for the years, you know .… I would like to see something ideal in relation to regional air transport, but I don’t see

where this ideal is coming from, so I have to soldier with something so that we can do something practical.”

On the sidelines of the 31st CARICOM Heads of Government Intersessional Conference held in Barbados, February 18-19, Dr. Gonsalves reiterated his confidence in “the new board of management led by former Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur.”

PM Gonsalves was reported by Barbados Today to have referred to “a strategic plan with many elements,” one that should result in “a turn around in the airline’s fortunes.”

He took advantage of the interview to announce a

rebates/concession proposal, which could benefit “regular regional travellers in an effort to help ease the burden.”

The announced proposal was aimed at CARICOM Member States, the article noted, and was made “moments after the new Chair of CARICOM, Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley issued a call for the niggling issue of regional transportation to be resolved.”

Meanwhile, Antiguan Prime Minister Gaston Browne is reported as having announced a further delay in the 25% fare reduction as recommended by the Caribbean Development Bank since 2018. That CDB reported had clearly stated that “lower taxes

and charges will lead to cheaper airfares and stimulate passenger demand.”

Unmoved in the face of that recommendation, shareholder governments held fast to a position that there could not be any reduction in fares for “at least two more years,” sources say.

PM Browne, though, was prepared to be more specific and proposed a phased airline tax reduction approach starting at “a possible 15% decrease within the next 24 to 36 months… a further 15%... could be considered after the effects of the initial reduction are observed and measured.”

Back in Kingstown, Dr. Gonsalves again underscored the

Vincentian Prime Minister and Chairman of LIAT Government Shareholders group Dr. Ralph Gonsalves is determined more than ever to “keep LIAT in the shies” amidst all its challenges. importance of keeping the airline in the regional skies, a responsibility he said which he cannot merely

shrug off “like any sort of old rum shop talk.”

JP.Schwmon.Vincy@Gmai l.Com

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20. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

Protecting my daughter Dear George, I HAVE BEEN the focus of harsh criticism from my neighbour.

It all started when my 13-year-old daughter asked to spend the night at the neighbour’s house as part of the celebration of their daughter’s 13th birthday. I gave my daughter permission to be at the birthday party, which I was told would finish at around 6pm, but I did not give permission for her to sleep over.

The reason: I do not trust anyone in my neighbour’s house. The husband was once accused of sexually molesting a minor among other things, and their 16-year-old daughter got pregnant while in school.

Those people do not subscribe to my disciplinary standards, so there is no way I am going to expose my daughter to that environment.

I explained to my daughter that I trust her, but not the people who may be around her. I had planned to be at the party with her, but all that went through the window when my neighbour cursed me out for disapproving of my daughter sleeping over.

As it was, I kept my daughter at home, safe from predators. Was I wrong for making that decision?

Highly annoyed Dear Highly Annoyed, You have the first and final say when it comes to the security and well-being of your daughter. In that vein, if you refused permission for her to sleep over, that is your prerogative as a responsible parent.

In a real world, your neighbours should see the folly of their ways and try to make amends. You should not close the door to that possibility, as farfetched as it sounds, and to one that says you might also consider making the first move.

Remember, the children are watching.

George

Sex, job and a mortgage Dear George, IS IT SO WRONG if I accept an offer to keep my boss sexually satisfied in return for guaranteed employment and a break on my mortgage payments?

My friend has strongly condemned me for agreeing to such terms, and made it clear that she does not wish to have anything to do with me as long as I prostitute myself to my boss. She, on the other hand, is having trouble keeping up with her

mortgage payment.

Is this something over which she should end a lifelong friendship?

Working woman Dear Working woman,

idea. What happens when he chooses to relieve you of your employ after he has enough of you?

How about sticking to your present salary without compromising your standards and dignity, and exploring other ways to find financial ease? Some financial counselling could lead you to see other possibilities that will give you the elbow room over which you have control.

What you do with your body is entirely up to you but, at the same time, you need to be mindful of the possible repercussions your decisions can have on your future. Giving your boss that kind of power over your body and life, is not such a grand George

Take another look Dear George,

Determined lover

You are free to love whomever you chooses, but that decision had to be made intelligently — considering all of the angles.

The educational gap between both of you can present quite a challenge as the relationship progresses and should not be ignored.

The rumours about his lifestyle cannot be dismissed. Encourage your friend to have a test in order to have the HIV question rest.

While love can be found in the strangest of places, you should take a thoughtful step back and give yourself time to reflect on the reality.

It is never a good idea to aspire to change the person in your life; they should come to the table with qualities that complement the other person. In your case there are too many warning signs for you not to take another look at things.

Dear Determined lover,

George

MY FATHER vows to disown me if I continue to date this mini bus conductor. He is mostly disappointed that someone like me, who has completed Community College and about to go off to university, should be sinking that low to date a mini bus conductor.

George, I love this man for what he is. The rumors going around about him being HIV + and about him having lots of women do not phase me at all; they are all lies.

I have told my father and many of my friends that what matters is what the truth is about him. I know he is a mini bus conductor now but I am convinced that I can make him into a top notch and well respected man in the future.

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Someone you care about may not be too pleased with you. This will not be the day to have minor surgery. Sudden trips may take you by surprise; try to include your mate, mixing business with pleasure. Try to be understanding.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Your changing attitudes may be causing concern for your partner. You're on to something tangible and need to act fast.

Unique forms of entertainment could capture your attention and bring about a romantic interest.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21) Accept the inevitable. Problems with inlaws may cause friction in your personal relationship. You need to be sure that you aren't in your present relationship because it is convenient. You can benefit financially if you put money or maintenance into your living quarters.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Do the necessary chores and then do things that please you. Take advantage of moneymaking ventures. You will enjoy travel and getting together with peers.

Your intellectual charm will entice mates who have common interests.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) The only thing you'll accomplish is a bad reputation. Don't let your personal problems interfere with your professional responsibilities. You may be tempted to spend too much on entertainment or luxury items.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Use your energy wisely. Expect to have problems with the ones you love. Look into ways to make your home more comfortable. Unreliable people will be negative about your ideas.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Extend an invitation to clients you enjoy spending time with. Courses dealing with psychology or health care will be of interest. Your charm and generosity will bring new friends and romantic opportunities.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Social events will be plentiful. Go with the flow and don't let the unsettled atmosphere get on your nerves. Try not to use emotional blackmail; it will only make matters worse. Resist the temptation to gamble.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) You may want to get involved in financial investments presented to you. You may feel a need to make changes to your legal documents. Be prepared to encounter new friendships that will provide you with valuable information.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Use your obvious talent to work with detail and you can come up with something great. Try not to get involved in other people's problems. Uncertain changes regarding your personal life are evident. Someone may not be thinking of your best interests.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.- Feb. 19) It's a great day to attend social functions.

Get together with friends and do something entertaining but not too expensive. Use discrimination and play hard to get.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Your ideas will be well received. You may want to plan physical activities that will help burn off some of their excess energy. Small business ventures can earn you extra cash. You are best not to say too much to colleagues.

ACROSS 1. Softball bag 5. Roofing sealant 8. Pace 12. Like dental surgery 13. Inventor Whitney 14. Stack 15. Show flexibility 16. Most agile 18. Vane direction 20. Ascends 21. Thinly spread 24. Wharf-scurrying rodent 25. Labors hard 26. Attention-getting greeting 27. Gun blast 30. Infantry force 31. Brief trend 32. Window glass 33. Agreeable reply 34. Ruby or opal 35. Changes homes 36. Paper-money roll 37. Least 38. Tops 41. Yellow metal 42. Slumbering 44. Advantage 48. Heavenly instrument 49. Clothes label 50. Spoil 51. Woolly mamas 52. Farm pen 53. Mail (letters) DOWN 1.Comedian Hope 2. Exist 3. _ Diego 4. Beyond middle age

5. Uptight 6. Got off 7. Basket border 8. Share equally 9. Knots together 10. Otherwise 11. Dear critters 17. 19-Down noise 19. Horse relative 21. “Don’t go!”

22. Tiny opening 23. Shoots (for) 24. Lipstick color 26. Deli meat 27. Surface (roads) 28. Single things 29. “_ Side Story” 31. Gave lunch to 32. Dusts with talcum

34. Pant 35. Jazz great Torme 36. Sheds tears 37. Clouded 38. Wimbledon star Arthur 39. Lobster

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020. 21.

appendage 40. Simple 41. Little fly 43. Common contraction 45. Owed 46. _ and tonic 47. Final chapter

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22. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

Opinion

What are the issues to be discussed

THIS COUNTRY is at a very critical stage of its life, the agonies which are burdening the people at this time are indeed heavy, and need to be addressed with urgency.

Yet, those who have been entrusted with the authority to manage the affairs of state, for the last nineteen years and more, the ULP, and those who are trying to replace them, the NDP, seem to be locked in combat on a “stenchdrenched” battle ground, the polluting air from which will do the citizens no good.

I am not yet informed as to the details of the issue which has provoked the most recent social eruption, but it seemed to have been initiated in the NDP camp. That is sad, for despite the fact that Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has been emphasizing, that Dr. Godwin Friday is weak and lacking in drive and spirit, Dr. Godwin Friday’s impact on the general populace

has not been insignificant. There is the impression, that his “One-Vincy” message of the last few months, is beginning to reach the minds of those patriotic Vincentians, whose desire it is to see all Vincentians prosper.

They are haunted by the statement of the Minister of Finance Camillo Gonsalves, that supporters of the NDP will have to “suffer and die”. That is an ugly statement!

Incidentally, while it cannot be disputed that Finance Minister Gonsalves was quite impressive in his presentation of the Budget Address, he seemed to have sullied the occasion with immaturity exhibited in the “wrapping up”, seemingly driven by the debilitating anxiety to discredit Dr. Friday.

That was probably counter-productive!

All things considered, it is indeed imperative,

that those whose positions afford them a better view of “the horizon”, should not be timorous in the asserting of their influence, to help us to determine the path which offers the greater hope of prosperity for our nation.

For some time now, I have been trying to draw attention to the fact, that we need to have serious discussions on some subjects critical to the development of our country, and policing featured prominently in the list of subjects I have been suggesting.

I am therefore extremely grateful to the

brother Ronnie Daniel, for having written to the Commissioner of Police Mr. John, relative to the brutal slaughtering of the precious nurse, Arianna Israel, recently.

Mr. Daniel’s letter printed in the NEWS newspaper of 7th February and THE VINCENTIAN of February 14th, expressed our pain at the “wutless exhibition of the neglect of duty”, testimony of which has been circulated throughout the society. The people are wounded in heart, because the brutal murder of this beautiful and precious daughter

could have been prevented.

I am here suggesting, that as an act of remorseful concession, all the senior officers of the Force should wear black arm bands, and the

police flag should be flown at half-mast at every police station for one year.

Let the discussions begin now!

LeRoy Providence

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020. 23.

‘U20 National Footballers disappoint,’ Coach WESLEY CHARLES, Head Coach of SVG Under 20 National Football Team is disappointed with the overall showing of the team in the recent round of CONCACAF Qualifiers.

SVG failed to advance to the next round of the CANCAF Under 20 Qualifiers, after they won only one match in the round that also involved Nicaragua, Guyana, Montserrat and the US Virgin Islands.

The matches were played in Nicaragua.

“We went with high hopes to qualify. I remember saying, if we didn’t qualify, I will be disappointed, so I am very disappointed that we didn’t advance,” Coach Charles admitted.

In reviewing the matches, Charles related: “We created a lot of chances in the first two matches, but just the final execution wasn’t there. We lost 3-nil to Guyana in the first game, but the score line didn’t reflect the way we played. The second game against Nicaragua was the same; when we got the ball, we played football, created chances but couldn’t convert.”

Charles admitted that the team needs to convert the chances they create, and stressed that this will only come through regular practice sessions and more full games against meaningful competition.

The coach also conceded that playing on the artificial surface (in Nicaragua) presented some challenges for the players, but was quick to add that this was no excuse, since the fundamental problem was that the players didn’t follow the game plan.

There was also the issue of players ignoring off the field instructions from the management team. Charles expressed an opinion that this attitude was one carried over from habits inculcated by the “poor club structure,” and Wesley Charles, Head Coach of the National U20 Football Team, called for more was forthright in his assessment exposure of young players to of the team’s performance in a recent CONCACAF Qualifier. personal development sessions at the club level, to assist, though not exclusively, in creating a sense of pride in representing one’s country.

The head coach is hoping the SVG Football Federation would take a serious stand on players’ behaviour on and off the field during overseas tours, at all levels of national representation.

I.B.A.ALLEN

SVGTTA makes donations

(L-R): AIA Head of Security Keith Miller, SVGTTA Technical Director Sean Stanley, and President of the SVGTTA Mr. Orville Haslam at the handing over to the AIA. IN KEEPING with its commitment and mandate to grow the sport of Table Tennis here, the SVG Table Tennis Association (SVGTTA) has been ensuring that relevant equipment is available to enable that growth.

Toward this end and in continuing its trend, the SVGTTA made four donations recently.

The first was made to the West St. George Secondary School

(WSGSS) which received two of boards and other equipment Table Tennis boards of were the Spencer’s Academy and international standard. the SVG Community College.

The School is a genuine partner This round of donations is a of the SVGTTA. It is the venue joint initiative between SVGTTA for most if not all competitions, and Vincy Foundation Inc., the training sessions, etc., organized latter an incorporated body by the Association, whose dedicated to the advancement of Executive members expressed a Table Tennis in the state. special pleasure in making the Orville Haslam, President of donation. the SVGTTA, explained that the Another donation — a Table plan is to place at least one Table Tennis board, four rackets and Tennis board in each school so seventy-two balls - was made to that the sport can play its part in the Argyle International Airport developing rounded students.

(AIA) for use by workers there.

Accepting the I.B.A. ALLEN donation on behalf of the AIA, Keith Miller, Head of Security, remarked, “It is very important for workers at any organisation to be engaged in other physical activities such as sports, which will in turn boost productivity.”

He promised that the AIA will field a team in the Firms and Industrial Competition that is slated on the SVG A handshake between Principal Miss Dian Table Tennis Association’s calendar Williams and President of the SVGTTA Orville Haslam in the company of P.E. Teacher of events.

The other recipients Keisha Bailey and students, seals the donation to the WSGSS.

Students using the noodles in the pool.

Swimming now in Union Island schools THE SPORT OF SWIMMING got its formal introduction to Union Island last week, when 20 students - 13 from the Stephanie Browne Primary School and 7 from the Mary Hutchinson Primary were given their first formal lesson.

An initiative of Sports Officer for the Southern Grenadines Rickydene Alexander, the Grade 3 students were taken through the rudiments at the pool facility of Kings Landing Hotel.

According to Alexander, “Although the children are able to swim as they are surrounded by sea, it is just a pastime, not as a sport.”

He noted that the students come with a desire and a background of being able to swim, which would make his job of coaching them easier.

“So the initiative is to spread the sport of Swimming on the island, hence there is a larger pool of swimmers for St Vincent and the Grenadines,” Alexander added.

Alexander, who is the founder of the Blue Marlins Swim Club, revealed that after the Swimming Programme in the two primary schools on the island takes shape, he would be embarking on a Tennis Programme for Grade 4 students of both institutions.

A section of the students who are part of the Primary Schools’ Swimming Programme on Union Island.

V

24. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

High Park are Richland Park Netball champions

HIGH PARK UNITED, down in the first quarter, rose to defeat Kebez Vultures, 68 - 60, and claim the Championship title in the 2020 Edition of the Richland Park Vita Malt Netball Competition.

In a match played last Sunday at the Richland Park Primary School Hard Court, High Park United goals came from Skiddy Francis, 47, and Kenisha Antoine, 21.

Joseena Antoine netted 39 and Zonelle James 21 for Kebez Vultures.

Kebez Vultures led Joseann Antoine of Kebez Vultures – the MVP of the Competition.

the first quarter 13 - 15 but was outplayed by High Park United in the remaining three quarters, 30 - 29, 51 45 and 68 - 60.

In the third-place playoff, 3Js Valley Strikers beat TCCU Star Girls 34 goals to 18. They took command from the first quarter: 10/3, 17/10, 27/13 and 34/18.

In the individual awards handed out: Joseann Antoine of Kebez Vultures was the Competition’s MVP; Shania Pompey of TCCU Star Girls took the Award for the Best Young Player; Skiddy Francis of High Park United was the competition’s leading goal scorer (248).

Among the team awards, BA Strikers were double awardees - The Most Disciplined Team and the Best Dress Team.

Cash prizes handed out included: $1500.00 to the Champions High Park United; $1000.00 to second placed

High Park United, Richland Park Netball Champions. The Competition’s highest goal scorer Skiddy Francis-Cricket is pictured standing at the extreme left.

Park United; Anesia Baptiste of BA Strikers; Josean Antoine of Kebez Vultures; Shania Pompey of 3Js Valley Strikers; Frankelia Richards of V-Sports Youth, and Tresia DeShong of Ceasars Real Estate Dynamic Girls.

Left: Shania Pompey of TCCU Star Girls was the Best Young Player.

Kebez Vultures; and $700.00 to third placed TCCU Star Girls.

Also recognized was the Most Valuable Player of each team: Meshanda Creese of TCCU Star I.B.A.ALLEN Girls; Skiddy Francis-Crick of High

Fifteen teams vying for Masters Football honours FIFTEEN teams, one more than 2019, will vie for top positions of the National Lotteries Authority SVG Over 35’s Masters Organisation Football Tournament, being played at the Victoria Park.

Eight teams are listed in Group A and seven in Group B. Heading Group A is 2018 and 2019 champions Sion Hill.

They are grouped with Royal Rootz, SESCO, Largo Height, Layou, Greiggs, Calliaqua and

Bequia.

Last year’s losing finalist a Richmond Hill leads Group B. The remaining teams in Group B are RSVG Police, Computec Vincy Masters, Barrouallie, South Leeward, Vintage Gold and North Leeward.

Already the two Group leaders are showing their status.

Sion Hill has so far notched up two wins, beating SESCO 3-1 and winning by default from Greiggs.

Meanwhile, Richmond

Hill has been in high scoring mood. They have so far whipped RSVG Police 6-1 in their opening fixture, and last Tuesday had a 6-0 win over Barrouallie.

Matches in the Tournament are played on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with triple headers scheduled each evening.

Following the Sion Hill would love to relive these scenes, when the SVG Over 35’s Masters preliminary round, four Football Tournament ends next month. teams from the two groups would advance to $3000, a trophy and medals; the third place The Tournament is the elimination stage. medals; second placewill collect $1000, a slated to conclude next The winner earns $2000, a trophy and trophy and medals. month.

Gomea Methodist knockout Belair GovÊt COREAS Distributions Ltd. Gomea Methodist School took toll of double defending champions BDO Belair Government School in last weekend round of matches in the third KFC West St George Primary School Cricket Competition.

First, on Saturday, the Gomea School trounced Belair in the Knock Out final to lay claim to the 2020 title in that format.

Gomea Methodist scored a tournament record 193 for 5 off 20 overs. Mbeki King topscored with 58 not out and Zorony Glasgow scored 20.

Malachi Bascombe was the pick of the Belair bowlers with 3 for 30.

Belair Government looked far from being defending champions and were sent Gomea Methodist School – Knock Out champions.

packing for 86 in 15 overs, Keyron Patterson taking 3 for 23 and Jeremy Martin and Jada Hazell 2 wickets for 23 and 18 respectively.

As if that humiliation was not enough, Gomea Methodist returned on Sunday to inflict a Mbeke King 107-run defeat on Belair, this hit 58, the time in the League segment of first halfthe Competition. century for In the other Knockout the season, Action in the last weekend weekend fixture played at Knock Out Competition of the Dorsetshire Hill, Allan’s Bakery and led Gomea to KFC West St George Primary Sion Hill Government School victory.

School Cricket Competition. defeated Logs Enterprises Dorsetshire Hill Government Matches will continue this School by 10 wickets. weekend.

Batting first, Dorsetshire Hill Seven schools are participating in reached 94 for 6 off their 20 overs. the Competition: Belmont, Belair, Ezekiel Ashton top scored with 18.

Leslie Codougan took 2 for 18. Allan’s Gomea, Sion Hill and Doesetshire Hill from West St George, and Calliaqua Bakery Sion Hill replied with 96 for and Brighton from East St George. no loss off 12.2 overs, Codougan hitting 25 not out.

I.B.A.ALLEN

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020. 25.

Sports

Just one ONE DAY can make a difference in any event. In the case of the staging of the 2020 Olympic Games, the day may arrive when the showdown is called off. Such is the uncertainty with the new virus.

The unfolding situation can put paid to the global spectacle. In any case, the schedule continues to be affected. The threat may be erased, but the impact is already being felt.

Adjustments can be made over a short space of time. To what extent compromises occur, depends on what happens.

Planners will have to carry out more long-term appraisal before programmes are endorsed.

Recovering from any sporting impact will affect records and performances, but the economic reality will take more time to assess.

It is good to ensure the marketing arrangements are in place. Those add value to the final package. Those fuel the capacity to raise the finished product. But the world goes on amidst the changing fortunes. It is pivotal how traditional ways of operation can be shattered in a sudden burst of events.

No one knows how these scenarios will play out. It is a case of taking caution. It is not a case of abandonment or dereliction of duties. Matters have to taken in stride.

However, that does not rule out the need for preparation. That’s the hallmark of a proper competitor.

In recent times, I find myself flashing on the performances on some of our sporting personalities. Our society tends to easily forget those who have laid the foundation on which the tradition is built.

I meet many of them sometimes coincidentally.

I reflect on their impact and marvel at the skill they displayed over their heyday.

Some have departed, sometimes as people say “gone too soon.” But that is bordering on blasphemy, so I will be careful with such thoughts. All we are left to do is to pay tribute.

It is not something I enjoy, but at least, it is the final opportunity to say thank you.

Gailene Windsor finds herself in that bracket of fallen soldiers. It is a reminder of what’s around the corner whenever we have to bury a loved one.

It is inevitable that we crossed borders. She was one of the nation’s gifted netballers. She spent some time in the USA, but as a Vincentian she was always better off at home.

While sport was a point of contact, Gailene was not confined to any narrow aspects of interest.

She made use of the role of sporting ambassador entrusted to her. When the New York based Calypso tent conducted its affairs, Gailene served as resident diplomat.

She was immersed in the nation’s cultural arena. It is a pity that we cherish the lives of our personalities after they have passed.

Ever so often, things happen that remind us of our ability to ensure the good overcomes the evil.

We have to show greater appreciation of the one who has made us.

Police take revenge POLICE TWO must have taken the week to recover from their dismantling by FLOW Rivals two weekends ago, for they played with a new venom and inflicted a whipping on Victors One, by a whopping innings and 130 runs, in one of two last weekend matches in the National Lotteries Premier Division of the 2020 National Cricket Competition.

Taking first knock at the Sion Hill Playing Field, Victors One might have thought they should have forfeited the match when they were set asunder for 63 runs, none of their eleven batsmen being able to come to terms with the bowling of Darius Martin, 3 for 2, Romario Bibby, 3 for 21, and Kimali Williams, 2 for 36.

The lawmen then took their revenge for their recent mauling

by FLOW Rivals, and hammered a hapless Victors One bowling attack to the tune of 317 for 6 declared, with Rickford Walker putting in a classy performance with a highly entertaining t 170, including sixteen fours and nine sixes. Coby Dabreo stayed the

course to claim 2 wickets for 66 runs.

Victors One, staring down the barrel at a haunting deficit of 254, fared just that bit better, bypassing their paltry 63 in their first innings to close at 121 in their second. Martin was again among the wickets, capturing 3 for 21.

Last weekend’s second match at Park Hill was called off at the end of one innings per side. The FLOW Rivals duo of Lindon James and Hyron Shallow Hyron Shallow Rickford Walker continued where they had left proved his led the Police off two weekends ago. The two skills with both onslaught on combined to ensure that their bat (72) and FLOW Rivals team earned first inning points ball (6 for 24). with a over the in form FLOW swashbuckling Radcliffe. innings of 170.

FLOW Rivals posted 296 on the batting, took ball in hand backs of James, 96 and Shallow, and almost 72, this as Rasheed Frederick, 4 for 55, and Asif Hooper, 4 for 102, single-handedly accounted for the were again the pick of the FLOW FLOW Radcliffe’s apology of an innings, when he snared 6 for 24.

Radcliffe bowling attack.

Dyke Cato chipped in with 2 for FLOW Radcliffe’s response 12. seemed totally out of sorts, and they were dismissed for a mere I.B.A. ALLEN 117. Shallow, known for his

Shallow leads on the field DR. KISHORE SHALLOW, President of the SVG Cricket Association, donned his cricket whites and put in an all round performance that helped steer Victors Two to victory, over defending champions CJ Jules Anthony MSDA Northern Stars.

Taking first knock that last weekend match in the National Lotteries 50 Overs First Division of the 2020 National Cricket Competition, Victors Two reached 167 all out in 47.4 overs, with Shallow getting the top score of 38. Dawson Cottle picked up 3 for 16 bowling for the Northern Stars.

As it turned out, not even 41 from Akeil Mason and 31 from Maxwell Edwards were enough to prevent a 4 for Dr. Kishore 26 haul by Shallow, that helped to stall Shallow, the Northern Stars at 152, and earn President of the victory for Victors Two. SVGCA, In another weekend match, Corea’s demonstrates that he can also lead a Distribution Belfongo earned themselves team to victory on a quarter final berth with a two-wicket the actual field of win over Pollard Investments North Windward Combine at Stubbs. play.

Pollard Investments North Windward Combine got to 127 in 20.1 overs, with Orwin Williams getting a top score of 33.

Rajiv Roberts, 5 for 41, and Andre Hunte, 3 for 26, were too much for North Windward batsmen.

Corea’s Distribution Belfongo replied with 132 for 8 in 30.4 overs. Colbert Simon was not out on 28. Williams returned to take 3 for 16.

And at Arnos Vale Two, Smashers moved to the top of Group A with a fourwicket win over Strike Eagles. Strike Eagles posted a creditable 201 all out from 33.1 overs, with Kevin Peters accounting for 83 and Tyson Richards 41 of that total. Darren Russell, 4 for 66, was the best Smashers bowler.

Invigorated by the challenge of getting 202 for victory, Rawdon Bentick with 59 and Kirton Lavia with 47 marshalled that spirit and led Smasher to a victory total of 207 for 6 in 22.3 overs.

I.B.A. ALLEN

U-15 Boys crush Tigress & Sons THE NATIONAL BOYS Under-15 Team made light work of JG Tigress & Sons in a 40 overs encounter in the National Female Competititon.

Playing at the Arnos Vale Two Playing Field last Saturday, the Under15s managed 107 in 27

overs. Glendeen Turtin bagged 4 Under-15 wickets for 16.

JG Tigress was never in the chase and was dismissed for 69 in 12 overs. Fast Bowler Kodi Grant had 3 for 20 and Alston Bobb Jr 2 for no runs, to lead the Under15s to victory by 38 runs.

Kodi Grant’s pace prove too much for the ‘Tigresses’.

I.B.A ALLEN

Glendeen Turtin, 4 for 16 presented a challenge for the U15’s.

26. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020 . THE VINCENTIAN

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, MARCH 06, 2020. 27.

Classifieds

Albina King also known as Albina Browne

Here is a link death cannot sever, Love and remembrance lasts forever.

The world may change from year to year, And friends from day to day, But never will the one we love From memory pass away.

Always missed and fondly remembered by children, grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

May you continue to rest in peace.

BRENDON CALVERT BROWNE

MAY ISOLA LAWRENCE

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FRIDAY,

MARCH 06, 2020

VOLUME 114, No.10

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

BIG BROTHER’S BEHAVIOUR SHOCKS MAGISTRATE

Kentish Jack is on remand awaiting sentence for destroying his brother’s clothes, trophy and medals.

by HAYDN HUGGINS SENIOR MAGISTRATE Rickie Burnett has not been able to come to grips with what could have driven 27-year-old minibus driver Kentish Jack of Redemption Sharpes, to destroy by fire his 14-year-old brother’s clothing as well as his athletics trophy and medals, which altogether valued EC$1,090.

Jack pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawfully destroying the items, when he appeared before the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Monday, but the matter was adjourned to Tuesday to have the boy present.

After the facts were read and he had heard from the defendant, Magistrate Burnett remanded him

until March 17 for sentencing.

Prosecutor Curlene Samuel told the Court earlier that the 14-year-old and other siblings were living in the same house with Jack since their mother migrated to Canada.

The mother purchased a television receiver for the home, and Jack, the eldest in the house, took it to his bedroom.

On February 29, sometime in the afternoon, the 14-year-old went to Jack’s bedroom to watch television. He fell asleep on Jack’s bed.

Jack was annoyed on finding him, woke him up, proceeded to behave in an aggressive manner and quested why he was on his bed.

The boy, though, left the room and the house and headed for the public road, but Jack pulled him back, and slapped him. The boy picked up a stone and threw it at the elder

brother, striking him.

Jack responded by taking the boy’s clothes, trophy and medals outside the house where he burned them.

He then told the boy to “stay outside, don’t come inside.”

The matter was brought to the attention of another sibling who made a report to the police, and Jack was arrested and charged.

Jack told the Court, “I told my mummy I can’t handle him anymore.”

Burnett responded sharply, “He is 14 years old, and he is what you call a young boy. You are older than him, and you have more experience than him; so tell me, what caused you to do what you did?”

Jack said that he took the television to his room because one night he came home and it was running still, and the boy was sleeping.

He admitted that the television was sent for the household.

When asked whether a father figure resided at the home, Jack told the Magistrate there was no father but he plays that role sometimes, as he is the eldest.

“I am mindful to send you to prison for a short while to reflect on what you did because, even if he was rude or disrespectful to you, how could you reach to that point to burn his things?”

Burnett questioned.

“I know how a 14-year-old operates.

I want to know how it reached so far that you burned up his things.

“I am not saying what he did was right, but he is not the first younger brother to hit back an elder brother. I am sure you know that,” the Senior Magistrate told him.

“How did it reach to this stage to burn his things and you have no remorse at all”? the Magistrate further asked, before remanding the defendant to await sentencing.

TEENS CHARGED WITH BEATING FARMER THE INVOLVEMENT of teenagers in acts offensive to the law, continue to occupy the attention of the Royal SVG Police Force.

In a release earlier this week, the Police informed that they had arrested and charged a 15-year-old student and a 17-year-old mechanic, both of Green Hill, for unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on a 56-year-old farmer also of the same address.

In a police report on the incident

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

which occurred on February 2 at Green Hill, the young men are said to have beaten the farmer about his body with a piece of steel.

The teenagers appeared before the Family Court on Monday 2nd March to answer to the charges. They pleaded not guilty and were granted station bail and ordered not to contact the virtual complainant.

The matter was adjourned to June 26, 2020.

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.