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The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

FRIDAY,

OCTOBER 07, 2016

VOLUME 110, No.40

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

CHURCH GROUNDS DESECRATED Stories by DAYLE DA SILVA

The Church (left) is some way off the Argyle main road.

THE PARISHIONERS of the Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic community at Argyle say that they would like those individuals who frequent the church grounds at night to perform sex acts, to desist The discovery of condoms and their from doing so. packages on the grounds, serves as One parishioner, who evidence of sexual activity. requested that she remain anonymous, told THE VINCENTIAN that the residents in demolished to accommodate the construction of the international the community have resorted to airport at Argyle. referring to the church grounds as An area has also been ‘Lovers’ Lane’, as a consequence of designated to be the new location the number of vehicles that they have seen driving into the yard and for the National Shrine, which also had to be moved from its original its immediate environs, spot in Yambou for a similar particularly at night. reason.

The Church, a recently constructed one, replaced the Continued on Page 3. original church which had to be

NDP FIRST TABLED PLAN FOR MT WYNNE DESPITE THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY’S (NDP) opposition to the sale of 36.7 acres of land at Mount Wynne/Peter’s Hope, the idea to utilize the area for tourism development is not a new one.

And, according to Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, the NDP never opposed the idea during the election campaign leading up to the December 2015

General Elections.

“In fact, from the time these lands came into the public ownership in 1989 and thereafter, there is one matter in which all, the two major political parties agreed on, and that is the area ought to be preserved for tourism development. The first time that there is a breach in that

According to PM Dr. Ralph Gonslaves, his government is merely seeing through a development plan that had first been broached by Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell Continued on Page 3. and continued by Arhnim Eustace during his term as Prime Minister.

2. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

V News 3 Cashing in on Mt.Wynne/ PeterÊs Hope deal

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. 3.

THE EC$7 MILLION price tag attached to the 36.7 acres of land at Mount Wynne/Peter’s Hope is more than the EC$5 million Sir James Mitchell paid back in 1989, for the 681 acres of land in the said area.

This information was disclosed by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves last Tuesday.

He conceded that it may be true to assume that the $5 million paid then, is worth $10 or $12 million by today, “but I am saying to you that it was purchased for $5 million.”

According to Gonsalves, Sir James, while he was prime

minister, paid part in cash and the remainder in bonds.

He commended Sir James for taking up the advice from the professionals, that of the remaining lands available, the best piece for tourism purposes was at Mount Wynne/Peter’s Hope.

Members of the Opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) during a press conference on September 27, mentioned the price saying that it worked out that the land was being sold at EC$5.18 per square foot.

But Gonsalves, in justifying his

government’s sale of 36.7 acres to Pace Developments, said to be a group of Canadian investors, explained that the development was expected to bring an additional 400 rooms (villas), and that concessions have been given on the first sale, “because they are paying Alien Land Owners Licence and five percent transfer tax, and they are building,” Gonsalves said.

And when the villas are sold, at an expected unit price of US$650,000, the buyer is required to pay stamp duty and for an Alien Land Owners Licence.

“But because you want to attract them, you do not charge the Alien Land Owners Licence for the first owner, and we have charged stamp duties — varying it between 9 and 10 percent.”

With the fees and duties attributed, Gonsalves said that this is expected to amount to US$3 million, and for every re-sale, while some concessions have been given now, for every subsequent transaction, the full fees would be applied. (DD) Prime Minister Dr. Gonsalves sees much to be content about in how the Mt. Wynne-Peter’s Hope deal will pan out for government and SVG in general.

Church grounds desecrated The woman said that she The new location is someway wants it to off any built-up area, and now stop, and is appeals to some persons as an worried that ideal spot for love making. the culprits That, said the parishioner is have started to unacceptable. venture in The parishioner, who areas closer to volunteers to clean the church, the church said that she and her son building. intercepted a couple one “It’s the Saturday night, while she was church yard, Parishioners say that the sex acts are preparing the Church for they don’t even committed in the church yard. service the following day. go to the “They came into the church bottom, they of being charged for indecent yard, and when my son went now coming up in the church exposure, there was no law out, they told him they were yard,” she told THE regarding committing sexual just passing through,” the VINCENTIAN. acts in public places, woman said.

Another parishioner said particularly in vehicles.

She further related that the that she too has confronted He noted, however, that the occupants of the vehicle were individuals looking for a ‘dark act of persons driving on to the male and female. spot’. property may be a case of such As many as two or three On one occasion, she said individuals committing an act vehicles have been spotted on that three vehicles at different of trespassing. any one occasion, the woman times were forced to turn back THE VINCENTIAN said. when they realized that the understands that no reports of And she complained church was occupied. this unwelcome practice has vociferously that the persons “We don’t want no been reported to any relevant would drop the used condoms stupidness round there,” the authority. around the yard. woman said.

Notwithstanding, it seems “They don’t even try to When contacted, Ronald not even the grounds of a dispose of them … They don’t Marks, attorney at law, said consecrated church are respect the church!” she added. that other than the possibility sacrosanct anymore.

Continued from Front page.

NDP first tabled plan for Mt Wynne Continued from Front page. consensus is recently,” Gonsalves told members of the media at Tuesday’s press conference.

The area was purchased while Sir James Mitchell was Prime Minister of an NDP government, but he, Sir James, was unsuccessful in attracting foreign investment in the area.

Leader of the Opposition and current leader of the NDP Arnhim Eustace said at a press conference last week Tuesday, that after he and his colleagues had reviewed the issue regarding the sale of the land to foreign investors, they were not in support of the move.

But Dr. Gonslaves reminded the media personnel, that during the time Eustace served as prime minister, he too spoke about hotel development in the Mt Wynne/Peter’s Hope area.

During Eustace’s December 2000 budget presentation, he brought up the issue, saying at the time, that there was an urgent requirement to increase the number of good quality rooms in the country, Dr. Gonslaves referenced..

According to Eustace, this country was not able to hold major events.

“We are also constrained in our sports tourism capabilities,” Eustace was quoted by Gonsalves as saying.

Eustace, as quoted by Dr. Gonslaves, added, “In this regard, we are presently holding discussion with a consortium of investors with a view towards establishing a hotel of over 100 rooms in the Mt Wynne/Peter’s Hope area.

“Among other things, the government is prepared to contribute the land as equity for the realization of this project,” Eustace continued.

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4. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Court

Binghi Man highlights medical values

Ex Cop remanded on sex charges

Izaras Bascombe (right) in A FORMER member of the Royal St. Vincent and the conversation with Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), who was wanted THE Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS physician. here since 2013 to answer charges of unlawful sexual The Sion Hill VINCENTIAN’S intercourse, incest and indecent assault, allegedly A PROMINENT member of the local resident said he reporter Haydn involving his 8-year-old daughter, is now behind bars Rastafarian community used the Huggins, during was aware of awaiting a Preliminary Inquiry (PI).

Serious Offences Court on Monday, this, adding that which Bascombe The former police officer, who was a constable as a platform to voice his support his physician called for the attached to the Special Services Unit (SSU) when the for the decriminalization of was decimalisation of marijuana.

Ophthalmologist marijuana. report was made against him sometime in February Izaras Bascombe, a High Priest Dr. Kenneth 2013, arrived at the E.T. Joshua Airport around of the Nyabinghi Order, was Onu. midday last Friday, escorted by members of the other countries are making appearing before that Court, The Chief Magistrate took on Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the billions of dollars in the charged with cultivating 20 board the mitigating factors RSVGPF. He had been held in the United States until marijuana plants in the yard of Bascombe raised and the fact that pharmaceutical industry, using his extradition to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. the herb as a main ingredient. his Sion Hill home. He had no he had no previous convictions.

“Decriminalize it so that the The 37-year-old man was taken before the Family legal representation.

She fined him $300 to be paid sick people of this nation could Court on Monday, charged with having unlawful Bascombe, who described forthwith, with an alternative of sexual intercourse with an 8-year-old student, she himself as a Herbalist and one month in prison. He paid the have the benefit of this useful herb to restore their health and Agriculturalist, told the Court, being a girl under the age of 13. fine. longevity,” he urged. after pleading guilty to the The Court had earlier heard He was also charged with having sexual intercourse charge, that with the that a police officer who was on with the same girl, whom he knew decriminalization of marijuana, duty last Saturday in the area of to be his daughter, and indecently Vincentians who are ill would be Sion Hill where Bascombe lives, assaulting her. able to benefit from the medicinal observed what appeared to be The offences of unlawful sexual PAULA ROBINSON, a woman who values of the herb. marijuana plants growing in the intercourse and incest were was born in England to Jamaican The Binghi Man said he uses vicinity of his home. As a result, a allegedly committed here between marijuana to treat his glaucoma, search warrant was obtained, and parents, grew up in Canada and has Vincentian connections, was 2007 and 2013, while that of and it has been working for him. the following day, police Wednesday, sentenced to nine months indecent assault allegedly “I find that the cannabis conducted a search at ‘s premises in prison for possession of 2,082 grams (marijuana) is very useful for the and uprooted seven mature occurred in January 2013. of cocaine, for the purpose of drug eye. I have a little glaucoma in my marijuana plants from his yard.

The crimes were allegedly trafficking. left eye. It helps to restore my Thirteen seedlings were also committed while the accused was The middle-aged woman was also sight in that eye,” he explained. found in containers. still a police officer. fined $50,000 forthwith with an While Chief Magistate Speaking with THE The former policeman was not Rechanne Browne respected alternative of 12 months behind bars, VINCENTIAN outside the Court required to plead to the charges Bascombe’s account, she advised for possession of the drug with intent room, Bascombe said it was time when he appeared at the Family that glaucoma is an illness which St. Vincent and the Grenadines to supply.

Paula Court on Monday, as they were ought to be treated by a decriminalized marijuana, as Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne Robinson will laid indictably. He was remanded, handed down the penalties at spend the and the matter has been the Serious Offences Court. better part of adjourned to December 1, 2016.

The sentences are to run the next nine THE VINCENTIAN concurrently. months in a Robinson had initially understands that attorney Grant SVG jail. pleaded not guilty to the Connell is representing him.

Woman jailed for cocaine offences

charges but changed her plea to guilty when she returned to Court on Tuesday.

She was nabbed at the E.T. Joshua Airport on January 21 this year.

The facts showed that she had already cleared Immigration and Security, and was waiting in the departure lounge to board a flight to Barbados, when a police officer, acting on information received, conducted a search of her trimmer.

During the search, the officer observed glue around the edges of the trimmer. He cut away the glue and found a white powdery substance resembling cocaine inside. When cautioned, Robinson said it was powder. She was taken to the narcotics base at Arnos Vale where she was charged.

In mitigation, Robinson’s lawyer Ronald Marks begged the Court for leniency, saying that it was his client’s first offence, she had pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity, and had shown remorse for her action.

He added that Robinson had lost about 61 pounds because of the case, and that her mother was also sick.

But Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche requested a custodial sentence so as to send a strong message that these offences must not be tolerated.

While the Chief Magistrate took the mitigating factors into consideration, she said she also had to take into account the quantity of drugs, the seriousness of the offence, and the fact that cocaine is not manufactured in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Robinson was also charged with attempting to export the drug and conspiracy for drug trafficking, but those charges were withdrawn.

Robinson was charged jointly, on all counts, with Eron Williams, a Vincentian man, residing in Canada, but the charges against him were withdrawn.

They were initially charged on indictment, but that was later reduced to summary.

Reports are that the police here had conducted investigations into the matter, but the officer had left this country shortly after the report was made against him. He was said to have left legally and had been residing legally in the United States where he worked as a bus driver.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) here had been in contact with the U.S authorities for the past three years in connection with the matter, during which time an extradition request was made.

An extradition hearing was conducted in the United States, and the U.S government found that the requirements which were laid out in the extraction treaty between the government of the United States and the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines were satisfied. The extradition was granted.

During an interview with THE VINCENTIAN on August 9 this year, after the extradition was granted, Crown Counsel in the DPP’s Office Karim Nelson had said that extradition is a lengthy and complicated process, and that while extradition proceedings are taking place, for obvious reasons, it would be inappropriate to make comments to the media because of the sensitivity of the process.

In recent years, a number of police officers have been taken to Court here on criminal charges, including charges of a sexual nature.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. 5.

News

Vincentian Chocolate now available

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES can now boast of having its own chocolate bar.

The 80 gram chocolate bar, made from cocoa grown in St. Vincent, became available for purchase at local supermarkets, pharmacies and hotels on Friday 23rd and, according to personnel attached to the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Chocolate Company, manufacturers of the product, the chocolate bar was well received by the public.

The 72% dark chocolate is seen as a product of national pride, and Cecil Mc Kie, Minister of Tourism, Sports and already persons in the Diaspora are asking to get Culture, was on hand at heritage Square, to get an early taste of Vincentian Chocolate, straight a hold of it. from the hands of the ‘Chocolate Girls’.

According to Andrew Hadley, Managing Chocolate,” said Hadley Director Of the St. Vincent Cocoa The Managing Director said that Company, parent company of the St. they also took some to the French Vincent and the Grenadines Chocolate Verandah Restaurant and Bar where Company, as soon as the chocolate they sold chocolate bars at a Pink was available for sale, it was sold out.

Party Charity event. “We were able to Friday 23rd September also sell lots of chocolate bars, with the featured a sampling of the product money going to charity as well,” said process at Heritage Square and other Hadley. venues.

“Overall it has been a really, really “It went really, really well. The good launch, and we have been taken samples were eaten with enthusiasm, back by the demands for our chocolate and the chocolate bars were actually bar,” Hadley further added. flying out the doors, because we had to The company is working towards resupply all the shops on Monday having the chocolate bars available on morning since all ran out. So that is a the regional and international very good sign for Vincentian markets.(KH)

KCCU launches mobile app THE KINGSTOWN COOPERATIVE CREDIT UNION (KCCU) has launched a mobile application dubbed KCCU- Go, in its continuing drive to deliver improved service to its members.

The app makes it convenient and easy for members to , inter alia: make appointments to see a loan officer or other customer services representatives; inform of intention to participate in KCCU financial wellness workshops; complete selected applications, view financial accounts and governance reports for several years.

Members outside of SVG no longer have to worry about searching

for a telephone number nor worry about contacting KCCU by email.

During the official launched of the application Tuesday, September 20, at the Credit Union’s headquarters in Kingstown, Cynthia Hope-Browne, Vice President of the KCCU, said the institution, which was registered on April 12th, 1958, continues to remain relevant in today’s society, and will continue to utilize advancements in technology to improve the lives of its members.

She assured that through the launch of this app, persons can access a wide range of KCCU services from

Cynthia Hope-Browne, Vice President of the KCCU, officially launched the new app. their mobile devices.

CEO of KCCU Clement Lynch did a demonstration of the app, which can be downloaded at the app store or at google play store. (KH)

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6. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

News

PM gives preliminary damage assessment

Fiscal improvement

THE FISCAL OPERATIONS of the government continue to show signs of improvement.

This according to Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr THE FINAL TALLY on the currently negotiating with A report on the final This was a matter Ralph Gonsalves damage caused by the being taken care of by the two home owners for a report as per the who, on passage of Tropical Storm family of five from Belair, damage caused by Ministry of Health, Matthew last week whose home was damaged Tropical Storm Matthew Tuesday, gave a Gonsalves said. summary of the Wednesday, September 28, during the passage of the “I cannot say where will be made public, is yet to be completed. they should be going, I can storm. They were being Prime Minister Dr. Ralph fiscal status of However, Prime accommodated at an make available resources central Gonsalves promised.

Minister Dr Ralph emergency shelter for the to accommodate where government up to ‘Things ($$) improving,’ says Dr. Gonsalves.

Gonsalves briefed the time being, Gonsalves they will be going,” he the end of some EC$1.2 million nation on Tuesday, on the said. said.

August. accounted for by damage information that had been The preliminary According to the information provided, total to bananas. reported to him up to that Housing needs damage report indicated And although there has revenue and grants went up by 8.4 percent in 2016 time, saying, inter alia, that three homes were been significant damage to compared to the corresponding period in 2015 — that as of Tuesday, Preliminary destroyed, at Redemption the sector, Gonsalves moving from EC$353.3 million in 2015 to EC$382.9 October 4, there were 483 assessments have Sharpes, Ottley Hall and explained that the million in 2016. persons being housed in determined that four Buddy Gutter; 102 homes situation was not as bad The current revenue collected also increased by emergency hurricane families have emergency were damaged as a result as that following the 9.5 percent, or from EC$333.1 million in 2015 to shelters. housing needs. According of flooding or landslides — passage of Hurricane EC$364.7 million this year.

He addressed the to Gonsalves, there was a 79 on the mainland, 22 on Tomas in 2010, or the Revenue generated from taxes on incomes and situation at the Fair Hall family of 11 from Bequia, primarily in the floods in December 2013.

Government School where Campden Park for whom Paget Farm area, and one With respect to tourism profit went up by 9 percent and the Value Added the re-opening of school arrangements were being in Union Island. sites, the Rivers, National Tax (VAT) on international trade went up by 3 was delayed as a result of made for a house to be Twenty-five retaining percent, Gonsalves said.

Parks and Beaches 32 persons from the Lewis rented. walls were either damaged Authority has reported Capital grants went up from EC$9.3 million in Punnett Home that were There was also a case of or collapsed, 24 on the that the damage sustained 2015 to EC$17.1 million in 2016, and current being housed there. a gentleman who also mainland and one in expenditure recorded a 3.8 percent increase moving amounted to EC$624,000 According to Gonsalves, needed to be relocated Bequia, and four public — this, according to the from EC$336.1 million in 2015 to EC$349.1 million some repairs were being from the Kingstown Hill buildings were flooded.

Prime Minister, reflected in 2016. done to a section of the area, and another male damage to the road Capital expenditure went down slightly, moving roof at the Home, Other damage from Byera who was leading to the Dark View from EC$47 million in 2015 to EC$44.4 million in however, officials were already placed in a Falls.

2016. looking for a place to In relation to temporary housing The Prime Minister According to the Prime Minister, there was a house those displaced as a arrangement. agriculture, a partial promised that as soon as current account surplus of EC$15.5 million, result of the damage, so as assessment indicates that he was supplied with a The National compared to a deficit in 2015 of EC$3 million. (DD) to expedite the re-opening Emergency Management the damage amounts to copy of the full report, he of the Fair Hall school.

Organisation (NEMO) was EC$1.4 million, of which will make it public. (DD)

No false claims, please PRIME MINISTER DR RALPH GONSALVES has asked persons whose homes were not in any way damaged during the passage of Tropical Storm Matthew, not to go to the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) seeking building supplies. “.. People must come and look at your house,” Gonsalves said.

He made the appeal on Tuesday during a press briefing, saying that not because persons may have heard that a boat arrived in the state with a shipment of building supplies, that they ought to make false reports.

“Because the problem you create is that the personnel which we have, we want to respond to everybody, but a lot of times when our professionals respond, they respond to persons who have had no damage as a consequence of the storm,” the Prime Minister explained.

He, however, acknowledged that there might be some individuals whose homes are in need of ongoing repair, and making a false claim (in the current circumstances) may be a way of them getting further into the system.

“I appreciate their own concern, but please.”

Such individuals would have already made a submission for building materials, and the Ministry of Housing would prioritize those claims.

“So it does not make sense to ask people to come look at it if you have normal wear and tear on your house,” Gonsalves said. (DD)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. 7.

News

Layou villagers recount ordeal ANY THOUGHT of a possible tragedy occasioned by the passage of Tropical Storm Matthew, Wednesday 28th September, 2016, was perhaps the furthest thing from the minds of the majority of residents of the west coast town of Layou, on mainland St. Vincent.

Little wonder, therefore, that when news broke that Wednesday, that teenager Kenron Antoine — A Buccament Secondary School student - had lost his life during

Matthew’s passage, the town fell into a state, first of disbelief and then grief.

Kenron would have turned 17 on October 1, 2016.

Reports are that Kenron lost his life when he was pinned between a boulder and the house in which he lived with his mother. He had, from reports, gone outside to clear a pathway for water that was rushing onto and into the house, when the boulder was dislodged and pinned

rushed to the house on hearing calls for help. On his way up, he saw a number of police officers making the same trip.

When he arrived on the scene, there were already two neighbours (names given as ‘Drula’ and ‘Duke’) there, but they appeared so struck by what they saw, that they took no action to remove the body.

According to Henson, Kenron appeared to have already been dead, though there were no signs of blood or external injuries.

Henson said the police wanted the villagers to halt any attempt to the transcripts remove the body until were not received Thursday morning, but by our lawyers he advocated for the body until the 8th of to be removed that night.

September,” “I say no he have to be Eustace said. released,” said Henson.

“I have heard He then got a heavy The appeal against Justice the comments by hammer and began Brian Cottle’s ruling on two Dr Gonsalves (Dr beating away the brick election petitions missed out work of the house, in the Ralph Gonsalves) and Senior Counsel on being listed among the area where Kenron was Astaphan (Anthony matters to be heard during pinned.

Astaphan) over the the first sitting of the Court of When THE Appeal in this Law year. last three days.

VINCENTIAN spoke They suggest that, with Henson the morning even though the pointed out that the transcripts were received Court of Appeal will late, the record which meet four more times must include the over the next two transcripts, ought to months, and that the have been prepared, and NDP can and will get somehow the appeal justice. would have been heard The Court of Appeal is this week,” he continued. expected to preside in St But this was not the Kitts/Nevis from October case. Eustace said that 10th to the 14th; in the transcripts were Antigua and Barbuda received on September 8, from October 24th to the 28th; in Dominica from the very day the Court November 7th to the put out the preliminary 11th, and in the British list of matters to be Virgin Islands from heard by the Court of November 21st to the Appeal, and as a result, 25th. the NDP’s appeal was There will also be a not able to make the sitting in Grenada preliminary list of between December 5th matters. and 9th, Eustace said.

Eustace, however, (DD)

Justice shall prevail LEADER of the Opposition Arnhim Eustace remains confident that the appeal launched against Justice Brian Cottle’s decision to throw out the two election petitions complaining of misconduct in Central Leeward and North Windward, will be heard shortly.

He announced last week Monday, during a press briefing, that the appeal was not going to be heard while the Court of Appeal was presiding in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

This was because of three factors: the time it took to thoroughly prepare the appeal; the time it took for the Court Office to prepare the transcripts; the time it took before the New Democratic Party’s (NDP) team of lawyers received the transcripts after they were prepared.

Eustace made it clear that the appeal was filed on time.

“The Appeal was filed the 3rd of August, yet

him.

The ordeal of removing Kenron’s body was no easy undertaking.

Nollie Henson and Albert Baptiste, two of the villagers involved in that undertaking, said that they were both terrified by the situation that confronted them, when they went to help with the removal of the young man’s body.

Henson, who lives about 300ft below the hill on which Kenron’s home is situated, said that he

(L-R): Albert Baptiste and Nollie Henson endured the horror of the situation to assist in releasing Kenron Antoine’s body that was pinned between a boulder and his home. of Thursday 29th September, he admitted to “still feeling terrible.”

He had cried for the young man, moreso because he could have been his son. He said his son and Kenron were school mates.

Albert Baptiste, who lives some distance away from the scene of the tragedy, told THE VINCENTIAN that he had seen the news about Kenron on the internet,

and immediately rushed to the scene.

Baptiste said that the police gave him a heavy hammer to help knock out the bricks of the house to which Kenron’s body was pinned..

He described the body as “falling down” when the bricks were removed.

“It’s a critical situation, very unfortunate, but many persons came out to give support,” said Baptiste.

(KH)

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8. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. 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 Of THIS and THAT and the OTHER The THIS IT IS A GIVEN in our court (justice) system, that matters of the High Court take precedence over all other matters in process. That is to say, that a matter being heard or down to be heard at the magisterial court level of the system, has to be adjourned if for one plausible reason or the other, a scheduled matter in the High Court affects it.

One of these reasons or practices that has obtained down through the years, is that when attorneys down to make representation at the magisterial court level, find that this matter clashes with a call for their representation at the High Court level, they are obliged to ask for an adjournment of the matter at the magisterial level, and have encountered little difficulty in getting same.

Earlier this week, observers were left with the distinct impression that there was an air of disgust about a magistrate having to adjourn a matter, in circumstances as described above.

The matter involved Luzette King before magistrate Bertie Pompey, the latter reported as displaying some resentment, and warning that he would not adjourn the matter, come what may, the next time it came up for hearing.

If THIS is the conduct, if there is but an iota of doubt with respect to the right to due process at the magisterial level of our court system, then we need to take a long hard look at THIS behaviour.

The THAT ‘Much ado about nothing’, ‘nothing but a side show,’ are but two assessments advanced by commentators in relation to a recent drilling of our Prime Minister at a town hall meeting in New York, considered to be the ‘home’ of the largest single pocket of the global Vincentian Diaspora.

Once again, our Prime Minister found himself at the whipping end of an allegation of sexual impropriety, this time having to endure the length of the whip (accusation) in the presence of a large number of Vincentians, many of them being supporters or sympathisers of his Unity Labour Party.

Like everything else, THAT issue has already — some two weeks into it first being made national, regional and international news — begun to fade into the hindermost chambers of Vincentian memories.

But if the truth be told, THAT issue, as the Prime Minister must be well aware, stands a very good chance of jumping out at him and at us, at the worst possible time down the road.

The question is: Are we going to treat it as yet another outlandish, ill-conceived attack on a leader, and force it into oblivion; or are we going to use all of THAT as grounds for demanding that our leaders are living bastions of high moral values and practices?

The OTHER And the other issue, which in all honesty demands more than a treatment as though it were an underling, is that 7th Heaven Properties deal that would see that seemingly celestial entity take ownership of 36 acres of our land, in the Mt. Wynn-Peter’s Hope area.

Much has been promised — jobs, spinoff business development — prosperity for all.

One of the things about this OTHER issue is how, to an extent, it puts spend to a thing we use to call ‘A Land Owning Democracy’.

Is it incorrect to say that since independence, we have forfeited more of our lands — more of our patrimony- of which we are unaware?

Yes, more Vincentians own more of their homeland than ever before, but are we taking stock of the OTHER effects of large-scale sale of lands for ‘tourism-related development’, on the social equilibrium, especially, of our country?

Creating wealth is what we should be all about. Creating wealth while creating servitude is not the answer in the long run.

Haven’t we learned from OTHER similar developments within and without our borders?

There is need to go placidly amidst the haste of the world, if we are to get to the OTHER side that is supposedly greener.

Arnhim in the process of overtaking IT IS UNBELIEVABLE but true that many ULPites are overly concerned that Arnhim continues to lead the Opposition after having lost four elections in a row.

It simply is not the business of the ULPites to harp on this occurrence, however strange or unusual it may appear.

Ralph claims four in a row, which equals Mitchell’s quartet in 1984, 1989 when he gained all fifteen seats,, 12 to 3 in 1994 and 1998 8 to7 when indeed he was slipping from power, and more or less conceded the fact by agreeing to mid-term elections in 2001, but ducked out of the leadership of the NDP which was won by Eustace. To be sure, Eustace is the only Leader who has never lost a personal election. That holds for Mc Intosh, Joshua, Cato, Mitchell and Gonsalves!

Arnhim continued his winning ways in East Kingstown, to record five successive victories in 1998, 2001, 2005, 2010 and 2015.

To be sure that Arnhim is the only Vincentian leader never to have lost his constituency election. On the contrary Ralph lost his first three in 1979, 1984, and 1989, when he was sometimes beaten to third place. So much for charisma, with which one is born, not acquired!

Eustace, for his own part, scared off Blazer Williams from competing, and twice felled Michael Hamlett a favourite ULP son, demolished in turn Ralph’s cousin and alter ego Julian Francis, and twice snuffed out the light of twinkling ULP star Luke Browne.

Nor must it be forgotten that, by repeatedly winning East Kingstown, Eustace was able to tie it to both Grenadines seats, keeping intact the vital umbilical cord between the mainland, keeping the Grenadines.

Above all the Dream Team is happy with Eustace’s captaincy during these stormy times and supports his efforts to bring the ship safely to harbour. Then the UL P can engage in their own game of picking a leader which promises to be far more intriguing than the NDP case.

Paradoxically, if Eustace were to offer his resignation of leadership, as demanded by his opponents in the face of his people wanting him to continue, he will be guilty of gross abdication of his duties, abandoning his chards in a time of distress, like a captain deserting a ship hit by a storm, in fact acting in a most UNDEMOCRATIC manner.

Congrats, Arnhim, on your birthday and anniversary, and accept Straker’s “Gift” as a sign from Him who moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform.

Leo Anthony (The Lion) passes I first met “Sleepy Anthony’ in 1956, 60 years ago when I skippered a combined Inter-

Schools Windwards School cricket team against Troumaca in a “fete” match. “Sleepy” was the opposing skipper.

The visiting school-boys won the game, thanks to a superlative knock

by Carlyle Dougan of 99, consisting of three singles and 24 boundaries, thanks to an impossibly shortened boundary carved out by the creeping German Gutter which used to be one of the Ten Wonders of this world.

From that moment, “Sleepy” and I hit it off. Then I was enthralled by his mastery of the violin which he virtually made talk by his facility and dexterity.

The point was reached where nothing could separate me from “Sleepy” not even party politics which saw him as a die-hard Labour Party supporter, while I remained generally committed to the PPP and its offspring NDP. One day, I found “Sleepy” rather calm and distant, when he suddenly blurted out: Ken, I should let you know that I do not appreciate your calling me “Sleepy”. I was so taken aback by that rollicking I began to seriously apologise. But “Sleepy” ... when I caught myself innocently compounding the felony!

Seriously, for the past sixty years, I saw Mr. Leopold Anthony as Mr North Leeward, a village elder among his folk and a solid stalwart nationwide.

The respect I owed Leopold spilled over into my relations with two siblings: Joseph “Speedy” Anthony, deceased, my fellow cricketer in Hairoun Club; Emily, my secondary school —University colleague, and ‘Kojah’ my fellow writer at “THE VINCENTIAN”, who tries to emulate his father in pen. Dear Leopold, you had a good innings; now go to bed peacefully, “Sleepy”, and tenderly sleep soundly in our Saviour’s breast.

Incidentally, for the sports fans, we still have living among us part of the 1956 Team: Carlyle Dougan, wicket keeper; Mike Joshua, opening bat, and two leg spinners of class, Victor Hadley and Lennox John, all over 75 years of age.

I happily join the Prime Minister who, in his tribute to “Sleepy”, stressed his great contribution to education, and recommended that one of the eight schools in the North Leeward area in which he laboured, be named after him. I would favour the school nearest to the playing field on which Sleepy and myself led teams 60 years ago A Troumaca headmaster, Webster Clarke (father of Vilna Clarke-Cox) once appeared on children exercise books as one of the four Leaders of Thought in the early 1950s, courtesy Rudolph Baynes.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. 9.

Letters

Not the time nor place NBC blues SO MY FRIEND Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves got a dose of an ‘up-in-your-face’ during his recent trip to New York. Now, you have to give the man his jacket. He has always tried to make it possible to meet up with Vincies up here in New York; to keep them up to date on what’s happening at home. The thing is that these meetings have all gone down well, with no problem for the PM. When he done wid dem meetings, all is milk and honey at home, but none ah we Vincie making any effort to return home.

But that is not the point of this piece, Mr Editor. This time around, the PM got a good dose from the floor. I wasn’t there, but I understand that when this lady, Ms Wood, was making her allegation, the PM was looking real dazed. He definitely didn’t expect that kind of accusation

coming from the floor of a public meeting.

Now, I am not taking sides in the matter, i.e. whether what the lady said was true or false; but I think there is a time and place for everything. My concern is whether a town hall meeting was the place for this lady to make her accusations. Some might say that if it was intending to bring down the PM, then that was the best place, because if no court proceedings come out of it, to make the accusations in a public forum like that, would hurt the PM real bad — politically and in relation to family.

However, the other side of the coin is that when your take such a broadside in that manner against the leader of a country, it brings the whole country into focus.

People are going to ask what kind of Vincies we are to elect a man

like that to the highest office in the land.

All in all, as much as I have my problems with how Dr Gonsalves is going about the business of leading the government and where he is taking the country, I am not going to go down the road and accuse the man publicly about something as far-reaching as sexual assault and then do nothing about it.

All for now.

FOR MANY, many years, especially during those years when it was the only radio station, Radio 705, now called the National Broadcasting Corporation (NCB), served this country with distinction. I think any Vincentian born in the 1950s will have something complimentary to say about our National Radio Station.

I am not going to rehash all that the Station did. Neither am I going to list all the master announcers and newscasters that graced the airwaves in those days.

There are just too many to mention, and I don’t want to be guilty of forgetting anyone.

Mr. Editor, how I long for those days once again; but sadly, I have to admit, this is only wishful thinking.

NBC is no longer the National Radio Station. It may be so only because it continues to be owned and funded by the state; but other than that, it has lost its grip on the nation.

Not least among the downward trend is Garnet, NY. the news. Once upon a time, Radio 705/NBC led the way in news. They had stringers all over the place and some damn good journalists, who made sure that everything was neatly packaged and presented. If it happened anywhere, anytime, the station had it.

ONCE AGAIN, the good Lord has I call upon all my people, especially Now, all we get for news is an overdose of spared us the wrought of a full-fledged in this time of God showering his what government is doing and who in hurricane. In his mercy, He has mercy on us, to examine our lives. It government is doing what. And it seems to answered the prayers of many that is time that we turn away from the me that there is now a law at the radio Tropical Storm Matthew would bypass bondages of sin and do what God station that says that anything the Prime us. He is indeed a merciful God. He beckons us to do.

Minister does or says, wherever he goes, knows that we could not absorb the My people, it is time to accept the Dear Auntie FLOW must be headlined news. damage and loss of life that we so Lord and bring Him into our daily Other than that is what seminar they recently experienced. lives, and turn away from being IT WOULD be appreciated if hold here and there, who civil servant made Yet, as I reflect on our situation, I servants of sin. you stop depriving us of what a big speech, nothing about what happening am led to believe that the good Lord We must be more faithful in we had and paid for which was in the real life of the people. spared us, not because we are truly a following the teachings of our Lord MATCH DAY of three games Did anybody listen to NBC during the God fearing people. To tell the truth, and Saviour. He continues to bless us; not one. YOU are defrauding recent storm? Subject to correction, but as a nation, we still have too much why must we still turn against him in us. You show some car racing there was no link with what was was going dishonesty, selfishness, crime and our daily lives? hot rod, sliding or whatever it on. Thank God for the other FM stations. violence and sexual immorality. It is Jesus Chirst is for now and forever. is, but it has no relationship to Other than Caribbean Wax, the longest as though He spared us because He us. unbroken programme on NBC hosted by the wants to give us another chance to Amen Fortunately we still have longest serving worker there, Raphie King, repent for our wrongdoings.

SPORTSMAX to give us persons like me, born in the 50s, do not find FOOTBALL, albeit EPL, La NBC interesting anymore.

LIGA and Bundesliga, while If I want to know what going on in SVG, you relay sports from other I can no longer depend of NBC, and that is REGARDLESS of which side of the leadership. That is another good sources. the truth. So NBC should do itself a favour political fence you sit, you got to mark. Perhaps we will see some new You are the bully, since you and stop referring to itself as ‘The Sound of admire those persons who now call faces appearing on the political scene call the shots and we have no the Nation’. themselves the Front Line. from all of this. alternative. I am fortunate to I read in your last week issue that I have no opinion on the issue that be able to see all BPL online, Stephen, A Friday 30th September would have the protest is targeting, but I find it so I wish well all those who marked the 292nd day those persons impressive that they would have kept choose not to complain. were protesting in front of the it up for that length of time. electoral office. Whether they are Robbie right or wrong, is to me not the issue. Thomas The thing that impresses me is that the protest has lasted this long.

Two things hit me about this. to give support to either I READ WHERE the not just possible that Firstly, those persons who come adverts from government Editorial Board of USA the Labour Party or the out day in and day out, and those Today, a leading national could be withdrawn, but Conservative Party. In who have joined them from time there will likely be an paper in the USA, has the USA, it’s either the to time, must be truly committed taken sides in the open call for people of a Democrats or the party to stop buying a to their mission. They are presidential race in that Republicans. newspaper, because that demonstrating that they believe And the wonderful country. The newspaper newspaper didn’t support clearly denounced Donald thing about this whole in what they stand for, and they affair, is that business for their party. And God help Trump, one of the have done so peacefully. That is the Editor of that the newspaper continues candidates. commendable. That anything as usual, regardless of who newspaper.

Persons who live or would last that long is not We have a long way to wins. The winner doesn’t something Vincentians have been have lived abroad, go with this thing we call go around doing all they especially in developed noted for — other than keeping a democracy. Hopefully, countries like the USA and can do to see the backs of government in power for three we’ll get to a day when we a newspaper that did not England, have grown and four terms. accept and act accordingly, accustomed to seeing large support them.

Secondly, there must be that democracy is more Here in SVG, God help newspapers take sides in something good about the than a vote every five a newspaper if it shows elections. leadership of this Front Line. years. support for one political In the case of England, And it appears to me that the newspapers are not afraid party over the other. It’s leadership is not from the Party Roger, K

Give thanks to the Lord

Where is Matchday?

Impressed with the Front Line

Newspapers and taking a side

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10. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Investing in SVG Introduction IT IS AN ACCEPTED fact that St. Vincent and the Grenadines does not possess natural resources such as oil, gold, tin, manganese, copper, and the list goes on. Our country is a small, open, resource-challenged economy, with a historical legacy of underdevelopment, buffeted by the challenges of globalisation and trade liberalisation.

Our natural resources are our country, and our people. Collectively, we have to make the best use of our land space and our people to bring social and economic benefits to our country.

For example, our country has possibilities and strengths which flow from an industrious people, fertile soil, bountiful seas, natural beauty, clean air, and a democratic way of life.

Perhaps one of the areas that our land space will lend itself to is tourism. St. Vincent and the Grenadines possesses an abundance of beaches and seaside properties which are ripe for investments; but all governments must balance the need for investment with the requirements for the citizens of the country. There have been good examples of this, notably in Mustique and Canouan.

The ULP administration has recognised the need to use our land space for development purposes. For example, it was the sale of crown lands which provided the early financing for the international airport project at Argyle. Sir James Mitchell used the lands in Canouan to attract investors to that Grenadine island.

Mustique stands out as an example of the relationship between an investor or investors and a country. In every case there are benefits on both sides from this investment partnership.

issues examined, including the matters of land usage and the environment. So that when the government says it is involved in talks with this or that investor, we know exactly what this is all about.

Opposition to foreign direct investment

always, there will be persons who will be opposed to investors doing business in our country. In most cases, this opposition is along party political lines, since the credit for the investment, along with the creation of jobs, and the acquisition of wealth, will go to the party in office. There are some persons in the opposition who hide behind such terms as “protecting the environment”, “protecting the rights of Vincentians”, and so forth, to mask their opposition to investments.

They do so, while calling for job creation and industries to increase wealth in the country.

The fact of the matter is that more investors are showing interest in St.Vincent and the Grenadines, now that the international airport at Argyle is on the verge of its opening ceremony. Already, there have been inquiries about the Chatham Bay area in Union Island and the failed marina project on that Grenadine island.

This week, the 7th Heaven Properties will begin construction work on their Firefly Villas project in Bequia, which will enhance visitor experience to that island, and provide employment opportunities. Two other The investment international hotel chains, Sandals Resorts, and Karisma Hotels and Investors have one thing in mind in Resorts, have already expressed relation to their hard-earned money, interest in doing work in St. Vincent and that is to ensure that they get and the Grenadines. And the returns on their investment. They do investors from Trinidad and Tobago not intend to be benevolent in their are fine-tuning their plans for their investment activities, and in fact, development projects, when the ET their negotiations in this regard are Joshua airport ceases operations, and always very tough and aggressive. work on the new city at Arnos Vale Their decision to invest is based on a gets underway. number of considerations, notably the political and economic stability of the Conclusion country, the quality of the banking system, air communications, the work So there is clear evidence to force, and the legal framework. suggest that investors are taking a Sometimes the negotiations new look at St.Vincent and the between the investors and the Grenadines in terms of business government team could be long and development. Prime Minister Dr. aggressive. Investors will always try Ralph Gonsalves and the ULP to get the best return on their administration are always on the investment, while the government will hunt for investors, either for joint always seek to get the best agreement partnerships or otherwise. During the which will bring benefits to the period 2001 and 2015, the ULP country in general, and Vincentians in administration has created some particular. The ULP administration, 8,000 jobs in the economy, but led by Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, pays unemployment still remains a particular attention to the rights of challenge. In the 2015 election Vincentians, when seeking manifesto, the ULP is projecting the development partnerships with creation of at least 9,000 jobs in the investors. In areas where the next five years, to 2020. investors are on their own, the ULP All this is realisable with the administration pays close attention to operation of the international airport, the environment, and to ensure that opening up the way for investors. We Vincentians are not disadvantaged by must put the geothermal project in the investment and the investor. And the mix, along with the port so the issue of “due diligence” takes on modernisation project, the extension an added importance. of the cruise ship pier, the various The entire process of negotiations is tourism development projects, and the based on mutual respect and trust. It new initiatives in agriculture and is not a case of the ULP begging for ICT, as the ULP administration investors and investments. The whole increases the development tempo, to exercise must be thought out, and all create jobs for all Vincentians.

Excerpts from the Hon. Arnhim Eustace’s Statement at the Press Conference on Tuesday 27th September ON WEDNESDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER, state authorities demolished two restaurant facilities at Arnos Vale, which were said to be in breach of applicable physical planning regulations. It is reported that both facilities were erected and were operating illegally, in that their owners had not applied for, nor had they received any planning permission prior to the construction and the commencement of the businesses therein. We are also aware that residents of the area had been complaining, for about two years, about excessive noise, smoke and traffic problems associated with the facilities.

One facility was owned by Mr Lance Oliver and his wife Mrs Mafferne Mayers-Oliver; the other is owned by one Mr Anderson. The prospect of the closing and demolition of one facility caused much consternation, evoked many emotions and was the subject of widespread discussion on radio talkshows, social media and other channels.

People from all walks of life and of all political persuasions weighed in on the matter, and Dr Ralph Gonsalves held a press conference to speak about it.

Now, the issue is important for many reasons, and there are several competing factors at work in this one case. It has been reported that twentysix workers at Mr Oliver’s Chill Spot Restaurant and Bar are now unemployed, and our information is that some of the fifteen jobs at Mr Anderson’s Aqua establishment might be affected. But we contend that this issue has a scope and a significance that is far wider than the closing down of two restaurant operation and the curtailing of a second.

We take this opportunity to remind Vincentians that when Dr Gonsalves came into office, St Vincent and the Grenadines had a thriving and growing tourism sector. The most expensive piece of tourism-related real estate on mainland St Vincent, located on the stretch of waterfront opposite to Young Island had a booming, lively nightlife scene, where bars, restaurants and nightclubs were doing a thriving business. That is what Ralph Gonsalves met when he took over.

What you have just seen, ladies and gentlemen, is but one graphic example; a snapshot, of the destruction that has been wrought on the economy of this country, by an inept government led by a verbose and incompetent economic manager. And this illustrates why the Chill Spot issue has loomed so large in the public consciousness: because up until last week, it was one of the very few places left, in the most developed part of this country, where one could go, sit, have a drink and a meal.

Twenty-six does not seem like a large number, at the level of a country. But 26 jobs lost at Chill Spot are 26 too many. The jobs lost at Aqua cannot be afforded. But the fact is that these lost jobs are just a continuation of a depressingly familiar and indeed, destructive, pattern under this ULP administration. The history of this administration, over its term in office, has been about destroying jobs, not creating them.

When this administration shut down Bigger Big’s business at Rabacca, it was an act of pure political spite. There was no legal or environmental basis for the action that was taken by the Ralph Gonsalves and Julian Francis regime, against a local, black businessman.

None! Yet, they deliberately and spitefully closed him down and sent 60 people home. Bigger Big’s business was just one of many that were closed down,

either deliberately, or due to the gross economic mismanagement of this regime over the years.

Here is a partial list of some others: Discovery Works, Cinerama, Gourmet Supermarket, Pizza Hut, Call Centres, Time Out Cafe, Xcape, Ju-C, Lime N Pub, Pizza Party, Tony’s Pizza, Nadar Trading, Touch of Class Boutique, Mandarin Chinese Restaurant, Sprott Brothers, Mario’s Pizza, Brydens, Great Works Depot, Highway Trading, Val-U Electrical, Goodluck Family Store, Haba Store, Gebelles’s Store, City Express, Fashion Collection, Simply Chic, Church’s Chicken, Bigger Biggs, Marcus De Freitas, Mother Care, Nice Foods, Dee’s Services, Golden Apple Restaurant, Bounty, Bullock Supermarket, Tinker Bell Boutique, Pope Block-Making Plant (Lauders), Norman Pemberton Wholesale Chicken, many small shops and farms nationwide.

Now, let me ask Vincentians a question. Those places that we just saw pictures of, and the businesses just mentioned above, and there are others that I missed: how many former employees of these places have managed to make an equivalent living, or a better living, since they lost their jobs? How many of them are able to make a dignified living for themselves, in this so-called “Magnificent Vincentian Component of our Noble Caribbean Civilization?” Or how many of them have had to revert to ‘poor relief’? Do you see the level of the absurdity and the damage and the extreme harm that this regime has perpetrated on this country, Vincentians? Do you see it? It is staring you in the face.

I don’t need to spell out here today, what the loss of a job means to a single mother struggling to raise her children, to send them to school, to put breakfast on the table before they go to school. I don’t need to spell out here today what being thrown onto the breadline means to a man who has a family to feed, clothe and raise, with a hope that they will develop and grow as responsible citizens. I don’t need to spell out for you here today the reasons why the incidence of social ills, such as crimes like burglaries and prostitution goes up, when the number of jobs in the economy goes down.

Over the years, you have heard every single member of the NDP speak about this fact: that what this country needs most of all, is jobs for its people. That is the basis on which we will grow and develop as a country and a people. This has been the focus of this party, and its plans and platforms, for years.

Contrast this with the fact that Julian Francis, when making his budget presentation last year, said that the government’s budget was “not about creating jobs”. And his party leader Ralph Gonsalves constantly boasts about how many people are now on “poor relief” since his government has been in office.

Our position on this is simple: if, in a small, relatively poor, heavily indebted country with massive unemployment, unemployment that has gotten worse under your watch — you as a government can come to tell the citizens that you have no interest in creating jobs, then you have failed as a government.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. 11.

Views

Called to Serve

“We can sign up for any number of leadership training seminars, but the only good leaders are those who are first and foremost good servants.”

Julie Akerman Link, Our Daily Bread, November 24, 2009.

IT IS OFTEN QUITE AMAZING to observe how readily some politicians lift babies and hug supporters as they pose for cameras and seek to get the best photoshot prior to Election Day. Spouses appear to be “resurrected”,and family discord quickly mended as efforts are made to portray that all is “sweet and dandy” at home. And while we support and encourage caring for others within and outside the home, our quest is to determine how much of it is genuine (and how much of it is just for show).

Politicians and other aspiring leaders are required to be servants of the people (not the other way around). Politicians are elected to office, with the mandate to look after the people’s interest (not their own). However, it is often challenging to determine just how sincere an individual is when they put themselves forward for public/national service. In addition, it is often equally challenging to assess the person’s strength of character to make a judgement in relation to whether this “good candidate” will remain untainted and avoid corrupt or immoral practices, when/if given the reins of power. None of us will ever know for sure; we cannot predict the future. However, we can make our judgement calls based on their previous behaviours and actions.

Their past can give us some insights into their likely behaviours. This does not mean that someone with a “chequered past” cannot turn his/her life around and provide good, honest service. We should be wise, though, to make sure that we have seen ample, convincing, evidence of that turnaround, that repentance, before we expose them to the temptations that political power appears to bring.

Our Caribbean citizens are looking for politicians who are willing to serve; we must be on guard for those individuals who jockey for political office for selfish, self-serving reasons.

Sometimes the motivation is very well masked, as persons shelter their true motive, knowing that if they are revealed the electorate is likely to discard them. However, quite often, the ego kicks in during the heat of election debate, and the true reasons may emerge. And while there is nothing innately wrong in having political ambitions (even if persons tout their desire to one day become Prime Minister, we need to understand that the underlying driving force, the key motivator, must be the desire to truly serve the people. It means serving all the people, including those who did not support them on their quest for political office.

People are looking for qualities in our political and civic leaders, that can inspire a nation, rekindle hope, and propel a people to achieve or sustain greatness. These qualities are especially necessary at these very demanding times. Our economy must be headed by level-headed, competent persons. We cannot afford to embrace a “squander mania approach” that may make some persons happy now but endanger the generations yet unborn.

Neither can we trust the nation to persons who are morally bankrupt. Our youth are disillusioned by the number

of moral infractions that appear to go unattended; where right is made to appear wrong, and wrong to appear right; where moral misbehaviours are acceptable if performed by persons with social status and/or political power.

They talk about these things. It makes them nauseated. They want better.

We, as a society, need better.

Our local and regional politics need to evolve. Our politicians need to have a new vision; one that draws them away from the evils of partisan politics. We are considered a politically and socially retarded nation and region when we see persons and situations through tainted, jaundiced, political eyes. We are a more enlightened people now. We must respect those who have opposing political views to ours. We must be decent to those whose sexual preferences are different to our own.

We must be polite to those whose religious practices or doctrines do not mesh in with what we are comfortable with. We must be ready and willing to serve even those that wrongfully accuse and persecute us. This is what we demand of the new breed of politicians as we commit to building a better, more prosperous, nation and region.

A divided people will never be as productive as a unified people. A house divided against itself will never stand.

If we do not progress together we will regress separately. The new breed of politicians must be committed to serving the citizens of this nation by pulling our people together (not creating rifts among us). This is one of the greatest services they can provide to this young, developing nation that we are so proud to call home. We call out across the political divide to remind ourselves that no one of us is as great as all of us. We call out to remind ourselves that we all have a significant role to play in nation building … and that we must serve in the areas destined for us. This is no time for the folding of the hands, or proudly placing hands akimbo. This is time for work!

This is time for service! This is time for all of us, politicians and non-politicians, to join forces in serving each other as we create a civilized, caring culture that we are all proud to identify with.

Let us then conclude this matter by asking and responding to a few soulsearching questions: Is it possible for us to create a culture where there is mutual respect between persons of different political persuasions? Is it possible that political hatchets can be buried and “gutter politics” abandoned?

Is it possible that we can disagree on major issues and still be friends? If you were able to respond positively to any of the above (not necessarily all, then there is hope. If you responded positively to any of the above, I further challenge you to consider whether you have been called to serve as an instrument in creating that change. I join you as we champion positive change within and throughout our society; investing effort and energy in providing a better, more fruitful, future for the next generation. We are called to serve!

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

The world has changed THE MANTRA that the world has changed is becoming louder. More and more people have been calling for progressives to abandon their views, commitment and stridency because in their words, the old language of the left, working people, oppressed, capitalism, exploitation, imperialism, is hopelessly out of step with the times.

With this incessant cry, one is reminded of the work of the conservative political thinker, Francis Fukuyama, who in 1991 wrote an important, but mistaken book entitled 'The End of History.' The writer argued that, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, liberal democratic societies had won the important battle of the ages over progressive thought.

Therefore, there was nothing left for mankind to fight over. It was clear sailing for neo-liberal, capitalist ideas and economics.

Back then, like now, you had to be very brave to utter the words socialist or Marxist or revolution. Only those who risk being labelled as crazy were 'mad' enough to assert that Marx was not dead, and that a new and better world was not only possible but necessary.

There is no denying that the world has changed, but these are changes for the worse. The consciousness of the people, which built up in the 1970s, has eroded, trade union organization and solidarity have waned, community love and togetherness have given way to a backward and selfish individualism.

With this kind of change, who in their right mind will give up their principles for such an empty shell?

Who will want to stop being their brother’s keeper because of a few dollars more? Well, not me.

If poverty has fallen in our land, we must still recognize that too many of our brothers and sisters cannot keep body and soul together on a daily basis.

When we celebrate the advances in education or the improvements in health care delivery, it will be remiss of us to forget that many children of the poor, repeat classes and fail to graduate from school, and even more poor families suffer in pain and die because they do not have the wherewithal to see the doctor or pay for the curative drugs that are badly needed.

Although many of us have grasped the opportunity and moved into the middle class, we cannot forget the large swath of our people, especially youths, who do not have jobs, or are grotesquely exploited by their employers.

We are moving along rapidly with tourism, even though evidence abounds that these islands get less than ten cents of each tourist dollar. We have the experience of the Buccament Bay Resort where employees work long hours and don't get paid their full ages on a timely basis. We have the sad case of Buccament Bay Resort boss, David Ames, who stole over $8 million of our people's money.

Yet, we move deeper into tourism.

We sell lands at Canouan at great inconvenience to nationals, where mostly rich white people enjoy our beaches and treat our people like garbage.

We sold prime real estate at Mount Wynne for a fee that is far too low.

When these lands are sold, they are

gone forever. Two thirds of Canouan was given away by Mitchell's NDP. This government has sold prime tracts there and in Bequia. Mustique has long been gone. Union Island is up for grabs. Mayreau is also being sold.

We need development, but if all we get is low end jobs and rampant racism, our slice of paradise is not being put to its best use. Plain Talk has argued since the Buccament project surfaced, that our prime real estate should remain national property, and be bargained, as our equity share in any tourism development.

We are in a bind. We want development. We want our people to make a better life for themselves, but it cannot truly be said that we got a good slice of the bargain out of these 'developments.' The number of vehicles and cell phones in use, as well as GDP figures, do not offer a proper guage of our people’s wellbeing. Therefore, the inescapable conclusion is that it is the elite rather than the masses who benefit from these projects.

Where can we go? Where must we go? In the 1970s, the left unfurled a banner screaming for Genuine Independence, People's Ownership and Control. Is it too soon for us to interrogate ourselves about the nature of our independence? Are there points of light for which we can be proud, that came as a result of the journey began 37 years ago? Of course there are.

However, our honest answer must be that there is still too much darkness across our land.

What commentary can we offer regarding our quest for people's ownership and control? Would it be unfair to conclude that we have all but abandoned this effort as the greedy clutches of neoliberal ideology swallow us? No progressive will dismiss this claim.

Karl Marx said ‘people have interpreted the world in various ways.

The problem however is to change, it for the better.’ Charles Dickens reminds us ‘the more things change the more they remain the same’, while Kwame Nkrumah summons us to charge full speed ahead, ‘seek first the political kingdom, and everything else will become manifest.’

Little or no change comes without political power, so Nkrumah is on point. More and more people are doing better than yesterday, so there is some truth to the saying that these are the best of times and the worst of times.

Who feels it knows it best.

Even so, there is no getting away from Marx's scream. You think you know how? Deliver. Make people's lives better. This is no easy task. While power is important, it is only meaningful if its ultimate goal is to empower the people.

You can shout all you want about how much the world has changed. If these changes leave the people behind, progressives must embrace the teachings of the revolutionary thinker, Amilchar Cabral who beseeches us to 'tell no lies and claim no easy victories.'

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

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12. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Our rainforest must be preserved

ACCORDING to the Leader of SVG Green Party, Mr Ivan O’Neal BSc (hons), MSc, MBA, aerial photographs taken by Trinidad and Tobago military helicopters in SVG during previous floods here, revealed conclusively that large parts of our rainforest are being chopped down.

One of the reasons for this (deforestation) is that many people chop down trees to get firewood to cook food, and also to make coals to sell to earn a dollar. To them, chopping down the trees is a means of survival.

The rainforest is becoming sparse, and when SVG gets relatively heavy rain, the rainforest cannot hold the rain water. Consequently, the run-off is sudden, heavy and fast, and this leads to rivers overflowing their banks, causing much damage to the living environment downstream.

The weaker the economy is, the

greater the level of poverty is in SVG. The greater the amount of rainforest chopped down as a means of survival, the greater is the amount of damage caused by heavy rain.

To preserve the rainforest, we need to reduce poverty and reduce unemployment, so that households have enough money to feed their family and pay their bills. To do this, SVG needs to create a fair tax system that includes not just nationals but all those who invest and benefit from our resources.

Think of the amount of revenue we will take in if all those who enjoy tax exemptions and use of our licences are brought under the tax net.

SVG is fast becoming like Haiti, i.e. our watersheds are under serious threat of being permanently destroyed, and this can result in our rainforest

being wiped out. Our water comes from precipitation in our rainforest, and it is likely the flow of our drinking water will dry up over time.

Without a canopy on our rainforest to preserve the precipitation of water, we will all suffer. SVG has a run-off type of soil, and it is very difficult to dig wells in SVG to find water. We must act immediately and stop our rainforest from being cut down further. We must plant more trees. We cannot wait until there is no water running in the pipes in our homes before we take action.

Water is life. The risk of killing the rainforest and losing our fresh, clean drinking water, is real and significant.

To create wealth for our people, and save our rainforest and water, we must immediately tax those who have enjoyed too many exemptions and

privileges.

The aerial photos taken by the Trinidad and Tobago military are a wake-up call for us to take action now.

We must use our common sense and knowledge to plan for long-term sustainable development for the present and future generations of SVG. We need a fair tax system that will ensure that we have the revenue to do so.

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

Enhancing the fight against fraudsters through self-awareness THE TYPES OF FRAUD perpetrated by scammers and fraudsters are increasing in complexity and apparent authenticity. A Scammer may come into contact with you through email, phone or text. The Scammer may even impersonate a person/organization you are associated or familiar with, or pretend to be from an organization/business which is fictitious. The primary objective of the fraudster is to induce the victim to relinquish his/her personal assets in the hope of receiving large sums of money. It is prudent, therefore, for one to be aware of the current trends and types of scams being employed.

Scams may present themselves in various forms, constantly changing and adapting with the shift in times. Despite this, one can avoid being scammed by gaining knowledge of what to look for and how to execute daily activities safely.

There are some general signs that should alert you wherever they are present. These signs include but are not limited to the following: receiving a call, text, email or letter from an unknown number out of the blue; being asked to give out personal details or passwords (your bank or other financial institution will never ask for full passwords or PIN code); being pressed to make hasty decisions, so as not to give you time to consider the matter; being asked to make an advance payment to an unknown person/institution; being told that you have won a competition that you have never heard of or participated in; being told to keep something as a secret; being promised something that appears too good to be true; the content of the email or text suggests that English is not the person’s first language but they are purporting to be from an English speaking country.

Listed and explained below are the common types of fraud/scams that are being perpetrated in St. Vincent and the Grenadines:

some exorbitant sum. However, once the victim sends the fee, the scammer invents additional fees, which once sent are irrevocable. .

Unclaimed Money This scam is usually perpetrated by a person purporting to be an employee of a professional business or a financial or governmental institution (Bank, lawyer or tax department). The common content of such scams, is that the person is aware of a large sum of unclaimed/stolen money or gold belonging to a deposed or dead corrupt government official, terminally ill wealthy person with no relatives, or a wealthy foreigner who deposited money in the bank just before dying in an accident.

The victim’s assistance is needed to move or clear the money. The potential victim is promised a huge part of the money; however, before he can obtain such, he must pay certain fees in advance.

Ordinarily, the victim may receive an invalid cheque for the promised amount.

Distressed Friend/Relative Email The intended victim receives an email from a family member or friend claiming that they are in a foreign country on vacation (e.g. Spain, London, etc.) and was the victim of a mugging (robbery) and all their money and identification were stolen. In other cases, the friend or relative may have encountered some unforeseen medical expenses. The email usually instructs the victim to wire a sum of money (via Western Union or MoneyGram) to pay medical/hotel/food bills and expenses, with a promise that all the monies would be refunded on the return of the friend/relative. This may appear authentic as the emails would normally be coming from the friend/ relative’s known email account.

However, the scammer would have hacked into the email account of the friend/ relative.

order, thereby losing a substantial amount of its customer’s money.

Apparent Overpayments In this scam, monies are wired or cheque sent in advance to a business account for payment of services or goods.

The monies wired are usually in excess of the charged amount. The business receives an email requesting that the excess monies be resent to a particular account number. The scammer would press for this to be done before the wire transfer or cheque is cleared by the bank. If the business complies with the request, it would only become aware that it was a victim of fraud after the bank would have cleared the wire transfer. By this time the scammer would have withdrawn the monies and left without a trace.

Job Offer

There are a variety of job scams ranging from promises of a new career or offers to work at home.

With the new career scams, the victim is asked to pay for training and other material up front, or asked to make payments to organize visas and accommodation for a non-existent job abroad.

Customarily, the victim is required to use his/her bank account to receive and pass on payments for the employer, who is a foreign company. The inducement to this particular scam is a promise that the victim would receive a commission for each payment passed on. As a result, the scammers would have successfully collected all your personal The Lottery/Inheritance Scam and banking details which they can utilize to further rob you of your hard-earned money.

This type of fraud is commonly perpetrated via The FIU of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines email and text. The victim is informed that he/she Order Email therefore urges all citizens and foreigners alike, to has won the lottery, a prize or has inherited money be vigilant in their daily operations. Be mindful of from a long lost relative. In an effort to persuade the The intended victim (bank or financial the fact that these schemes used by scammers could victim, the scammer may send documents which institution) receives an email from one of their be facilitating money laundering or financing acts of appear authentic (may carry the letterhead of a customers requesting that payment be made to a terrorism. Furthermore, these scams are often reputable or unknown organization or a known/usual business partner of the customer for perpetrated by persons operating from foreign Government agency or lawyer). The scam would services rendered or goods purchased. Usually, the usually include a statement informing the victim email would include the name and account to which countries behind many aliases and covers. As such, it is difficult for law enforcement to pursue these that a small fee needs to be paid in advance before the monies should be sent. This information would matters. It therefore means, that more often than the winnings/inheritance can be collected. These appear authentic as the details bear close fees are usually to pay for insurance, taxes, resemblance to that of the customer’s usual business not, your money is lost with little or no opportunity for redress. registration, processing, clearance or legal fees. partner. The bank or financial institution is With this particular scam, the victim is generally authorized to make the payment. In such cases, the Submitted by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). persuaded to pay the fees by the promise of gaining bank would have honoured a fraudulent payment

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. 13.

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14. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Taiwan Feature

SVG celebrates Taiwan National Day

created quite a stir, given Taiwan’s generous and ongoing contributions to the development of this country over 35 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In welcoming a large and diverse gathering, which included His Excellency Governor General Sir Frederick Ballantyne, Jamali Jack, President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Taiwan Scholar Alumni Jamali Jack, President Association, reminded the of the St. Vincent and audience that, “We the Grenadines Taiwan (Taiwan and SVG) speak Scholar Alumni very different languages, Association, making we write very welcoming remarks. differently….. also we are literally on opposite sides DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS of the planet, we could not between St. Vincent and be any further apart. the Grenadines and its benefactor the Republic of However, when you look beneath the surface, St. China (Taiwan) are strong.

Vincent and the This message was Grenadines and Republic reinforced during a reception on Tuesday 4th of China (Taiwan) share a lot of similarities, and October, to celebrate the though Taiwan is about 105th National Day of Taiwan. The activity was 94.5 times bigger than St. Vincent and the held at the Methodist Grenadines, we are both Church Hall, Kingstown. islands.”

The National Day Taiwan’s Ambassador celebration, an annual to St. Vincent and the affair, came this year on the heels of the opposition Grenadines H.E. Ambassador Baushuan New Democratic Party’s (NDP) proclamation, that Ger conveyed his sincere condolences to the family if they were to form of the victim who was government, the country killed when Tropical would switch ties from Storm Matthew hit last Taiwan to the Peoples week, and also to those Republic of China. who were impacted.

The announcement

A toast to Taiwan on its National Day, led by a party that included (L-R): Mrs. Ger; H.E Ambassador Baushuan Ger, H.E. Governor General Sir Frederick Ballantyne; Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves; Lady Straker and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sir Louis Straker.

Ger said that this year marks a crucial time in Taiwan’s continued democratization and reform effort. “On January 16, the Taiwanese people elected the first female president in the history of the Republic of China.

Subsequently, we witnessed on May 20 the third peaceful transfer of power. Through concrete actions, the Taiwanese people have demonstrated

great pride in their nation’s democracy, as well as a firm adherence to democratic values and way of life.”

Ger said that his country is very much honored to welcome the Prime Minister and a delegation to Taiwan. The Prime Minister left the state with his delegation last Wednesday to join in the National Day celebration.

He spoke about the

close knit relationship between both countries, and while Taiwan has provided financial and technological support in various industries in SVG, the country continues to advocate for Taiwan’s inclusion in various international bodies and organizations.

The Prime Minister, in his address, acknowledged this close relationship, and chided the opposition for their support of China.

Acknowledging that there were already 20 years of diplomatic relationship with Taiwan when his party first formed government here, he highlighted that, “We took those relations and built them further, carried them to a higher level. So we have 35 years, and you are asking me to break, break; for what?”

Gonsalves asked.

Continued on Page 15.

Health workers benefit from Taiwan stint THREE VINCENTIANS are back home, fortified in their commitment to serve, after an attachment at the Chunghua Christian Hospital (CCH), Taiwan.

While there, July - August 2016, they were exposed to various departments, and observed the day to day operation of that institution.

The three, Sister Rosita King — Senior Nursing Officer, Andrew Williams - Assistant Hospital Administrator, and Lisa Llewellyn-Sprott — Coordinator of the Health Information Systems, recently shared their experiences with the media.

Sister Rosita King King said that she was afforded the opportunity to visit a number of departments, including that of

Pastoral Care, the department of Safety and Quality and Information, and the Centre for Diabetes and Health Education.

She disclosed that she was particularly impressed by what she observed at the Pastoral Care Department, which provides support to staff and patients, and added that she thought that this was one of the areas in which the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital needed some assistance.

“The experience gained will help me Sister Rosita King to work towards – Senior Nursing implementing some

Officer.

improvement projects such as improvements in our quality department … things like improving care for our patients,” Sister King explained.

She said that she was also looking to improve the conditions, not just for the patients, but for staff as well.

health care services.

The punctuality and dedication shown by staff was another area that was particularly Andrew Williams impressive, Andrew Williams Williams told Williams received training in Assistant Hospital Accounting Procedures, the Procurement members of the Administrator. media. and Management of Supplies, Hospital “I think our Safety, Quality Improvement, Diabetic health care workers have to get on board Care and Pastoral Care. if we need to deliver the health service He said that he was particularly that we aspire to,” he said. impressed to see the extent to which The assistant MCMH administrator information and technology were being said that he was pleased to be afforded used at the Taiwanese facility. the opportunity of such a visit, adding According to Williams, the local health sector recently implemented a Continued on Page 15. project to utilize IT to merge secondary

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. 15.

Taiwan Feature

SVG celebrates Taiwan National Day Continued from Page 14.

He said that Taiwan’s assistance, in terms of grants and soft loans to this country since 1981, has amounted to some $447 million. The only country which has provided greater

assistance to SVG in terms of grants and soft loan over the last 10 years is the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Prime Minister said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Louis Straker

Health workers benefit from Taiwan stint Continued from Page 14. that the CCH is accredited, and it will be good to adopt some of their practices, especially in Patient Care and Safety.

“From time to time, we hear about patients complaining about the service that they receive. I am not saying that we do not try our best, but of course not try our best, but of course there are areas that we can improve to deliver the patient care that we would like to,” Williams said.

Given the opening of the international airport and the expected growth in the tourism industry, the health services also needed an upgrade, he said.

Lisa Llewellyn-Sprott Llewellyn-Sprott also spoke of the importance of embarking on a comprehensive IT system as a move in keeping with the aim of improving the health sector here.

Her exposure to the use of technology at CCH, afforded her first-hand knowledge of how effective it (technology) was applied in various departments, including the Lisa Llewellyn-Sprott pharmaceutical, laboratory – Coordinator of the and radiology departments.

Health Information According to LlewellynSystems.

Sprott, as Coordinator of the Health Information System, she would like to see the use of the system here in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Towards this end, she has already made recommendations of areas the local health sector can adopt, which included mobile registration and the use of a dental module.

The existing system needed to make some changes, she admitted, adding, “This is the 21st Century, and we have to move with the times and welcome technology.”

Llewellyn-Sprott identified the draft Electronic Health Act as a step in the direction the health sector needed to move.

Editor’s Note: Taiwan’s Chunghua Christian Hospital and the Ministry of Health and the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital established formal relations in 2010. Since that time, a number of health related personnel from this country have had opportunities for attachments and training at that Taiwanese institution.

In addition, medical teams, comprised of persons of diverse specialisations from CCH, have provided in country services to the MCMH and communities across the state. The most recent visit, the tenth such visit, was in May, 2016. (DD)

reiterated his admiration and love for Taiwan and the Taiwanese people. He assured that the country stands in friendship and solidarity with Taiwan.

“And we can truly say, we shall not be moved.”

Following the addresses, there was a toast, after which the audience interacted in an atmosphere of togetherness, and friendship. (KH)

Just a section of the large and diverse group in attendance at the celebration.

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16. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

News

The Young Island Cut Restoration

by ROBBIE WILLIAMS THIS (PHOTOGRAPH ABOVE) is a current view of the Young Island/Mariners Cut which was not always so. The entire foreground was a continuous mass of sand and reef, but (as can be seen in the photograph) is now divided by what has become a channel.

A passage was blasted by Mr Syl De Freitas in 1950, to make an overshoot for the Grumman Goose seaplane which had its terminal located in Villa.

At the time, the overshoot was no more than five feet in depth.

Erosion over the years has created what we now see as a channel. The current depth is now over thirty feet and steadily increasing. This erosion and significant increase in depth have put and will continue to put the Young Island undersea cable at risk.

This manmade disaster can be quite

readily reversed so as to allow the beaches at Young Island, Villa and Indian Bay to regain some semblance of their state of years gone by.

The Cut is not currently shown on any navigational maps, so it can be readily blocked. This can be done by using wrecked vehicles or other suitable material which have been stripped of pollutants, then compressed and deposited to allow the accumulation of sand, and encourage marine growth to rebuild the reef.

This in turn will slow the rate at which water flows through the Cut, and will allow for the accumulation of sand to rebuild the beaches.

This is a project — an undertaking — that has the potential to bring high returns in its contribution to the tourism product of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

New US Passport/Visa Photo regulation THE U.S. EMBASSY to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) advises that, effective November 1, 2016, applicants for U.S. passports and visas must remove their eyeglasses for U.S. passport and visa photos. The U.S. Department of State is implementing this policy to enhance the security of the application process, and improve officers’ ability to quickly

verify the identity of applicants.

Applicants may wear eyeglasses for U.S. passport and U.S. visa photos if they have a medical issue, such as a recent surgery, and require eyeglasses to protect their eyes. If applicants must wear eyeglasses for medical reasons, they will need to submit a signed statement with their application from a medical professional or health practitioner,

such as a surgeon or ophthalmologist.

Applicants should ensure that they have removed their eyeglasses for their U.S. passport and visa photos to avoid any delays in processing applications.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. 17.

News

40th anniversary of terrorist carnage in Caribbean THURSDAY, October 6, 2016 marks the 40th anniversary of one of the biggest man-made human tragedies in the modern history of the Caribbean. Forty years ago, long before our peaceful region got accustomed to the dreaded word “terrorism” or the heinous deeds of terrorists, 68 young Caribbean citizens, mostly from Cuba (57) but also from Guyana (11), were among the 73 persons aboard a Cuban plane, CU 455, which was blown up just after it took off from Barbados.

Taking advantage of what would in today’s world be considered as ‘lax’ security precautions, but which were the order of the day then, anti-Cuban terrorists, armed and financed by American intelligence agents, planted a bomb on the Cubana airline on its way from Trinidad to Barbados, and got off there. The plane and all those aboard exploded in a horrific conflagration. It was an unforgettable experience in this region.

That vicious act of terrorism had its roots, not only in continued hostility to the Cuban Revolution, but was also meant to frighten Caribbean governments and citizens. It was a time when intensive battles were being waged against apartheid in South Africa and for upholding the independence of Angola. The support of

This 11-foot obelisk stands in Payne’s Bay, St. James, Barbados, in major western governments for racist memory of all those who South Africa had spurred a world-wide lost their lives as a solidarity campaign and had resulted in result of the October 6, African governments boycotting the 1976 anti-Castro attack.

1976 Olympics in Montreal, Canada.

To make matters worse, Cuba had and again call for justice in given military support to the Angolan these cases, and the end to government, and four Caribbean the continuing criminal governments, Guyana, Barbados, embargo against Cuba.

Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, had taken the courageous step to open Renwick Rose diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1975. ST VINCENT and the They had also permitted the national GRENADINES/CUBA Cuban airline, Cubana, to break Cuba’s FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY isolation in the region by flying from STATEMENT Cuba to those four countries.

That was the context of the bomb, planted on a Cubana airline on its way from Guyana and Trinidad, in Barbadian waters, and headed for Jamaica. It is an act as vicious as the 9/11 bombing a quarter century later.

To this date, the perpetrators have never been punished, unlike the innocent citizens of Afghanistan, still engulfed in war today because of the acts of the 9/11 terrorists. The SVG/Cuba Friendship Society, in remembering this act of anti-Caribbean terrorism, reiterates its solidarity with the Cuban people and government. We also recall the brutal murder of Cuban revolutionary leader Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, on October 9, 1967 in Bolivia,

UWI Open Campus Guild news The St. Vincent Chapter of the UWI Open Campus Guild of Students (OCGOS) held an appreciation ceremony on Friday September 23rd, 2016, at the site’s new location in Frenches, Kingstown.

The ceremony was attended by Head of the Open Campus Mrs. Deborah Student Guild Chapter Executive 2016/2017 Term (L-R): Dalrymple, and past Hannah Hamilton (PRO), Maxine Matthias (Secretary), and present student representatives from Ricky Haynes (Vice Chair), Deborah Dalrymple (Head of Site), Nick Francis (Chapter Chair), Renitta Peters (Post the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 academic Graduate Representative), Sherika Williams (Treasurer) and Reynold De Freitas (Committee Liaison Officer). terms.

Addressing the of Science Degree in Management gathering, Mrs. Dalrymple, inter alia, Studies with a Minor in Economics; Ms. expressed gratitude to former guild Sherika Williams — Treasurer executive members for their hard work currently a level three student pursuing in building a strong foundation, upon a Bachelor of Science degree in Business which the current executive can continue to represent the best interest of Management (International the students at the UWI Open Campus. Management); Ms. Hannah Hamilton Communications and Public Relations She then presented certificates of Officer - facilitator in the Technical and appreciation to the student Vocational field with an Associate representatives for their outstanding Degree in Education, and presently service during the 2015/2016 academic enrolled in the Bachelor in Educational term.

Leadership and Management Among those so awarded were: Ms. Programme at the Open Campus; Mr. Samantha Williams — Secretary; Ms. Nellie Phillips — PRO; Mr. Martin Sheen Reynold DeFreitas - Committee Liaison Office - currently pursuing his Bachelor - Vice Chair; Mr. Ricky Haynes of Science Degree in Management Treasurer (2015/2016), now serving as Studies (International Management); Vice Chair (2016/2017) term; Mr. Nick Ms. Renitta Peters -Post Graduate Francis who is currently serving two Representative - currently enrolled in consecutive terms (2015/16, 2016/17). the Master of Science programme in The 2016/17 Executive reads: Mr. Management — Human Resource Nick Francis — Chairman, final year Management. student - pursuing his Bachelor of Upcoming activities for the Guild Science Degree in Youth Development include: a general student body online Work; Mr. Ricky Haynes - Vice Chair meeting in October; a community currently pursuing his Bachelor of Science Degree in Banking and Finance; outreach project in December; field trip to the Vermont Nature Trails in early Ms. Maxine Matthias - Secretary - a level four student pursuing her Bachelor 2017.

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18. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Trinity students forge links with community

AMSA handing out blankets to residients of the St. Benedict Children’s Home.

TRINITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, since its establishment in 2008, has provided many opportunities for its students to interact with the Vincentian community, in areas which often go beyond the strict business of acquiring medical knowledge. Today, through its student government organizations, the school continues to forge strong links with communities within St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

On Saturday 24th September, three groups of students from Trinity journeyed to the St. Benedict Day Nursery and Children’s Home in Georgetown, in an act of maintaining and fostering these relationships.

‘Kid Companions,’ a group launched in February 2016 as an initiative of

Kid Companions engaging the children of the St. Benedict Day Nursery and Children’s Home in play.

Left: Mr. Andrew Williams (right) accepts donation on behalf of the MCMH, from CAMSA members. medical student Diana Freeman, focuses on mentorship. Its visit, according to co-President Shirley Samuel, was to introduce the new members to the children of that facility, in a meet-and-greet session.

This included activities such as outdoor games, indoor games, coloring and painting, in a joyously spent afternoon. They were divided into groups for these activities, with each child having a companion with whom to interact.

As far as their upcoming activities go, the co-President gave a layout of their plans for the remaining weeks of this term: they will be engaged in an Arts and Craft session in October, and will enjoy a Carnival in November.

Two other groups, the Trinity arms of the Canadian Medical Students Association (CAMSA), and the American Medical Students Association (AMSA), were also among the visitors to the Children’s Home.

CAMSA, for some time now, had been donating supplies of clothing, toiletries, linens, toys, books, crayons and other items as requested by the Nursery/Home, and made another such donation to the institution.

AMSA also presented gifts of blankets

and linens to the Home.

Prior to these donations, on Tuesday, 20th September, some faculty and other members of staff at Trinity were on hand to witness the official handover of items to officials of two institutions: the Mental Health Centre (MHC) and the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH).

CaMSA’s current President, Sonia Stasyszyn, outlined that the items included quantities of clothing, linens and toiletries to the MHC, and supplies that allow for safer patient care, like shoe covers and gloves, for the MCMH. Dr. Conrad Nedd, Assistant Dean of Clinical Sciences reminded all that, “Even though we encourage students here at Trinity that, as part of their professional duties, it’s important to be able to make contributions to their community, even physicians practicing have a responsibility to interact with their communities and find some way of giving back, whether by knowledge or by sharing their expertise.”

He expressed his delight that the physicians-in-training had come up with the initiatives of contributing to the local community.

UWI to co-host Literary Fair THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES Open Campus and the Vincentian Association of Artists, Writers and Producers Inc. , in collaboration with the National Public Library, will host the 4rd Annual Literary Fair from Thursday, October 13th to Saturday 15th, 2016 under the theme, “VINCY: READ AND WRITE”.

The Literary Fair will include a Book and Visual Art Exhibition, featuring several works by local authors and artists and a number of Vincentians based in the diaspora. The main highlight of the Fair will be an Evening of ‘Poetry and the Arts’ scheduled for Friday October 14th at 7:30 pm at the grounds of the Open Campus.

The Fair will also provide an opportunity for children and young people to share their artwork and read samples of their stories and poetry on Saturday, October 15th.

This is scheduled to begin at 10:00 am.

The three-day event forms part of the National Independence celebrations, and seeks to encourage Vincentians to cultivate the discipline of reading a wide variety of literature so as to enhance their literary skills and therefore broaden their perspectives on our human experiences. The Literary Fair is also an opportunity to showcase Vincentian talent in the literary, visual and performing art sectors of our society.

The University of the

The Annual Literary Fair is all about encouraging a culture of reading among Vincentians.

West Indies Open Campus and the Vincentian Association of Artistes, Writers and Producers extend an invitation to the public and the media to participate in the activities. (Contributed)

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. 19.

Heritage

The secret of the petroglyphs

by PARNEL ROBINSON Editor’s Note: Parnel Robinson is a St. Vincent and the Grenadines born artist with a particular interest in his Garifuna Heritage.

His work (art) and research have, in the main, represented this interest.

IN RECENT YEARS, the earth has yielded evidence of the presence of Indigenous Peoples in Hairoun, our homeland (Hairoun, Youlou, Yurumein in Lokono, Carina or Garifuna languages). Such finds of great price have been uncovered in Clare Valley and at the site of the Argyle Airport. These artefacts and human remains are treated as evidence of an ancient people, ignoring the presence of the descendants of the indigenous people North of the Dry River, the Massarica and Marriaqua Valleys, Camden Park, Rose Hall, the Grenadines, and in scattered villages and homes throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines. They also ignore the elegant artistic rock carvings above the ground that tell an indelible tale of the longevity and civilisation of the Indigenous People.

An interwoven world Whether or not, we interpret the carvings correctly, the message is clear: Indigenous people believe in the connectedness

The owl was also commonplace in Taino art – and symbolized a connection with the lost ancestors.

Artefacts, like these dating back to 1600, found in Clare Valley, St. Vincent, may hold certain life lessons, the author advances. of all creation — the ancestors or spirits of the dead are present among the living.

The Petroglyph at Barrouallie – a strong presence and The spiritual world is interwoven in the message of indigenous art and industry. natural world, and therefore, presents a world view that is completely opposite Arroyo points out, nocturnal consumption of guavas from the colonizer, who perceived nature as is primarily attributed to tropical bats, which spend something separate, to be controlled and plundered their days hidden in caves. This similarity, along for profit. with the frequency of bat motifs in Taino/Lokono art, has led scholars to investigate possible Symbolism associations between death and the symbol of the bat, in Taino/Lokono religious culture.

According to information I gathered in my The owl was seen as a symbol of death for the research, the Petroglyphs were the medium for Taino/Lokono. There are folk tales still in circulation establishing and communicating this belief. To the that perpetuate the belief that the call of an owl indigenous people, the physical manifestation of the heralds the end of a human life. However, the ancestor was the ‘Bat’ and other creatures of the artefacts show more concentration on the Bat night which inhabited caves by day and emerged at images, as found in the ceramic pottery of the night. Even today, the most ‘feared’ flying creatures Saladoid age. of the night are bats and owls.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is well endowed The spirits of the dead were thought to come out with the messages of the past — the recently at night and feed discovered Saladoid pottery, the artefacts and themselves on guava human remains at the site of the Argyle Airport, fruit. As Stevensand the Rock Carvings or Petroglyphs.

The bat featured prominently in Taino art, to represent the spirits of ancestors.

Garifuna Conference set to open here THE 3RD INTERNATIONAL GARIFUNA Conference, a collaboration involving The Garifuna Heritage Foundation and the UWI Open Campus, gets going here on Monday 10th October, with an opening ceremony scheduled to commence at 5:30 p.m at the Methodist Church Hall, Kingstown.

The opening ceremony will hear a feature address by Profssor Hilary Beckles, Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI), on the Conference theme; ‘The Garifuna Diaspora: Yurumein and St. Vincent and the Grenadines — Retrieval, Inclusion, Reparation’.

The Conference moves into full sessions on Tuesday 11th October at the Peace Memorial Hall, with three Panel Presentations, the first on ‘Retrieval Techniques and Research Methodology’, led by panelists Mrs. Jeon Adams-Julien and Mrs. Jeon Adams-Julien, librarians, National Library Services, and Mr. Paul Lewis — Historian and Educator.

Tuesday’s second presentation on Developing Relevant Educational Curriculum for Indigenous People will be led by: Professor Guillermo Guevara Dean of the National Experimental University of Tauca, Venezuela; Dr. Karen Martinez - Dean of the Stann Creek Ecumenical Junior College, Belize ; and Dr. Désha Osborne Adjunct Assistant Professor, Hunter College, City University of New York, USA. A third presentation on Tuesday will focus on the ‘History of the Kalinago/Garifuna People: Pre and Post Exile of 1797’ . with presenters being : Ms. Vanessa Demirciyan — Anthropologist, Independent Researcher, Director of the Alliance Française of St. Vincent and the Grenadines ; Dr. Cleve Scott — Professor, Department of History, UWI, Cave Hill Campus; and Dr. Adrian Fraser — Historian, Former Resident Tutor, UWI Open Campus.

The final day of the

Conference, Wednesday 12th October, opens with a presentation on’Reparations and the Indigenous Cultural Experience’, featuring presenters Ms. Shenella Charles - PhD student, University of Toronto, Canada ; Dr. Garrey Dennie History Professor, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, USA; and Dr. Lennox Honychurch - History Lecturer, Researcher and former Resident Tutor, UWI Open Campus.

The final conference presentation before an open plenary session, will focus on ‘Actions for Indigenous Retrieval’, during which presnetations are to be made by Mr. John Nero — of the ‘Greiggs village projects’: Mr. Augustine ‘Sardo’ Sutherland Sandy Bay, St. Vincent and the pirogue project ; and Mrs. Deirdre Millington-Myers - Chairperson of the SVG National Trust, St. Vincent.

A closing ceremony is scheduled for 1 :00pm on Wednesday 12th October, at the Peace Memorial Hall.

Lessons from the petroglyph, artefacts The Petroglyphs were the medium for establishing and communicating this belief. The powerful, spiritual or supernatural force affected life and death, hunting, weather patterns, illness, planting and harvest, and war, peace and conflict.

The indigenous peoples carved the faces and life ways of their dead on the rocks in the spaces where their ancestors gathered, within caves or water pools - a place to come and communicate with the ancestors — calling for rain, healing for the sick, and to ensure a healthy and prosperous community.

This should awaken us to the location of our petroglyphs, for undoubtedly they are near water.

Undoubtedly, the grinding stones are situated in water or even nearer to water than the petroglyphs.

The Petroglyph at Barrouallie, originally faced the setting sun, and was located near to a swift flowing river. In this River was found a grinding stone, evidence we now know of the Shamans carrying out their spiritual work and making of medicine. The water also served as Mirrors of the body and the things of nature around, adding to the keen sense of the supernatural.

Could it be that the resurrection of these artefacts and human remains represent a call for the gathering of the people? Can it be that an understanding of their meaning would lead to spiritual reflection, promote peace and harmony, and a return to the “hospitality” for which the country was once renowned?

We must pay attention to the living evidence of our ancestors and their life ways, lessons from which can hold the key to peace and prosperity today. This is an issue for the Reparations Committee.

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20. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

ThatÊs her right!!

Dear George,

them in her presence.

MY WIFE asked her mother to watch our two young children, ages 5 and 7, just two days a week, while she goes out to work. Her mother refused, saying that she already did her time of babysitting.

George, she is retired and is very strong physically. I see no reason why she could not do us that one favour. She sits around all day doing absolutely nothing, and yet she refuses to be there for her grandchildren.

My wife has since resorted to hiring a babysitter. That is money we could have well saved.

I am annoyed with my motherin-law to the point that I find it difficult to even communicate with her. I am now considering keeping my children away from her because she does not deserve to have the pleasure of having

Peeved Father

Dear George,

explain in detail why her service is so needed. If that still does not work, then it is both your responsibility to find child care services for your children.

Surely it would be nice to have Grandma pitch in, but, as she said, she has retired and now chooses to spend her retirement stress-free and without work obligations. That is her right; do not be upset at her for exercising it.

I WENT TO pick up my wife at her work place, and boy, was I shocked to see what was going down between her and another employee. My six-month pregnant wife was with her top raised and this man was rubbing her belly. I could not believe my eyes, and I almost blew my fuse.

I asked her what was she doing, and as soon as she heard my voice, she quickly pulled her top down and told her co-worker, “Later.” He got up from his knees and went his way.

I asked her to explain what was going on, and she refused.

As I was leaving, another of her co-workers, who witnessed the entire scene, called to me saying, “You should have seen what was going on yesterday....” I asked my wife what happened the day before, and she said, “Don’t bother with her, she is a trouble maker.”

I cannot believe that that my pregnant wife could be cheating on me. Other questions began to creep into my mind such as whether this child could be mine or the man who was rubbing her belly.

George

Disturbed

Dear Peeved Father, You need to realize that your wife`s mother would have been doing you both a huge favour to ``watch`` the children, as requested. She has the right to refuse. I do believe, however, that her response would have been different if it was a one off request instead of it, I assume, being for an indefinite period.

That said, you would be overreacting, should you choose to keep your children away from her. There is no need to stoop to that level.

If hiring a babysitter is such a financial strain for you both, then I encourage you to revisit the issue. Give her a time frame and

Another doing what I should do

Dear Disturbed,

Getting over a ‘big’ problem Dear George, I TOLD MY very good girlfriend that my husband is “too big” for me, and I am having serious problems accommodating him. I am thirty-five years and this girl is twenty-one years old, but she looks younger. This girl had the brass face to tell my husband what I told her, and offered to handle whatever he has.

George, for more than three months now she and my husband have been at it. I found a text message that he sent to her, telling her that she is like a “movie star”, and he likes how she can do what I cannot do. I showed him the text, and all he said was “Well, if you cannot handle me then I had to find someone who can”. I then told him that I would find a man who has something smaller and who can satisfy me just as well. He then said that I would regret the day I did something likle that. That sounded like a threat to me, and I am wondering if I should report it to the police.

Unhappy Dear Unhappy, The first thing you should learn from this experience is that It is never a good idea to bring a 3rd party into a marriage.

Things should not have reached this far, and both you and your husband need to get a grip of things soonest.

He needs to realize that how going outside of the marriage for sexual satisfaction can only destroy that marriage, and you need to recognise that fighting fire with fire will only provide more destructive heat and will not work. Tit for tat never results in a win-win for anyone.

Rather than thinking of involving the police, why not involve a marriage counsellor instead? The initial problem that you described can be worked on and hopefully yield more favourable results, as far as mutual sexual satisfaction and your marriage are concerned.

George

Your wife should not have put herself in such a compromising situation. Regardless of what explanation she could possibly give, it is not proper for her to have another man - her co-worker - engaging in a task that ought to be left to you.

What has to happen is a very frank and adult discussion between you two on the subject, i.e. you letting her know how what she did made you feel, and she letting you know what would have possibly driven her to that point.

As for your doubts on whether the child is yours or not, you have to assume the responsibility of fatherhood until it can be proved otherwise. If those doubts persist after birth, then you would need to get a paternity test to put your mind at ease.

In the meantime, it is evident that there is need to work on the trust issues that presently cloud the marriage. Do not hesitate to go see a marriage counsellor if this becomes too much to handle alone.

George

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21‐ April 20) Get out and rub shoulders with people in high positions if possible. Try to visit friends or relatives you don't get to see often. Be careful not to push your luck or take too much for granted when dealing on either a personal or professional level. Don't let your emotions interfere with your efficiency.

TAURUS (Apr. 21‐ May 21) Focus, and concentrate on yourself and your future. You can surprise members of your family, which in turn will bring you a pat on the back. Be prepared to counteract the damage that adversaries are about to create. All your energy should be directed into moneymaking opportunities.

GEMINI (May 22‐June 21) Unexpected events may upset your routine. Your lack of attention may have been a factor. Sign up for courses that will help you understand yourself better.

You are best to avoid confrontations.

CANCER (June 22‐July 22) Put your efforts into moneymaking ventures. Chances are you could get stuck with a colleague's job unexpectedly. Be careful when dealing with superiors. Opportunities to upgrade your living standards will come through your lover or through joint financial investments.

LEO (July 23‐Aug 22) Changes at home might come fast and furious. You will easily charm members of the opposite sex. Sudden changes concerning co‐workers may surprise you.

Try not to hesitate; act on your initial instincts.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 ‐Sept. 23) Your sensitivity toward those you love will capture their hearts. You would do best to move quickly and to get in good with the boss. You must be extremely careful not to let relatives or friends interfere in your personal life. Time spent with family, children, or good friends will be regenerating and positive.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 ‐Oct. 23) You can make favorable real estate offers this week. Be careful not to take on other people's problems. You may find yourself in a financial bind. Older family members may try to make demands that are impossible for you to handle. This may not be the day to get involved in risky joint financial ventures.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 ‐ Nov. 22) You need to control your temper and deal with the situation rationally. You'll find love and you'll get into tiptop shape at the same time. Avoid lovers who already have a relationship, even if it is a bad one. Secret affairs will come back to haunt you.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 ‐Dec. 21) Don't let emotional upset force you into the poorhouse. You need an outlet that will help take your mind off any troubles at work. Opportunities will come through long term investments. You can make major gains if you talk to your boss about your findings.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.‐ Jan. 20) Your boss may be pushy. Problems with relatives and friends could surface. Secret enemies will be eager to spread rumors about you. Make changes in your domestic scene.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.‐ Feb. 19) Don't hold back; go with the flow and take a bit of a chance. Try not to judge too quickly. Your suggestions for fund raising events will be well received. Try looking into new ways to make extra money.

PISCES (Feb. 20‐Mar. 20) Take time to deal with the concerns of children. Be careful not to exaggerate when interacting with your lover. Trips, educational pursuits, or projects that could lead to new outlooks should be on your agenda. Extravagance and overindulgence are not a cure if you're feeling sorry for yourself.

ACROSS

51. __ and on 54. Disturbance 1.Superlative 55. Author suffix Anais 4. Certain 56. Business‐ investments person’s (abbr.) deg.

7. Pack tightly 57. Spanish 11. __ York City custard 12. Summerlike dessert 13. Flies alone 58. “__ Shorty” 15. __ Paulo (Travolta 16. High homage film) 18. Spanish title 59. Iniquity 20. Valiant person DOWN 21. Extreme animosity 1.Pulver, e.g.

23. Sideslip (abbr.)

25. Omaha’s 2. Red or Black state (abbr.)

3. Ballroom 26. Severe dance of 28. Crab’s mood yore (hyph.)

30. Subjects for 4. Detective discussion Charlie 32. Trapped 5. Dummies 36. Breaks a fast 6. Large‐billed 38. Somber birds 39. Maple’s fluid 7. Civil War 42. Operatic side (abbr.) melody 8. Philip who 44. Draft status wrote (hyph.)

“Goodbye, 45. Skipper’s Columbus” direction 9. E.T., e.g.

47. Grown 10. Garry or people Melba 49. Part of 14. Uppity WWW person

17. Comes down in buckets 19. Ghostly 21. After FDR 22. From __ Z (2 wds.)

24. Bell sound 27. March Madness org.

29. Predicting card 31. Hat material 33. Kidnappers’ demands 34. Seth’s mom 35. Narc’s org.

37. Aluminum __(house

cover) 39. Like milled wood 40. Unfriendly 41. Pauline’s plight 43. Murphy of “The Quiet

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. 21.

American” 46. Actress Lanchester 48. Fasting season 50. Snug retreat 52. Hoover’s gp.

53. Ceiling __

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22. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Tributes

Leo Anthony laid to rest LEOPOLD ANTHONY, renowned Head Teacher, musician, folklorist and social activist, was laid to rest in his native Troumaca, Saturday 1st October, 2016.

His burial followed a funeral service at the Kingstown Methodist Church, which featured a number of tributes in music and words, and a stirring message from Superintendent of the Methodist Kingstown-Chateaubelair Circuit, Rev. Adolf Davis.

Among those in attendance at the service was Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves who, in an unscheduled tribute, committed to suggesting to

One of a number of fitting musical tributes to a maestro.

Cabinet that one of the eight schools in North Leeward be named in honour of Anthony.

The Prime Minister’s hope is that in so honouring Anthony, the act will go some way in breaching the syndrome of forgetting people and their contribution soon after their deaths.

The turnout at last Saturday’s service was a fitting demonstration of the diversity of lives which Leopold Anthony impacted.

And as we bid farewell, we recall last week’s issue of THE VINCENTIAN, in which another son of Troumaca, Leroy Mulraine, retired Deputy Chief Education Officer and Leopold teacher par excellence, Anthony described Leopold Anthony thus: “Music was his ‘craze’; he lived music, and enjoyed playing any genre, from religious to calypso. He played both individually and with local bands, including the famous Mc

Getting ready to send Leopold Anthony to his beloved Troumaca, his final resting place.

Intosh Orchestra in the 50s and 60s.

“Leo was at home with all types of instrumentswind, strings, percussion, and not only taught others how to play them, but made some himself.

But his favourites were the saxophone and the violin, the latter he was never without, especially at funerals. He even took it to Cuba when he went there with a Vision Now contingent”.

It is not far-fetched to believe that Leopold Anthony is among the cherubims fiddling away on his treasured violin, much to the delight of an audience of good souls like himself.

May he rest in peace.

Celebration of the life of Creighton Teroy Bacchus CREIGHTON TEROY BACCHUS was born to Gladys Bacchus nee Browne and Albert Bacchus, on the 14th February 1930. His parents were of mixed race and lived at Richland Park where they managed a grocery shop and were also engaged in farming. He received his Primary Education at the Marriaqua Government School and by the age of fourteen, he was selected as a Part Time Teacher in the same school, earning the grand salary of $6.00 per month, but his take home pay was $5.96 (4 cents for stamp). He, however, continued in the Teaching Profession, attaining the grade of Student Teacher by 1948.

For two years he was employed as clerk in the office of Lawyer Raddix, and later joined Her Majesty’s Prison Service, with the main intention to assist with training the prisoners towards rehabilitation. He did not believe in incarceration just for the sake of punishing offenders, but that the prisoners would have time for reflection and consequently change from criminal activities. Things did not go the way he expected or planned, so he resigned from the Prison Service in 1960.

In the meanwhile, he met and married the very charming Jemima Sharpe, a librarian from Chapman, and they produced some very intelligent and gifted children, prominent among them: Kay, who is undoubtedly one of the leading lawyers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Hyacinth, Interior Decorator and Co-owner and Director of Kalos Inc., a uniform manufacturing company in Antigua; Dawn, Honorary Dr. Of Divinity from The Universal Ministries Chicago USA and Fashion Designer; Bertram, Operations Supervisor at Sol EC LTD; Gregory, an acclaimed musician; Anthony, Director of the Milargo

Educational Center for Youths in Palm Beach, Florida; Lennox, Alden, Suzette and Brian, a prominent farmer and mechanic.

Having left the Prison Service, he embarked upon a career in the Life Insurance business, becoming the first Life Underwriter for the British American Life Insurance Company in St. Vincent. Because of his dogged determination to build a successful business and make British American Life Insurance Company a household name, the company (later called British-American Insurance Company) entrusted him with the leading portfolio as manager; and later promoted him to Regional Manager of the islands.

One can say, without fear of contradiction, that he started the Company from scratch in a very competitive market and, on his retirement, it was a powerful financial organization with hundreds of policyholders and attracting investors, more like a bank, offering eight per cent interest on investments. He had a force of fourteen agents in the field, with Winston Venner and Albie Mc Gowan as Unit Managers. Winston succeeded him as Manager, and Albie left after a while to set up and manage his own mobile bar and restaurant. Alas, however, with the passing of time and a most unwelcome and unpleasant change of circumstances, that reputable company, British American, lost its way and has left a lot of policyholders and investors in the cold. It was indeed heart rending for Creighton to see the baby he nurtured meet so ignoble an end. He lost his pension, as British American Insurance Co. (BAICO) failed, and many investors lost their deposits due to mismanagement by succeeding managers in Trinidad & Tobago. His

own ex-wife also virtually lost her investment, and so did his daughter Kay. Creighton was indeed a family man and came from a closely knit family of three brothers: Hubert in the USA; Marcus and Marson deceased; four sisters, Germain, who is present here today, and Anella, Gertie and Carmelita deceased.

His mother Gladys insisted that they attended school regularly. He benefited from a Christian upbringing, attending the Marriaqua Anglican Church sometimes twice on Sundays. He later became a member of the Kingstown Methodist Church and was appointed a Society Steward along with R.N. Eustace and Alpheus King by the late Rev. Errol Wiltshire.

Creighton Bacchus became a member of many social organizations, prominent among them being: the Jaycees of which he was a founding member; the Rotary Club of which he became president, attaining its highest award - the Paul Harris Fellow; President of the Mental Health Association; founder member of the Neighborhood Watch and other allied voluntary organizations.

He believed in serving the community, despite its challenges, and for his community spiritedness and genuine involvement he was granted the most prestigious award of Officer of the British Empire (OBE), on 31st December 2002.

Under his watch at Rotary, he founded the Bequia Rotary Club. Pipe borne water was installed at Zion Hill and in the Sandy Bay area. He was also instrumental in starting the “small appliance electrical” course through the Rotary Club, and he has impacted the lives through this course. At Mental Health, he organized and obtained new laundry machines, stoves, refrigerators and

other appliances for the Centre, including beds, mattresses and pillows for the inmates. At Jaycees in Stoney Ground, the array of wellfounded Creighton Teroy Senators speaks for its , Bacchus (1930 – 2016) and it is a veritable training ground in all aspects of management. The Neighborhood Watch at Queen’s Drive is still alive and well, and perhaps the most prestigious among others of its kind in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

After his divorce, he met Cecelia DaBreo, and they formed a lasting relationship which existed until she passed away. She loved his elderly mother dearly who came to live with him when she became immobile through age. Sis took loving care of her for over six years until she died in 1987 at the grand age of 88 years.

Creighton also enjoyed fishing, farming, playing the guitar and playing cricket.

He spent his last years quietly at his residence in Queens Drive, enjoying light gardening and with introspection and devotion to God. He was indeed a blessed man who made his mark though his community spirited work as referred.

He lived a full life and left his footprints in the sand. He retired to a better place on September 21st at the age of 86.

I know he is with his Lord. Rest well, Creighton.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. 23.

TASVG to host Physical Literacy workshop

Coach Nicole Sandy-Stevenson (arms raised) making a (L-R): Skiddy Francis-Crick shares a smile with point to Maxine James during a practice session of the Juliet Cumberbatch, Bownie Allicott and senior national netball team, at the Kingstown Netball Shannique DeShong at last Monday’s practice.

Centre last Monday.

Seasoned netballers return to the national fold

recall of the players became necessary after a combination of a lack of interest shown by the YEARS AFTER BELIEVING younger players, that their days of national migration of some who representation were over, would have contended for several ex St Vincent and national team places, the Grenadines netballers medical issues, and cases have been asked to give it of others pursuing studies another go.

Among those recalled to overseas.

This confluence of make a bid for places on this country’s senior team circumstances left the executive of the St Vincent are ace goal shooter and the Grenadines Skiddy Francis-Crick, Netball Association Rose Clair Hall and (SVGNA) and the selectors Kaylene Thompson. with no other choice.

They are part of a St Vincent and the training squad, under Grenadines senior netball coach- Nicole Sandyteam last participated in Stevenson, which is the American Federation preparing for a of Netball Associations qualification tournament (AFNA) qualifiers which set for St Maarten from were held in St Lucia in 20th to 24th October.

2010.

Reports are that the

In that team, both Hall and Thompson donned the gold, green and blue colours of SVG. FrancisCrick last represented St Vincent and the Grenadines in 2008.

Despite being in her mid-40s, Francis- Crick is still the leading goal shooter in the annual national netball club tournament, and over the years has roped in countless awards for her dominance in the goal circle, for her club Maple.

She holds a national record of burying over 100 goals, 106 to be exact, in a local club match back in 2000.

St Vincent and the Grenadines’ added push to be part of the tournament later this month is to get

back on the rankings since a prolonged period of inactivity resulted in SVG not having a place on the International Netball Federation (INF) world rankings table; neither does it have a rating.

In order for teams to earn points on the ranking table, they have to be engaged in a minimum of eight competitive matches during the period under review. Fewer than eight matches means the team will receive only a rating.

Furthermore, to have a ranking, a team must have played at least two matches versus a rated team.

At present, there are 35 ranked teams and 9 teams with ratings.

Lawn Tennis Association sowing seeds THE SAINT VINCENT TENNIS ASSOCIATION has been, in the last few weeks, sowing seeds for the growth of the sport among the youth.

Several active coaches, whom the Association commended for their efforts aimed at developing the sport here, have received balls, this made possible as a result of this country hosting the ITF junior tournament in August of this year.

More recently, Monday 26th September, the Bethel High School was the recipient of a starter kit, which included a quantity of balls and racquets, and a junior net.

That donation was handed over by President of the Association Mr. Brian Nash to the school’s principal, Mrs. Miriam Pompey.

Physical education teacher at school, Mr. Theon Gordon, expressed his appreciation for the equipment, seeing it as a significant addition to the sports and physical education programme at the school.

In a statement since the handing over, the Association said that it recognised that the donation was a modest one, but “believes that the value of the exposure to the sport is priceless.”

According to the release, tennis is one of the sports that have great opportunities for scholarships, as borne out by the number of Vincentians who have furthered their education through this avenue.

The Association, through the release, also lamented the recent

The presentation party at the Bethel High School included students, PE Teacher Theon Gordon (extreme left), PE Teacher Ramon Johnson (back), Principal Mrs. Miriam Pompey (4th from right) and President Brian Nash (2nd from right). closure of the Grassroot Tennis Club’s operation at Murray Road.

President Nash gave the assurance that his Association’s efforts to solicit equipment, etc., for use in “sowing the seed,”

was ongoing, and used the occasion of the release to appeal to the local corporate sector and the Vincentian Diaspora to continue investing in the sport.

THE NEXT ITEM on the Team Athletics SVG component of the Long Term Athlete Development Programme here is a two-day workshop focusing on ‘Physical Literacy’.

The TASVG, according to one of its officials, is making every effort to get the coaches especially to attend the workshop, which runs from October 13 — 14.

Topics to be addressed in the workshop are the broad areas of: ‘the meaning of Physical Literacy Drew Mitchell and why it is important; and how will facilitate the to develop Physical Literacy Physical Literacy programmes in communities and workshop. organizations.

The ‘Physical Literacy’ workshop will be facilitated by Canadian Drew Mitchell, Director of Physical Literacy for the Sport for Life Society and consultant on the development of physical literacy at the community level. He is an active promoter of the Canadian Sport for Life Movement and has been involved in sport and fitness for over 40 years as an athlete, coach, administrator, volunteer, developer and manager.

Team Athletics SVG is one of five national sports bodies here (others being beach volleyball, swimming, cycling and table tennis) involved in the Long Term Athlete Development Programme, conducted under the auspices of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees and its Sports for Life programme.

In related news, all is set for the staging of the 2016 NACA Chatoyer International Endurance 10K Road race, dubbed the ‘World’s Most Challenging 10k.’

Local runners are expected to match their strength and skill against aatletes from the region and beyond, in the race that is scheduled for Sunday 20th November, beginning at 3:00pm at Gordon Yard, for a finish at the Chateaubelair Playing Field.

Kenyan Kenneth Rotich and Trinidadian Tonya Nero won the male and female categories of the international segment of the 2015 NACAC Chatoyer Endurance 10K, which took place over the same route set for 2016.

Vincy basketballer making waves in Germany Vincentian female basketball player Tieasha (Verdine) Warner, is playing professional basketball in Germany, and she is making an impression for her team- BG74 Veilchen.

In their latest match, Warner, a 6’ 5’’ centre, scored 17 points and had 13 rebounds in her team’s 63-50 victory over Opladen Genwinnen.

Prior to moving to Germany, Tiesha (Verdine) Warner represented Shaw Warner has University in the US circuit before moved her moving on to the European game from the professional circuit with Slovanka hard courts of in the Czech Republic and Kronos SVG to the more in Greece.

Warner, who was born in Lower accommodating ones in Questelles, began her career with Germany.

Bustas Women’s Basketball Club here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Before heading out to the USA, she attended the Lowmans Leeward Anglican School and the St Joseph’s Convent, Kingstown.

Wayne Williams, President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Basketball Federation, under whose guidance Warner was nurtured, expressed satisfaction in seeing one of his products getting by on the professional circuit.

He said that efforts are being made to get more youngsters out, and disclosed that at present, one male player is at an advanced stage of relocating to Taiwan to ply his basketball trade.

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24. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Increased support for Penn Relays “My sisters (Evelyn and Rosita DeShong), Claudette Butler and I started doing the breakfast five years ago,” Yvette DeShong-Laborde told THE VINCENTIAN. “The purpose of the breakfast is to HUNDREDS OF VINCENTIANS and other raise money for the youth from St. Caribbean nationals in the United States Vincent and the Grenadines who on Sept. 24 demonstrated their continued, participate in the Penn Relays,” she unflinching support for the nation’s added. “We have been receiving a lot of participating in the Penn Relays in support, and enjoy doing this for the Philadelphia, by supporting a fundraising kids.”

Prayer Breakfast at the Friends of Crown COSAGO president Laverne Heights Educational Center in Brooklyn, McDowald-Thompson, said it was New York. gratifying to be part of the Prayer Nationals participated in the fifth Breakfast team in aid of St. Vincent and annual event, spearheaded by the the Grenadines’ Penn Relays athletes.

“Friends of COSAGO” [Council of St. “On behalf of COSAGO, I express my Vincent and the Grenadines’ sincere thanks to the group of ladies who Organizations, U.S.A., Inc.], the hosted this event,” she said, adding that Brooklyn-based umbrella Vincentian the funds from the event “help to defray group in the US. The “Friends” comprise the expense of the athletes who come to the DeShong sisters and Claudette participate in these international Thomas-Butler, of Kingstown. games.”

Patrons feasted on mouth-watering James Cordice — the Clare ValleyVincentian delicacies — such as blackfish, born architect behind the country’s roast breadfruit, saltfish, saltfish and participation in the illustrious games tri-tri cakes, doughboy and bakes — and that take place in late April, at the participated in the Praise and Worship, Franklin Field Stadium, at the among other items on the program.

University of Pennsylvania — hailed the Story and photos by NELSON A. KING naking@verizon.net; kingnaking210@yahoo.com US CORRESPONDENT

quartet who spearheaded the Prayer Breakfast, and all who aided in preparing the delicacies.

He also praised Vaughan Toney, “Friends of COSAGO”, L-R: Claudette Thomas-Butler, president and chief executive officer of the ane sisters Yvette DeShong-Laborde, Evelyn Laborde and Rosita Laborde.

Friends of Crown Heights Educational sports as a vehicle for the academic Center for “A1” service in continuing to enhancement and achievement of offer the center free of charge, as well as Vincentians,” he said, making it clear to other organizations, for the event, and that no hurdle will prevent him from to “most of all, you, the patrons, who, continuing to pursue his goal. despite your busy schedule, return each “So, for those who are uninterested in year to support Team SVG [the Penn the advancement of our young people, Relays team].” please stay out of the way,” Cordice For the past six years, only athletes warned. from the Thomas Saunders Secondary Howie Prince, the newly-appointed School have been participating in the New York Counsel General, told patrons Penn Relays. he’s very supportive of the Penn Relays Cordice said the St. Vincent and the effort, adding that he welcomes its Grenadines Grammar School and the advancement.

Community College have also expressed “The job you’re doing is extremely interest this year in participating in the wonderful,” said the former head of the Relays Carnival.

National Emergency Management “The intent of this Penn Relays Organization (NEMO). “That’s one of the Programme, which I initiated, is to use duties why I’m here.”

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. 25.

Sports

Take it or leave it WHEN PLAYERS are selected for duties on the West Indies squad, they have to be professionals, shoulder the burden and fulfil their end of the bargain. They have to determine whether they are playing the game or prefer to display a grouse. If they can’t cope with the antics of the Board, they could say that they are not available, and leave the opportunity for someone who might be willing to enhance his record.

Having faltered in the T/20 segment, the squad produced a carbon copy result in the One Day Internationals. They have to reverse the fortunes so as to avoid a total annihilation.

So the scapegoats will be found. The selectors will attract immediate attention. We have to believe in some degree of authority and, once someone is entrusted with a duty, one expects him to carry it out with the utmost sincerity.

Selection policy is not confining, so if there are new names, unless one is involved in the process, the choice ought to be accepted. Those who are selected must appreciate the honour and do justice to their accreditation.

Our cricketers have become the masters of every facet of the operations, and no can rein them in. The players violate the ethical norms when they engage other forces to intervene on their behalf. The pretext is used that cricket is a public affair and ought not to be left to the whims and fancy of the West Indies Cricket Board.

The WICB may be whatever it is. They have still managed to exist as a body and functions however disparately. CARICOM is not nearly on course to establishing meaningful integration, in spite of its apparent advances. So pound for pound, West Indies cricket has a greater regional appeal than any form of intra —regional structure.

How do we decide who takes care of what? It will be inevitable that persons outside the political realm will have to take charge of sporting administration.

This region is a free one, where democracy at the political level has assumed varying degrees of interpretation, depending on a number of factors.

Some of those same elements play out in the sporting bodies, sometimes as forerunners to the real deal, or even after some enthusiasts have completed their political journey.

West Indies Cricket has outlined its intention of maintaining the Brand. It has built up some value based on its era of dominance and tendency to stir up emotions however unfulfilled they may be. For some time, enough money was generated to keep the entity in existence.

Players may have become spoiled by their prolonged period of easy takings. That is by match fees without the incentive of continued additional earnings for success.

And when the Board tried to spread out the network so that other players may be able to equip themselves, it was the very players who blamed the West Indies Players Association for “selling them out.”

So there exists a Players Association and a group of individuals who appear incapable of being managed by anyone. They count on the support of regional policiticals who they resort to as Trade Union representatives.

There ought not to be a situation where regional cricket struggles for the creation of reservoirs as will emerge from cricket at the junior level. A vibrant Under 15 championship must be priority in all the region’s territories.

Quick attention to those areas will be more a tangible means of reviving West Indies Cricket than outbursts, occasionally or frequently, by former West Indian players, administrators or political leaders.

Aussies again in Bequia Premier League KNIGHTS TRADING AUSSIES have once again bossed the Bequia Premier League 20/20 Cricket Competition.

The multi winners of the competition, last Sunday, demolished Sugar Reef Bequia United at the Clive Tannis Playing Field.

Batting first, Aussies posted 213 for 5 from 19 overs, as rain and a late start reduced the maximum set of overs by one.

The total was constructed by the Browne siblings. Shem headed up with a hard hitting 75, including 7 sixes and 3 fours.

Razine lashed 5 sixes and a four in his 45 not out, while Salvan stroked 41, including 5 sixes and a four, and Dean’s 20 runs, saw him belting a pair of fours.

Amidst the Browne’s show, Adinol Richards picked up 2 for 65.

As they had done with the bat, the Brownes starred with the ball.

Dean took 3 for 20, and another

Browne, Braxie, 2 for 15.

However, returning the best bowling analysis was Meshack Williams with 3 for 19.

Their combined efforts resulted in Bequia United dismissed for 75 in 11.5 overs.

Seven times winners of the Bequia 20/20 cricket In getting to competition- Knights Trading Aussies. the finals, Aussies Youth Combine. Titles in 2010, defeated Davis Construction 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Friendship United, while Sugar make up the tally.

Reef Bequia United stopped Youth Combine won the Bequia Venture/ Boss Marine inaugural competition in 2007 as Royal Challengers in their semiwell as 2009, as they too had a final showdowns.

Sunday’s win was the Aussies’ hat trick of titles.

The other title was taken by seventh hold on the title and their Sugar Reef Bequia United in second hat trick.

Aussies’ first lien came in 2008, 2013. Bequia United is an offshoot of Youth Combine. when they shared the title with

Middlesex in sight of another title AFTER WINNING the 2016 Brooklyn T20 Cricket League title two weekends ago, Middlesex is one win away from capturing another title when they qualified for the finals of the knockout 50 overs tournament.

Middlesex booked their way to the finals when they beat Cavaliers by 6 wickets at Marine Park A in Brooklyn, last weekend.

Cavaliers made 165 for 6 from 25 overs. Denville Mc Kenzie led with 98 not out and Timothy Warner hit 36. Bowling for Middlesex, Tegana Mckenzie took 3 for 22 and leg spinner Donovan Nelson had 2 for 45.

Middlesex replied with 166 for

4. Debru Bhattacharya led the run chase with a magnificent 70; Mark Audain hit a gritty 24 and Donovan Nelson a responsible 21

Firms Street Cricket gets assistance EAST CARIBBEAN Bottlers Inc. / ECGC has put its support behind the Independence Firms Street 20 Cricket competition, to be hosted jointly by the National Sports Council (NSC) and the Division of Physical Education and Sports.

Sixteen teams are slated to Mr. Felipe King, Shipping Clerk-ECGC (right), compete in the soft presenting cheque to Mr. Lance John, ball, five overs Facilities Manager of the National Sports competition, which Council. will get going at 5:00pm this Saturday, October 8, and climax on Saturday, October 29.

Mr. Lance John, Facilities Manager of the National Sports Council, was present at ECGC on Friday, September 30th to receive a monetary donation.

Teams will be competing for a first place cash prize of EC $1500.

The winner will also be granted access to the Arnos Vale Sports Complex for the hosting of one event. The 2nd place team will receive EC $1000, and EC $800 will go to the 3rd place team.

This latest gesture is in keeping with ECGC and its subsidiaries’ continued demonstration of its preparedness to play a significant role in the overall development of athletic talent in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Middlesex (fielding) in action in the Brooklyn 50 Overs Cricket league. not out. Nicholas Brown with 2 for 28 was Cavaliers best bowler.

Middlesex will take on Junoon Cricket Club in the Final at Marine Park on Saturday, October 8th.

Earlier in other weekend matches, Cavaliers beat Imperial by a faster run rate after bad light stopped play.

Imperial made 140 for 8 from 30 overs. Foster Lewis topscored with 49. Bowling for Cavaliers, Orlando Mofford took 3 for 11, Denville McKenzie 2 for 23.

Cavaliers in reply were 105 for 4 when bad light stopped play.

Alston Michael hit 36 as the main contributor. J. Simon took 2 for 43, and A. Biko 2 for 13 for Imperial.

Middlesex beat Queensbury by7 wickets in a match reduced to 25 overs a side, due to wet pitch condition. Middlesex won the toss and inserted Queensbury.

Queensbury made 116 all out in 18.3 overs. Bowling for Middlesex, Captain Rod Michael took 2 for 21 and Mark Audain 2 for 22.

Middlesex replied with 119 for 3 wickets. Opener Mark Audain hit a magnificent 60 not out.

Bowling for Queensbury, Fitzroy Ceasar took 2 for 20.

I.B.A.ALLEN

V

26. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Cumberbatch is VINLEC ‘Fan of the week’ MRS. FELICIA CUMBERBATCH is the first of four persons who will be rewarded with $150.00 credit on an electricity account.

She has been so rewarded after winning the first ‘Fan of the Week Competition’ on the Facebook Page hosted by St. Vincent Electricity Services Limited.

The sole (L-R): Felicia Cumberbatch, electricity winner of Week I of VINLEC’s company, which ‘Fan of the Week’ Competition, previously used with Tamara Job-Sprott, traditional VINLEC’s Communications communication Officer. channels, launched its Facebook account in June, with the aim of using Social Media as an additional communication tool.

Communications Officer at VINLEC Mrs. Tamara Job-Sprott says that VINLEC’s decision to actively engage in Social Media is primarily to improve communication and customer relations.

She noted that Social Media allows VINLEC to engage customers in a more direct way, and also allows the Company to connect with individuals and companies who share similar business interests or activities.

The ‘Fan of the Week’ competition is a way for the Company to inform, educate, engage and reward members of the public who are active on VINLEC’s Facebook page. The competition, which was started on September 26th, requires persons to like, share or comment on all VINLEC posts for a chance to win credit on their electricity bill. It will end October 21st, 2016.

Persons interested in participating in the competition or accessing content, can do so by searching ‘St Vincent Electricity Services Limited’ or ‘VINLEC SVG’ on Facebook. In addition to this platform, VINLEC will in the upcoming weeks launch Twitter and Instagram accounts. Links to other Social media accounts will be posted on the Facebook page and website when they go live.

JCI marks Int’l Day of Peace INTERNATIONAL Day of Peace was celebrated on September 21st, 2016, under the theme “The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace.”

To commemorate this day, Junior Chamber International ( JCI) St. Vincent, formerly known as St. Vincent Jaycees, visited the School for Children with Special Needs (SCSN), Georgetown, and participated in their morning assembly, during which the gathering, which feature songs and a scripture reading appropriate to the occasion.

Principal of the school, Mrs. Charles reminded students that they should be peace makers and at all times, respect each other, help each other, and be gentle.

President of JCI St. Vincent, Shevern LewisJohn explained to students that JCI is collaborating with other organizations across the world in their ‘Peace is Possible’ campaign, because they believe that everlasting world peace is possible, and said, “We wanted to celebrate International Day of Peace with the students because we realize that they are the vulnerable ones in society, so we encouraged them to be open with their teachers, especially when they feel threatened. They all have a part to play in making sure that peace is possible.”

The organisation also donated $200 towards the school’s feeding programme, and pledged its continued support towards the development of the school.

JCI is a global non-profit, non-governmental organization with the main objective of developing and empowering young people and contributing to community growth through active involvement.

V

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2016. 27.

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SVG Masters T20 resumes

The 2016 SVG Masters T20 cricket competition will resume this coming weekend, following the postponement of the scheduled matches for last weekend, due to water logged fields that made play impossible.

Tomorrow, Saturday: Pastures will play RSVG Police from 2pm at Sion Hill; Park Hill play Kirk DaSilva’s LaCroix at Park Hill; G &Sons Glamorgan take on Marriaqua at Arnos Vale One; and Mustique oppose North Leeward at Buccament.

Sunday’s matches will feature, Sion Hill against Computec Belfongo at Sion Hill, and Bequia Cricket Association against SVG Cooperative Bank P’tani at Bequia, from 10am.

Completing the weekend fixture, Mustique face RYB Challengers at Sion Hill; North East play Stanley Browne’s Stubbs at Park Hill, and Rudy’s Electrical Barrouallie take on North Leeward at Buccament, all matches beginning at 2pm, on Sunday .

I.B.A.ALLEN

JENNIE ELAINE WILLIAMS

JERUSHA CHARLES

Testament Church Wilson Hill Monday 3rd October, 2016 3:00 p.m.

Kingstown Methodist Church Wednesday 5th October, 2016 3:00 p.m.

THERESA QUASHIE Apostolic Faith Church Dickson Sunday 2nd October 2016 2:00 p.m.

LEOPOLD D. ANTHONY Kingstown Methodist Church Saturday October 1, 2016 1.00pm

LISA BALLANTYNE Mount Zion Spiritual Baptist Church Questelles Sunday 2nd October, 2016 3:00 p.m.

LUCY CLEMENTINA SMART WILLIAMS S.D. Adventist Church Belle View Sunday 2nd October, 2016 3:00 p.m.

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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ELDERLY WOMAN CLEARED OF GUN, AMMO CHARGES if the person or persons saw because they would have to see with their eyes, A 71-YEAR-OLD WOMAN who was but it is your duty to put them in a slapped with firearm and ammunition position where they could see. If you charges stemming from police searches don’t, the search would not be properly conducted during ‘Operation I Girp’ at done,” he further explained.

Rose Place, Kingstown, July 27 this year, The gun, loaded with the was cleared of those charges at the ammunition, according to Morgan’s Serious Offences Court on Wednesday. evidence, was found on top of a clothes Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne basket in the laundry room. dismissed the charges against Theresa “I noticed a firearm lying on top of ‘T’ Norville, after Senior Prosecutor the rectangular basket. I immediately Adolphus Delpleche informed the showed it to PC Francis, and I called Court that the prosecution would not to Miss Norville and showed it to her. be proceeding any further with the She said, ‘Officer, I don’t know matter. anything about that, that’s not mine’,” When the third prosecution witness, Sergeant Morgan said during his Sergeant Julians Morgan, was about testimony. midway into his testimony, the Senior When contacted, Norville’s lawyer Prosecutor stopped the case and Michaela Ambrose told THE informed the Court of the decision.

VINCENTIAN, “I applaud Sergeant Norville, a resident of Rose Place, Morgan for maintaining his integrity was charged with possession of a semi- and for upholding his oath as a police automatic 9mm pistol without licence officer, in speaking the truth.” and 12 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

Norville is also charged with She had pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the trial had commenced on Wednesday.

Speaking with THE VINCENTIAN minutes after the charges against

by DAYLE DA SILVA Norville were dismissed, Delpleche explained that the way the evidence PRIME MINISTER Dr Ralph unfolded, specifically in relation to Gonsalves has revealed the name of Sergeant Morgan, who had found the the investment company that is gun loaded with the ammunition expected to purchase 36.7 acres of during a search of Norville’s premises at Rose Place, he concluded that the prosecution would not have been able to successfully prosecute the matter.

Delpleche told THE VINCENTIAN that Morgan, in his testimony, said Norville was sitting about 8 feet from where he found the firearm, and he had to call her to show it to her.

The Prosecutor also noted that the Sergeant told the Court that he was not certain if the defendant could have seen where he found the gun because his back was turned.

“The police officer or officers who are conducting the search have to make sure that the person/persons whose places are being searched are in a position to see what is being done.

“If they (persons) want to close their eyes, is a matter for them; but you, the investigator, ought to be able to say that they were in a position where they could have seen,” the Senior Prosecutor pointed out.

“As an investigator, you cannot say

by HAYDN HUGGINS

possession of ten grams of marijuana and three grams of cocaine, but those matters have been adjourned to January 30.

‘Operation I Girp’, a continued effort by the local constabulary to take illegal guns off the streets, saw Rose Place locked down for some four hours, during which police, through a combined effort of mainly operational units, carried out searches on persons, houses and other structures.

Norville was the only one held on gun and ammunition charges.

Other persons apprehended during the swoop were taken to Court on drug-related charges.

Theresa ‘T’ Norville, freed of gun related charges, is a wellknown and respected member of the Rose Place community.

Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche found that the investigation process was not properly done.

DEVELOPERSÊ IDENTITY REVEALED land at Mount Wynne/Peter’s Hope for development.

Speaking on Tuesday at Cabinet Room, Gonsalves told members of the media that the name of the company is Pace Developments and is located in

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

Toronto, Canada.

He went on to say that they had registered a local company, and that two directors were here getting things in order after bringing a proposal to the government.

“And we refined the proposal and we have agreed on two parcels of land, one of 31 acres and the other of 5.7 acres,” Gonsalves said.

The lands have been sold for EC$7m.

Due diligence was conducted, according to the Prime Minister, with a number of local entities involved in the process, including Invest SVG, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), National Properties, the Surveys Department, the Ministry of Finance and the office of the Attorney General.

“I don’t pick up government property and sell it just so. I have to know reasonably that we have something that we can work with,” he said.

Mt. Wynne – Peter’s Hope where some 36.1 acres of land have been sold for development by a Canadian company.

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