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FRIDAY,

SEPTEMBER 08, 2017

VOLUME 111, No.36

www.thevincentian.com

EC$1.50

SIMONIA’S DREAMS

UNFULFILLED SIMONIA DA SILVA, a 23-year-old time keeper of Fair Hall, had dreams of giving her mother her first grandchild, and of rebuilding the family home.

Those intentions remain mere dreams, for Simonia was attacked during the wee hours of last Monday (September 4) morning by an angry mob that call themselves ‘Outlawz’, beaten and stabbed about her body, and eventually succumbed to her wounds.

When THE VINCENTIAN visited the family home in Whim, Fair Hall on Tuesday, the family was still in a state of mourning. Between occasional smiles but more tears, family members reflected on the life of someone whom they loved dearly.

“She bin say if she get a work, she would do over the house and leave me downstairs and then go

Crystal Da Silva with Aliyah Da Silva – Simonia’s sisters.

upstairs… I miss me daughter,” said her mother Beverly Da Silva, Simonia’s Beverly Da Siva, as she fought mother, spoke of her back the tears. daughter as being committed To friends and family, to assisting her family.

Simonia will be remembered as someone who laughed a lot and loved fashion, especially

by KENVILLE HORNE shoes.

“She like nice things and she hardly buy her stuff here (in St. Vincent). She does order she stuff and them,” said the grieving mother.

“And she love ice, she can’t go sleep without eating ice,” her younger sister Crystal interjected. “In the middle of the night if she wake up, she going eat ice. She bin love food and plenty meat and would even argue for meat.”

Amidst recounting the events that led to her daughter’s death, Beverly affirmed that it was the first time they (she and her family) had ever been attacked in such an aggressive manner.

She admitted that a few months ago they had a dispute with a few of the persons (L-R sitting): Shevern Da Silva (cousin) holding her son, Beverly Da Silva (mother with daughter Aliyah) and friends of involved in the gang, after one of the girls made a sexual the deceased Lasheika Barbour and Aziza Timm (standing).

Simonia Da Silva suffered and died at the hands of her peers. overture on a female relative and she had to step in, but nothing of the magnitude of what transpired in the early hours of Monday.

She tries to console herself by believing that those who were responsible for her daughter’s death would be brought to justice.

“I would like to see justice for my daughter because that is my first daughter and to see she ain’t reach nowhere in life yet and she dead at 23 years old, I feel it.

A broken window pane - the result of missiles thrown into the Da Continued on Page 3. Silva’s family home at Whim.

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2. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Business

Digicel launches “Smile with Digicel Programme” IN THE SPIRIT of rewarding and thanking customers for their support and loyalty, Digicel last Friday, September 1, launched its SMILE programme - an initiative which saw a number of its customers and This lady (centre front) was all over herself when she received a Big Smile and reward from Digicel.

Vincentians on a whole, being surprised and rewarded with random acts of kindness.

The Digicel SMILE initiative will see the company’s employees popping up in random places - like lunch spots, supermarkets, market place, stores, bus stops — across the country to settle people’s bills in full.

One mother who would have already benefited from the SMILE programme said, “This initiative could not have come at a better time, as parents, including myself and other persons across the country continue to feel the economic pressure from back to school preparations.”

Friday’s launch saw Digicel employees bringing a

number of smiles to persons, including those grabbing a quick snack at Famous Richies, and parents shopping for back to school at E.D Laynes & Sons and Jax Enterprises. Smiles were also brought to the faces of families shopping at Bonadie’s Supermarket and even to the faces of many persons making purchases from vendors along the streets of Kingstown.

“SMILE with Digicel is about giving back to as many people across all of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in meaningful and practical ways,” commented John Davies, Country Manager at Digicel SVG. “We are always looking at ways to give back to the people we serve, and we know that especially at this time of year, customers could use a helping hand, so look out for us as we could next pop up somewhere close to you.”

A happy Bonadies Supermarket customer (centre) gets a big Smile with Digicel.

This female (centre) stopped at Famous Richie’s, and was all smiles after being surprised and rewarded by Digicel.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. 3.

News 3

Fair Hall residents have their say RESIDENTS of Fair Hall agree that many of today’s youth, including those in Fair Hall, are heading in the wrong direction, but there is a level of disagreement about the reasons for the problem.

On the heels of the stabbing death of 23year-old Simonia Da Silva of Fair Hall last Monday, at the hands of a group of young people from the area that is

purported to refer to themselves as the ‘Outlawz’ gang, THE VINCENTIAN spoke with a number of persons in the community, to get an insight into their impressions of the state of the youth in their community.

Many residents were willing to offer their opinion, but all refused to be identified, for fear of reprisal, as

summarized by one person.

What follows is a sample of some of the sentiments expressed.

A male resident pointed out that the current generation, the youth, is “different from before”, and that “they are frustrated, maybe by lack of jobs and other issues at home.”

Another individual, a man in this late 60s, said

that many of the youths in the area behave “uncivilized,” and it is very difficult to speak to them.

“When they have couple dollars in their pocket, nobody big like them. When they work in the day, they party in the night. They don’t work and save nothing for tomorrow,” he said, adding, “They just ignorant. Look at the

The area where the fight began, that reportedly led to the eventual murder. amount of bottles they fired and break up in the road. ... There is no love in the youths around here.”

A male resident who lives close to the area where the fight that

apparently gave rise to the murder started, asked, “Way they parents dey? That is why we have so much problems too, because the parents and them na responsible enough.” (KH)

East St. George MP reacts to killing Simonia’s dreams PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATIVE for the East St. George constituency, Camilo Gonsalves said that the manner in which one of his constituents was stabbed and killed is a real tragedy, that has, unfortunately captured the imagination of the whole country in a sad way.

Simonia DaSilva, a 23-year-old female of Fair Hall, sustained stab wounds about her body after she and her family were chased and attacked by members of a gang called Outlawz, in the wee hours of Monday.

Speaking at the Da Silva’s home on Tuesday, Gonsalves said, “The tragedy has captured the imagination of this community of Whim, wider Fair Hall, East St. George and the entire country because I can’t think that anybody

can recall an incident with a fact pattern like this.”

He added, “Of course, murder is a tragedy, but when you think about the way in which this particular murder was committed, and the individuals who are reported to have committed it, it is heart-wrenching, and I feel terrible for the family, and the entire community is Camillo Gonsalves (2nd from right front), weeping,” MP for East St. George, visited with the Gonsalves said that bereaved family on Tuesday. now is not the time to be pointing fingers in the community, to give them any direction, but rather to rally comfort in this time of great around the family, rally around tragedy. (KH)

unfulfilled Continued from Front Page.

“I feel it especially when I have to come out in my porch and remember all the girls down there with my daughter, and I can’t do nothing to help my daughter, it pains me.”

Shevern Da Silva, Simona’s cousin, expressed regret for not having spent more time with her “favourtie cousin.”

“I did not get enough time with Simonia…. She love when me son come around…. My son na reach the tender age to know Simonia… he going grow up and he na going remember nothing. Is me going have to tell him how much Simonia love him.”

As far as funeral arrangements are concerned, Beverly said that she was thinking of holding the funeral on the 30th September, so as to allow family from overseas to attend.

Simonia Da Silva’s death was listed as the 24th homicide for the year.

Editor’s Note: The family of Simonia Da Silva, as they did with other news agencies, Saboto Caesar, gave THE VINCENTIAN a detailed the youngest account of the events that led to Member of their beloved’s death. They also Parliament here, following the murder of (35) years old being convicted other youth development shared deep sentiments about the has added his reason(s) why she was killed, and Simonia Da Silva of Fair for criminal activities. programmes, we must voice in a call for Hall, in which he noted whom they thought were This, he said, could have advocate ‘Zero tolerance to restraint in our responsible for Simonia’s death. that there has been an been avoided if a higher level intolerance’. communities.

These details have been reported increase of intolerance, of tolerance was exhibited.

“As a people, we must at by those news agencies referred, particularly among the “I will not blame the all times shine bright lights and while, as said, THE SABOTO youths, across communities church, our school system, into the dark corners of CAESAR, in the state. parenting or government, I sexual harassment, domestic VINCENTIAN is privy to those details, it chooses to err on the MP for If not contained, Caesar place the responsibility on violence and other forms of side of caution and not repeat South posited, this could trigger a the individuals to do better,” abuse which, if left Central Windward, Minister series of social ills, and he Caesar declared. unchecked, can be a breeding those details, since, in our understanding of our responsibility of Agriculture and a trained noted that already there has He said that no one is ground for societal youth attorney, has called for been an upsurge in the asking for a straight jacket resentment, deviance and an to matters of this nature that are before the court, to do so could greater tolerance among our entire Caribbean, resulting in society, but with the overall reduction in communities. a large number of persons increased government tolerance,” Caesar cautioned. prejudice the proceedings and outcome of the matter.

Caesar issued a statement under the age of thirty-five expenditure on education and (KH)

Caesar calls for tolerance

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4. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Breakdown the barriers against non-nationals to bail for the Vincentian, but objected ATTORNEY Grant Connell is to Walker’s bail. calling for the removal of Connell argued that barriers that prevent non- Walker was Grenadian nationals from getting and that Grenada was a bail. neighbouring state, and a The call was issued at member of the OECS. the Serious Offences He noted that Court on Wednesday, as Vincentians have gone to the lawyer made a bail neighbouring Caribbean application for Denrol countries and were Walker, a 28-year-old granted bail for various boat captain of Grenada, offences, including who, along with another firearm possession, but Grenadian Elives Moore, in this case, a Grenadian 29, and David Hepburn, was being denied bail for a 38-year-old labourer of ‘bush’.

Vermont, St. Vincent, “This thing about are charged jointly with denying bail because possession of 272 pounds someone is a foreigner of marijuana with intent must stop. It is not this to supply, possession of dreadful drug called the drug for the purpose cocaine. We have to of drug trafficking, and breakdown these attempting to export the barriers. There is drug. nothing to stop this Moore was also Court from granting bail charged separately with to foreigners,” argued having 1,094 grams of Connell, a staunch marijuana with intent to advocate for the supply. decriminalization of Connell represented marijuana. all three defendants, as a He pointed out that it friend of the Court. was in the interest of the When the men state that they be initially appeared at the granted bail, and noted Kingstown Magistrate’s that the objective of bail Court last week, Moore was for the defendant to pleaded guilty to the show up in Court when charges, while the others ordered so to do, and the maintained their amount on the surety innocence. would be a reflection of The matters were then transferred to the Serious Offences Court and adjourned to Monday, when that THIRTY-ONE-YEARCourt resumed sitting.

However, when the OLD Sandrine Mapp is trio appeared at the now nursing wounds at Serious Offences Court the Milton Cato on Monday, Senior Memorial Hospital.

Prosecutor Adolphus A police report said Delpleche did not object

by HAYDN HUGGINS

the risk.

He explained further, that if the Court set the sum on the surety as $250,000 and the defendant does not show up, that amount goes to the state which, in his view, is in need of funds.

According to Connell, that money could buy more medical and school supplies than what the government could supply currently.

But Delpleche, in his response, made it clear that he never called the Grenadian a foreigner, but rather that he was from another jurisdiction.

Connell’s application did not succeed, and Walker was denied bail.

The Vincentian was granted $120,000 bail with one surety, with reporting conditions and ordered to surrender his travel documents. Stop notices will be placed at all ports of entry and exit, and he is not to leave the state without the permission of the Serious Offences Court or a higher Court.

Moore was also

Grant Connell argued for bail for a nonnational, to no avail. remanded, pending sentencing.

The matter has been adjourned to January 29, 2018.

Reports are that the trio was leaving the country on a speedboat when the local Coast Guard intercepted them at Johnson Point, along the upper Edinboro coast, around 9:55pm, August 31.

Another woman chopped that the woman sustained her injuries as a result of being chopped by her ex-boyfriend.

According to police, the attack occurred in

Biabou around 8:50 pm Tuesday.

Police sources also indicated that Mapp was listed in serious condition.

Mapp’s attack follows that which occurred on August 13 when 44-yearold Monique Clarke was doused with a flammable substance and set on fire by boyfriend Pedro Ashton, 33.

She died a few days later while a patient at the MCMH. Clarke, like Mapp, was a resident of Biabou.

And the attack on Clarke came days after 40-year-old Vesta Rawlins, a resident of Richland Park, succumbed to the stab wounds inflicted on her by her boyfriend, 54year-old Emerald Mac. (DD)

Gun case defendant reported missing AT PRESS TIME Wednesday, speculation was rife in some circles regarding a report that Belair resident Cershon Colewoods who was out on bail on firearm and ammunition charges, was missing.

Colewoods is charged with possession of a .38 Taurus revolver and 15 rounds of .38 special ammunition.

When he appeared in Court on May 15 this year, he was granted $50,000 bail with one surety, with reporting conditions, and ordered to surrender his travel documents.

When the matter was called at the Serious Offences Court on Monday, there was no appearance of Colewoods. His lawyer Grant Connell told the Court that the surety had been in contact with Colewoods, and that the defendant was reporting to the Calliaqua Police Station.

However, when he failed to report and the surety lost contact with him, a report was made to the police that he was missing.

Connell said that he understands that the police were investigating that report, and should be allowed to complete their investigations before the Court orders the issuing of a summons for the surety.

Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche said he was not aware of any report that Colewoods was missing.

The matter was adjourned to today (Friday) for the prosecution to update the Court in relation to the matter. Meanwhile, the Court has ordered that a summons be issued for the surety, as well as a bench warrant for the defendant.

Speaking with THE VINCENTIAN on Tuesday, Connell said there was no evidence by the prosecution of Colewoods absconding this jurisdiction, so it would only be fair to the surety for the police to be allowed to complete their investigations and give their findings. (HH)

No leads POLICE SAY that they have no leads in the death of 38-year-old labourer, Colville ‘Spanny’ Williams.

According to police sources, the post mortem results confirmed that Williams sustained multiple chop and gunshot wounds to his head.

The body Colville ‘Spanny’ Williams of the a (Facebook Photo) former resident of the South Rivers/Park Hill, was discovered in a parked vehicle along the road between Murray’s Village and Dorsetshire Hill, sometime around 10 last Friday night.

Williams’ death was recorded as the 23rd homicide for the year in SVG. Investigations are on-going.

V The plastic bag dilemma

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. 5.

Environmental Feature

Objections of convenience While there are many objections to the banning of plastic bags (some would say we even manufacture them here so banning their manufacture and use would put some persons out of work), the objections are in the main The arguments in favour solely because of their of continued use of (plastic bags) convenience. plastic bags are based But, stick a pin! Don’t on the convenience they we owe it to ourselves and offer. generations to come that we control the use of Inset: Plastic bags are plastic bags so as to curtail any further ‘recycled’ as garbage damage to the receptacles. environment?

IN WHAT WAS a ‘master Yes, plastic bags stroke’ towards fulfilling its remain the first choice as commitment to ensure that containers for best practices are in place supermarket and grocery habit; threats that require items, but eventually end as it leads the country in immediate attention, as safeguarding the up as trash or being used more and more of the environment against manas garbage receptacles, made perils, the government developed and not so which, in either case and developed world are of St. Vincent and the in exceeding large coming around to realize.

Grenadines instituted numbers, end up in our One such threat is the measures to enact a partial single landfill at Diamond. continuing widespread use ban against the use of The reality is that there of plastic bags.

Styrofoam products here. is no way to strictly limit Plastic bags are not That partial ban took the effects of plastic bags effect on May 1, 2017 with biodegradable; they are on the environment, photodegradable, i.e. they because there is no a proviso to allow for the use of Styrofoam products break down into smaller disposal method that will in stock or on importation and smaller toxic bits really help eliminate the which get into the soil and order, until January 31, problem, since plastic can slowly release toxic 2018. remain active in the soil chemicals, with the Anyone found for 400 to 1000 years, thereafter to be using and unfortunate consequence dooming landfills to being that animals or importing Styrofoam holding it (plastic) accidentally ingest them products would be subject, indefinitely as part of the after a formal notification and become poisoned. waste problem throughout We are likely to eat, of their contravention of the globe.. albeit unwittingly, the the edict, to a fine of And burning plastic $5,000 or imprisonment of meat of those animals, emits toxic gases that making the plastic bag a up to 12 months or both. harm the atmosphere and As commendable as the direct disruption to the increase the level of food web (chain) at its effort by the government Volatile Organic highest level. is, there are greater Compounds (VOCs)It is, therefore, (physical) threats that vapours or gases - in the undisputable, that the remain against our air. environment; threats that effects of plastic bags on Here are some the environment are really arguments why we should have developed through quite devastating.

ban the use of plastic bags:

Plastic Bag Litter Even when citizens try to manage their plastic bags disposal, wind plays a role in carrying them away as litter. Plastic bags, as established, are not biodegradable and thus where it lands, it tends to stay for long periods of time. A bag that is eventually ripped to shreds from high winds or other factors, doesn’t disappear but instead is spread in smaller amounts throughout the area. This can cause more problems, as these smaller pieces are carried away through storm drains and often end up in the waterways.

Moreover, plastic bag litter is often also the result of human laziness.

The plastic bag might make for a good carry on to the beach for the day, but once all of the ‘niceties’ are consumed, an estimated one in three consumers simply allow

Wind plays havoc with discarded plastic bags that make for unsightly scenes. the bag to disappear into the wind and waves.

It is estimated that some 500 billion and possibly as many as a trillion plastic bags are in circulation annually. This can lead to a catastrophic littering problem.

Littering is not just unattractive, it is also a very serious environmental hazard.

The Effects of Plastic Bags in Waterways One of the greatest problems is that an estimated 300 million

plastic bags end up in the Atlantic Ocean alone. And lest we forget, our east coast is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

These bags are very dangerous for sea life, especially those of the mammal variety. Any hunting mammal can easily mistake the size, shape, and texture of the plastic bag for a meal and find its airway is cut off.

Needless deaths from plastic bags are increasing every year.

Continued from Page 5.

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6. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Politics

Potential NDP candidate wants reunification

by HAYDN HUGGINS KAY BACCHUS-BAPTISTE, potential West St. George candidate for the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) in the next general elections, has the reunification of this country as a top priority, as she makes a bold move towards winning the seat and achieving what she described as “a victory of love for all Vincentians.”

The veteran lawyer and former president and vice president of the local Bar Association was speaking to THE VINCENTIAN on Wednesday, four days after she was elected unopposed by the NDP’s West St. George Constituency Council, to contest the West St. George seat.

Her election followed on the formal withdrawal of Dr. Jules Ferdinand, who had contested that seat for the NDP in the 2015 general election. Dr. Ferdinand cited a busy professional schedule that would infringe on the time he could devote to another election campaign, as being pivotal in his decision to step down.

“I am here for all Vincentians. It is time for this political tribalism to end.

We should live as one family,” Bacchus-Browne declared in the interview.

She expressed the view that St. Vincent and the Grenadines is divided between the oppressor and the oppressed, contrary to what God wants.

Asked how she feels about making this political move, Bacchus-Baptiste said, “I think it is a long time in coming. I think that now is the time to make a difference.

“People are hopeless, and the majority are living in fear of being victimized. We have to come with a new message of hope for Vincentians.”

She said she visited the West St. George village of Ashburton on Tuesday, and was surprised by the condition of the roads and drains there.

“When it is raining, I can’t imagine how people get to and from their homes. It needs to be urgently addressed, and this is not a question of partisan politics; it is a question of the rights and dignity of the people. It is something that I am going to give priority to in my campaign,” BacchusBaptiste said.

She described the response of the Ashburton villagers to her visit, as “overwhelming.”

In an interview with THE

VINCENTIAN August 23, Bacchus-Baptiste, who was at the time considering the move, said, “All things are possible, you only have to believe. I have been representing people all my life, especially the underdogs. I understand what it is to render service to the people.”

Bacchus-Baptiste, a former acting Registrar here and founding member of the SVG Human Rights Association, has represented the NDP, pro bono, in several legal political matters, and is currently one of their leading lawyers in the ongoing election petitions matter.

The veteran lawyer’s unopposed election came only days after radio personality Colin Graham withdrew from consideration as an NDP candidate for the East St. George constituency.

Bacchus-Baptiste now awaits ratification from the General Council of the NDP before she is formally declared a candidate.

Kay Bacchus-Baptiste is not the first, nor would she be the last, to use her work as a legal public defender to win a seat in the highest legislationmaking body of SVG.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. 7.

Diaspora

Vincies participate in NY Caribbean Carnival Parade

we’ll make it,” she said.

On the right side of the float, Michelle Hillocks, who trekked from Philadelphia, “got down” with her Arnos Vale native, Betty Trent.

“I feel good,” said Hillocks, who carries the soca sobriquet “Hibiscus,” winner of the 2016 Vincy New Song Competition in New York. “Vincy people, you know we love we culture.”

“Feel good!” Trent chimed in with a hoarse voice. “First time doing this.”

Mas lover Antonia Vincentians revel on the Parkway.

Saunders, of Kingstown Hill, brought along her conditions of the other victims Road March King of St. Vincent aunt, Joy Saunders. were unclear. and the Grenadines Problem “This is wonderful,” Joy said.

The shooting victim, taken to Child; Lavaman (Grenada); “The band is playing real good.” the sprawling Kings County King Bubba (Barbados); and Verna Arthur, chair of the Hospital in Brooklyn, was in Trinidad and Tobago’s 2017 Exposition Committee for the Wayne Commissioning, of stable condition, police said.

Road March King MX Prime of Brooklyn-based Club St. Ultimate Rejects.

McKie’s Hill, Kingstown, sole Vincent, Inc., said it was good On Sat., Sept. 2, the Junior Lead-up activities pannist on the Parkway. for St. Vincent and the Carnival and Panorama took Grenadines to be fully place. The next day, the Monday’s grand parade Story and photos by represented on the Parkway. climaxed five days of Caribbean Dimanche Gras finale was Nelson A. King “I’m happy to have a showcased, featuring the carnival festivities, celebrated naking@verizon.net; Vincentian band this year,” she Calypso King of the World, The under the theme “From A kingnaking210@yahoo.com said, congratulating Toney and Mighty Sparrow; the Calypso Dream to A Legacy,” which US CORRESPONDENT Wesley Millington, the Sion began on Thursday, August 30. Queen of the World, Calypso Hill-born founder and president Rose; David Rudder; Swallow It featured ‘Reggae Unda Di AS EXPECTED, Vincentians were of Mas Productions Unlimited, (Antigua); Ras Iley (Barbados); Stars’, starring “Reggae part and parcel of the staging of in their collaborative efforts. and Dane Gulston steel pan Ambassadors” Cocoa Tea, the 50th anniversary of the West Last year, Friends of Crown Vincies react virtuoso, along with the King & Ghanian Dancehall Reggae Indian American Day Carnival Heights Educational Center Queen of the Bands costume artist, Stonebwoy, and Parade on Monday, Labor Day, on featured masqueraders solely in Wayne Commissiong, of presentations.

Brooklyn’s own Afrobeat Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway. graduating caps and gowns in McKie’s Hill, Kingstown, was, “We’ve worked hard to make songstress, WUNMI. Nationals either played in the perhaps, the sole tenor pannist “Jump for Education.” this carnival what it is today,” The show was augmented predominantly TrinidadianBut despite the pageantry, on the Parkway. said Trinidadian Angela Sealy, with “a taste of Marley magic” owned mas bands or reveled “You have to take the culture gaiety and revelry, police said chairperson of the Brooklynby the appearance by Grammy with the Vincentian-owned Mas and show where you’re from,” he four people were stabbed and based organizing group, West award-winning artist, Stephen Productions Unlimited, the sole told THE VINCENTIAN. “As a one person was shot along the Indian American Day Carnival “Ragga” Marley, Vincentian mas band in New mas man, a pan man, you have parade route.

Association (WIADCA), in commemorating his father’s York.

Injuries to two victims in to represent where you’re from. visit to the same Brooklyn stage addressing the annual preThis year, the Brooklyn-based The culture is ever-lasting.” separate incidents were not lifewhere he (Bob Marley) debuted Carnival Breakfast, at the Friends of Crown Heights threatening, police said; the Brooklyn residents Lincoln Terrace Court, near the ‘Uprising’.

Charelle and Gabrielle beginning at the parade route.

‘Reggae Unda Di Stars’ Ollivierre, of Bequia, played “We’re not paid; we’re doing this expressed enthusiasm and “Party of the Parkway” with support for WIADCA’s efforts in for the love of the culture. the newly-formed Stronjeh “Ladies and gentlemen, 50 bringing the community International. together by promoting diversity years of my life, and we’re still “We’ve been playing for jamming,” added Sealy, who was and tolerance through music years,” they said in unison. among the original founders of and culture in New York City.

“We expect a good time.”

Caribbean Carnival in New Friday, Sept. 1, celebrated As soca vibes emanated the annual ‘Summer Jam: Stay York City, flanked by New York from gigantic speakers City Mayor Bill de Blasio and In School Concert & Youth mounted atop a huge flatbed other elected officials.

Fest’; and, in the evening, the truck, Keisha Durant, a popular Brass Fest concert New York City Transit featured soca Police sergeant, whipped artistes the out, and posed with, a likes of D’All Vincentian flag.

Stars, “I’m happy,” said the including daughter of Kenny Durrant, Blaxx; in uniform, on police duty.

Antigua’s “It’s been a long time, and 2017 Party I’ve been excited to do it. I’m Monarch King home again.

Ricardo Drue; “I feel like doing it again ; Teddyson next year,” she added.

John (St. A few yards away, Jackie Lucia); Jackson, of Biabou, Vincentian-born NYC Transit Lyrikal and Vincentians Charelle Ollivierre portrayed “Little Bo Peep” Police Sergeant Keisha Farmer (L) and Gabrielle Ollivierre — with Mas Productions Durrant, Kenny Durrant’s Nappy both of Bequia — “Party on the Unlimited. daughter, displays Vincy flag (Trinidad and Jackie Jackson, of Biabou, portrays “Little Bo Parkway” with the newly-formed “We’re a little late, but Tobago); 2017 Peep” in Mas Productions Unlimited. on the Parkway.

Stronjeh International.

Educational Center, whose chief executive officer and president is Calliaqua native Vaughan Toney, teamed up Mas Productions Unlimited in a “show of force” on the Parkway.

For at least the third successive year, revelers, masqueraders and millions of spectators from around the world converged, in pictureperfect weather, on the sprawling Eastern Parkway for what is described as the largest carnival parade in North America.

With a high of 84 degrees, it was, unequivocally, a remarkable day for the explosion of the sight, sounds, pageantry, artistry and everything else West Indian.

The cornucopia of colors and the potpourri of West Indian dishes that wafted the air brought the best out of West Indians, including over 3 million onlookers.

Even the ubiquitous police presence and extraordinary security did not prevent Caribbean nationals from reveling in the extravaganza.

Some spectators even ventured among the multiplicity of costumed bands to “get down” with masqueraders and revelers.

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8. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Views The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Managing Editor: Desiree Richards Editor: Cyprian Neehall Telephone: 784-456-1123 Fax: 784-451-2129 Website: www.thevincentian.com Email: vinpub@thevincentian.com Mailing Address: The Vincentian Publishing Co. Ltd., P.O. Box 592, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Editorial

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS AN ARDENT READER of THE VINCENTIAN’s Editorial Column, insisted that we give him one of those witty ‘Good News, Bad News’, pieces.

“That tongue-in-cheek style,” as he put it, “is needed from time to time, since it makes for easy reading, not to mention the entertainment value.”

So, here goes.

donations of one sort or the other for causes/needs here in SVG. BAD NEWS when that is all they seem to do. BAD, BAD NEWS when we don’t hear a thing about attracting foreign investments or new opportunities for trade.

GOOD NEWS when we can find (classroom) places for all those CPEA students.

BAD NEWS when some of those students have to endure physically trying conditions at some of the schools to which they have been assigned.

GOOD NEWS when the Traffic Department Officers try to enforce the law, especially as it relates to waiting and parking around Kingstown.

REALLY BAD NEWS when those ‘G Vehicle’ drivers feel they have the right to stop, wait and/or park anywhere they feel like, and get away with that ‘murder’.

GOOD NEWS to see the provision of buses dedicated for transportation of students.

BAD NEWS if some students decide that they prefer the ‘fancy mini-buses’, which provide them with the music they like and, in some cases, free WI FI connection.

Further BAD NEWS when those who lease the buses can’t make do with the number of students they transport.

GOOD NEWS to hear the Minister of Health report to the nation and the world that SVG is in good standing with the OECS Pharmaceutical Procurement Service.

BAD NEWS when the same day that Minister made his boast, a person reported he had to buy a very basic medication at a private pharmacy.

GOOD NEWS that we now have a ‘whole set’ of equipment left over now that the GOOD NEWS that the arrowroot farmers construction Argyle International Airport is were eventually paid for their crop which complete. they were encouraged to plant.

BAD NEWS that much of that equipment BAD NEWS when it seems this long is useless and is now being sold as ‘scrap’. overdue payment was recently hastened only to avoid embarrassment in the GOOD NEWS that we might be able to Parliament. recover some well needed cash when we sell the ‘scrap’.

GOOD NEWS when we return from BAD NEWS if we don’t get an account of CARIFESTA X111 and can boast about how how much money we recovered and where it well our contingent/performances were was deposited. received.

REALLY BAD NEWS when we continue to send the same set of performers, artistes, GOOD NEWS that we found the money etc. to these overseas engagements? to attend to some major and not so major road construction and repairs across the GOOD NEWS that ‘Yankee Vincies’ got state. the opportunity to witness live and be BAD NEWS when the ancient ‘patching enthralled by the virtuoso violinist Darron jobs’ continue on some major causeways — Andrews — born and bred Vincentian. like the Cane Garden/Long Wall route — BAD NEWS that he wasn’t part of the which means the potholes could well contingent to CARIFESTA X111. WORSE reappear in a few weeks’ time, especially NEWS when we hear that he would have given that we’re still in the hurricane made a “big” difference. season.

GOOD NEWS that THE VINCENTIAN, in the face of ongoing challenges, can produce a Vincy Carnival Souvenir Magazine for the 14th consecutive year.

BAD NEWS when Tourism officials frown on the publication, refusing to purchase a single copy, but find it convenient to bogey back on the CDC allocation of that magazine for their (Tourism) display at the Grand Market at CARIFESTA X111. EGG IN THE FACES OF THOSE TOURISM OFFICIALS when they were shocked to see how visitors to their booth ‘gobbled’ up copies of the magazine.

GOOD NEWS that our overseas Missions/Consulates/Embassies could find

GOOD NEWS to hear the General Manager of the CWSA say that his Authority “is capable of repairing any damage they do to the nation’s road.”

BAD NEWS when it appears the operative word in that statement is “capable’, implying that the CWSA ‘can’ but not necessarily ‘do’, since, for example, there remains a partially open piece of road in Paul’s Avenue which was dug up to effect repairs to a broken pipeline.

GOOD NEWS that we have pleased at least one reader.

BAD NEWS if we don’t please the many, many other readers.

An update on the Petitions BRERETON HORNE’S last week’s Nice Radio Contribution was simply too profound, meaningful and relevant to be accorded a single lonely presentation. So, I have captured it in print so as to inform a wider public.

“On “A View From The Outside” this week, 02/09/2017 we look at the issue of EXPEDITIOUSLY, with the view being that St Vincent and the Grenadines continues to be mired in election mode because of the fact that organs of the state have so far failed to act expeditiously, and as a consequence of that, election petitions which were filed, in the courts, soon after the general elections of the 9th of December 2015 are still to be decided.

The backdrop of today’s view stems from the fact that leading up to and following the general elections on the 9th of December 2015 in St Vincent and the Grenadines, there have been allegations of voter fraud and election rigging.

The people took to the streets, in protest, on the 10th of December 2015; and some remain on the streets up to today protesting those results.

Despite their protest and their efforts to prevent the prime minister being sworn in, he did so at nightfall.

In view of all of that, the main opposition party in the country (the New Democratic Party) filed election petitions soon thereafter.

Those election petitions are yet to be decided: And as such, it is clear that, the organs of the state, including the courts, have neither acted with speed and efficiency nor have they been quick and efficient.

Because of that, it is reasonable to conclude that the organs of the state have failed the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines. Their failure to act expeditiously, has left the country in limbo and as such in a state of flux.

The judges of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court of Appeal (sitting in St Lucia on 7th of March 2017) recognised the failure to act expeditiously when they decided to remit the matter back to the High Court in St Vincent.

A ruling which they made after deciding that the judge who initially ruled on the matter acted with

‘apparent bias’ when he made the decision to strike out the petitions.

In the written ruling, Appeal Justice Baptiste stated “The order of the learned judge striking out the petitions was set aside; the petitions were reinstated; the hearing of the petitions and motion to strike were remitted to the High Court to be heard by a different judge expeditiously”. So, the Appeal Court judges indeed recognised the need to act expeditiously!

Well, we know that the matter eventually went back to the High Court, in St Vincent, on the 2, 4 & 5 of May 2017, and that the judge delivered her judgement on the 30th of June 2017. In that judgement, the judge ruled that the petitions are indeed valid and that they will be heard. We have been told that they will now be heard later this month September 2017.

The country awaits the hearing and subsequent ruling and no doubt whatever may transpire thereafter.

So, December 2015 to date, the 2nd September 2017, and the matter is still not yet concluded. Why, oh why has it taken so long? Why is it taking so long? Why the delay? Who benefits from this delay while the country languishes? Who? It is a widely known, both in fact and in law that election petitions, by their very nature, need to be decided expeditiously because the country’s governance is usually dependent on their outcome.

If they are delayed, it could mean that one party might be illegally entrenching itself on the people. It could also mean that another party is denied the opportunity of governance and as a consequence prevented from implementing its policies and moving the country forward. It is, therefore, imperative that election petitions are decided expeditiously. The delay in St Vincent and the Grenadines, so far, nearly 2 years, is unfathomable, and it is hope that the speed and efficiency that is imperative will now be evident from here on in.

Continued on Page 22.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. 9.

Letters

Corruption: What are we doing about it?

THESE DAYS, it is almost a daily thing to hear about corruption in government. It is a favourite topic of the Opposition.

So, while it’s no longer strange to hear allegation after allegation of corruption, what we never hear about or see happening is anybody getting fired or charged, far less found guilty of any corruption.

If it is that there is corruption, I wonder, since there is hardly ever a case brought against anybody, whether any allegation of corruption is ever investigated and if they are, it must be that the evidence is not there for anyone to be prosecuted.

On the other hand, I wonder if it is that when the investigations are done and they show up some corruption, whether those guilty ones get a simple tap on the fingers and are shoved into other position. In other words, they are not punished.

I say, we need to investigate these allegations, and if those investigations show up any guilty parties, then they must be dealt with immediately.

One thousand Frenchmen can’t be wrong, and school children always seem to know the truth. I say if it smells like rotten fish, then it got to be rotten fish.

Time to deal with the issue and stop sweeping it under the carpet.

Edward Joseph

Staying with the West Indies MR. EDITOR, you were kind enough to publish a letter from me, captioned ‘WI needs mental strength’, in your August 28, 2017 issue.

In that letter I said, among other things, that if the trend of the extent of our defeat against England in the first Test of this ongoing series was to continue, then we should let the ICC know that we “are withdrawing from Test Cricket for at least three years in the first instance”.

Well, Mr. Editor, I am pleased that that trend didn’t continue into the second Test and, therefore, I would suggest that we hold on that proposed notification to the ICC. In my letter of August 28, I also said that we should keep the current group of young players that we had. It appears that my faith in them has been justified, given their victory in the

second test.

I want, though, to reiterate the fundamental point of my original letter, and say that after such an overwhelming victory, that we need now, more than ever, to work on the mental conditioning of our young players.

I don’t know if there is one assigned to the current Test team. If there is not, then I strongly suggest that a full time Sports psychologist be assigned to the team. It’s not so long ago when we ruled the roost in world cricket. Those who followed the game then, would recall that Sports psychologist Dr Rudi Webster was an integral part of that period, and few would deny that our players of that period were some of the most mentally tough players the world had ever seen.

Simon A cricket fan

The ÂnewÊ normal WE ARE QUICKLY approaching that time of the year when we remember that we are a sovereign nation, and it is our combined duty to govern ourselves despite race, colour, political affiliations and religion.

For one week every year, it suddenly becomes acceptable again to don yellow, blue and green, without being chastised. For one day every year, there is a great congregation and celebration of the concept “St. Vincent Land so beautiful…we pledge to thee our loyalty and love and vow to see you ever free”. Our anthem goes on “What e’er the future brings, our faith will see us through. May peace reign from shore to shore and God bless and keep us true”. For those who have not yet noticed, we survive daily only by faith, because peace is not reigning from shore to shore.

Some St. Martin’s school alumni have told me about the experiment of the frog in the pot of hot water. For those unfamiliar with it, if you put a frog in boiling water, it will do its utmost to escape.

However, when you put the frog in a pot with cool water over a stove,

the frog will sit comfortably and adjust itself to the new temperature until it cooks. I could be wrong, but I believe we are slowly cooking as a nation, just like that frog. No longer is violence and murder a surprise but a norm. No longer is vending on the sidewalks rare, but rather, regular. Despite the population being majority black, upon entering the banks or the airport, only lightskinned persons can be seen. Even more troubling, is the fact that no right-thinking Vincentian will dare get involved in governance, out of concern for their economic safety and reputation. (This is especially laughable if we consider that a lot of the courses done by many Vincentians are in management). I dare say ‘governance’ because politics is about governance. The distinction has been lost in the melee for way too long. Character assassination is at an all time high. How are we supposed to move forward as a country when no new minds can enter the discussion?

One theory is that the design of the present

political system limits the interaction and participation of the public in their own development. Politicians have found a way to game the system and do it so well that this wrong way of functioning has become the new normal.

Many constituents only see their representative close to election. They are used for votes and their needs are ignored.

No law, moral or otherwise, ties a representative to his constituency. That is not progress and must be rectified.

In this moment where we are gearing up to think about our progress after independence, it can be said that we have not made much at all.

We still use the same out-dated methods of governance when the protagonists themselves have modified them to suit their new reality.

Progress and development go beyond a full belly, paved roads and nice buildings. It starts in the mind. The only way we can honour our pledge that we sing in our anthem, “…our loyalty and love and vow to keep you ever free”, is if we truly become a nation of persons

Fighting Crime: Are we serious?

OUR PRIME MINISTER likes to give the impression that the increase in crime in this country since he took the reins of government, is the responsibility of a small group of misfits.

I wonder, on the backs of the brutal slaying of our women folk, how he would explain the crime scene now.

The truth is, the moral fabric of our society has been broken for some time now and, it appears to me, that the political will to repair it is nowhere on the horizon.

I shudder to think that we have reached a point in criminal activity that there is no turning back. Lord help us!!

With all the ‘ole talk’, we have failed to effectively invest in the fabric that makes

society, i.e. the family.

When we encourage all this lewdness — music, TV, fetes — that makes it so difficult for parents, what else can we expect but a ‘free for all’ attitude, with no regard for our neighbours?

So, where are our priorities? If we could only identify them and act accordingly, that we crime. will, at least, set ourselves on a path to Retiree overcoming this plague —

independent in mind.

Maybe then our bodies will follow.

‘Independent Vincentian’

* Is it true that you have to be in possession of a ‘red party card’ in order to purchase baby chicks from the Dumbarton hatchery? * Is it true that several members of the Drug Squad were transferred because of missing exhibits? * Are those responsible for promotions in the Public Service still ignoring the basis of Seniority and Competence in favour of party affiliation? * Was the person who got the contract for cleaning the Cane Garden road, from the top of Long Wall to the gap at Lewis Auto, paid in full? If so, how come piles of grass still remain on the side of the road, causing traffic hazards? * Whether the Police Force is considering introducing basic English, Geography and General Knowledge classes for police officers? * If there is anyone else who thinks that there is too much inconsistence in sentencing for gun and ammunition possession? * How come other islands could pay prize money right after their carnival , but carnival people in SVG have to wait months before they get paid? * What’s the latest on the Douglas de Freitas matter? Is there a hold up because the state can’t find a magistrate to hear the case?

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10. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

2017 – 2018 education year begins

Some thirty-three thousand students go forth SOME thirty-three thousand (33,000) students (from pre-school to university) or 30 percent of the population of St. Vincent and the Grenadines are at school or other educational institution for the academic year 2017-2018 which commenced, last Monday, September 04, 2017. The distribution of the students across educational institutions is broadly as follows: 3,700 at Nursery/Pre-School/Early Childhood Centres (mainly private with government support and 12 government-run ECCs); 13,000 at 61 government or government-supported primary schools; 11,000 at 26 government or government-assisted secondary schools; several hundreds of students at the five Technical Institutes; 110 or so students at the three schools for children with special needs; 2,200 students at the four divisions of the SVG Community College; 450 or so students attending a few privately-operated primary and secondary schools; and roughly 1,000 students at universities in the Caribbean and elsewhere.

The Education Revolution has thus embraced unprecedented numbers of persons in formal education and training. One of the central planks of successive ULP governments over the past 16 ½ years has been the optimal development of our most important resource ___ the people, particularly young people ___ through the opportunity of universal access to quality education and training at all levels.

many-sided economy, nationally, regionally, and globally; (iii) To cultivate an uplifting core of tried and tested values of our Caribbean civilisation, within the context of a storehouse of humanity’s best inheritances; (iv) To shape rounded, wholesome personalities (critical minds, cultured outlook, physical fitness, etc) with multiple aptitudes and skills relevant to, and appropriate for, a modern, sophisticated society; and (v) To inculcate a commitment to nationhood, our Caribbean civilisation, and internationalism.

In successfully achieving these outcomes, the State, the parents, teachers, the community, and the students themselves have important roles to play. The government, as the central political expression of the State, under the successive administrations of the ULP, has made extraordinary strides in providing the overall framework for a sound, progressive education. Within that context, quality parenting, quality teaching, and quality school leadership are vital for optimal educational outcomes. The supportive role of the community is essential for the all-round development of the student.

Central initiatives of ULP

The ULP governments since March 29, 2001, and continuing, have taken a succession of worthy initiatives in The recurrent expenditure on education and training. A Education for the year 2017 is comprehensive listing of these estimated at $121 million (more than initiatives requires more space than is twice the figure for 2001) or roughly available here. Thus, we offer a 18 percent of the total recurrent summary list of the uplifting budget of the central government. educational initiatives of the ULP This sum covers the education governments: administration and associated (i) Almost 100 percent access to activities; Pre-Primary Education; quality Early Childhood Education Secondary Education; Special (ages 3 -5 years), up from 20 percent Education; Adult and Continuing in 2001.

Education; Technical Education; the (ii) Universal access to quality SVG Community College; the School secondary education, up from 39 Feeding Programme; Examinations percent of 12 year olds in 2001. and Assessments; Student Support Results have been commendably on Services; and Libraries; Archives, and the rise.

Documentary Services. (iii) Enhanced quality primary This recurrent expenditure covers education, through better facilities, salaries, allowances, and wages for improved syllabi, and highly trained the staff at the various educational teachers, including more than 60 institutions; routine ongoing expenses percent of staff being university for administration of the Ministry and graduate, and almost all being trained the schools; and grants and teachers. Results have improved contributions to various entities. By markedly. far, the bulk of the recurrent (iv) Phenomenal expansion within expenditure is on salaries, allowances, the frame of an integrated SVG and wages.

Community College; in 2001 the By international standards, SVG’s SVGCC was an A-level school. The expenditure, as a percentage of the numbers overall have jumped from total budget or of GDP, is favourably about 600 in the aggregate in 2001 to comparable to that of other countries, an enrolment today in excess of 2,200 developed and developing. students. Results are at an all-time high.

Education (v) Free education for nursing students and a monthly stipend of Education is seen by the ULP $1,000 for each of them. government as having the following (vi) Significant real increases in the five basic functions: (i) To train salaries of teachers in 2017 compared critical minds in receiving and to 2001. The nominal salary increase, transmitting universal culture, on an average, amounts to nearly 80 including science and technology, percent; the real increase, after always with a Caribbean sensibility or discounting for inflation, amounts to appropriateness; (ii) To train skilled over 40 percent. This compares very personnel for the production favourably with other CARICOM apparatuses of modern, competitive, countries.

Recurent expenditure on education

Women’s agenda and violence against women THE DISCOURSE on violence against women has rejuvenated following the gruesome deaths of a number of women recently. It must be noted that the NDP condemns all forms of violence against women. It is imperative that we remind Vincentians that in March 2015 the New Democratic Party (NDP) held a symposium on Violence against women.

The following is an excerpt from the Honourable Arnhim Eustace’s address that he delivered at that conference: The gender unit came into being in 1985 under the NDP, when the mechanism, the Department of Women’s Affairs, was created. Its mandate was to address issues of discrimination, covert and otherwise, against Vincentian women. There was a minister with responsibility for women’s affairs and the non-formal sector of education, in the person of the pioneering Yvonne Francis Gibson.

The mechanism served as both policy advisor and implementer to the government on gender and development issues and it worked in very close collaboration with the National Council of Women. Not only did it work in very close collaboration with the national organization for women, but both a subvention and office were provided for the office through the government agency.

One aspect of the mechanism was the National Commission for Gender Equity and Equality, which cushioned the work of the mechanism by providing guidance and support since it constituted representatives from private, public and NGO sectors. An amended draft national policy on women was developed, as well as a domestic violence policy. Those policies, which were drafted in 2000, were supposed to have been tabled before Parliament in 2001, the first year of the first Unity Labour Party administration. To date, there is still no adopted policy on women or domestic violence.

Under successive NDP administrations, the CARICOM model was adhered to with the enactment at the local level of legislation based on the CARICOM model. Under the NDP, Women’s Affairs was part of an inter-ministerial committee that worked to develop and implement programmes for education, youth, sports — which promoted efficiency, transparency, good governance and got rid of duplication and wasted human and financial resources.

Today, however, every department works in isolation. When I say the role of government is to get out of women’s way, I refer to the excellent example set by the NDP administrations from 1984 to 2001, when Government cleared the obstacle of unequal pay through the passage of the Equal Pay Act. Also during that period, the NDP administration attempted to level the playing field through land ownership quotas. Women raised their status by taking advantage of the 38% women’s ownership quota in the distribution of lands at Orange Hill and the provision of 8%-interest mortgages to women at the National Commercial Bank.

Another obstacle to women which the NDP removed under the direction of women was the Coutts Agreement, which required unmarried women teachers to resign upon pregnancy.

Under the NDP, for the first time, married women could file income tax returns independently. It was the NDP that introduced the tax-free allowance, which today stands at $18,000 per annum. Under the NDP, NGOs wrote their proposals and sought funding directly from funding agencies. Now it is all done through the government and, therefore, blocked, mishandled and/or stymied by this administration.

Today there is a Gender Affairs Division with staff and allocation

under the Estimates, which appears to have no on-going programmes.

Issues are treated on an ad hoc basis.

For example, the anniversaries of the CEDAW Convention and International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women are cause to host events, but there is no sustained programme of activities or interventions by the Division, so nothing happens. Although there is more staff at the Division, the capacity and output are far from adequate. Under the ULP there is little to no sex- or gender-specific data collection by the Division, to assist the tailoring of policies either. In the absence of women’s and domestic violence policies, there are and can be no structured programs.

By building upon its past successes, secured through women’s direction of women’s affairs, the NDP will get out of women’s way by: 1. Reforming sections of the police force by: (a). Creating a special unit within the CID staffed not only by trained female and male officers, but with consulting doctors, social workers and counsellors, with specific training and facilities to address complaints of domestic and sexual violence; (b). Training all police officers, especially in district police stations, to address domestic violence and rape allegations; (c). Making it mandatory that all allegations of abuse be recorded and acted upon; (d).

Providing CID and district police stations with templates for the interview, advice to and follow up of domestic violence and sexual violence complaints; and (e). Requiring the presence of a female officer at all times at all stations to receive or be physically present at the receipt of complaints of sexual violence.

2. Revising and broadening the police training manual to include training for all police recruits in domestic violence and human trafficking.

3. Implementing the mandatory use of rape kits in medical examinations of rape victims at all district clinics and hospitals.

4. Reviewing the functioning of the Family Court and all legislation connected with Domestic Violence and violence against women to, among other things, increase the power of the Family Court to include the imposition of criminal sanctions for domestic abuse.

5. Passing legislation to criminalize sexual harassment and to make it illegal for a husband to rape his wife and amending existing legislation by removing the requirement for the victim to bring evidence to sustain a criminal charge against men who commit statutory rape 6. Making mandatory the reporting by all medical personnel of births to minors at hospitals and clinics or wheresoever that birth may take place.

7. Implementing the collection of data relative to domestic violence, and violence against women nationally including its dissemination to the public.

8. Instituting and enforcing a code of conduct within the public service at all levels that provides for protocol on reporting sexual offences including sexual harassment in the workplace.

Respect for the women and girls in our society MUST be a part of how this government conducts itself. We must set the example.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. 11.

Views

Courage to speak softly

“Speak softly. It is far better to rule by love than fear. Speak softly. Let no harsh words mar the good we may do here.” - Isaac Watts (1674-1748) English Christian minister, hymnwriter, theologian, and logician.

WE ARE SOMETIMES confronted by individuals who appear to irritate us. They may seem to be insensitive or unreasonable with their utterances and demands. In some instances, we may conclude that they are “downright rude, arrogant, selfish, or unkind”. It is often at times like these that we are tempted to react with corresponding hostile words and/or actions. When anger flares, it becomes relatively easy to say or do unkind things. However, it is often at such times that we need to dig deep down within ourselves to unearth the courage to be kind and to speak softly. It may not be the easiest kind of reaction, but it is often the best. We are then reminded of the wisdom that is captured in the Old Testament book of Proverbs 15:1 where we read that “A soft answer turns away wrath.” Yes, it is not always easy, but it is always best.

Some readers may not readily agree with the thoughts expressed in the preceding paragraph. They may advance good reasons (powerful arguments) for ushering in an alternate response. For example, they may well argue that taking such a “soft approach” will encourage others to take advantage of someone who displays this kind of temperament. Others may contend that we need to “let people know where to get off” when they appear to physically or emotionally hurt us. However, the “gentle approach” can very often generate much better, and more long-lasting, results. But this takes courage — courage to speak softly, when the normal response may be to display an emotional outburst.

There are some who incorrectly assume that speaking softly is synonymous with weakness. Another biblical passage comes to mind. This one is taken from the New Testament where, in Matthew 5:5, we are reminded of the words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who noted that, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Be assured that meekness is not synonymous with weakness. If the truth be told, it often takes much more strength and courage (and a lot of humility) to be meek.

This essay is not intended to be a sermon. However, the two biblical passages provide us with ample evidence of the value of speaking softly and of meekness. In addition, the two passages selected emphasise that such “gentle responses” should be viewed as strengths and not weaknesses. The individual who responds in this “gentle manner” tends to be conscious of the feelings of others (even though they may have been abused and/or hurt,) and may be more willing to bear the resulting pain than to inflict any by a more aggressive or abrasive response.

In addition, he/she may have the presence of mind to understand that the “soft response” often has greater potential for resolving the issue/conflict.

However, such a reaction calls for depth of character and tremendous demonstration of selflessness and wisdom. It calls for courage to speak softly. Suzy Kassem, the AmericanEgyptian author, filmmaker, and poet, reminds us that, “Any man who

behaves arrogantly with what little he knows, or claims to know all, only reveals to all that he really knows nothing. Real greatness does not reside inside those who feel large. The truly wise are meek.”

We may sometimes observe someone who refuses to react to an abusive situation with an angry outburst. On the surface, the individual may appear to be creeping, but deep down inside their strength of character (as evidenced by their self-control and emotional restraint), allows others to see them as soaring — victorious over their circumstances. Now, this writer is not advocating that persons who are in abusive relationships should remain there and “suck salt”. Physical and emotional abuse must never be condoned. However, there are situations in life that may require soft responses. For example, someone in authority may incorrectly assume that a junior employee is at fault, and react with an emotional (and inappropriate) outburst. It may certainly be more tactful for the direct report (the junior employee) to provide a calm response — but this may certainly demand courage to speak softly.

Many of our leaders need to develop skills in speaking softly. In doing so, they may readily discover that their influence is stronger and more longlasting. Several years ago, one of my colleagues in the manufacturing sector had overheard me sharing similar insights. He objected to my approach, and indicated that leaders in business would occasionally have to use “industrial language” (foul language) to get speedy action in the workplace. He was convinced that junior employees must develop a sense of fear of those in authority, if their productivity levels are to climb. While this method of management and leadership may have worked in our colonial past, we have to embrace a more enlightened approach to motivating those valued employees in the workplace. Employees respect those who demonstrate that they genuinely care for them and are prepared to treat them with dignity and respect. These positive emotions are portrayed when leaders converse with their colleagues and have cordial, nonthreatening, relationships in the workplace. The employees at the USAbased companies IDEO and W.L. Gore and Associates can testify of how innovation and high productivity levels are generated at their two world-class establishments as a result of the culture created and sustained at their two establishments; cultures fuelled by mutual respect and camaraderie regardless of their ethnicity, religion, and other forms of diversity. They have developed courage to speak softly and to encourage constructive criticism in the workplace.

Cultivating a gentle spirit (developing the courage to be meek) does not detract from us — it magnifies who we are. May we have the courage to be caring, kind, gentle, and to speak softly.

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

Men tremble when women speak WHEN MY DAUGHTER Zenzili was a child, she frequently rebuked me whenever I asked her to be quiet. ‘Dad,’ she would warn, ‘one of these days you will want me to talk and I will not be able to speak.’ I have come to appreciate the importance of a woman’s voice.

Silence and powerlessness go hand in hand. Therefore, our women must be encouraged to voice their pain, sorrow and concerns. Too often the story we celebrate is his-tory.

As children, we were told silence is golden. We now know silence equals death to those fighting neglect and abuse. Silence is the face of the unsaid, the unspeakable, the repressed, the erased, and the unheard. Silence is also a graphic of those allowed to speak and of what can be said and who listens.

Silence occurs in many ways for many reasons. Silence is what is imposed, and quiet is what is sought.

The quieting of one’s own mind is in contrast with the silence of intimidation or repression. Serenity and introspection call for quiet.

Silence is bought when threats are high and the barriers are great.

The quiet of the listener makes room for the speech of others. Women are like volcanoes when they offer their experience as truth. Silence is what allows people to suffer without recourse, what allows hypocrisies and lies to grow and flourish, crimes to go unpunished.

The history of silence is central to women’s history. Words bring women together, and silence separates them.

Silence leaves women bereft of the help or solidarity or just communion that speech can solicit or elicit. A woman’s voice is an essential aspect of her humanity.

Being unable to tell your story is a living death, and sometimes a literal one. If no one listens when you say your husband is trying to kill you, if no one believes you when you say you are in pain, if no one hears you when you say help, if you don’t dare say help, if you have been trained not to bother people by saying help. If you are considered to be out of line when you speak up in a meeting, are not admitted into an institution of power, are subject to irrelevant criticism whose subtext is that women should not be here or heard.

Stories save women’s life. And stories are their life. The stories of our women can be both prison and the crowbar to break open the door of that prison. Women make stories to save themselves or to trap themselves or others, stories that lift them up or imprison them in their own limits and fears. Liberation is always in part a storytelling process: breaking stories, breaking silences, making new stories.

A free person tells her own story. A valued person lives in a society in which her story has a place.

Violence against women is often against their voices and their stories.

It is a refusal and rejection of voices, and of what a voice means: the right to self-determination, to participation, to consent or dissent; to live and to interpret.

A husband hits his wife to silence her. An acquaintance rapist refuses to let the “no” of his victim mean what it should, that she alone has jurisdiction over her body. Rape culture asserts that women’s testimony is worthless, untrustworthy. A murderer silences forever. These are assertions that the

victim has no rights, no value and is not an equal.

Having a voice is crucial. It is not all there is to human rights, but it’s central to them, and so you can consider the history of women’s rights and lack of rights as a history of silence and breaking silence. Speech, words, voices sometimes change things in themselves; they are the preconditions to changing rules, laws, regimes to bring about justice and liberty.

And then when words break through unspeakability, what was tolerated by a society sometimes becomes intolerable. Those not impacted can fail to see or feel the impact of injustice or police brutality or domestic violence; stories bring home the trouble and make it unavoidable.

A woman’s voice of necessity must include the right not to speak, whether it’s the right against being tortured to confess, as some prisoners are, or not to be expected to service strangers who approach you, as some men do to young women, demanding attention and flattery and punishing their absence.

Who has been unheard? We know who has, mostly, been heard on the official subjects; who held political office, commanded armies, served as judges, wrote books, and ran empires over past several centuries. We know how it has changed somewhat, thanks to the countless revolutions against colonialism, racism and misogyny. But poverty continues to silence.

Silence allowed predators to rampage through the decades unchecked. It’s as though the voices of these prominent public men devoured the voices of others into nothingness.

They rendered them voiceless to refuse and afflicted with unbelievable stories. Unbelievable means those with power did not want to know, to hear, to believe, did not want them to have voices.

People die from being unheard. If the right to speak, of being heard is a kind of wealth, that wealth is now being redistributed. There has long been an elite with audibility and credibility, and an underclass of the voiceless.

But there is still a fury and disbelief that this woman or child dared to speak up, that people tend to believe her, that her voice counts for something, that her truth may end a powerful man’s reign. These voices, heard, upend power relations.

Women’s ended careers or rather powerful men increasingly destroy themselves by acts they engaged in, believing that they had the impunity that comes with their victims’ powerlessness. Many had impunity for years, some for lifetimes; many have now found they no longer do.

Being unable to tell your story is a living death. The right to speak is a form of wealth that is being redistributed. No wonder powerful men are furious.

Much of this column is extracted from Rebecca Solnit’s new book, The Mother of All Questions.

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

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12. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Views

Elderly lady 25 cents short of money needed to buy bread SVG is in a very bad way; there is extreme poverty throughout our country.

On 25 August 2017, an elderly lady tried to buy some bread in a supermarket in Kingstown. She went to the cashier to pay for the bread and the cashier said it was $2.50. The elderly lady told the cashier she only had $2.25.

The cashier took back the bread from the lady and cancelled the order for bread. The elderly lady was distressed and pleaded with the cashier that she badly needed the bread, but all the money she had was $2.25. A man behind the elderly lady in the queue gave the elderly lady the 25 cents she needed to purchase the bread. She thanked the man and said she has no more money.

The man called Mr Ivan O’Neal across and said that life is very tough in our country, and that this incident is a typical example of the pain and suffering of our people, in particular the elderly.

A senior and high-ranking member of the church in SVG, told Mr Ivan O’Neal that the very poor state of the SVG economy and the high unemployment rate, are very serious concerns to him as a minister in the church, and said further, that we need serious employment creation.

Mr Ivan O’Neal BSc (Hons) MSc, MBA and Leader of the SVG Green Party, strongly believes that the ULP regime has been a failure; that they have shown they do not have the ability to move the SVG economy forward. They lack the vision needed to significantly eradicate poverty in SVG. About EC$1.5 billion was wasted on Argyle airport which does the same workload as E.T. Joshua airport.

There has been no improvement to the economy or our society. The EC$1.5 billion could have been better used setting up the systems and infrastructure needed to eradicative poverty in SVG. Argyle was a mind-boggling waste of money that has left our country with more poverty.

Thousands of poor households — like the elderly lady mentioned above — really struggle to feed themselves. It is wrong that our people, especially elderly people and children, are going hungry, all because of ULP regime incompetence.

In 2006, Gonsalves compared the poverty of SVG to that of Bangladesh and Haiti. If you look around our country, in many parts, it is worse than Bangladesh and Haiti. Our people are suffering and thousands

live in squalor without money, unable to buy bread.

The ULP regime has killed the banana and arrowroot industries, and tourism is low. The weak economy cannot sustain our people. The country is in its worst state ever.

To create thousands of new jobs and eradicate poverty, we need our own tuna fishing and canning industry; we need to export surplus drinking water; we need to export agro-products such as juice, tea bags, baby food, ice cream …; and we need a new competent government.

We must also improve our education system and make it totally free, so that our people can obtain the necessary qualifications and skills to

get high-paid jobs or have the ability to run their own business. People need to be equipped with the capacity to earn an income that can sustain their household.

The United Nations says that education is at the heart of escaping poverty and that education has direct and indirect impacts on both economic growth and poverty. Education provides skills that boost employment opportunities and incomes, while helping to protect people from financial vulnerability and poverty.

SVG Green Party www.svggreenparty.org https://twitter.com/svggreenparty https://www.facebook.com/SVGGreen-Party-154937087877631/

Pension discrimination ACCORDING to the latest available figures, there are 32,710 people living in 16 Caribbean countries entitled to a British Government pension. Most of these people are Caribbean nationals, yet 25% of them are cheated out of part of their pension every year by the British Government.

The British Government misuses a piece of outdated legislation to save the British Exchequer millions of pounds each year by failing to meet its commitment to pay pensions to Caribbean nationals who have paid exactly the same as everyone else for their pension. It is simple and straightforward discrimination.

The U.K. Government claims that anyone leaving the U.K. for a country with which there is no reciprocal agreement, will have their pension frozen at the time of leaving and will not receive annual increases. This is an abuse of legislation which was designed to protect pensioners not penalise them.

More puzzling is that if you move to one of the British dependent territories such as Montserrat, Anguilla, the Cayman Islands, the Turks & Caicos or the BVI, you still have your pension frozen. How can the U.K. Government have a reciprocal agreement with a territory over which it has overall control?

About 60% of British Caribbean pensioners live in Jamaica and about 15% in Barbados, and they have their pensions up-rated every year, but if you are unlucky enough to have moved to one of the dependent territories listed above or to Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts-Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent, Antigua, Trinidad or Guyana, then the British Government cheats you out of part of your pension each year. However, if you live in the USVI or Guadeloupe or St Maarten, St Barts or Martinique, never British territories, or in Jamaica and Barbados, you do get your pension increased each year. How fair is that?

Worldwide, the British Government annually cheats 550,000 pensioners out of part of their pension, mostly in Australia and Canada, but not in the

United States. Of around 200 countries, 150 are discriminated against by the U.K. Government. In 2006, an a organisation called the International Consortium of British Pensioners (ICBP) comprising other groups around the world but particularly those in Australia and Canada, was founded to fight the British Government. Recently, the ICBP invited the Caribbean to set up its own organisation - the British Caribbean Pensioners Association (BCPA) - to assist in the fight for the rights of British Caribbean pensioners.

At present, there is an Early Day Motion being presented to the U.K. Parliament to correct the injustice, but it needs support from U.K. MPs. Anyone with a frozen British pension should write to the MP where they last lived in the U.K. and urge them to support EDM 159 - details can be seen at https://www.parliament.uk/edm/201 7-19/159. To get the e-mail address of any U.K. MP for any constituency go to http://www.parliament.uk/mpslords-and-offices/mps/ Also, lobby your MP in your own country to get your Government to bring pressure to bear on the U.K. Government to end this discrimination. There have been suggestions that the U.K. should be suspended from the Commonwealth until it introduces equal treatment for all its pensioners, as its discrimination is contrary to Commonwealth principles.

At the end of October, a group of representatives, including one from the Caribbean, is travelling to the U.K. to meet with MPs to press for a correction to this massive injustice.

The more support from British Caribbean pensioners, the greater the pressure which can be brought to bear on the U.K. Government.

You can join the British Caribbean Pensioners Association by e-mailing to BCPA@lightwave.ag John J Duffy British Caribbean Pensioners Association

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. 13.

News

End of duty free concessions GOVERNMENT HAS INDICATED that duty free concessions will no longer be granted to persons importing mini-buses.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said on Monday28th August, during the handing over ceremony of 10 Toyota Coaster 29-seater school buses, that government had been granting duty free concessions on 18seater mini-buses and on the rare occasion 14seater mini-buses, in addition to a few applications for 20 plus seater buses.

The duty free concessions were granted to individuals on the condition that the buses would provide services for school children.

But Dr. Gonsalves said that a decision had been taken to no longer give duty free

concessions for 18 and 14-seater mini-buses, except under special circumstances.

He, however, announced that if an individual indicated that they were interested in importing a brand new mini-bus for the transportation of school children, then they will be able to qualify for an 85 percent duty free concession.

Second hand buses would be granted a 75 percent duty free concession for the same purpose.

He cautioned individuals who might be considering importing second hand vehicles, that no consideration (for duty free concessions) will be given to 20-year-old

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves announced the discontinuation of duty free concessions on the importation of mini-buses. vehicles and the like.

“So, before you order it, find out if you will get duty free concessions,” Gonsalves said. (DD)

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14. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Pan Culture

Sion Hill Euphonium graduates forty- six

last Sunday’s ceremony, as Chair of the Sion Hill Euphonium organisation, Warren Knights expressed sadness in some corporate entities’ response towards support of the steelband.

Knights moaned: “Each year, letters go out to various business houses inviting them to partner with us in our youth development Trainees of the 2017 Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra Training programme and Programme, at last Sunday’s graduation ceremony. panorama participation… The THE NUMBER OF PERSONS who as the trainees not only majority don’t reply, (and) have graduated from the Annual learned to play the when you give a follow-up call, Sion Hill Euphonium Steel instrument, but were taken on some say they will get back to Orchestra’s Training Programme educational tours, including you, but never do, (while) has risen to over 900. one to the Vermont Nature others may look at the $60,000 This, after another 46 who Trails. budget you sent them and were exposed to the art of And, those who excelled offer you a $500 with bold playing the steel pan, during the six weeks of the expectations of title graduated from the 2017 training, were recompensed sponsorship.” programme, last Sunday. with tokens.

Knights added, “It is The training was done by Adjudged to be the Most difficult to comprehend when a Mikalla Knights, who was part Outstanding trainee was businessman can say to you, of the first training session Kyshana Alexander, while he cannot justify giving a steel back in 1995.

Kironique Thomas copped the band a $10,000 sponsorship An excited bunch of Most Disciplined award, with which goes towards the graduates thrilled those Keanu Providence named the development of that band and present with an exhibition of Most Promising awardee. its community, while it is so their newly acquired skills, as Students listed among the easy for him to give five times they rendered four songs, more exemplary were J’ tsi that amount to sponsor a during the graduation Yon Simmons, Chante Garrick fete… You be the judge.” ceremony staged at the Sion and Jomiyah Francis.

Knights took the time out Hill Village hard court. to thank those who, over the However, the 2017 Concerns years, have helped the band programme was an and its programme. undertaking with a difference, But it was not all glee at “The truth is that all the

L-R: Kironique Thomas -the Most Disciplined trainee, is rewarded by Director of the Mustique Charitable TrustLavina Gunn; and Most Outstanding trainee- Kyshana Alexander gets her reward from Lavina Gunn. business houses main sponsor of the we approached are training programme; not uncharitable; Clayton Burgin — there are some Chairman of the St sponsors who are Vincent and the generous, kind Grenadines Port and have the Authority; Minister development of of Health, Wellness the nation’s youth and the at heart…We Environment- Hon thank you very Luke Browne, and much for Hon. Arnhim understanding our Eustace, value, sharing our Keanu Providence- parliamentary Most Promising vision, and for representative for player. being a good East Kingstown. corporate citizen,” All speakers Knights acknowledged. lauded the Sion Hill Apart from Knights, others Euphonium organisation for addressing the ceremony were its efforts aimed at of ensuring Oneka Morgan- President of that the youths are given the the Youlou Pan Movement; opportunity to learn the art of Lavina Gunn- Director of the playing the steel pan.

Mustique Trust Company, the

Starlift Steel Orchestra continues the training highlight their milestone.

But for those desirous of becoming fullfledged members of Starlift, they will have to go through another phase.

Kingsley ‘Hero’ Roberts,

Batch one of the 2017 graduating class of the Starlift Steel Orchestra rendering “Do Re Mi”.

SEVENTY PARTICIPANTS comprised the 2017 Starlift Steel Orchestra’s training programme, in this, the year of the orchestra’s 50th Anniversary (1967 2017), thus learning the

art of the playing the steel pan.

The majority of those participants/trainers were present last Saturday afternoon at the band’s base at Montrose, for a graduation ceremony, to

training facilitator and the orchestra’s musical director and arranger, explained that the graduates will have to attend practice sessions, with only the best being selected for membership.

And as for this year’s trainees, Roberts admitted, that whilst he had met better talents in similar exercises previously, he was generally pleased with the abilities of the graduates.

Among the seventy trainees were several young players, who, Mother and son, Nerline and Luke Cambridge, were part of the Starlift’s according to the 2017 graduating class.

orchestra’s captainRoddy Dowers, (were) “second and third generations of Starlift.”

Dowers, who performed the duties of master of ceremonies, used his ‘podium position’ to renew the call to make Roberts a “cultural ambassador.”

Roberts’ contribution to the cultural landscape of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, according to Dowers, has been overlooked, while some “fly by night others” have been bestowed the title.

For his part, Roberts acknowledged “I have trained over one thousand players over the years… I have been teaching persons to play since in the 1970s, before some of the cultural ambassadors were even born.”

Roberts, who is also a calypsonian of merit, having been a National

Kingsley “Hero” Roberts.

Calypso Monarch Competition finalist on a number of occasions, joined Starlift in 1974 as a tumba player, and five years later began his journey as an arranger.

Since then, he has notched up over twenty titles, making him the most successful arranger of the National Panorama competitions.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. 15.

News

Significance of the White Coat reinforced Dr. Skelton described the White Coat as the mark of passage from a student to a student doctor, and proceeded to stress the acceptance of the responsibilities and commitments that go with being a physician. “These are responsibilities and commitments that follow you throughout life,” he emphasized, “and if you honor them, you will have a career of creativity and assistance to mankind; but if you dishonor them — as regrettably some physicians have done — Ceremony speaker, you will suffer shame and Chancellor Dr. W. embarrassment. I don’t Douglas Skelton, want that for any of you!” challenged the He expressed the hope inductees to go in that all of them would search of a discovery make a discovery that would be significant to medicine significant to medicine. that would be immediately accepted. “I hope all of EIGHTY FUTURE you, at some point wearing PHYSICIANS joined the your short white coat, will student body of Trinity find something in a School of Medicine at a patient that your ceremony held at the Faith attending physician did Temple Church on Saturday not find; and I hope when 2nd September. it happens to you and you Eleven of these report that finding, your students entered the preattending physician will medical programme, while be like mine, who the remaining sixty-nine commended me and were inducted into the welcomed me for being Class of 2021 medical more independent in my programme and received judgment of that patient their white coats. and my evaluation of Among those in patients.” attendance at the White Of equal importance Coat Ceremony, presided was Dr. Skelton’s over by Trinity’s Dean, Dr. statement of, “The Linda Adkinson, were His symbolism of the white Excellency, Governor coat involves all of us.

General Sir Frederick Remember, medicine is a Ballantyne; noble profession and we representatives from the are all colleagues on a Ministries of Health and team in support of Education; parents, excellence.” relatives, faculty and other This testimonial was members of staff, and well in tandem with the other well-wishers. growth which Trinity President Steven School of Medicine has Wilson gave welcoming been experiencing within remarks then invited the past two years. Just graduates of Trinity to recently it was elevated to give testimonials and the highest level of advice to the incoming determined status for all students. One graduate medical schools: advised: “Believe in “Accredited with yourself. Keep going.

Conditions, 2017-2019”, by There’s a finish line to the the Caribbean race.”

Accreditation Authority Ceremony speaker, for Education in Medicine Chancellor Dr. W. Douglas and other Health Skelton, then rose to give Professions, (CAAM-HP). his thoughts on the This is the internationally significance of the white recognized authority for coat. medical school accreditation in the Ceremony Speaker Caribbean whose standards and practices

are modeled on the accrediting authority for United States medical schools, the United States’

The most recent batch of students who were welcomed into Trinity’s premedical and Class of 2021 medical programme.

Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).

By the end of the ceremony there was an air

among those upon whose shoulders white coats had been placed, that they had made the right career choice, and that they had

chosen the right institution for the journey towards becoming physicians.

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16. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

News

World vetsÊ

World Vets and VSPCA volunteers

second visit to SVG HUMANITARIAN volunteers from the international animal aid organization, World Vets (WV), again graced the shores of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines from 19 – 21 August, and provided free animal health care for SVG’s dogs and cats – performing 251 surgeries and consultations!

Organization of the three clinics in Campden Park and Barrouallie was carried out by Vincentian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (VSPCA) volunteers, who worked tirelessly under the leadership of Board Member and Clinic Coordinator, Traudl Arthur.

Not only was VSPCA grateful for WV’s outstanding service, the owners were too.

Volunteers were thanked repeatedly.

When Rachael Snyder from St. Kitts was asked what the biggest impact coming to SVG had on her, without hesitation she said, “It was the locals who showed their appreciation. I was hugged at least five times!”

The service WV provided included spay and neuter, or tie off, surgeries — so important because without humans stepping in to stop excessive reproduction, thousands of SVG’s dogs

Owners and pets waiting to see World Vets. and cats needlessly live and die in horrible circumstances every year. Vincentians simply can’t take care of so many of them! Overpopulation of starving and diseased animals increases health risks for both animals and humans, and has adverse impacts on the economy: ruined crops, killed livestock, negative tourism.

Recognizing the importance of dog and cat sterilizations, the Ministry of Agriculture again helped tremendously in transporting animals from outlying communities.

World Vets services did not end there, however. There were dozens of consultations for fleas, ticks, mange, worms and infections.

Other surgeries included the neutering of a rare hermaphrodite dog who had both male and female sex organs; two leg amputations; one was treated for anaemia; another had pups growing inside a hernia instead of the womb; and the deadly and highly contagious Transmissible Venereal Tumor (TVT).

Sexually active dogs have a high risk of becoming infected with those cancerous cells.

“We saw a lot of TVTs,” commented lead WV veterinarian Dr Winifred Neunzig. Ten dogs were tied off and treated with chemotherapy; chemo drugs were left with local vet Dr Eric Audain to administer additional treatments.

World Vets contributed significantly to the well-being of the animals and people of Campden Park and Barrouallie; next year they will likely return.

Meanwhile, for the betterment of the entire Nation, VSPCA continues its community spay and neuter clinics throughout SVG. Please call 532-9327 or email vincentianspca.org for more information.

(Source: VSPCA) Calm, happy pups waiting to be neutered.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. 17.

Health

Health aides lead discussions on use of food and appropriate diets.

AHCS mounts education drive

by Gloriah…

ATTENTION for the elderly and physically challenged was the focus of a Health Fair mounted

by Allied Health Care Services (AHCS), on Friday 1st September, outside the Kingstown Vegetable Market.

Primarily a public awareness, the fair was mounted as a response to what CEO of Allied, Ms. Cheri Sergeant said, was a lack of attention and real services to the elderly and physically challenged here.

The fair, featuring a number of stations manned by AHCS personnel, provided information to those who visited, and also involved those visitors in discussions on the concerns, even as they had the opportunity of viewing practical demonstrations conducted by AHCS personnel, and availed themselves of vital signs checks — pulse, breathing, blood pressure and blood sugar.

Among the specific issues addressed by the fair were: chronic noncommunicable diseases of hypertension and diabetes to which the elderly especially are susceptible; the diet of the hypertensive and diabetic persons and how these could be supported by food obtained locally; occupational health and safety issues when dealing with the elderly and physically disabled; mixing everyday chemicals in the home; and personal protection when working in dangerous environments and communities.

Ms. Sergeant told THE VINCENTIAN, “While we were looking at the care of the elderly especially, we wanted also to cover

There was an abundance of didactic material on display at the fair.

Visitors to the fair had an opportunity to have their vital signs checked. issues like hypertension and diabetes that are chronic to this age group.” provided and the high fibre/low cholesterol diets recommended were displayed.

Health aide Rita Iton-McDonald gave particular attention to the diabetic diet, saying to visitors, “Not because you are a diabetic, you should say you can’t intake sugar. You can have one tablespoon of sugar per day”.

Jamish Roberts walked visitors through the hypertensive meals. She advised, “These persons do not have to limit their sugar as they do their salt.

They can only have one teaspoon of salt per day, only that!”

Concerning occupational health and safety, visitors were taught how to lift and transfer the elderly and physically disabled from bed to chair, one side of the bed to another, and sitting the person up in bed. The importance of wearing protective gear like gloves, face masks, proper shoes, and protective body gowns, to guard against infection and other hazards, was also highlighted.

Another group of Allied personnel provided insight, through a series of visual aids, on the mixing of chemicals in the home. Secretary of Allied, Dexleona Sampson explained that, while many persons are not aware, it is unsafe to mix certain chemicals together, an action that could herald disaster. “Take bleach for example, it should never be mixed with disinfectant,” she warned.

Allied Health Care Services intends to repeat this exercise, and will begin training for workers of the elderly and physically disabled on 18th September, in conjunction with the Ministry of Education.

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18. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Opinion

To whom should the regionÊs people entrust their government?

SOME WEEKS ago, I attended a lecture which was sponsored by the UWI representatives here. It was delivered by Dr. Jennyson Joseph, Head of the Department of Government, Sociology and Social Work at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies. The theme dealt with the approaches to government in our region.

The predominant thread of his argument seemed to be, that we should not put faith in the capacity of the business ‘class’, which is now seeming to be positioning itself to significantly control the apparatus of government in our region.

Quite a bit of the weight of his argument rested on the graphic exposure of the weaknesses of the Prime Minister Chastanet of St Lucia, who was presented as being of the business ‘class’. His unfamiliarity with elementary protocol and procedure in parliament was graphically presented with recordings of real life examples.

Undoubtedly, Prime Minister Chastanet’s exhibition was not one of which any individual would have been happy to be reminded.

The point was then, that we the people of this region, should return to the placing of the authority to govern in the hands of the social democratic progressives, who at one time had promised that they would have brought equitable justice, progress and prosperity to our people.

In considering the doctor’s proposal, I was forced to reflect on the realities

of our own experiences here in SVG. During two or three decades prior to 2001, we had several groups who had lambasted the incumbents for failing to address the real needs of the people.

They were perennially persistent and they seemed sincere, and some of their leaders were targeted by the law enforcement agents for breaches of the law, which turned out to be spurious.

When the people of SVG exhibited their willingness to entrust these radical intellectuals with the authority in 2001, these former “champions” exhibited quite early, that they were not of the mettle that the society had thought them to be. The successful manipulation by Dr. Gonsalves to earn for himself leaderships and the unquestioning loyalty of the formerly respected and publicly identifiable heads of those groups, was proof enough, of the weakness of those men.

Some keen observers said that the lure of the plate of economic reward was too strong to be restrained by the leash of integrity.

As a result of this almost treacherous reversal we have experienced in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, some significant flaws in our governance are: 1. Three teachers being shut out of the system, although years before, there had been no objection expressed when the proposal was made that civil servants should enjoy the privilege of that accommodation. Everyone seemed to think it was “progressive”. A review

of that aberration to democracy, that historic blemish, may well support the conclusion that the learned Attorney General had erred or failed in her duty to properly advise the Honourable Prime Minister, so that today he now suffers the ignominy to be labelled as one whose word and signature cannot be relied on. The stature and integrity of the leadership of the ODD — Organization In Defence of Democracy - have been inseparably crippled by their reticence and aquiescence. How sad!

2. One of the promises the aspirants had made to the people in 2001, was that they would have revitalized the Banana Industry. Yet it has been documented that WINFA - the Windward Islands Farmers Association - played a significant role in the shutting down of the St. Vincent Banana Growers’ Association, although they knew of the tremendous contribution that the association had made in the welfare of the farmers of this land.

It cannot be denied, that the officers of WINFA have enjoyed a degree of favourable profile even beyond our shores, but it seems they have been traitors to the “banana tree” which afforded them the elevation to expand their horizons. Look how silent they have been on the issues affecting the banana farmers! The government has been promising for years to recommence banana exports to the UK. In the next few years, WINFA will have to explain this betrayal.

In summary, while we in St. Vincent are suffering on many fronts under our progressives and experts in the Dr. Tennyson nuances of Joseph government, while espoused that we have been there was no perennially failing under almost every place for the business class letter of the alphabet, Ain the apparatus arrowroot, Bof government banana, C-cassava, in the region.

D-dasheen, Eenvironment, Ffishing, G-governance, H-health, the government of St. Lucia, headed by the businessman Prime Minister Chastanet, is on course to expand their banana trade by three hundred per cent.

Considering the colossal failures of the several publicized plans relating to agriculture, the last one being that One Hundred Days Twenty Point Plan, in which 250 acres of new bananas were to have been replanted, I recommend that the Minister of Agriculture and all the critical senior operatives/personnel of that department, should be sent to St. Lucia for a six-month period under the businessman Prime Minister Chastanet. SVG could benefit tremendously from the exposure!

Leroy Providence

Colonisation and God’s plan for building his Kingdom THE MESSAGE of the Kingdom was Jesus’ passion, as he travelled from one village to the next, one town to the next. (Matt 9:35) Not only did he teach and preach the Good News of the Kingdom, but he also proceeded to demonstrate its power, as he healed the people of ALL of their sickness and diseases.

People followed him around in droves. There was never a dull moment with Him. One minute He was healing the sick (Matt 9:12), the next minute he casting out demons (Matt 8:29), and even took the time to feed thousands of people with just five loaves and two small fishes (Jn. 6:1-14). There was always an air of excitement and expectancy around Him. Yet, Jesus didn’t go around beating his chest, and tooting his horn. If this were you and I, we would have had videos of every miracle on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

He went about his business as quietly as a lamb.. no wonder John referred to him as a Lamb of God (Jn. 1:29).

Naturally, the people loved Him, but the religious leaders hated Him, and sought to kill him (Jn. 5:18). But that did not deter Him from his purpose. He had an appointment with destiny, and He aimed to keep it.

He spent much time teaching his disciples about the Kingdom, its principles, and how it works (Mk 4:11). He also expressed how it was the Father’s good pleasure to

- Part 14 give to them the Kingdom (Lk 12:32).

Often Jesus would make comparisons between His Kingdom and the earthly Kingdom. He would say. “.. you have heard it said... but I say unto you (Matt 5:43,44),” as he contrasted the way each Kingdom operated.

He made it clear that one could not access the Kingdom simply because you had money (Matt 19:24),or because you had a position of authority (Jn 3:21),. Rather, you had to meet the requirements.

This infuriated the religious leaders. How dare he treat them this way, calling them dirty cups, (Matt 23:25), and white washed tombs? (Matt 23:27). We are no different today; we carry around the same hypocritical spirit of the Pharisees, talking a lot of talk, but not walking the walk … attempting to justify our self-righteousness to others, reading the book, but making no personal applications at all.

We preach whatever we feel like, or whatever we think the congregation wants to hear, or we preach sermons extolling prosperity and affluence.

Very few preachers preach what Jesus preached (Matt 4:17),and what He ordered us (his disciples) to preach (Matt 10:7).

May we be obedient to our Master, and preach only what He commands us to, which is.. Repent, for the Kingdom of God has arrived!!

Negus Bynoe

V The plastic bag dilemma

THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. 19.

Environmental Feature cont’d

earlier, can be literally hundreds of years.

Because the breakdown rate is so slow, the chances that the bag will harmlessly go away are extremely slim.

Throughout the world, plastic bags are responsible for suffocation deaths of wildlife as well as inhibiting soil nutrients.

The land litter that is made up of plastic bags, has the potential to kill over and over again. It has Plastic bags of garbage end up in landfills where been estimated that one the chemicals in the plastic remain active and bag has the potential to toxic for hundreds of years. unintentionally kill one animal per every three Continued from Page 5. abnormal rate, every other months, due to living organism in the unintentional digestion or Porpoises are the most waterway is impacted. inhalation, thus affecting common victim. Because There are either too many the balance of the they eat sea nettles and or too few, and changes ecosystem food sources. jelly fish they are the most within the environment With an increase in likely to mistake the continue to kill off yet plastic bag use throughout plastic bag for food. more organisms. the world, the eventual The environmental effects could be literally balance of the waterways The Effects of Plastic devastating even to the is being thrown off by the Bags on Land human population. rate of plastic bags finding their way into the mouths The indefinite period of Recycling Plastic Bags and intestinal tracts of sea time that it takes for the mammals. As one species average plastic bag to While it’s a noble begins to die off at an breakdown, as referred to thought to place the

plastic bags in the recycling bin every week, studies have proven that there are very few plants that actually recycle them.

Most municipalities either burn them or send them off to the landfill after sorting. This is because it can be expensive to recycle this type of plastic used for making bags.

The premise of recycling these bags is nice. Yet funding for the upgrades just has not happened, and thus less than 1% of all bags sent to recycling plants worldwide end up in the recycling project. Most are left to become a pollution problem in one way or another.

effect.

Reusable plastic bags are being introduced to regions that want to outlaw the plastic bag altogether. These are stronger and more durable and can be used for three to five trips to the store.

Of course, the reusable cloth bag is fast becoming a favorite among environmental supporters, and are being encouraged by some establishments here in SVG. While thus far no bag is without its issues, these are the bags that are currently recommended for use to help protect environmental concerns.

Taking Action

Recent news tells of Kenya, East African, introducing a total ban on the manufacture and use (selling included) of plastic bags — making it a crime so to do with punishment of up to four years imprisonment or $40,000 in fines.

Kenya now joins some 40 other nations, in introducing and enforcing some kind of regulation in relation to plastic bags.

Among those countries are China, France and Rwanda in this regard.

Do we have the political will to take the lead in the Caribbean and ban the use of plastic bags?

Alternatives to Plastic Bags There are always alternatives to plastic bags, and the search for more alternatives continues.

Paper bags are a possible option, but they also take their toll on the environment. The use of trees to increase the production of paper products combined with the increased energy that is required to make paper bags, will also have a negative environmental

Plastic washed into the world’s oceans (seas) are likely to bring destruction to marine life in all forms.

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20. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Advice

A 21st century woman when I married her just over a year ago, and I’m not happy with what is PLEASE ADVISE my wife going on. Is there a way that she cannot be with me and other people at the I can fix this? same time. On the Raw deal surface, we have a beautiful relationship, and everyone thinks we are the Dear Raw deal, perfect couple. In reality, Marriage is an it’s not so.

My wife is 29 years old extremely old institution, and the argument of with a knockout body; I’m 45. She attracts both being a 21st century individual does not fit, if men and women alike.

She has been having sexual relationship with men I know and men I don’t know. And she has been with two women that I personally know.

Her response to me is Dear George, that she is a 21st century woman and sees nothing I AM IN LOVE with my husband’s ex best friend. wrong with what she’s He told me that the doing, and advises that I’m free to have other s if reason they are not friends anymore was I so please. because he caught my George, that’s not husband cheating on me, what I signed up for

Dear George,

at the time of the marriage that thinking was not factored in.

Both parties ought to be in the same page and in complete agreement before agreeing to be wed. It is a sure recipe for disaster to agree to “forsaking all others....” then switching to open relationships thereafter.

A successful marriage calls for total commitment and

devotion. Without that, you are signed up to a lifetime of misery.

Encourage your wife to consider the renewal of her vows and also to accompany you to a professional marriage counsellor. Her response to this will set the compass for the direction of your marriage.

George

Find out the truth and when he threatened to tell me, my husband threatened his life. It was the first time I was hearing any of this. This friend thought my husband had told me about the incident.

After learning about

my husband’s cheating ways, I started giving him the silent treatment, and found myself spending more time with this guy. We have not been intimate, but I can see it happening. For now, I’m caught in the middle.

A ‘weighty’ problem Dear George, MY WIFE HAS gained weight and I am too timid to tell her I’m not okay with it. When we married 8 years ago, she was slim and trim. Now, it’s too much.

After our first child, she promised to diet and join a gym. She never did. We now have 3 children, and still no effort to lose the weight.

I’m not attracted to her anymore, and this has caused me to be looking at other women. I want to give her an ultimatum, but I’m not sure if I should.

All I know is I want her back to the size she was when I married her.

Disappointed husband Dear Disappointed husband,

If you wanted your wife to maintain her original size, there are some steps you could have taken to make that a reality. While there is never a guarantee of weight loss, you could have practised making good food choices, accompanying her to the gym rather than sending her.

That said, you should have known that the birth of 3 children could possibly be a huge part of the Thinking too much reason why your wife has challenges with maintaining her original figure. Whatever, her Dear Thinking too present figure should not be an excuse for you to much, practise infidelity.

Start viewing your wife through different eyes. If You have acted on the you see her as the mother of your 3 children and a words of this man wife who loves and is devoted to you, the extra without knowing the real pounds you are complaining would be a non-issue. score. Don’t you think George you should have discussed this revelation with your husband before agreeing with his ex best friend, account of what happened?

The excuse you used to justify developing feelings for this man is inexcusable. Wake up and see what’s happening! Go talk to your husband, and maybe you will find out the truth about why he is no longer friends with this individual.

George

Leisure

ARIES (Mar. 21‐ April 20) Any financial limita‐ tions will probably have to be dealt with on your own. You'll be tempted to spend extravagantly this week. Your anger may be impossible to con‐ tain if you get into debates with family mem‐ bers. Don't overspend on friends or children.

TAURUS (Apr. 21‐ May 21) Your charm will mesmerize members of the opposite sex this week. Maybe it's time to look into ways you can improve your health. Make changes that will enhance your appearance. Put something away in case of an emergency.

courses that will bring you more skills. You will be extremely sensual; take precautions and don't take any risks. Travel will stimulate your need to experience exciting new things.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 ‐ Nov. 22) A lot can be accomplished if you organize your time. The emotional state of peers may cause a problem for you. Avoid getting involved with married individuals. Don't be afraid to pursue unfamil‐ iar grounds.

GEMINI (May 22‐June 21) Don't hesitate to go ahead with any plans for entertainment. You need to look into ways to change your self‐ image. Try to bend but by no means should you give in completely. Make amends if you can.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 ‐Dec. 21) Disappointments are likely if your mate embarrasses you in front of friends. Travel, although enticing, will cost more than you expect. Focus on forming business partner‐ ships. Find out more, if you want to start your own business.

CANCER (June 22‐July 22) Any contributions you make to organizations will enhance your reputation and bring you offers. Change will be required to make your life more harmonious. A new you could help your attitude. Before you proceed be sure to talk your plans over with those they will affect.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.‐ Jan. 20) You will be able to contribute a great deal to organiza‐ tions that you join. You can make favorable real estate offers this week. You need time to make things better. You'll stay out of trouble if you pick projects that will benefit the whole family.

LEO (July 23‐Aug 22) Get domestic chores out of the way early. Things will be emotional with your mate. This is not the day to be extravagant.

Keep your eyes and ears alert for any evasive or deceptive statements.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21.‐ Feb. 19) Your creative input will be appreciated by your boss.

Changes in your domestic scene are evident.

Try looking into new ways to make extra money. You can enhance your reputation if you treat family and friends with respect and dignity.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 ‐Sept. 23) Your ideas are good and career moves can be realized. Try to put your money away for a rainy day. Exhaustion combined with overindulgence could result in minor health problems. Problems with skin, bones, or teeth may mess up your schedule.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 ‐Oct. 23) Don't do something silly just to get back at your mate. Sign up for

PISCES (Feb. 20‐Mar. 20) You need to be careful not to make promises that you can't fulfill. Home improvement projects will go well if you delegate work to all your family members. Control your anger. This is a great day to beautify your living quarters or to entertain at home.

ACROSS 1. Holly 5. Expressed vocally 11. Helper 12. Regard with approval 13. Equipment 14. Elementary particle 15. Subtle absorption 17. Highest mountain in Crete 18. Sorrowful 19. Prophet 20. Small branch 23. Dizzy 24. Employs 25. Devoted follower 26. Honey insect 27. Indeterminate number 31. Small quick bread 33. Root of the taro 34. Think 35. Sledge 36. Oppressively hot 37. Withered DOWN 1.The vallian in Othello 2. Falsehoods 3. Yellow cheese coated with red

wax 4. Abnormal dryness of the skin 5. Well‐founded 6. Lyric poems 7. Mischievous child 8. Occupied by a city 9. Worn away 10. Tenfold 16. Sink or bend downward 19. Free from sin 20. Present for consideration

21. Pretended 22. Marijuana cigarette 23. Girl or woman 25. Penalized 27. Tubular pasta in short

LAST WEEK’s SOLUTION

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. 21.

pieces 28. Doing nothing 29. River in central Europe 30. Protuberance 32. At a great distance

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22. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

News

Rotary Club South – WPP assist Park Hill resident

MS JULIE THEOBALDS of Park Hill is heading for Shriner’s Hospital in St Louis, Missouri, for a total hip replacement.

Her surgery has been made possible because of the ongoing collaboration between the Rotary Club South and the World Paediatric Programme (WPP).

A monetary donation in this regard was handed over to Julie last week Wednesday.

Newly installed president of the Club, Kim Haydock, affirmed her club’s commitment to WPP and “their mission to improve the lives of the (L-R): Jacqueline Browne-King: WPP unfortunate who require critical Eastern Caribbean Representative, medical care and treatment, Patricia Baynes - Julie’s Mother, Julie unavailable in St. Vincent.”

Theobalds, and Simon Carey - Rotary WPP Eastern Caribbean Club South Representative, at the Representative Sister Jacqueline presentation ceremony.

King commented, “Our long partnership with Rotary Club South Since 2002, the WPP has been has once again proven to be very helpful to the families of St Vincent and mounting medical missions to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, conducting the Grenadines.”

Julie thanked everyone involved, and specialized consultations and surgeries for children. Up to April 2017, over said, “This could not have happened 1000 children have received lifesaving without everyone.” surgeries.

Liberators donate to Eden ON SEPTEMBER 04, 2017. Members of Vincy Liberators SVG handed over a quantity of supplies, including adult pampers, tracks, a walker and a pair of crutches to the Garden of Eden Home at Dorsetshire Hill.

In presenting the items, President of the organization — Mr. Artis Davis, stated Members of Vincy Liberators that through the efforts of their sister Garden of Eden Home at last organization in the United States of making similar donations America — Vincy to other homes and Liberators USA — he and institutions across the his members were pleased state. to be able to make this On receipt of the donation for the benefit of supplies, Nurse Forde the residents at the Home. thanked the Liberators for He said that his the timely gesture, and organisation would be

SVG and staff of the Monday’s presentation. commended the organisation for the work they have been doing.

During their visit to the Home, members of Vincy Liberators SVG took the opportunity to interact with the residents there.

An update on the Petitions the world was greeted with the news that the Supreme Court of Kenya had While highlighting the failure of those declared the disputed presidential in St Vincent and the Grenadines to act elections which were held in the country expeditiously, in the election petition on the 8th of August 2017 null and void. matters, the momentous decision which In delivering the judgement, this is took place in Kenya yesterday has to be what Chief Justice David Maraga said: mentioned.

“The presidential election was not It has to be mentioned for several conducted in accordance with the reasons, not least because the matter constitution, rendering the declared was decided expeditiously. results invalid, null and void.”

It also has to be mentioned because He also ordered that fresh elections people usually refer to African countries be held within 60 days… as banana republic countries where Let all of St Vincent and the justice is in short supply.

Grenadines have the election petitions And it has to be mentioned too dealt with expeditiously. The law because of the cheers and celebrations demands. And the people demand it too. and the jubilation with which the Let the people of the country be freed majority of the people in Kenya appear and relieved of the uncertainty which to have greeted the decision. has enveloped the nation since the 9th of Well, yesterday, 1st September 2017, December 2015”.

Continued from Page 8.

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. 23.

System 3, Avenues: National age group football champions

System 3 Under-11 outfit.

Under-15 winners- System 3.

SYSTEM 3 SPORTS ACADEMY won the Under-11 and Under -15 Divisions, and Avenues took the Under-19, as the age group competitions of the 2017 National Club Championships closed last Sunday evening at the Victoria Park.

System 3 had a one nil win over Layou, en route to the Under-11 title. A Zibeon Cunningham goal was enough for the System 3 to secure their second title in the 2017 edition of the National Club Championships.

System 3 then added the Under-15 title, beating Largo Height three-nil. Goals from Shayne Lynch, Rasheed Wallace and Renson Sayers made up System 3’s tally.

The two finalists had contrasting final passes to the title match.

In their semi-finals versus Owia United, System 3 registered a 4-1 win, while Largo Heights beat Volcanoes 4-3 in kicks from the penalty spot, after both teams had played to a 1-1 draw in regulation period.

But Avenues United stopped System 3 from making a clean sweep of the titles, edging them out 3-2, in a keenly contested Under 19 final.

A brace from Garret Leigertwood and one from Shemar Welcome accounted for Avenues’ goals, while System Three’s goals were scored

by Chad Fraser and Zidane Solomon.

Before meeting System 3 in the final, Avenues United edged out North Leeward Predators one- nil, with System Three ousting Layou 4-3 in their semi-finals showdown.

The two Senior titles which were already decided, saw Avenues United winning the Premiership, and System 3, the Women’s division.

Bequia United: Bequia 20/20 Champions

Bequia United: 2017 Champions of 20/20 cricket in Bequia.

Right: Monica Cash and Carry Port Elizabeth: runners-up.

SUGAR REEF BEQUIA United emerged champions of the Bequia Premier League 20/20 Cricket Tournament when they defeated Monica Cash and Carry Port Elizabeth

by 32 runs, in the finals played at the Clive Tannis Playing field last Sunday.

Sugar Reef Bequia United batted first and made 164 from 19.2 overs. Jenry Ollivierre top scored with 30, with Rickford Walker getting 29 and Chelson Stowe 28. Romano Werren was the best bowler for Port Elizabeth with figures of 3 for 44, Rohan Blake captured 2 for 28, Aaron Friday 2 for 36 and Ormond Billingy 2 for 11.

Monica Cash and Carry Port Elizabeth in reply could only reach132 from 18.1 overs.

Imron Smith led with 44 and Kenrick Cozier contributed 21. Garvin Ollivierre bagged 4 for 25 and Chelson Stowe 3 for 21.

In the third-place playoff, Friendship United beat Aussies by 3 wickets. Scores: Aussies 187 from 18.5 overs, Razine Browne 43, Oswald Solyn 50. Verden Baptiste 3 for 53, Vernardo Primus 3 for 34, Kesran Thomas 2 for 17; Friendship United 188 for 7 from 19 overs, Verden Baptiste 63, James Hoyte 30, Alrick Pompy 29, Razine Browne 2 for 27, Dean Browne 2 for 23, Oswald Solyn 2 for 31.

I.B.A. ALLEN

U-19 champions- Avenues United.

Arnos Vale Football League Kicks off THE COMPUTEC LTD/COMSPORT, St Vincent Brewery - Hairoun Beer, BDO EC, Arnos Vale Football League kicked off last weekend, with an exciting encounter between Hope International and Avenues.

Hope International won that game 1-nil in front an appreciative crowd.

The 2017 Arnos Vale Football League will have a total of thirty-two teams participating in three divisons.

The teams competing in the Premier Division are Avenues United, Largo Height, System 3, Hope International, Sion Hill, Jebelle FC, Awesome FC. First Division has two groups. Group A will feature Largo Height, Computec Vincy Masters, System 3, NPL Fair Hall Unigted, Richmond Hill United, Rudy’s Electrical Strike Force, Volcanoes, Belfongo Toni Store Jugglers, Dove FC; while Group B comprises Avenues United, Toney’s FC, Marriaqua Future Stars, Besco Pastures FC, Athletics FC, United Strikers, American University FC, Jebelle FC, Strike Force 2, Hope FC. The Under 17 division will see competition among System 3, Primus Mini Mart Largo Height, Strike Force, Volcanoes and Belfongo Toni Store Jugglers competing.

Richmond Hill United took the Best Dressed Team Award at last Sunday’s march past of teams.

Matches will be played at the Arnos Vale 2 playing field daily.

I.B.A.ALLEN

Action in the opening game between Hope International and Avenues.

Richmond Hill United took the Best Dressed Team Award and received a football from Michael John (right front).

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24. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Salt Pond Snappers take National Swimming plunge THE 30-MEMBER Salt Pond Snappers Swim Club made its debut at the 2017 hosting of the FLOW Invitational Swim Championships, held two weekend ago at the Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre, Ratho Mill.

An offshoot of a Grassroots programme undertaken by the St Vincent and the Grenadines Swimming Federation and funded by the Mustique Charitable Trust, the Salt Pond Snappers have been in operation for just over two years.

When the Grassroots

programme began in 2015, the older swimmers utilised an area close to the Owia Fisheries Complex, while the younger ones made use of the Owia Salt Pond.

Head of the group Troy Lavia told THE VINCENTIAN that after being in training for some time , they felt it was opportune for them to venture into national competition.

Lavia revealed that despite not medalling in any of the events, his charges are better from the experience.

“We train on Saturdays and on Sundays now at the Owia Salt Pond, but coming here at the pool, it is different from what we are accustomed to, but we are happy to have competed,” Lavia stated with some level of contentment.

He underscored that the initiative to teach children of the area the art of swimming arose out of the Rock Gutter tragedy of 12th January 2015, when seven students lost their lives in a motor vehicle accident.

“The parents have accepted Swimming as a sport and as a life skill, and are pushing their children, hence we are getting a lot of co-operation from them,” Lavia noted.

Lavia said that he and his team are thankful for the support thus far from the Mustique Charitable Trust.

Members of the MCT Salt Pond Snappers Swim Club. Head coach – Troy Lavia is second from left at the back.

IT DAT Summer Team Athletics SVG holds throws programme Camp ends TEAM ATHLETICS SVG, in conjunction with the SVG Olympic Committee, will hold a four-month programme specifically focusing on throws events.

The aim of the programme is to expose and develop as many athletes and coaches to the rudiments of these field events.

Paul Phillips, a Level 3 specialist throws coach

fom Grenada, will conduct the sessions and is already in the country and looking forward to work with both athletes and coaches.

“My main aim is to help to develop a sustaianable throws programme, basically by identifying the talents among both coaches and athletes.

This will be done through a talent identification exercise to which youths and coaches from different areas will be invited for screening, from which the best will be selected to enter Paul Phillips, the the four-month programme,” facilitator of the Phillips explained. programme.

Phillips emphasised the importance of having coaches continue to work with the athletes.

“It is therefore critical that the coaches pass on the knowledge to the athletes and make SVG a powerhouse in throwing events, if not at the senior level, at least at the international junior level,” he said..

As far as target groups are concerned, Phillips considers the programme to be better served if the participants are drawn from communities, where, he opined, the interest might be greater than that among the schools.

Also included in the net are personnel from the Sports Division and P.E teachers.

I.B.A.ALLEN

The IT-DAT Academy’s 6th Annual Summer Camp came to a close with a beach session and picnic at the Villa beach.

Director and head coach of the Academy. Michael Ollivierre, described the camp as another success.

He was particularly pleased with the turnout and Michael commitment of the group this Ollivierre – year.

Head Coach of “I have a wider group now IT-DAT that show more commitment, so Academy.

I am very happy with that and the fact that some leaders are beginning to emerge,” he said.

The seven-week Camp catered to some 40 participants, with in-camp sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Coaching was also available on Tuesdays and Thursdays for those who missed the regular day, for one reason or the other.

In the main, the Camp focused on general conditioning, strength development and introduction to the Hurdles.

“I am trying to introduce the hurdles here … we have approximately four to six leading hurdlers who I believe can do well, once given a chance at the CARIFTA Games,” Ollivierre said.

The Academy will take a two-week break, as the participants prepare to go back to school, but training will resume in the second week of the new school term.

“We hoping to have a better season, we had some mishaps last year so we intend to improve on them (and) hopefully we can get a chance for our athletes to go the CARIFTA Games,” Ollivierre added.

Between now and the Inter Secondary Schools Games, the Academy is expected to hold several developmental meets to assess the athletes, while keeping them in shape.

Additionally, plans are afoot to have some of the athletes, especially the hurdlers, participate in meets in Trinidad, Grenada or Barbados as they work towards attaining the CARIFTA standards.

And there is always the lookout for possible scholarships.

Ollivierre is grateful for the assistance he received for the camp and expressed appreciation to the National Lotteries Authority, Central Water and Sewerage Authority, Metrocint General Insurance, Singer and Webb Schoolboy Beer.

I.B.A. ALLEN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. 25.

Sports

West Indies strives for consistency ALL WEST INDIAN fans, and I dare say most Australians, are hoping for consistency in the third test which started at Lords yesterday.

By the time most people read this, the first day of that third test would have ended, providing some indication as to the direction the game is heading. However, no one would speculate as to the course of events.

The West Indies’ victory in the second test has been described as shocking, as far as the English were concerned, but most people seem to be so pleased that it is hard to imagine that after all the ploys that have been used to thwart the impact of the West Indian style of play, even the English players admitted that they revelled having taken part in what was an enthralling encounter.

It marks a huge marketing platform for test cricket. Who expected a match to have been so riveting into the final session of a five-day affair?

It is certainly not a question of match fixing.

The English are too proud to have entertained any thought of letting a West Indies team off the hook. After all, there are still scores to settle.

England are not for one moment going to give up on any opportunity to make the West Indies grovel.

It was perhaps a case of cockiness. But the West Indies batsmen produced a performance that their most ardent fans found long overdue.

We don’t mind being served any such recipes.

The idea is that we keep that formula intact.

A lot has transpired in and around that victory.

Many English commentators and analysts have been forced to eat humble pie, having written off and dismissed the West Indians. Geoff Boycott will have to find ways to justify his remarks or take the moral high ground and say sorry.

The Australians, even at the receiving end of a Bangladesh backlash, revelled in the West Indies rebound. It served as a warning shot to the Englishmen. After all, Stuart Law, an Australian, is the West Indies coach, so Australia will take it that they have something to do with the accomplishment.

In any event, a West Indies win in the third test will further dent the English pride, and serve as a further demoralisation prior to the Ashes showdown.

Stuart is an amiable guy. He might not have been the match winner on the field of play, but that he was chosen by the West Indies speaks volumes of his resume.

That Headingly win might have been sufficient to earn him an extension to his contract. He seems to have broken into the confidence of the West Indies players, and they are comfortable with his approach.

It is a pity that some of the players who catapulted the region to those heights of dominance are seemingly turning their energies on the board and the current crop of players.

The friction between the board and former players resulted in souring relations. The administrators kept the task going. Their efforts seem to be bearing fruit. All we needed was the belief that we could win. Headingly provided that.

It will be foolhardy for the West Indies to provide the critics with any more reason(s) to condemn them. Instead, they will be better off keeping those detractors mute. Nothing can complete that better than a repeat performance.

MaloneyÊs century seals Police big win DESRON MALONEY stroked 121 for RSVG Police (RSVGPF) to a 104run win over Circumstances, in one of last weekend’s matches in the 2017 VINLEC North Leeward 20/20 Cricket Tournament.

Batting first, RSVGPF posted 247 for 5 off 20 overs, led by Maloney’s 56-ball 121, which included 10 sixes and 8 fours. He received good support from Romario Grant 41, and Kenneth Dember 36 not out.

Shenezia Daniel, national female player showed she can match

the men by capturing 4 for 67 with her off spin.

Circumstances responded with 143 off 17.4 overs.

Kenneth Samuel topscored with 34, Saville Murray 28. Kevin Abraham took 5 for 20.

There were other convincing wins in last weekend’s encounters.

Warriors defeated Rose Bank United by 181 runs. Scores: Warriors 237 for 7 off 18 overs, Cklan McKie 67, Deon Bynoe 44, Kenard Forbes 36; Rose Bank United 56 off 9 overs, Jeremy Haywood 5 for 22, Keron Cottoy 4 for 18.

Carlos James Troumaca Starlight beat Big League by 143 runs. Scores: Starlight 229 for 5 Desron Shenezia off 20 overs, Daniel stood Maloney hit Nicklan Alexander 121 for Police. tall among 96, her male LeshawnLewis70, colleagues Porter Jadie John 2 for 40; Big 26; Rose and League 86 off 13 overs, opponents.

Bank Curlan Thomas 27, United Kuthbert Springer 26, 90 off 12 overs, Stinson Dorson Cottle 5 for 31.

Ince 37. Roneil Jeffery 2 Ajuba defeated Rose for 13, Reginald Jeffery 2 Bank United by 87 runs. for 24.

Scores: Ajuba 177 for 9 off 16 overs at the cut off I.B.A.ALLEN time, Michael Joseph 30, Roneil Jeffery 29, Husani

Cumberbatch medals at Caribbean Tennis Championship LEAH CUMBERBATCH secured a bronze medal for herself and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, when she teamed up with two Guyanese players to participate in the Girls team category of the Caribbean Pre-Cadet Table Tennis Championships in Jamaica.

Leah, in fact, defeated Christina Smith of

The SVG contingent (LR front): Michel Creese, Caleb Howard,Kristian Christopher and SVG’s lone medallist Leah Cumberbatch, with coach Unica Velox.

Jamaica, 11/9 12/10 10/12 11/5, to ensure the medal for her team. Her team beat the Jamaican’s 3-1.

The Dominican Republic copped the gold

medal, with the team from Trinidad and Tobago taking silver.

Leah’s team had lost

New South Leeward Sports Association executive elected WAYNE GRANT is the new President of the South Leeward Sports Association.

Grant, who came up against Joseph Ballantyne, won 96 last Wednesday at the Bethel High School, when the association held its Annual General Meeting.

The Grant- led executive is charged with administering sports in the constituency for the next two years.

The association’s VicePresident is Joseph Ballantyne, as he won 96, in a run off against Rosalo Mc Kie. Mc Kie, though, was later given the post of Public Relations Officer.

The rest of the executive is: TreasurerOtnel Douglas , who defeated Nyron Delpesche 12-3, in the largest margin of any triumph on the night; Secretary - Keith

From left to right : Alnif Williams, Keith Ollivierre, Rosalo Mc Kie, Otnel Douglas, Joseph Ballantyne, Wayne Grant.

Ollivierre and Assistant Secretary - Alnif Williams.

Both Ollivierre and Williams were elected unopposed.

Last Wednesday’s meeting heard and adopted the Treasurer’s Report which was presented by Douglas.

The meeting was attended by fifteen affiliates of the South Leeward Sports Association.

The South Leeward Sports Association overseas, in the main, Netball, Softball Cricket and Football competitions.

to both of the top medallists: 3 — 0 against the Dominican Republic and 3-1 to the Trinidad and Tobago.

Meanwhile, the SVG Boys Contingent lost 3-0 in each of the other teams in the group, i.e.

Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia and Guyana.

At least one coach here is pleased that the young players had had an opportunity to participate in a regional tournament which, he said, can only serve to prepare them further for future representation.

I.B.A.ALLEN

26. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. THE VINCENTIAN

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THE VINCENTIAN. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2017. 27.

Classifieds FOR LEASE First Floor Building Tyrell Street

Tel: 451-2910/531-8458

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Holy Trinity Anglican Church Georgetown Monday 4th September, 2017 3:00 p.m.

Evangelical Church Green Hill Sunday 3rd September, 2017 2:00 p.m.

MRS. GWENETH WEEKS BOWENS New Testament Church Lowmans Leeward Saturday 2nd September, 2017 2:00 p.m.

VERONICA CHRISTOBEL ALLICKS (ROBERTS) S.D.A Church Clare valley Sunday 3rd September, 2017 1:30 p.m.

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Joyful Praise Tabernacle Richland Park Saturday 2nd September, 2017 2:00 p.m.

The Apostolic Faith Mission Paul Over Saturday 2nd September, 2017 2:00 p.m.

The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

F O R S A L E

FRIDAY,

SEPTEMBER 08, 2017

VOLUME 111, No.36

www.thevincentian.com

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LAWYER REPRESENTING MURDER ACCUSED CAUTIONS MEDIA and Alana Hudson, both 19, of Chapmans and Campden Park respectively, along with Taylor Mofford, 18, of Belmont, are charged with the murder of Simonia Da Silva, 23year-old time-keeper of Fair Hall, who died after receiving stab wounds about her body, during an incident at Fair Hall around 12:20 a.m. on September 4.

Marks, who is representing Hudson, told the Court that he Attorney Ronald Marks, was concerned about the defence lawyer for way the matter was Alana Hudson, being reported on by the expressed concern media which, in his view, about the pre-trial could jeopardize his media coverage and client’s case or the case cautioned against this for the prosecution. trend during the trial.

Speaking with THE VINCENTIAN, on

by HAYDN HUGGINS Wednesday, Marks said that the comments made AS THREE YOUNG ladies on social media, talk made their appearance at shows, newscasts and by the Serious Offences Court other media entities, and on Wednesday, Ronald reporting alleged details Marks, one of the lawyers of the crime with which in the case, has called on the young ladies have the media to be careful been charged, can have while reporting on the the effect of tainting the matter. jury pool with Twanecia Ollivierre information which may

have no evidential basis.

“This could result in it being impossible for my client and her coaccused to have a fair trial, and it could also have an impact on the prosecution’s case, when certain allegations which are made in public are contradicted in Court by evidence,” Marks explained.

He pointed out that matters of this (serious) nature must be tried in Court and not in the media, and called on the media to Taylor Mofford (back) pay careful attention follows her coto the legal accused (Ollivierre) to restrictions the remand cell. established in the common law when informed him that so matters are sub judice. far there are 26 Attorney Israel Bruce prosecution is representing the other witnesses, and has two defendants. asked for a threeThe women were not month adjournment required to plead when of the matter. they were taken before The three were Chief Magistrate remanded, and the Rechanne Browne. matter has been Senior Prosecutor adjourned to Alana Hudson (left) and Twanecia Ollivierre (back) on Adolphus Delpleche December 7. their way to remand, under police escort. indicated that the investigator has

A FEAT OF SKILL AND COURAGE

THE RAGING WATERS that lashed against the Grenadines Wharf last Tuesday, September 5, between 5:00 and 6:30 pm, was not going to prevent one of the Bequia Express ferries from fulfilling its schedule and commitment to its patrons.

With what must have been overwhelming confidence in his knowledge of the tide patterns in Port Kingstown, and his skill of handling a vessel caught in rough seas, the Captain took the vessel, astern, towards the wharf, lowered its ramp

and ensured that passengers and vehicles were able to safely disembark.

Those, including THE VINCENTIAN, who witnessed the feat from the safety of the Cruise Ship Facility, had nothing but commendation for the vessel’s captain and crew.

Reports are that the Bequia Express ferry returned safely to Port Elizabeth that said day.

All in a day’s work for the seafaring men and women of our sister isle Bequia.

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

Printed by the SVG Publishers Inc., Campden Park.